Nikon D7100 VS D5300 (Page 4): Fortunately, I live in the Southern New England area, near a Hunt's Photo Store. They have the camera's right there with expert camera sales people. They...

Greenguy33 Loc: Rhode Island

Fortunately, I live in the Southern New England area, near a Hunt's Photo Store. They have the camera's right there with expert camera sales people. They match the prices of the big online retailers, plus you pick up the equipment as soon as you pay for it. Plus the sales person told me to come back after a week of shooting with any questions.

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

I have had the very best service from bandhphoto.com. If you decide to buy a used lens, try keh.com. They have fair prices on used equipment but they also charge your state's sales tax.

amehta Loc: Boston

Greenguy33 wrote:

Fortunately, I live in the Southern New England area, near a Hunt's Photo Store. They have the camera's right there with expert camera sales people. They match the prices of the big online retailers, plus you pick up the equipment as soon as you pay for it. Plus the sales person told me to come back after a week of shooting with any questions.

:thumbup:

MtnMan Loc: ID

Mickey Mantle wrote:

I have both cameras. The 7100 is more complicated than the 5300 and much more versatile than the 5300. Having said that, the 5300 is a great camera. Have never taken a bad picture with it. If money is not an issue, I would go with the 7100 and grow into it

I have no clue what this poster means by "more versatile". You can take the same images with both. Both take the same modern lenses. The only advantage of the D7xxx, IMHO, is if you already have old lenses without a focusing motor.

Having had a D7000 and D5100 I'd go for the D5300 every time:
1. Articulated screen
2. Lighter weight
3. Better control system (less confusing/annoying buttons)
4. No unreadable little green LCD.
5. Lower price.

I got the D7000 only for the weather protection. Then I realized I don't need it because I don't shoot in rain anyway. I got rid of it after six months. My wife still uses and loves the D5100.

But everyone has their own preferences.

Donj Loc: Manchester CT

I currently use a D800 as my main camera and a D300 as a back up. All lenses are F2.8 or faster. Why do I have the 5300? I have a bad back and cannot get low shots anymore. The 5300 is a perfect fit and 24 mp isn't anything to eschew!

All the posts, here, make sense. listing pro's can con's of each camera is very helpful. Each camera has good points and not so good points

All that said, get the camera YOU are comfortable with ( mentally confident you made a good purchase and physically - it fits your hand etc.). Both cameras are quality cameras and both are capable of capturing great images...it is up to you to capture those images, regardless of the camera in your hand. You will be happy with either camera.

Photosmoke

Phil G wrote:

What kind of lens were you using on the hummingbird photos?? They are all great!

The new 80-400mm Nikon

Photosmoke

drosegarden wrote:

Phil, I love your photos on your link. May I ask what lens you used on your D7100 when you took photo #1555 (the one with the bird flying)?
DeAnne

Thank you DeAnne, I am glad you like them, those were taken with the new 80-400mm Nikon. When sending a message you should click on quote reply it's a big help.

Phil

Bob-Virginia Loc: Virginia

Everyone here has been so very helpful. I think that I have concluded a couple of things. Probably purchasing a digital camera package from Costco is not the best idea for myself. I will be paying for some things that I may never actually use like the WiFi, and the extra lens. The lens that I really need does not even come in the Costco package anyway. I sadly have to admit that it has only been 7 months that I have even known how to text message !! I had a flip phone until for many years and then my 9 year old grandson had me purchase an IPhone 5s. I love it but he is still teaching me. I do tend to buy on the high end but then keep things a long time rather than constantly trade-in. I keep my Nissan vehicles for at least 300,000 miles. Sounds like the D7100 is something that I can grow into and the manual controls and the overall feel and ruggedness will suite my purposes. I am very intruiged by the idea of a Full Frame camera but once I get the handle of the D7100 perhaps I can pick up a decent used one at a good price !!! Thanks for all the suggestions on online retail outlets also. I would love to travel up to NYC and check out BH Photo and their 77,000 sq/ft show room. Great pictures everyone !!!!

Apaflo wrote:

The main purpose of your camera well defined, and neither the purpose nor the camera are transient. There were a couple very strong hints that higher cost is acceptable to acquire real value when higher quality matches your purposes.

Cruising around on 4-wheelers to get a specific type of photograph is something I also do a lot of. The differences in camera quality and functionality is a topic I have to revisit repeatedly.

First, it appears to me that you would benefit more from a Full Frame body than a cropped body. For wildlife and birds in open areas the extra reach of a cropped body can be useful; but absent that, in a wooded area with limited visibility and shooting relatively "tame" subjects that you can get close to, it seems a FF body would be a better fit.

There are two problems though, price and ruggedness. The price of low end Nikon FF cameras start higher than the top end of the DX models. I'm not at all sure about relative ruggedness, but suspect a D7100 may be more so than an entry level D610.

You clearly intend on a long term purchase, and because of that I would give serious consideration to one of the full frame bodies. Right now, with the introduction of the D810 model, it should be very easy to find a new or little used D800 or D800E at very attractive prices.

Likewise, thinking about something like a Pelican hard case to carry equipment is a good idea too. That doesn't work well if your work requires the camera be quickly available while traveling. But that didn't sound to be how you work. If you need a camera to be instantly accessible while moving on the 4-wheeler you might also put ruggedness even higher on the priority list, and maybe even consider a D4.

BTW, a high end DSLR that replaces any film camera is economically sound over a period of time. If you shoot just 3 rolls a week that is going to cost roughly $2800 a year! That will pay for a top of the line DSLR each time a new one is introduced! That's less than 6000 exposures a year, and with a D4S you'd probably shoot 2 or 3 times as many.

The main purpose of your camera well defined, and ... (show quote)

djenrette Loc: Philadelphia

Bob-Virginia wrote:

My only DSLR camera right now is a Sony Cyber-shot... (show quote)

I will tell you what many young professionals and students are doing these days: buying the cheapest bodies. For about $1K you can get a camera that uses the best lenses. I like the 7100, but there is nothing shabby about the 5300.

pmackd Loc: Alameda CA

Three excellent shots!

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Bob-Virginia wrote:

Sounds like the D7100 is something that I can grow into and the manual controls and the overall feel and ruggedness will suite my purposes. I am very intruiged by the idea of a Full Frame camera but once I get the handle of the D7100 perhaps I can pick up a decent used one at a good price !!!

You can pick up a decent used FF body at a good price today, and have the benefits (which for your style of work appear to be significant) immediately. That isn't something you'll grow into, it will be instantly useful. And that will much better fit your intention of not buying new cameras at short intervals. The lower down the scale you buy the sooner a new body will be necessary. The higher up you start the less likely it will actually become obsolete.

I would point out that today you could pick up a Nikon D3, which was introduced in 2007. It is "old" but not obsolete. I fully expect that in two years the D5 generation will obsolete the D3 (not the D3S though, which will probably be a significant camera body for another 6 years or more).

The rapid advances in technology for digital cameras are almost, but not quite, over. Both DX and FX sensors are now very close the the theoretical best that can be done for low noise and high ISO dynamic range. (The D4S is not significantly better than the D4 or the D3S.)

Nikon refurbished D800 bodies are selling for $2000.

I just don't see how you'll be better off with a D7100 now and a used full frame later.

Ricontech Loc: Colorado

Bob: Did you know that you can get a D7100 from digitalpros.com, body only for $669?? Just thought I'd let you know so you can save some $$$$ if you decide you want a D7100.

MW

Bob-Virginia wrote:

My only DSLR camera right now is a Sony Cyber-shot... (show quote)

I recently taced the same dilema. I picked the D7100. My reasons were: almost everything can be selected without using the menu - 1 it takes some practice to remember all the buttons and wheels but it much, much more convenient when you get used to it. You can use some older AF lenses (no AF motor in the lens) that's are really got but inexpensive. 3 You can fine tune the auto focus for each lens - not easy but could be a big deal if needed.

Biggest sacrifices: Lighter weight and bulk of the D5300. Next the swing out LCD screen - lets you shoot from lower and higher positions and in some awkward confines.

I assume you know that the sensors are identical so there is no fundamental difference in potential image quality.

Bob-Virginia Loc: Virginia

No.. Thank You so much I did not know that. What a great resource !!!

Ricontech wrote:

Bob: Did you know that you can get a D7100 from digitalpros.com, body only for $669?? Just thought I'd let you know so you can save some $$$$ if you decide you want a D7100.

amehta Loc: Boston

Ricontech wrote:

Bob: Did you know that you can get a D7100 from digitalpros.com, body only for $669?? Just thought I'd let you know so you can save some $$$$ if you decide you want a D7100.

This does not appear to be a real web site, only a feeder site.