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[howard09]

Hi,

Can anyone please help, i have a Nikon D3100 as my 1st DSLR and have learnt many things from this great camera but i now feel i need to take a step up. Can anyone recommend the next Nikon camera i should buy? I have a budget of between £800 - £1000.

Please advise

Shaun

[thefonz78]

d5100 body tamron 17-50mm lens

[amk1977]

I'd suggest either the D5100 or D7000. Both are virtually identical on paper in terms of sensor performance. The main difference between the two are that the D7000 has a focus motor on the body, meaning you can use the older, yet still excellent AF-D lenses, in autofocus. The D7000 can also shoot 6 fps, as compared to 4 fps on the D5100. It also has a faster shutter speed of 1/8000 sec, with the D5100 topping out at 1/4000.

These are things to consider, as to whether they will make an impact on your photography? For me, the additional fps don't really factor into it, as I mainly do portraiture and macro, with the odd bit of still life. However I use a lot of older D-type lenses and so the addition of the focus motor on my D90 is a major plus for me. The D7000 will also meter with non cpu lenses, not sure if the D5100 does (the D90 doesn't, which is a bit annoying for me, when using my Ai-s lens).

The faster shutter speed would also be a bonus for me, not from a freeze framing action standpoint but, from using a wider aperture in bright light. Sometimes the 1/4000 sec can still result in over exposure on my 50mm f/1.8D on really sunny days, under certain conditions.

My personal preference would be for the D7000 for the above reasons, but if you have no AF-D lenses, plan to only stick to the AF-S and probably won't make use of the faster FPS and shutter speed, then the D5100 may be more appropriate for you.

Food for thought, anyway and I'm sure you'll be very happy with whatever model you choose!

[MattUK]

Great advice from Amk above, not much I can add. You could Pick up a D7000 for around 900 new, less second hand and have money left over for a lens...

[ian clark]

having read the above I am seriously considering the D7000.
The main reason is onward costs just take a look at the prices for second hand AF-D and AiS lens on E-bay ompared to AF-S

[amk1977]

The savings to be made on the older glass on eBay is quite considerable. Even newer lenses can be had 2nd hand for a steal sometimes. I picked up a mint condition, boxed, 3 month old Tamron SP90 Di for £200, a saving of £140+. Similarly I picked up boxed, mint condition 24mm f/2.8D for £180. That lens still retails for £340 at Jessops!

Obviously with some lenses like the Ai/Ais you have no autofocus and no VR with the D lenses but, its not a feature you always need/want. For landscape, posed portraiture and still life, where the camera is tripod mounted, you want to turn the VR off anyway. The old lenses are also fabulously well made. Today's lenses feel kind of cheap in comparison but, I guess that's the price you pay for lightweight lenses over solid construction.

One of my favourite lenses is the Nikkor 28mm F2/8 Ai-s. Stunningly sharp lens, manual focus and manual aperture. No metering either on my D90. Still absolutely love it. There is something about the feel of those old lenses that you just don't get with new glass - although if someone wanted to swap me for for a new 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII, I'd consider it lol

[jet_kit]

I'd hold on to see what Nikon have up their sleeves to replace the ageing D300s. My guess would be all the functionality of the D300s with the 16MP sensor of the D7000 and probably some clever new features like GPS.

[thefonz78]

Would Nikon but the same sensor in the d300s replacement as the d5100 and d7000? d5100 = £600 d300s replacement = £1500. Almost 1k is a lot to pay for some extra for gps and quicker shutter speed and fps, with no real improvement in image quality. I'm hoping for a lot more.

[amk1977]

I think they'd have trouble marketing a D400 (logical successor) if it had the same sensor as the D7000, as I can't see what other improvements that they could install with it, to justify a £500 increase over the price of a D7000. I certainly wouldn't pay an extra £500 notes just for an alloy body and an extra 2 FPS. I'd want a considerably improved sensor and a variety of other useful features too.

[jet_kit]

How about an articulated LCD like the D5100? When you get to my age lying full length pearing through the eyepiece is bad news. My Nikon F had a waist level finder you could clip on in place of the pentaprism. I think Nikon have lost their way in their attempts to keep up with Canon etc.