Do I need a new camera body?

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Dorsetsnapshot

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Mark
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Hi All,

Just after some advice from people in the know, if possible.

I was recently at an agricultural show shooting some animals (hobby not a paid job), and as my equipment is basic, I was using my Nikon D7000 and a Sigma 70-300mm (5.6 :|) ... the photos of the animals that were being paraded were fine, and whilst they wouldn't feature in magazines, I was pleased with what I had taken (first time out with the camera in 18m). however the issue is, when there were events such as horses running at speed, all my photos were blurry..

Now, I was thinking that, as I love shooting animals, I should invest in a faster lens for those sort of shots.... but my friend has said that it is likely that my camera body is a bit too old now and it would be better to upgrade that first. He mentioned the Nikon D500 I tihnk?

If the animal photography is the way I want to go, am I best to buy that body first, then get a lens for it also?

Thanks in advance!
 
I'd say it was lack of experience more than equipment failure, AF-C and a fast shutter speed would give sharp shots or a slower speed and learn to pan , as in following the action so the horse is in focus as you're keeping the lens in line with it but the background is blurred as the lens is moving across it

If you don't practice a different body would give the same results

Having said that, any excuse for new equipment is fine :D
 
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Do you have any examples of the blurry photos and settings they were taken with. Like others have said it could be experience of taking that kind of photo.

I don’t have any experience of the sigma 70-300 but having owned a D7000 previously I’d bet if there could be an improve by swapping out the camera or the lens I’d say the lens would be my first port of call. The D500 is a great camera but it still needs good lenses attached to it.
 
Dorsetsnapshot said:
Hi All,

Just after some advice from people in the know, if possible.

I was recently at an agricultural show shooting some animals (hobby not a paid job), and as my equipment is basic, I was using my Nikon D7000 and a Sigma 70-300mm (5.6 :|) ... the photos of the animals that were being paraded were fine, and whilst they wouldn't feature in magazines, I was pleased with what I had taken (first time out with the camera in 18m). however the issue is, when there were events such as horses running at speed, all my photos were blurry..

Now, I was thinking that, as I love shooting animals, I should invest in a faster lens for those sort of shots.... but my friend has said that it is likely that my camera body is a bit too old now and it would be better to upgrade that first. He mentioned the Nikon D500 I tihnk?

If the animal photography is the way I want to go, am I best to buy that body first, then get a lens for it also?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
As above, you need to diagnose the problem. Take a look at some of your images in software that can read the settings you used. Nikon's free software, (the latest version is called NX Studio) is good for this. That will give you the aperture, shutter speed, the ISO, what focus mode you used, and (in some modes) the position of the focus point. Was the shutter speed too low to capture the action? Could you have raised it by increasing the ISO or opening up the aperture? Did the camera acquire focus and (perhaps using AF-C mode) keep it locked as the horse moved? You might want to share your settings or an image or two for further advice.
 
Just given that 40 years ago we were able to shoot moving animals; it’s not likely that your camera can’t cope.

As above, post examples w exif and you’ll get answers.
 
Dorsetsnapshot said:
Now, I was thinking that, as I love shooting animals, I should invest in a faster lens for those sort of shots.... but my friend has said that it is likely that my camera body is a bit too old now and it would be better to upgrade that first.
Click to expand...

Just to reinforce what others have said, but from someone who replaced a D7000 with a D500 (for bird in flight pictures), blurred pictures of horses running, is far more likely to be a technique issue than an old camera issue. I would explore the suggestions that others have posted. Until you have eliminated the blurriness being related to technique, a D500 isn't going to make a noticeable difference.
 
Hi Mark @Dorsetsnapshot

As has been pointed out 'new gear' does not equate to overcoming the need to improve cameracraft & technique, so do please show some examples of what you are getting and more insight should follow for you.

PS by way of illustration using what is now an much older tech model (and lens) in 2008
Scurry racing shot at Hickstead.....other than minor crops for compositional reason they are just about frame fillers taken with the Canon 40D and the 70-300mm lens (all since sold some years back)

scurry_4196.jpg
EXIF - 1/60s , f9, ISO 100 and lens at 120mm

scurry_3997.jpg
EXIF - 1/125s, f5.6 , ISO 100 and lens at 120mm

PPS sorry about the image sizes but they are the size I saved that many years ago for the web and have not revisited them for years until your post came up.
 
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