Camera Choice

Jack Schmitt

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Hello,

Have been all over the internet in search of an answer:

I have been using a Nikon D3100 now since its birth, its a great camera but I a looking for something slightly better and newer.

I have narrowed down my search to the Nikon D5200 and the D7000. I understand that both of these models have been replaced but after looking the D5300 is not much better than the D5200 for the price and the D7100 is out of my budget.

I am mainly shooting Buildings and landscape type areas, something with a good low light would be great. The Nikon D5200 seemed to tick all the boxes for the difference in price that I have found new is only £70 between the D5200 and D7000. I would like to get 2years at least out of the camera so any ideas which would be the better?


Thanks
 
You can get a D5200 body for £345 if you don't mind grey import.

AL
 
you will see far more of an improvement in IQ through better glass, but assuming you already have decent lenses then I'd go for the D7000. I had a D7000 until recently (and have a D5100), same sensor but the D7000 is a much nicer camera to use. Depending on budget you could also consider a low mileage SH D7100. FWIW I picked up the D5100 brand new from a well known store for £275, so there are bargains about (they still have them but for £289).
 
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Not a Great fan of second hand, I do not knock anyone who buys second hand. I just have a slight bit of OCD with regards to second hand items and of course its nice to have something NEW. I have about 10 lenses, about half of which are Decent and the rest fair, the lenses I use tend to be the decent ones though so not really looking at buying anymore lenses just yet.

I had a quick go of the Nikon D5100 well when I say quick I actually used it for a couple of months and it seemed a very good camera easy to use and some good settings, I was just thinking it would be better to get the next one up from that Model if I was going with the D5*** range

The D7000 seems to have a good write up on the internet, I was just thinking it had a been out a few years now and would it still hold its own in a fight, and would it be easy to get into from using a level entry the last couple of years?
 
I think if you've got decent glass then the difference is going to be mostly functionality and ergonomics, making the jump from your current camera to D5*00 a fairly minor one, the D7*00 would make more sense. Each to their own as you say with SH equipment, but imo places like mifsuds and mpb where you get a warranty are worth considering, often the prices are on a par with what you pay on a forum.

Edit - forgot to say, I regret selling my D7000, its worth the premium over the D5100 for the extra focus points alone.
 
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The D7000 is still a fine camera & 16MP is more than enough for most. Don't get caught up in the MP arms race unless you want to print HUGE.
 
Thanks for the replies, I never have bought into the whole MP thing as I consider 14MP to be more than enough for what I do. If I did buy the 5200 then I would more than likely drop it down to a smaller MP count unless I needed a bigger size. I am more considering which will offer me better images and works good at low light photography, good ISO and the likes.
 
I would say the step up from a d3100 to a d7000 would be so much better than a d5100/5200. The d7000 is a great camera that is nearly as good as the d7100. Dual wheels (front/back), top LCD screen, better AF system, dual SD memory card slots, inbuilt AF motor allowing more lens choice are some of the benefits of the d7000.

Yes newer cameras have the 24 mp sensors but the d7000 is still a great camera even though it's older. I'm currently looking to move to full frame and looking at the older d700 even though the d800, d600 and d610 have come out since. Yes the d700 is only 12mp but it's still a great camera even though it's 5 years old.

If you want some ideas of what the d7000 can get let me know and I can post some images.

http://www.nphotomag.com/2012/12/05/nikon-d5200-vs-d7000-which-camera-is-best-for-you/
 
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I did do the compare on the Snapsort website and it told me the D7000 was better, I was just confused when I read an article somewhere saying how the D5200 has a better or newer processor and was better for low light photography. I was kind of leaning toward the D5200 as it takes the same batteries as my D3100 but if the D7000 is the better one hands down then I suppose that is the way forward.
 
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