Hi folks, I'm using a Nikon D5100 at the moment and am really wanting to make the move to a full frame DSLR. I'm just wondering what peoples experiences are with the FX cameras, and which one they would recommend as my next step?
Ok let me start this off, I've been Looking at the D610 and the D800, huge difference in price and features. But not sure of the $3000 is to over the top, knowing that one day Id get to this level of camera anyway, so do I just bite the bullet now or make the middle ground move first.
Then there would be the new lenses to but that’s not even on my radar yet.
If you are set on a full frame camera from Nikon, the D610 without thinking twice, even though it is still missing a few things that, for instance, the new DX D7100 has. 5 shot auto bracketing and the 51 point Auto Focus complex of the D4s are two I use all the time.
The D800 is beginning to show its age, it is somewhat unwieldy and its controls could stand significant optimization. You might care to read Ken Rockwell on the subject. And look at the D7100 while you are at it, 1/2 the price of the D610, and your current lenses don't need immediate upgrade. This is my go-to camera currently, and I have no thoughts to upgrade until perhaps a significantly updated D810 or D900 might come to market.
But then six months later later he turns around and slams the D800 versus the Canon 5Diii. Even though I am an avid Nikonite, I agree with him, the Canon 5Diii is currently the best DSLR on the market, and will be until Nikon do something about the annoying idiosyncrasies of the D800e. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/d800-vs-5d-mark-iii.htm
But there is no point upgrading unless you upgrade your lenses to good FX (full frame lenses). There is the original 24-85 kit lens for the D600, not a bad lens at all, but you need something like the f/2.8 24-70 or the f/2.8 70-200 (at over four pounds heavy) or the 70-200 f/4 for half the weight and half the price to really distinguish FX from DX.
But why do you want to upgrade? What is the D5100 not doing that you want to do, or that it wouldn't do with good lenses, the ones already mentioned for example? It is my backup camera, and is still a most versatile performer. Just having an FX camera won't magically turn you into a great photographer. Indeed with the bigger sensors especially without good glass and good technique, your shooting could even look worse than on you D5100.
Good luck to you, but please don't just throw away US$5,000 "on the come" (considerably more in NZ dollars) without knowing exactly how a full frame camera can advantage you.
@frankhymus thank you, I have had this camera for a couple of years now, and its a great camera. What I am finding is .
1) I have very big hands and it feels small in my hands.
2) I have a sigma 150-500 lens and its to heavy for this body. just finding the body is not weighted compared to the lens. I hope you follow what I mean by this. I am loving my D5100, I got it with the twin lens kit, 18-55mm and 55-200mm DX lens.
I'm mostly into shoting wildlife (birds) and landscape/ enviroment stuff. I'm also finding I am not getting very sharp/ Noisey shots with the sigma at full 500mm. Is just the way I'm using it or is this due to the multipling effect of my DX sensor?
@kiwi_big_bear Your problems have nothing to do with the size of the DX sensor. Until you improve your technique to shoot clearly on your D5100, a larger sensor at the same or increased megapixel density will just make matters even muddier for you.
I have that Sigma monster, and hand held you have to be very patient with it and follow all the long telephoto shooting rules. Like a crack sniper or marksman with a long range rifle, calm yourself down, plant yourself firmly and if possible support the camera/lens on a monopod or simply a wall, rock or ledge. If you watch the action TV shows, snipers always have their guns supported independently. If you have no such supports, make sure your arms are tightly tucked into your body, the left hand fully supporting the heavy lens from below, and if you are panning, twist your whole torso and don't move your hands independently. Listen to your heartbeat, breathe in, then exhale, hold it and shoot between heat beats. Image stabilization will only get you so far, as good as it is on the Big Sig.
Oh, and remember "multiple release" to get you multiple shots with one shutter press. The ones after the first or second, after the mirror has been raised and the slight body motion to start the shutter have been taken care of, are often clearer and "steadier" than the first one or two of the set.
The high ISO handling of the D5100 is remarkably good even today for an entry level camera and three years ago was the absolute best for the price. It still beats all of the entry level "Rebel" Canons. You might consider setting up ISO Sensitivity to suit your needs in the menu system, then you can shoot in "A" priority and basically let the camera adjust within the bounds you have set for the highest allowed ISO and the slowest shutter you can stand.
I guess this might indeed sound melodramatic, to compare long range telephoto photography to sniper shooting, but there are so many similarities, mostly to do with high powered long range optics and focusing or "aiming" that it is worth thinking about every time you go into the field.
Good luck. And remember until you get that shooting technique down, the larger sensors will only make matters worse. :)
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
http://365project.org/discuss/general/22126/to-go-full-frame-or-just-get-a-new-lens
@kiwi_big_bear
If you are set on a full frame camera from Nikon, the D610 without thinking twice, even though it is still missing a few things that, for instance, the new DX D7100 has. 5 shot auto bracketing and the 51 point Auto Focus complex of the D4s are two I use all the time.
The D800 is beginning to show its age, it is somewhat unwieldy and its controls could stand significant optimization. You might care to read Ken Rockwell on the subject. And look at the D7100 while you are at it, 1/2 the price of the D610, and your current lenses don't need immediate upgrade. This is my go-to camera currently, and I have no thoughts to upgrade until perhaps a significantly updated D810 or D900 might come to market.
http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d610.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d800.htm
But then six months later later he turns around and slams the D800 versus the Canon 5Diii. Even though I am an avid Nikonite, I agree with him, the Canon 5Diii is currently the best DSLR on the market, and will be until Nikon do something about the annoying idiosyncrasies of the D800e.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comparisons/d800-vs-5d-mark-iii.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7100.htm
Also DP Review is another independent voice of sanity.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d610
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d800-d800e/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d7100
But there is no point upgrading unless you upgrade your lenses to good FX (full frame lenses). There is the original 24-85 kit lens for the D600, not a bad lens at all, but you need something like the f/2.8 24-70 or the f/2.8 70-200 (at over four pounds heavy) or the 70-200 f/4 for half the weight and half the price to really distinguish FX from DX.
But why do you want to upgrade? What is the D5100 not doing that you want to do, or that it wouldn't do with good lenses, the ones already mentioned for example? It is my backup camera, and is still a most versatile performer. Just having an FX camera won't magically turn you into a great photographer. Indeed with the bigger sensors especially without good glass and good technique, your shooting could even look worse than on you D5100.
Good luck to you, but please don't just throw away US$5,000 "on the come" (considerably more in NZ dollars) without knowing exactly how a full frame camera can advantage you.
1) I have very big hands and it feels small in my hands.
2) I have a sigma 150-500 lens and its to heavy for this body. just finding the body is not weighted compared to the lens. I hope you follow what I mean by this. I am loving my D5100, I got it with the twin lens kit, 18-55mm and 55-200mm DX lens.
I'm mostly into shoting wildlife (birds) and landscape/ enviroment stuff. I'm also finding I am not getting very sharp/ Noisey shots with the sigma at full 500mm. Is just the way I'm using it or is this due to the multipling effect of my DX sensor?
I have that Sigma monster, and hand held you have to be very patient with it and follow all the long telephoto shooting rules. Like a crack sniper or marksman with a long range rifle, calm yourself down, plant yourself firmly and if possible support the camera/lens on a monopod or simply a wall, rock or ledge. If you watch the action TV shows, snipers always have their guns supported independently. If you have no such supports, make sure your arms are tightly tucked into your body, the left hand fully supporting the heavy lens from below, and if you are panning, twist your whole torso and don't move your hands independently. Listen to your heartbeat, breathe in, then exhale, hold it and shoot between heat beats. Image stabilization will only get you so far, as good as it is on the Big Sig.
Oh, and remember "multiple release" to get you multiple shots with one shutter press. The ones after the first or second, after the mirror has been raised and the slight body motion to start the shutter have been taken care of, are often clearer and "steadier" than the first one or two of the set.
The high ISO handling of the D5100 is remarkably good even today for an entry level camera and three years ago was the absolute best for the price. It still beats all of the entry level "Rebel" Canons. You might consider setting up ISO Sensitivity to suit your needs in the menu system, then you can shoot in "A" priority and basically let the camera adjust within the bounds you have set for the highest allowed ISO and the slowest shutter you can stand.
I guess this might indeed sound melodramatic, to compare long range telephoto photography to sniper shooting, but there are so many similarities, mostly to do with high powered long range optics and focusing or "aiming" that it is worth thinking about every time you go into the field.
Good luck. And remember until you get that shooting technique down, the larger sensors will only make matters worse. :)