Going back to a crop sensor

ian-83

ian-83

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Ian
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I am currently looking to move back to a crop sensor camera. I am very much a Nikon fan, never been too keen on Canon but could be persuaded. I currently have a Panasonic Lumix G80 but am not really getting on with it. I previously had a Nikon D7000 which I wish I hadn't changed from.
As I am looking to move back I was wondering should I go for a D7200 if I can afford it or would the difference in cost about £250 be better put towards a lens? And go with a D7000. I have found 16mp more than enough resolution for what I do with my images.
 
What subjects do you shoot? What is it specifically about the G80 that you don't get on with? Does it actually have anything to do with the sensor size or is it the body/menu layout?
 
How about something like a Fuji X-T1, crop sensor mirrorless in a dslr style body
 
Is it mirrorless you don’t like and just prefer DSLR? If so go for it, there are some good secondhand bargains around.
 
D7200 is a cracking camera, you won't be sorry if you don't need the speed and buffer of the D500.
 
AM I suffering Déjà vu here or did you not post the same thread a while back? If I'm right, the general consensus was to go back to Nikon if that's what you're happier using, even I suggested this [after initially being one of those who recommended you the G80]. What happened there?

It's all personal preference with these things, only you can decide. I went from Nikon to Fuji to Panasonic and tbh never found a whole heap of difference. I've stuck with the G80 over a year now because it's so easy to use and the results are up there with any crop sensor - bar when you push into higher ISO. I work around this by making use of the excellent IBIS on this body. If it's high ISO shooting you like to do a lot then yes, a D7200 will be much, much better. I would go for that if I were you.
 
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Just to add - if you can sell your G80 you could get a D7200 used for less than £500 on MPB, if your G80 is in good nick you could almost get that much if you have some extras
 
ian-83 said:
I think I might try some quotes for MPB etc to see what value my gear is, not sure if I could deal with trying to sell it all privately I find trading in less hassle. I always want s could of lenses too.
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It does save time and hardship just trading in, but obviously you won't get near the amount you could get privately. The G80 is still selling locally here for reasonable prices, there's much less competition than in the UK though. We don't really have any decent used sites like MPB or WEX and a lot of people just prefer to pay a bit more and buy local/used. I would see what MPB offer and maybe advertise it on here for a bit more, though factor in the fact that MPB pay for collection and then delivery of whatever you trade for, so add that in too.
 
to be honest I find things tend to stick on here your far better off with e.bay , buts thats just my gut feeling
 
I used a D7000 for 4 or 5 years, and now use a D7200. For some reason I never particularly liked the files from the D7000 - nothing to do with MP, because I still love the files from my D80, which only had 10.2 of them. I definitely prefer the files from the D7200 over the D7000. I wish I could explain just why, but I'm afraid I can't.

Incidentally, I used the same lenses on both models, mostly a Nikon 17-55 f2.8 and a Sigma 50mm f1.4 DG, so both very good lenses. I also have an old nikon 18-70 kit lens. The feeling remains constant, no matter whether cheap or expensive glass.
 
I have recently gone back to a crop sensor as well , luckily having used many different makes and models over the years I had a reference point and pulled up different combos from my Flickr stream . I decided that the nicest shots came from a Nikon D300S , so after a few weeks of looking at a lot of very overpriced bodies I eventually found a super one with a lot of extras for just over £200 my original intent was to use it with the couple of legacy Nikon m/f lenses I have , but a chance shopping trip saw me getting a bnib sigma 150-600 for around half price from a shop that’s closing down soon . Genuine sale confirmed by sigma with a 3 year warranty applied .. very pleased with the results to .
 
I like m4/3 for travel photography, camera and few primes doesn't take up much room, nice and light too.
Kept a limited Fuji setup for low light stuff in particular plus the 10-24mm is great for landscapes and architecture.

My preference is for rangefinder style cameras although the little G80 looks interesting.
Might have to give it a try one day if an opportunity arises or maybe the even smaller Olympus EM10 ii

Saw the comment about Fuji feeling fiddly, all the dials seem to be quite popular with some people.
Hope you find what you are looking for, quite satisfying when you do
 
FWIW if trading in, I recently sent some lenses to Wex after they gave me a slightly better offer than MPB, possibly because I said I'd take account credit rather than cash as I have decided on a new lens to buy from them.
 
Funnily enough I have had d7000; and d7100’s before and a host of canon gear but I preferred the look of the files from a D300S ,so far it’s proving me right getting some nice stuff at the moment but really could do with some nice weather to push it properly . I have also been looking at the D7200 but need more funds so it’s on a back burner for now .
I still have the Panasonic g80 12-60 and Leica 100-400 to use as needed plus a couple of manual focus lenses a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 aids among them
 
I had a few Nikon cameras, the D80, D90, D200 and D800E - tbh, the Pany G80 stands up pretty well to any of them - bar the D800 in low light, DR and of course file size. But in general I find the files from the Pany even sharper than the older Nikon bodies - no doubt the D7*** range are better than the old bunch but even still, unless low light is your biggest issue you may end up disappointed if you're expecting a total improvement. I have often thought about a return to my old fauthful Nikon, and a D7200 is probably where I would start. But I'd miss so much about the G80 - the IBIS in particular, the touch screen, the evf, the video capabilities whenever I do bother to use it - just like having it there JIC, and how great the camera is for adapting old classic lenses, giving them a new lease of life with IBIS. If it was just simply about IQ end result I probably would have gone back to a D7200 by now, but I think photography is about so much more.
 
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Cagey75 said:
I had a few Nikon cameras, the D80, D90, D200 and D800E - tbh, the Pany G80 stands up pretty well to any of them - bar the D800 in low light, DR and of course file size. But in general I find the files from the Pany even sharper than the older Nikon bodies - no doubt the D7*** range are better than the old bunch but even still, unless low light is your biggest issue you may end up disappointed if you're expecting a total improvement. I have often thought about a return to my old fauthful Nikon, and a D7200 is probably where I would start. But I'd miss so much about the G80 - the IBIS in particular, the touch screen, the evf, the video capabilities whenever I do bother to use it - just like having it there JIC, and how great the camera is for adapting old classic lenses, giving them a new lease of life with IBIS. If it was just simply about IQ end result I probably would have gone back to a D7200 by now, but I think photography is about so much more.
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Hence my change of mind about selling the g80 each has there own niche in the market. Luckily I’m in a position to be able to retain and use both . Time will tell but I’m enjoying myself at the moment
 
You are going back. So go with an open mind. Get a short list and try them out.
 
ian-83 said:
It's a great camera technology wise, I just don't seem to be able to gel with it.
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Why not? Handling? Controls? Some image qualities?

The trouble with camera equipment as with images themselves is that it can get so easy to overthink it all - with gear, shopping choices can take precedence over what is actually produced. But I sense that you're on a certain drift, so keep with it ..

For what I do myself, my concerns with bodies (sensors +) are modest enough but relate to dr and what I can claw back from highlights and yes, shadows, with as little compromise as possible. And my guess (that's all it is) is that on average ff might be better, and more surely that newer is better than older.

But what the hell - we make images, don't we? And though there are baselines of visual & technical competence, the image is the message in the end, both in whether it satisfies ourselves and in whether it gets through to - well, the target audience, I suppose, whether commercial, cultural, or just some arbitrary peer group.

ian-83 said:
I normally plan ahead and take a body and one lens.
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I like that!
 
as a wildlife photographer , the two things I look for is frames per second and buffer and the old d300s beats the d7200 on both counts . a d500 would be better but a tad more expensive . I will possibly move up a touch sometime in the future but for now the combo of both cameras and main lenses will do for the time being . now where can I buy some sunny weather from
 
Honestly, get a D500 and you wont even look back, I did and I am now chomping at the bit to take it with me everywhere again, with the D810 then the D4 and back to another D810 I never wanted to do that, the D700 was totally different, I would have another in a heartbeat...… but D810 although its a fantastic camera, its just not for me, D500 all the way now or until it gets an upgrade to a newer model, 21mp is plenty enough.
 
ian-83 said:
How odd, I was always quite happy with the files from my D7000. They seemed sharp enough for me. Is tempting to find some files from a D7200 to see how they compare...
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Nothing to do with sharpness, Ian, as I said, I actually prefer the files from my old D80 to those of the 7000. I wish I were able to explain what I mean, and anyway, these things are very subjective. I convert most of my serious work to B&W, and it is probably around what happens in that process. I like a very 'film-like' look, so it's something to do with texture and tonality, but not sharpness.
 
I totally agree with this , one of the reasons I went for the D300S there is something about the way the files are processed that’s different , the only drawback is having to ensure that you manage the iso levels properly .
 
D7500? They are a bit more expensive than a D7200 and the sensor isn't quite as good (looks like it has extra noise reduction after iso 400 but it doesn't help dynamic range). However has a fold out/flippy touch screen, better fps and is a bit more modern.
 
The G80 images look better than the D7000 because the Nikon sensor is ancient and things have moved on a lot.

I had a D7000 but would never go back to one now.

FWIW I now use M4/3 and enjoy it.

I did the whole Full frame DSLR thing and had a good time with the kit too but a lighter camera bag nowadays is much more preferable to an aching back in the evenings.
 
and don't forget the D7500 makes do with only one card slot and no battery grip option (if that's important to you), where as the D7200 has twin slots and a dedicated battery grip. Also the D7200 has the AI index tab for older Nikkor lenses if you have any ?

It's swings and roundabouts, but my money would be on the cheaper D7200 (as I had one and it was great).
 
Last year I went from a Canon 5D to Fuji, it was 100% the right move for me, however I occasionaly look at some of the photos I took with the 5D and my best lenses and the quality is amazing. My Fuji is close, but the images from full frame are better.
 
I changed from a D7000 and Sigma 150-600 lens to a G80 and 100-400 lens.
I love the G80 and wouldn't go back.
I know what you mean about all the menu options etc, but I've customised all the buttons to suit my requirements and it's easier to remember which button does what.
 
I never understand the problems people have with menus. Once I've set my camera up I honestly hardly ever use the menus as I only really need them to format the card and change the clock twice a year. Other than those two things I'm honestly struggling to think what I use the menus for.

Still, each to their own and if people don't like the menu a camera has they're free to buy something else.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
The G80 images look better than the D7000 because the Nikon sensor is ancient and things have moved on a lot.

I had a D7000 but would never go back to one now.

FWIW I now use M4/3 and enjoy it.

I did the whole Full frame DSLR thing and had a good time with the kit too but a lighter camera bag nowadays is much more preferable to an aching back in the evenings.
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Im looking at M4/3rds for the same reason, would like a lighter camera bag, just want to be sure before I commit, thinking of hiring to try out the camera I fancy.

ian-83 said:
Still haven't decided what to do! :rolleyes:
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Have you thought of trying the G9, if you already have the glass for Pano.
 
Another update from me here , a few weeks ago I had a mad e.bay moment and got a D7200 , and having in the past used both the 7000 and 7100 let me assure you this is one beast of a camera , exceeding all my expectations .. . I still have and use the G80 to ,cant see any good reason to sell that .. now moved the 300s on to help pay for the new one ..
 
ian-83 said:
I have looked at the G9 but price puts me off and if I had a body that size I might as well have a bigger sensor in it.



Looked at D7200 but not sure I want to spend that much. I don't need what it offers over a D7100. But the 7100 over a 7000 is worth the difference I think. Better AF and sensor.
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You're one of those who will just never be satisfied, and I get it, I never am myself but I carry on with what I got in the mean time
 
ian-83 said:
I have looked at the G9 but price puts me off and if I had a body that size I might as well have a bigger sensor in it.
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Look at the lenses though. If like me you prefer primes in the 24-85mm equivalent range and zooms in the 24-300mm range you can build a system of compact, light and reasonably priced kit that'll be useable from wide open. Look at APS-C DSLR's though and for some choices you're limited to FF lenses, some of which are aging designs.

The main thing though is that just about anything will very probably be good enough and possibly easily so and if you don't think something is then you can Google your way to examples of what other people are getting with the same kit. That usually telly me that it's me that's the limiting factor :D

I've decided that mirrorless is the way forward for me and I have what I think is a full MFT kit with 17, 25 and 45mm f1.8 primes and zooms covering 12-200mm. I also have a Sony A7 and some compact (for FF) lenses for when I want the best quality I can get and I also have some old film era lenses because I like them :D

You'll have to do some thinking and decide which way you want to go. Good luck deciding and I hope you can settle on a system.
 
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Trouble is we ALL have different applications for the same kit .. so what works for my needs won’t for yours .. it comes down to use , weight, speed,price , then add in whether you shoot raw or j.peg and process on a pc or mac . I thought the D300s would suit me but I realised that when I used it previously it was with a diffent lens plus t.c’s and my p.p gear was lower spec , plus the weather was different . .. nostalgia is a two edged sword sometimes it works others it doesn’t
 
E-Infinity d7200 £509 ,great camera ,dynamic range is really good,good focussing system.good body etc
 
the black fox said:
Trouble is we ALL have different applications for the same kit .. so what works for my needs won’t for yours .. it comes down to use , weight, speed,price , then add in whether you shoot raw or j.peg and process on a pc or mac . I thought the D300s would suit me but I realised that when I used it previously it was with a diffent lens plus t.c’s and my p.p gear was lower spec , plus the weather was different . .. nostalgia is a two edged sword sometimes it works others it doesn’t
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I must have missed the i between bit,thought you preferred the d300s files,be hard to beat the sensor in the d7200
 
Saveo
ian-83 said:
I have looked at the G9 but price puts me off and if I had a body that size I might as well have a bigger sensor in it.



Looked at D7200 but not sure I want to spend that much. I don't need what it offers over a D7100. But the 7100 over a 7000 is worth the difference I think. Better AF and sensor.
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save the extra and get the d7200,especially if you do landscapes and pull up the shadows as the d7100 banding is something that has been reported when using that tecnique
 
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