Looking at upgrading... but get confused so much!!!

iDenTiTy said:
Thank you.

Also, regarding the continuous AF on the Nikon (video).
If the 60D doesn't have it, what if I am filming a subject but it moves around in a scene.
Will it lose focus once it starts moving, and as a result, have a wonky scene?

:/
Click to expand...

On the d7000 I have tried the continuous AF in video mode, but I simply could not get it to work well. It would decide to refocus (and since this is CDAF, it would hunt) at the most inconvenient times. Without an external microphone, the lens motor noise will drive you nuts.

I now only use slr video for short clips in set scenes that do not require refocusing. If I were any good at manual focus tracking, things might be different.

But there are many other reasons to like the d7000, but you still have to work around its limitations.
 
fvdbergh said:
On the d7000 I have tried the continuous AF in video mode, but I simply could not get it to work well. It would decide to refocus (and since this is CDAF, it would hunt) at the most inconvenient times. Without an external microphone, the lens motor noise will drive you nuts.

I now only use slr video for short clips in set scenes that do not require refocusing. If I were any good at manual focus tracking, things might be different.

But there are many other reasons to like the d7000, but you still have to work around its limitations.
Click to expand...

Hmm.
If I only have a non-VR 8-55 II lens, and a 70-300mm VR lens - I'm not sure that, based on the above opinion, that they would work very well with the D7000.

Am I correct in saying so?
i.e. Would I need much better lenses to do justice to the body (D7000)?
 
iDenTiTy said:
Hmm.
If I only have a non-VR 8-55 II lens, and a 70-300mm VR lens - I'm not sure that, based on the above opinion, that they would work very well with the D7000.

Am I correct in saying so?
i.e. Would I need much better lenses to do justice to the body (D7000)?
Click to expand...

Actually, I have both those lenses. The 70-300 mm VR is fantastic on the D7000 --- of course the 300 mm end is not able to max out the D7000's resolution, but at the 70 mm end I have no reason to complain.

The 18-55 mm II kit lens (non-VR) is quite sharp. I have not measured it, but take a look at this photo that I grabbed with the D7000 + 18-55 mm + two stacked close-up filters:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73586923@N02/sets/72157628899181801/

The main reason why you would want better lenses would be increase your maximum aperture size. I can recommend the Sigma 17-50 mm f/2.8 lens (around R8000). You can add some cheap primes for even larger apertures, e.g., the 35 mm AF-S f/1.8 (around R2500), or the 50 mm AF-D (R1200) or AF-S (R2500).

My advice: if you suspect that you are going to take this photography hobby seriously for the foreseeable future, then the D7000 is an excellent choice. The amount you will spend on lenses and flashes will dwarf the difference between the D7000 and say the D5100, and the improved handling of the D7000 is well worth the money over the D5100/D3100.

Go and try the D7000 in the shops, or better yet, try to borrow or rent one for a day or so.
 
The thing with the noise and AF in video is not about VR. It's about the type of motor used. If you're using the in-body motor (say, with the old 50mm f/1.8), or if you're using a lens with a micro motor (such as the 18-55), you'll get noise. If you use a lens with an ring type ultrasonic motor (Nikon calls it SWM, I think), it's a lot quieter - possibly quiet enough not to get picked up by the camera's mic.
 
koffiejunkie said:
The thing with the noise and AF in video is not about VR. It's about the type of motor used. If you're using the in-body motor (say, with the old 50mm f/1.8), or if you're using a lens with a micro motor (such as the 18-55), you'll get noise. If you use a lens with an ring type ultrasonic motor (Nikon calls it SWM, I think), it's a lot quieter - possibly quiet enough not to get picked up by the camera's mic.
Click to expand...

Sure. Agreed.

The D3000 took forever to focus.
I'm just hoping that the D7000 would be able to focus quicker.

:(
 
The focus speed is more likely to be down to the lens than the camera. My old Canon EOS 500N (low-end film body, circa 1996) with the 24-105L IS USM attached focuses as fast as the 7D does with the same lens. The only difference is the 7D's AF is much more sensitive, so in less-than-ideal light, it locks on faster.
 
I recently upgrade from an old Nikon D40... looked at the D7000, but I'm not into video, and the high resolution means that you need pro level lenses to resolve the full resolution. After a lot of research and long discussions with Orms, I went for the D90. I used the money I saved towards another lens. For the lenses I can afford, the 12Mpixel D90 is plenty.

I'm very happy with it - focuses much faster than the D40, and if much nicer to use (LCD on top, etc.) and quick to change settings.
 
greg_SA said:
I recently upgrade from an old Nikon D40... looked at the D7000, but I'm not into video, and the high resolution means that you need pro level lenses to resolve the full resolution.
Click to expand...

The only time you'll see a difference is if you're viewinging your images at 100% all the time. A lens that's going to look bad at regular vewing sizes is going to be equally bad on the D40 and D7000. And there are many many many "consumer" lenses that are perfectly adequate for a 16MP sensor. The 35mm f/1.8 G, the 85mm f/1.8 G, and even the older 85mm f/1.8 D are all excellent consumer primes. The 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR is a fairly decent consumer zoom too. All tested on the D7000...

The thing about resolution, is what you see in the charts doesn't always translate so well into the real world. The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II is meant to be much sharper than the older version, particulary on a crop body. I've used both on the 7D - shot several thousand shots on each. Don't ask me to tell them apart though.

greg_SA said:
After a lot of research and long discussions with Orms, I went for the D90. I used the money I saved towards another lens. For the lenses I can afford, the 12Mpixel D90 is plenty.
Click to expand...

I can't argue agains the D90 though. Especially not at the price it's going for right now!
 
A lot has been said already that makes a lot of sense but no mention of the new D3200 / D5200 ... Does anybody have any clue as to local release dates ???

If you can afford it both the 7D and D7000 are stonkingly fantastic piece of kit ... both brands have their pros and cons but either camera should keep you happy for quite a while!

Edit: OK, I've been a bit hasty by including the D5200 in first sentence and although the D3200 may sound more like a sideways upgrade than anything else just looking at what this thing is capable of with a bloody standard kit lens is amazing ... DPReview Sample Gallery ... download one or two original sized images and sharpen (especially the boats in the harbour), be prepared to be astounded. Seriously!
 
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I think one of the retailers listed the D3200 as being available towards the end of May.
 
koffiejunkie said:
The only time you'll see a difference is if you're viewinging your images at 100% all the time. A lens that's going to look bad at regular vewing sizes is going to be equally bad on the D40 and D7000. And there are many many many "consumer" lenses that are perfectly adequate for a 16MP sensor. The 35mm f/1.8 G, the 85mm f/1.8 G, and even the older 85mm f/1.8 D are all excellent consumer primes. The 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR is a fairly decent consumer zoom too. All tested on the D7000...

The thing about resolution, is what you see in the charts doesn't always translate so well into the real world. The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II is meant to be much sharper than the older version, particulary on a crop body. I've used both on the 7D - shot several thousand shots on each. Don't ask me to tell them apart though.



I can't argue agains the D90 though. Especially not at the price it's going for right now!
Click to expand...

:)
I've gone ahead and bought a D90.
Decided to use the money saved, towards nicer glass.
:)

Was offered a 5100 and a 3200 (of which I would collect later, overseas purchase) - but decided that I didn't want to be limited by the AF availability on various non-AF-S lenses.
:)

Gonna play around now!!
:)
 
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