Get a new camera, but not a new camera.
I just picked up a Nikon D7000 body, which is a 2010 model, for $560 new in box. By comparison, the D7200 which replaced it is currently selling for about $1,200 for just the body. Here's a comparison (http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D7200-vs-Nikon_D7000/specs).
Really the only differences are some 1080p video frame rates (I only ever use 24p so I don't care), and a slightly better low-light ISO score (but both cameras score over 1000 ISO which is really good).
EDIT: I just noticed you mentioned the D7000 by name. I suppose you can take my advice as a glowing endorsement, then.
when $500 a month is going to car payments, $2000+ is going to student loans, plus food and gas.
Also, most important..
Cameras sit around and do jack nothing MOST of the time..
Let's say you can invest $1000 and get a girlfriend vs $1000 on a camera...
Which would you pick..
A girlfriend usually has significantly more utility.
Also, most important..
Cameras sit around and do jack nothing MOST of the time..
Let's say you can invest $1000 and get a girlfriend vs $1000 on a camera...
Which would you pick..
A girlfriend usually has significantly more utility.
Whoa whoa whoa mr.TP
Idk where you are finding these $1000 girlfriends but I can tell you your calculations are way off. If we factor in just birthdays and Holiday gifts for said gf that's about a grand right there. These girls eat at the bank account like some sort of ravenous Marc Jacobs buying machines. Diners/movies/etc, not to mention you might want to spruce up your own wardrobe to keep her wanting a piece of that everyday. The sex may seem worth it in the beginning but as the time moves on and you realize how much $$$ you are actually spending you may want to reconsider.
My vote is for a reasonably priced escort and a D3300
With cameras, it's not really about the camera body itself as it is the lenses. Your best bet would probably be to pick an older model DSLR for cheap.
With cameras, it's not really about the camera body itself as it is the lenses. Your best bet would probably be to pick an older model DSLR for cheap.
It's both, and if I'm going to buy a camera, I'd rather spend $400-500 on a body with a warranty than $200-300 on something without one that has an unknown number of shutter actuations and where I have no clue how the internals are.
I saw it's both because many older models don't have the same color range or handle colors as well as others. Older DSLRs (like my D70) have a very difficult time with the color orange. More modern DSLRs do better with orange. Older DSLRs have a lot more grain at ISO over 400-800, modern (in the last 4 years or so) handle low light dramatically better and have more aesthetically pleasing grain.
The lenses do play a role, but the $100-200 difference between a nicer DSLR with a better feature set and an older one or one with worse features is not enough to buy some really nice glass.
Well then then Rebels are certainly a good camera in the $400-500 range
Also, most important..
Cameras sit around and do jack nothing MOST of the time..
Let's say you can invest $1000 and get a girlfriend vs $1000 on a camera...
Which would you pick..
A girlfriend usually has significantly more utility.
Whoa whoa whoa mr.TP
Idk where you are finding these $1000 girlfriends but I can tell you your calculations are way off. If we factor in just birthdays and Holiday gifts for said gf that's about a grand right there. These girls eat at the bank account like some sort of ravenous Marc Jacobs buying machines. Diners/movies/etc, not to mention you might want to spruce up your own wardrobe to keep her wanting a piece of that everyday. The sex may seem worth it in the beginning but as the time moves on and you realize how much $$$ you are actually spending you may want to reconsider.
My vote is for a reasonably priced escort and a D3300
With cameras, it's not really about the camera body itself as it is the lenses. Your best bet would probably be to pick an older model DSLR for cheap.
It's both, and if I'm going to buy a camera, I'd rather spend $400-500 on a body with a warranty than $200-300 on something without one that has an unknown number of shutter actuations and where I have no clue how the internals are.
I saw it's both because many older models don't have the same color range or handle colors as well as others. Older DSLRs (like my D70) have a very difficult time with the color orange. More modern DSLRs do better with orange. Older DSLRs have a lot more grain at ISO over 400-800, modern (in the last 4 years or so) handle low light dramatically better and have more aesthetically pleasing grain.
The lenses do play a role, but the $100-200 difference between a nicer DSLR with a better feature set and an older one or one with worse features is not enough to buy some really nice glass.
Well then then Rebels are certainly a good camera in the $400-500 range
Also, most important..
Cameras sit around and do jack nothing MOST of the time..
Let's say you can invest $1000 and get a girlfriend vs $1000 on a camera...
Which would you pick..
A girlfriend usually has significantly more utility.
Whoa whoa whoa mr.TP
Idk where you are finding these $1000 girlfriends but I can tell you your calculations are way off. If we factor in just birthdays and Holiday gifts for said gf that's about a grand right there. These girls eat at the bank account like some sort of ravenous Marc Jacobs buying machines. Diners/movies/etc, not to mention you might want to spruce up your own wardrobe to keep her wanting a piece of that everyday. The sex may seem worth it in the beginning but as the time moves on and you realize how much $$$ you are actually spending you may want to reconsider.
My vote is for a reasonably priced escort and a D3300
I've seen guys that spend quite alot on dates.. But I think they're doing it wrong..
I usually get where I want to be after a simple lunch date.. couldn't be more than $40
so.... I can get almost a month and a half of -relationship- for $1000.
Hi, is this pot talking again??
Oh come one we expect gifts to punks, drinks when we go out and to be taken out to do something interesting on a fairly regular basis :))
On a real basis though you find the right one of us and we will put in just as much or more as the guy in the relationship 8)
That being said the camera is definitely the safer easier less complicated purchase by far !!!!
geez I learn2 spill wit deardliest ofz precisionz (http://bitterblend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bubbles.png)Oh come one we expect gifts to punks, drinks when we go out and to be taken out to do something interesting on a fairly regular basis :))
On a real basis though you find the right one of us and we will put in just as much or more as the guy in the relationship 8)
That being said the camera is definitely the safer easier less complicated purchase by far !!!!Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/yhQU9cZ.jpg)
With cameras, it's not really about the camera body itself as it is the lenses. Your best bet would probably be to pick an older model DSLR for cheap.
...It's both...
geez I learn2 spill wit deardliest ofz precisionzOh come one we expect gifts to punks, drinks when we go out and to be taken out to do something interesting on a fairly regular basis :))
On a real basis though you find the right one of us and we will put in just as much or more as the guy in the relationship 8)
That being said the camera is definitely the safer easier less complicated purchase by far !!!!Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/yhQU9cZ.jpg)Show Image(http://bitterblend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bubbles.png)
just a bit of self deprecating humor 8pgeez I learn2 spill wit deardliest ofz precisionzOh come one we expect gifts to punks, drinks when we go out and to be taken out to do something interesting on a fairly regular basis :))
On a real basis though you find the right one of us and we will put in just as much or more as the guy in the relationship 8)
That being said the camera is definitely the safer easier less complicated purchase by far !!!!Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/yhQU9cZ.jpg)Show Image(http://bitterblend.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/bubbles.png)
Not sure if spelling mistakes were on purpose..
Could be a medical condition..Show Image(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/014.gif)
Thanks for the input everyone.. though that's probably the wrong phase given the lady user to say that...You take really nice pics as is Nubbz . However given the amount of money you have dedicated to Bills and loans I'm not really sure how hard a $500 camera would hit your wallet. I guess I would say if you could sell something In your collection your not completely enamored with to help mitigate the cost go for it.m
I may look more at the D5300. The pentamirror v pentaprism, smaller viewfinder, no AF motor, single dial for shutter speed and aperture, and a few other features got to me on the D5000 series, but it may be worth rehashing.
I'll probably be selling some keyboard stuff (my Leitch G81 and G80 phone system board) to help fund it.
You take really nice pics as is Nubbz . However given the amount of money you have dedicated to Bills and loans I'm not really sure how hard a $500 camera would hit your wallet. I guess I would say if you could sell something In your collection your not completely enamored with to help mitigate the cost go for it.m
Your photos are really good already, so you don't need to upgrade for that reason. I'd wait til it dies and buy then. But maybe start saving now to make that easier. ;)
Also, it's great to see someone else with that much a month in student loan payments! :rolleyes:
I've recently purchased a 5300 which will not be as fast as the D7000, but I am enjoying a number of the other features. In the shop the D7000 was not as easy to adjust on the fly, and I liked how the external screen on the 5300 played a greater role in recording video/previewing the effect (live view) ISO/shutter/aperture on a subject.
You take really nice pics as is Nubbz . However given the amount of money you have dedicated to Bills and loans I'm not really sure how hard a $500 camera would hit your wallet. I guess I would say if you could sell something In your collection your not completely enamored with to help mitigate the cost go for it.m
That was kind of the plan. I have keyboards that I'm not using and don't plan on using, so I'm going to try and sell them to fund a new (to me at least) camera and/or lenses. I figure I could most likely raise a couple hundred doing that.Your photos are really good already, so you don't need to upgrade for that reason. I'd wait til it dies and buy then. But maybe start saving now to make that easier. ;)
Also, it's great to see someone else with that much a month in student loan payments! :rolleyes:
Thanks man. I convinced myself I didn't need a new one yet, then decided I did, so I'm all screwed up. I was looking at a new one not just for the pictures on here but because I've been thinking about some of the features and how the camera and features may encourage me to start hiking or going on walks again. Grad school got me out of shape and my job didn't help, so I'm looking at it to help encourage me to get off my ass a little more.
Sorry to make you sad about the loan payments Hoff. I started at ~$30k last January or February and I've been paying them off as quickly as I could and I'm now down to $3500...or will be once the payment from my last paycheck clears.
I've recently purchased a 5300 which will not be as fast as the D7000, but I am enjoying a number of the other features. In the shop the D7000 was not as easy to adjust on the fly, and I liked how the external screen on the 5300 played a greater role in recording video/previewing the effect (live view) ISO/shutter/aperture on a subject.
The D5300 was the other one I looked at really hard before buying the D7000. Your comparison is pretty spot-on, and I liked some of the firmware features (like built-in HDR) but at the end of the day, I figured it was better to spend the money on more sensor in exchange for fewer features.
That said, it's an awesome camera you've got there and I don't think there's one right answer for everyone.
I might be selling my camera setup xP
Having a camera you enjoy using is good but what really matters are the lenses.
A very sharp and clear lens in a focal length you use is FAR more satisfying than getting a nice camera body (unless you need the features from the new body or something is disrupting the picture taking from the old body).
Prime lenses are the best for quality.
I'm hoping to move to the new Sony A7 body and get some other nice primes
Prime lenses are the best for quality.
I'm hoping to move to the new Sony A7 body and get some other nice primes
The Sony A7 is no joke. I just...Sony...I just can't.
Prime lenses are the best for quality.
I'm hoping to move to the new Sony A7 body and get some other nice primes
The Sony A7 is no joke. I just...Sony...I just can't.
I've had good experiences with some of sony's stuff. They tend to be hit or miss with some products but the Sony A7 is definitely a hit.
Prime lenses are the best for quality.
I'm hoping to move to the new Sony A7 body and get some other nice primes
The Sony A7 is no joke. I just...Sony...I just can't.
I've had good experiences with some of sony's stuff. They tend to be hit or miss with some products but the Sony A7 is definitely a hit.
I never thought I would see the day when real pro's would abandon SLR in favor of mirrorless. In fact, I never even considered it as a possibility. But leave it to Sony, they've always been the pioneers in digital imaging.
The really nice thing about the A7 is that they seem to be really good with non-Sony lens support, which is something decidedly un-Sonylike.
I think the killer about the A7 is the size convenience along with the full frame sensor. I know that the lenses can make up a lot of the bulk when travelling but a nice slim Sony A7 with a couple of lenses is a lot more doable than let's say the Canon 5dShow Image(http://bloghammonphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSC48281.jpg)
I think the killer about the A7 is the size convenience along with the full frame sensor. I know that the lenses can make up a lot of the bulk when travelling but a nice slim Sony A7 with a couple of lenses is a lot more doable than let's say the Canon 5dShow Image(http://bloghammonphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DSC48281.jpg)
Wow, I knew it was smaller but I didn't realize how much smaller it really is.
Won't be long now before cameras are just little discs with some buttons around the edge and an optional "full body" grip attachment.
So part of me really wants a new camera. I'm still using a D70 I got before going to college, so it's something like 10 years old with tens of thousands of shutter actuations.
There's more to cameras than sensor size. As an SLR shooter who got tired of not seeing images in the EVF in bright light, I don't think I'm going to be shooting a point-and-shoot anytime soon. And that includes the sony alpha line and all the 4/3 crowd.
Plus a few other words I wrote about this, before: https://votefordavid.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/dont-be-a-dummy-dont-buy-an-evil-camera/
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
That's my main beef with mirrorless (the lack of discrete aperture and SS controls) so that would probably bug me. :-/ That is a good deal though...
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
That's my main beef with mirrorless (the lack of discrete aperture and SS controls) so that would probably bug me. :-/ That is a good deal though...
What do you mean by "lack of discrete aperture and SS controls"? My Oly E-M5 and E-P3 both have them, as well as most other higher-end Olys and Pannys. And the Sony mirrorless models have them too I think...
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
That's my main beef with mirrorless (the lack of discrete aperture and SS controls) so that would probably bug me. :-/ That is a good deal though...
What do you mean by "lack of discrete aperture and SS controls"? My Oly E-M5 and E-P3 both have them, as well as most other higher-end Olys and Pannys. And the Sony mirrorless models have them too I think...
Perhaps my sweeping generalization of "mirrorless" was a bit too sweeping. My NEX-F3 has one dial on the back that controls both aperture and SS, toggled by a push button. I just don't like that. :P I much prefer controlling aperture with a lens dial, but that doesn't seem to be a thing in the digital world. :rolleyes:
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
That's my main beef with mirrorless (the lack of discrete aperture and SS controls) so that would probably bug me. :-/ That is a good deal though...
What do you mean by "lack of discrete aperture and SS controls"? My Oly E-M5 and E-P3 both have them, as well as most other higher-end Olys and Pannys. And the Sony mirrorless models have them too I think...
Perhaps my sweeping generalization of "mirrorless" was a bit too sweeping. My NEX-F3 has one dial on the back that controls both aperture and SS, toggled by a push button. I just don't like that. :P I much prefer controlling aperture with a lens dial, but that doesn't seem to be a thing in the digital world. :rolleyes:
More smooth but overrated. Just like your pancakes.
Now I'm even more torn with this refurbished deal: http://www.adorama.com/INKD5300BK1R.html
I was really leaning toward a refurbed D7100, but this deal makes it tougher to choose.
How quickly did you adjust to the controls Binge? Any quibbles with the camera? I'm really used to the discrete aperture and SS controls and prefer a camera with an onboard lens motor, but it's almost $150 cheaper than most refurbs I've seen and it comes with a lens.
That's my main beef with mirrorless (the lack of discrete aperture and SS controls) so that would probably bug me. :-/ That is a good deal though...
What do you mean by "lack of discrete aperture and SS controls"? My Oly E-M5 and E-P3 both have them, as well as most other higher-end Olys and Pannys. And the Sony mirrorless models have them too I think...
Perhaps my sweeping generalization of "mirrorless" was a bit too sweeping. My NEX-F3 has one dial on the back that controls both aperture and SS, toggled by a push button. I just don't like that. :P I much prefer controlling aperture with a lens dial, but that doesn't seem to be a thing in the digital world. :rolleyes:
I just played with a D5300 and D7100 and the choice is even tougher. The 7100 has a better layout, more intuitive controls, built in lens motor, bigger viewfinder, and easily navigated menu. The D5300 feels comfortable and takes a little more work to make adjustments, but isn't too hard to do though it is a little clunky. The viewfinder is just as bright, the options are all pretty much there and, while slower, can still be adjusted pretty easily on the fly.
Yeah, I can definitely see how you could get used to it. The D7100 felt more natural, but the size and weight of the D5300 definitely was a bit nicer too. I'm still on the fence. I know the D7100 has a bunch of features I probably wouldn't use, but at the same time, I feel more comfortable with it. The D5300 is a much better deal and offers everything I really need. The lens motor, bigger viewfinder, extra dial, and weather sealing are more wants than needs.
Yeah, that extra dial might not be just a nice thing to have. Depending on what you're shooting (again, you mentioned sporting events), not having to go through soft menus is worth a ton to me. Like worth so much I wouldn't consider a body where a critical adjustment I potentially would need to make was in a soft-menu.
Yeah, I can definitely see how you could get used to it. The D7100 felt more natural, but the size and weight of the D5300 definitely was a bit nicer too. I'm still on the fence. I know the D7100 has a bunch of features I probably wouldn't use, but at the same time, I feel more comfortable with it. The D5300 is a much better deal and offers everything I really need. The lens motor, bigger viewfinder, extra dial, and weather sealing are more wants than needs.
The lens that stays on my camera is the 50mm f/1.8D.
The lens that stays on my camera is the 50mm f/1.8D.
+1 for prime lenses. The 35mm is so super fast and sharp that it may have ruined all other lenses for me.
Lucky for me, a photographer friend warned me about the kit lens and instead advised me to buy the body only and the 35mm 1.8. So as of right now I literally cannot zoom, but I hardly miss it in light of the photo quality.
Primes are fun because they force you to think and move.
Yeah, that extra dial might not be just a nice thing to have. Depending on what you're shooting (again, you mentioned sporting events), not having to go through soft menus is worth a ton to me. Like worth so much I wouldn't consider a body where a critical adjustment I potentially would need to make was in a soft-menu.I have not encountered a need to use soft menus in full manual mode on the D5300. Complete control with one dial.
Complete control with one dial and a modifier button you sometimes have to look away from the shot to use.
FTFY
[...]bigger viewfinder[...]
Primes are fun because they force you to think and move.Exactly this! There is almost always a better angle than the zoomed in one. You just need the motivation to look for it.
tbc, a teensy EVF is not going to show you depth of field as well as a 3" one . . . and the 3" one on the back won't show you jack in bright sunlight. All cameras fall down in some areas.
Welp, finally bit on a refurbished Nikon D7100 (http://www.adorama.com/INKD7100R.html?utm_source=EMW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=AdoramaOrderConfirmation). Definitely hurt to drop the money, but looking forward to it.
Welp, finally bit on a refurbished Nikon D7100 (http://www.adorama.com/INKD7100R.html?utm_source=EMW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=AdoramaOrderConfirmation). Definitely hurt to drop the money, but looking forward to it.
Welp, finally bit on a refurbished Nikon D7100 (http://www.adorama.com/INKD7100R.html?utm_source=EMW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=AdoramaOrderConfirmation). Definitely hurt to drop the money, but looking forward to it.NICE I'm sure the extra money hurt but unlike A LOT of people who make knee jerk purchases (like me) it sounds like you put a lot of thought into this and what features to $$ different models had etc....
Welp, finally bit on a refurbished Nikon D7100 (http://www.adorama.com/INKD7100R.html?utm_source=EMW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=AdoramaOrderConfirmation). Definitely hurt to drop the money, but looking forward to it.
Welp, finally bit on a refurbished Nikon D7100 (http://www.adorama.com/INKD7100R.html?utm_source=EMW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=AdoramaOrderConfirmation). Definitely hurt to drop the money, but looking forward to it.