D50 Owner, looking to upgrade « Nikon Rumors Forum

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D50 Owner, looking to upgrade

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Gazz

junior member
Joined: May '12
Posts: 5
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Hello there folks,

I've been a lurker for a few weeks but thought it was time to post and use the NR braintrust :D

I currently own a D50 which I bought in 2006. I've been steadily learning about photography since then, starting out shooting JPG and on Auto... through to now shooting RAW and (still) learning manual settings (currently doing an Intermediate Photography course in the evenings).

My kit consists of:

D50
Nikon 18-55mm (no VR)
Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX
Sigma 70-300 4-5.6
SB400

I get pretty good shots out of it but I've felt for a while that the AF points were a bit of a let down, along with significant noise in some lower light shots.

We just got our yearly bonus at work which was slightly more than normal so I've found myself in the position to be able to upgrade my camera and I'm keen to do so soon... here starts the problem...

I'm the kinda guy who keeps my camera for a while to get my moneys worth, so I want something that I can grow into (as I'm still learning)

I really don't want this to turn into another Dxx vs. Dxxx vs. Dxxxx thread but as I see it the camera I'm leaning towards is the D7000.

It's a good price right now with the £80 cash back on body only (and I have a £25 Amazon voucher to spend ;))

So, my question is - after all that - compared to the D50 that I currently own, the D7000 will be an average / good / significant upgrade? ... and will it offer me sufficient room to grow into over and above what the D50 is capable of with the lenses I own?

I'm reading a lot about the impending D7100 but I fear that if/when it is released, it will cost more than the current D7000 and I'll be priced out of the purchase.

The only other consideration would be the D5100, again with some cashback right now but will mean my 70-300 lens will be manual focus only....

Sorry for the long winded post, but I've put a bit of thought into this, buying a camera is a big deal for me and I don't want to be stuck with something outdated or that does not offer anything significant over and above what I have now.

Thank you all in advance for any feedback and thanks for taking the time to read this post!

-Garry

Posted 1 year ago #
Yetibuddha

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Joined: Oct '11
Posts: 466
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I have the D7000, and a long time ago the D50, which was my first DSLR. I thought it was a great camera, even surviving a dip in a very cold arctic stream. I think, as an owner, you would enjoy the D7000 and would see it as a significant upgrade in enabling you to be more creative, to address noise better and have a broader dynamic range. I would get the D7000 over the D5100 simply because of the greater flexibility and the use of the top LCD. There are many images on PAD and elsewhere that were captured with the D7000 so you can take a look at them. And by the way, I am just an amateur that is serious about having fun with photography. Finally, you may want to take a look at the other threads here on the D7000.
Have fun!

Posted 1 year ago #
Mike Gunter

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Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 946
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Hi,

You'll find the D7000 a fine upgrade path. The D7100 isn't on any immediate horizon.

My best,

Mike

Posted 1 year ago #
spraynpray

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Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 1,514
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Mike Gunter said:
Hi,

You'll find the D7000 a fine upgrade path. The D7100 isn't on any immediate horizon.

My best,

Mike

+1

Posted 1 year ago #
MikeWhis

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Joined: Mar '12
Posts: 131
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I'd recommend you to get some lens, or if you are really desperate for a body, then go D7000. You might wanna wait for D7100 though.

Posted 1 year ago #
shawnino

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Joined: Jan '12
Posts: 234
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Gazz,

you've thought about this long and hard and I think you've come to a solid conclusion. I shoot a D90 and a colleague who has a D7000 seems to have a body well better than my D90. I think you'll have plenty of room to grow.

I wouldn't want to lose autofocus on any lens

Cheers,
S

Posted 1 year ago #
tcole1983

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Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 1,553
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It does appear you could use some new lenses, but the D7000 would be a large jump. Unless I needed a camera right away and if I were you I would maybe buy a new lens (one equivalent to a focal range you use most) and wait for new bodies to be released. The D7000 should potentially be at the end of its production life. The D3200 would even be a huge jump in technology and picture quality, but it is a more intro camera as for options.

Posted 1 year ago #
NSXType-R

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Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 2,803
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A D7000 would be a worthy upgrade- similar size and weight, but highly increased capabilities.

I am very fond of the D50- that was the camera that got me into DSLRs.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

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Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
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I have a D50 that is converted to IR that I use regularly and I can easily say go for the D7000. It will be such a significant upgrade that it will knock your socks off over and over again. Lots has changed between the two body releases, but you shouldn't have any problems with getting use to the new camera.

As Mike and Spray said, the 7100 is not on the imitate horizon (maybe end of the year) and it will cost more than the 7000 at release and will be out of stock for some time.

It might be worth looking at the 7000+ 10-105vr kit to add VR and get more overlap in you lenses. I find having more overlap in the lower "mm" better and you will have more range for portrait work over the 18-55. Those kits are also going for really cheap lately and are in stock more as well.

Good Luck!

Posted 1 year ago #
donaldejose

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Joined: Mar '11
Posts: 1,043
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What Tao said. +1

If you have the extra money you may also want to look at the 18-200 VR lens with your D7000 body. A lot of versatility in one package.

Posted 1 year ago #
The Man From Mandrem

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Joined: Aug '10
Posts: 151
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How many people saying wait for D7100 actually own the D7000? I think with the D7000 Nikon got most things right in the first place so I don't think it's a camera you hold your breath to replace. If I didn't already own the D7000 the only thing that would make me stop and think today is if a good $1500 full frame were available. That said, if the FX lacked support of old lenses (AIS, AF-D), lacked 100% view finder, didn't have fast frame rate(6fps) and didn't have a fast screw for AF I would still get the D7000.

1.5 years into ownership I'm not finding my appreciation for this little camera dimming.
If anything my appreciation grows since I keep finding new things I can do with it or adding things (lenses, support) that let me get even more out of it...

Posted 1 year ago #
rschnaible

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Joined: Feb '12
Posts: 324
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I love my D7000 that I picked up a couple of month ago. I had some learning with film way back when and just got back into photography and have found that it is a fantastic camera and does everything I need at this point. I would recommend that you visit Flickr and check out the Nikon D7000 group. It is very active and has a lot of photo's to look at and it will give you some idea's on the depth and versatility of the camera. In addition there are some very talented folks who post here in the Photo of the Month that use the D7000, and they do some excellent work with it :)

I am interested in hearing what you decide to do.....

Congrat's on a nice bonus :)You must have worked hard this year!

Posted 1 year ago #
Frenchy_13

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Joined: May '12
Posts: 8
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i would go to a good camera shop and hold the 7000 and 3200. I find ergonomics is huge, not just spec. Either camera will be a light year jump from where you are currently.

Posted 1 year ago #
El_Pickerel

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Joined: Jul '11
Posts: 581
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Just going from the D5000 to the D7000 was a tremendous change for me. Just the change in interface was tremendous... having almost everything I ever would consider changing right there at my fingertips without having to go through a menu meant that I learned plenty of features I would not have bothered with on the D5000. (Or at least, I learned them more readily.) Love the big 100% viewfinder, love the compatibility with older AF lenses, love the low light performance, really really love the tremendous battery life, etc. Also, I would not worry about the potential of a D7100 on the horizon. The D7000 is a great crop sensor camera as-is.

Posted 1 year ago #
Gazz

junior member
Joined: May '12
Posts: 5
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Wow, thanks everyone for the feedback and advice.. I won't thank you all individually...

Based on some of the posts here and more research, I think I've settled on buying the D7000, and I can't wait!

Thank you again everyone :D

Posted 1 year ago #
Gazz

junior member
Joined: May '12
Posts: 5
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That's it done!

Just ordered the D7000 from Amazon for guaranteed next day delivery :D

Posted 1 year ago #
Gazz

junior member
Joined: May '12
Posts: 5
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This. D7000. Is. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for all your advice guys :)

Posted 1 year ago #