D3100 Upgrade or buy new lens

[imogensdad]

What do people think?

I have got the budget to upgrade to D7100 or should I go for a better lens?

I currently have

18-55 kit
50mm 1.8
18-200 VR1
70-300 Tamron

My usual photography is a bit of kids rugby but mainly travel photography plus a little bit of family holiday snaps.

Was considering 17-55 2.8

I could possibly stretch to D7000 + new lens or just got for D7100.

Any advice taken!!!!

 

[Ivan S]

Depends, if cash is not a problem then why not.

A few questions you may want to ask yourself,
Have I got much use out of my D3100?
Is it not performing how I like?
Is it that upgrade itch that I am trying to suppress, when I am more than happy with my photo's?
Should I try a different angle of photography with my current setup, maybe a Ultra Wide Angle/Macro lens or some off camera flash/strobists shots?

Me personally, I would sell the 70-300 Tamron and the 18-200 VR1, and get a Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G AF-S VR IF-ED to replace what I sold, maybe even sell the 50 and get the 35 instead.

 

[Big Nick]

If I had that budget I'd buy a d7000 plus perhaps a Nikkor 16-85 or a Tamron 17-50VC which both are better than your standard zoom kit lens

Keep the Tamron 70-300 would be my advice, its on a par with the Nikkor version in my experience and slightly faster.
A real upgrade in this range would be the massively expensive but fast 70-200 f2.8's that are available

I think for the uses you describe the multi focus points of the d7000 and the faster Tamron would be of benefit to you

 

[damianmkv]

Spooky ! I have searched for a thread like this as im in the same position as you, considering going to a d7000 from a d3100.

I have read the comparisons and of course the d7000 is much better on paper but I don't know how this would relate to photo quality. Is there THAT much more detail to be had ? Or less noise in low light ?

Interested in people's thoughts ( sorry if I've hijacked your thread btw )

 

[Zarch]

Just made the jump, albeit a few days ago so hard to give true feedback just yet.

But I don't see your actual reason for wanting to upgrade? What is wrong with a) the d3100 or b) the lenses you have?

What aren't they doing for you that you want them to do?

I think if it's pure pixel peeping and a less iso noise you might be disappointed. I made the move as I wanted all the controls on the body instead of having to jump into the menus all the time.

Be warned though, the d7000 is much chunkier in the hand if you like your wee little d3100.

Will add more when not on phone.

 

[architectfadi]

A D7000 + lens is a good option but if money is not an issue go for the D7100.

 

[seriousrikk]

Mick has nailed it.

What is the d3100 not doing for you right now? Or... what sort of photography are you getting less keepers?

Because I don't see you getting much improvement in your photography if you upgrade the body, based on what you shoot.

Sure, the AF on the D7xxx cameras is better, but your lenses then become the limiting factor.

If you want a chunkier camera with better handling, however, maybe upgrade is the way.

 

[Zarch]

18-55 kit
50mm 1.8
18-200 VR1
70-300 Tamron

back at desk now........

Maybe you want to consider upgrading your lenses before the body? Comments i've read suggest that the D7000 is less forgiving with inferior lenses. (happy to be proved wrong)

Why not sell on you 18-55, 18-200 and 70-300 and go for higher quality replacements?

i've ended up with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 and a Sigma 70-200 2.8

The other thing that was a massive improvement for me was a Flash for those indoor shots of the kids. Not sure if you have one, but well worth considering something like a SB-600 or SB-700 if you want better indoor snaps.

Hope this helps.

 

[ecniv]

Personally I'd look at a body upgrade as the lens you have are doing the job (aren't they?).

Reason for this is that the upper consumer and low pro models give you a lot more controls to play with, plus more low light (higher iso/less noise).

If you have a meet going on near you with other nikon users, see whether you can borrow the cameras you are thinking of and try your lenses and memory card on them. Then you can compare against pics from the d3100.


The 7000/7100 is a little heavier, but if weight is not a problem have a look for :
- d300 used - around 400 ukp
- d300s used - a little more than 400ukp?
- d700 - used - around 1k ukp - problem here is that low light is (apparently) brill you lose the distance

Again, might be worth trying (hire for a weekend?) before buying.



Otherwise go for some crisper faster lens - probably the nikon one mentioned a few posts up?


Pics from a d300 are on the siggy...