Upgrade from Nikon D3100 to D7000

[APoc184]

Best is to get the bodies in your hand and test them instore and the one you feel most comfortable with could be you choice.

That's what is confusing me the most at the moment!

With the Photo & Film Expo I played with the Nikon for almost an hour! It felt so good in my hands and was it not for the buffer issue in the back of my mind I would have bought it right there and then at the expo. I liked the extra features and shooting with it felt very natural!

Then I accompanied my dad to the Canon Expo and spent a lot of time playing with the 7D as well. Also very impressed and after the salesmen showed me around the Canon system and buttons I got really comfortable with the camera and enjoyed it just as much!

Neither of the cameras' AF, AF speed, metering or IQ stood out for me above the other.

I really have no bias at the moment other than I am used to shooting with the Nikon. But the buffer thing is really still bothering me. Read a few more reviews and with a fast card dpreview.com got constant results of 22 images on Fine JPG before the buffer kicked in and about 32 on Large JPG. In RAW it was 10 before shooting came to a sudden halt.

As for the Canon, I like everything about it but getting that would mean a change in everything. New lenses, new cards, learning the new system etc...

Sometimes I wish I was biased towards a certain brand. Would make it so much easier for me!

 

[floydthebarber71]

Mate, I think a new generation model of camera will come out by the time you decide jokes. The hassle imo will be the lenses etc, just go with what's going to be easiest for you if neither camera stands out. Either way you're gonna have a good quality kit.

 

[APoc184]

Mate, I think a new generation model of camera will come out by the time you decide jokes. The hassle imo will be the lenses etc, just go with what's going to be easiest for you if neither camera stands out. Either way you're gonna have a good quality kit.

Does look like it, hey?

I know. I am a terrible shopper. Mainly because I hate buying impulsively and then I am disappointed with what I got.

It is true to a degree with the D3100 that I bought. But I never thought I would get this hooked. Especially on sport! If I knew what I knew then I would have saved up for the 7D or something similar from the start!

 

[Quantum Theory]

My D90's buffer also fills up very quickly. Place where this frustrates me most, is when doing short interval timelapse.

I'm sure the D400 will be the answer to all our needs. Come on Nikon... bring it. This will be a real competitor to the 7D. D7000 competes with 60D, which I'm sure also has a much smaller buffer than the 7D.

 

[bwana]

Beats me, I don't shoot sports and I only shoot jpg.

If you would fire off a high speed burst on your D7000 and let APoc84 know how it fares it might help him with his decision. If it can do 100+ full res jpgs, like the 7D, before slowing down then he's got no real need to switch, assuming 6fps is enough.

 

[floydthebarber71]

You made the right choice getting the D3100. I bought a D60 second hand and don't regret it. You need to explore things at the lowest level to appreciate things higher up, only once you've started getting involved with photography then only you would know where to go from there. The D7000 was a proper step up for me and it'll take me a while to outgrow it. When I do, then only will I know what's the next best step up for me, no amount of reading up will get me there..

I know I'm the only one asking this, but is the burst/buffer story at a zillion frames really the only thing holding you back from a purchase? If you feel you need it then I'd save for an even better body with better fps performance instead...? I wouldn't know what body that is as machine gun fire doesn't quite concern me right now as I haven't used the technique yet or been limited by it...but that's just me and things might change later for me too. Remember there's always going to be something better than those cameras you are considering so are you really going to be satisfied?

Just my naive ramblings I guess, there are plenty of pros here who'll eventually guide you to a comfortable purchase As you said, you don't want to be disappointed. You can work around certain things with cameras, but not fps and buffer. If you need it, go for it.

PS: I can't speak for Canon but I know the D7000 resale value is pretty decent Don't stress with whatever choice.

 

[floydthebarber71]

...I can't remember the point of that post. Sorry, it's been a long day

 

[dabean]

If you would fire off a high speed burst on your D7000 and let APoc84 know how it fares it might help him with his decision.

I just took a burst of 100 large jpegs (normal quality) in 17 seconds (around 5.8 fps average) using a 8GB Lexar class 4 card. It stops at 100. The shots remaining displayed varies between 20-25 then counts down to 0 as it approaches 100.

 

[APoc184]

I just took a burst of 100 large jpegs (normal quality) in 17 seconds (around 5.8 fps average) using a 8GB Lexar class 4 card. It stops at 100. The shots remaining displayed varies between 20-25 then counts down to 0 as it approaches 100.

With a D7000?

That gives me some hope if true!

Would you mind doing it on Fine JPG as well and posting the results here?

Thanks!

 

[bwana]

I just took a burst of 100 large jpegs (normal quality) in 17 seconds (around 5.8 fps average) using a 8GB Lexar class 4 card. It stops at 100. The shots remaining displayed varies between 20-25 then counts down to 0 as it approaches 100.

That makes more sense. Can't do much about the frame rate but at least the buffer capacity is there.

 

[dabean]

With a D7000?

That gives me some hope if true!

Would you mind doing it on Fine JPG as well and posting the results here?

Thanks!

Yes on a D7000. Last night I noticed a bit of slowdown on jpg fine but didn't this morning. Maybe the buffer wasn't cleared completely yet, not sure. Anyway I'm uploading both videos to youtube at the moment, should be up in about an hour so you can see for yourself.

Honestly though if fps was that important to me I'd take the 7D.

 

[APoc184]

Yes on a D7000. Last night I noticed a bit of slowdown on jpg fine but didn't this morning. Maybe the buffer wasn't cleared completely yet, not sure. Anyway I'm uploading both videos to youtube at the moment, should be up in about an hour so you can see for yourself.

Honestly though if fps was that important to me I'd take the 7D.

Thank you for the effort. I really appreciate it and I am sure this thread will help plenty of other people as well.

Waiting patiently for the videos!

Regarding the fps issue. It really isn't the amount of fps that is so important to me. It is the fact that I want to be able to shoot continuously for 3 to 4 seconds to capture a sequence during rugby! The 6 fps that the Nikon offers is more than enough for me and I have said that before. But the buffer issue does make a big difference to that equation. The 2 extra fps the Canon offer is a nice little bonus but not that important to me!

 

[dabean]

Just lower your volume before clicking the first video sorry, there was a fan on the counter that made quite a racket. Didn't get a chance to trim the videos, getting ready to leave on holiday so things are a bit rushed at the moment.

[video=youtube;8gftO1XCCvU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gftO1XCCvU[/video]
[video=youtube;ASFGfUIM8XI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASFGfUIM8XI[/video]

Edit: I had a bit of spare time and watched the videos at the same time. It does slow down a bit then speed up again in jpeg fine, didn't notice that this morning. The dpreview numbers seem about right. Anyway hope this helps.

 

[APoc184]

Just lower your volume before clicking the first video sorry, there was a fan on the counter that made quite a racket. Didn't get a chance to trim the videos, getting ready to leave on holiday so things are a bit rushed at the moment.



Edit: I had a bit of spare time and watched the videos at the same time. It does slow down a bit then speed up again in jpeg fine, didn't notice that this morning. The dpreview numbers seem about right. Anyway hope this helps.

Thank you very much for the effort! That does look much better than the other videos I have seen about it. In the other videos the buffer fills and then shots slow down to about 1 fps as the images are written to the card.

You think maybe they addressed the issue with the second batch of production?

It does make me feel better seeing those results!

 

[dabean]

No problem, glad to help.

My guess is that in the other videos they had lens distortion correction on, it really kills burst shots. Lightroom fixes distortion anyway so I never use it. Before I shot these I did the two-button reset to defaults, I really doubt they've changed anything on the camera.

 

[GTi]

If you would fire off a high speed burst on your D7000 and let APoc84 know how it fares it might help him with his decision. If it can do 100+ full res jpgs, like the 7D, before slowing down then he's got no real need to switch, assuming 6fps is enough.

Good idea Bwana, will give it a go and report back.

 

[GTi]

Just lower your volume before clicking the first video sorry, there was a fan on the counter that made quite a racket. Didn't get a chance to trim the videos, getting ready to leave on holiday so things are a bit rushed at the moment.

[video=youtube;8gftO1XCCvU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gftO1XCCvU[/video]
[video=youtube;ASFGfUIM8XI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASFGfUIM8XI[/video]

Edit: I had a bit of spare time and watched the videos at the same time. It does slow down a bit then speed up again in jpeg fine, didn't notice that this morning. The dpreview numbers seem about right. Anyway hope this helps.

Great dabean, really good performance, APoc84 are you sold yet?

 

[bwana]

I won't muddy the waters by posting a recording of what 8 or 10fps sounds like . . .

 

[APoc184]

I won't muddy the waters by posting a recording of what 8 or 10fps sounds like . . .

Do it. Then I can listen to it all weekend long and make up my mind!

 

[Dolby]

Apoc84 - if you are torn between the two, this may make it even worse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZPNwIMMFik

And regarding the speed (not my camera)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMKUThw0XkM

Though here is something worrying I've never tried :

http://www.komar.org/faq/camera/canon-7d-versus-50d/frames-per-second/

Apparently the 7D battles to rattle off those 8fps in dim light ...