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[howard09]

Hello

I have a out grown my nikon d3100. Although a very good camera to learn from and gain experience I feel I need to upgrade.

I have been asked to do quite a few weddings, portraits etc so I need a more professional Nikon. can I please have some advise on which Nikon I should upgrade to as I look to go from amature to professional.

Thanks in advance

Shaun

[donoreo]

A D700 would be professional, for sure. It is a full frame camera. I am a Canon guy so cannot help much beyond that.

The question is what will your current camera NOT do that you need to upgrade? For most wedding photographers the big thing is lenses. Lenses with large apertures to be used in low light seem to be the most important thing.

[howard09]

I need a full frame camera, dual SD slots, more focus points, faster and all round general more robust camera.

[jet_kit]

I agree.
The D700 is a full frame camera and probably the cheapest and best of it's kind. It could be classed as a semi-pro and will set you back £1,800 for the body only, plus you'll need to start again with your lenses because they won't be any good with this camera. If you can't manage that the D300s (soon to be replaced?) runs at £1,000. This is virtually identical to the D700 except it has a DX sensor and you'll be able to use your D3100 lenses on it. Both of these bodies are Magnesium Alloy, quite heavy but pretty tough.
Sitting just below these is the D7000 (never understand Nikon's numbering system) which is a more comfortable £850 and offers a better sensor than the D300s and HD video.
Having said all that, these cameras will not make you a better photographer; it's more about the sensor (and the D3100 has a good one) and the glass in the front alloyed to the creative genius behind the camera.
Good luck.

[howard09]

Not sure between d300, d300s or d7000. I need a camera that had more functions and more focus points.

[silversnapper1]

Don't forget that if you are shooting weddings, you will need to keep the D3100 as a backup.

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by silversnapper1

Don't forget that if you are shooting weddings, you will need to keep the D3100 as a backup.

So true. No bride will accept the answer "sorry my camera broke" when the photos all stop at some point. You must, must have a back up.

On a side note, I NEVER EVER want to do weddings, I think you guys are all nuts :P

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by howard09

Not sure between d300, d300s or d7000. I need a camera that had more functions and more focus points.

The D200 and D300 are semi-pro bodies, and many pro's use them as backups. The D300 and D700 have 51 autofocus points same as the D3, D3s and D3x. All these cameras have a function Fn button that you can use to store the functions in sets and recall when needed. As has been said before the lenses are as important, if not more so, than the camera. So, for a D3s you will need a Nikon 14-24mm F2.8, Nikon 24-70mm F2.8, Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VRII and a 50mm F1.4, plus at least one SB-900 and a tripod which comes to just under £5,000. A D3s camera will cost £3,500 new, but Mifsuds havd a secondhand one for £2,500.

[howard09]

If i buy the Nikon D3's will i need to buy a complete set of new lenses? What do i need to buy in order to use the current lens i have?

[jet_kit]

You will need a completely new range of lenses for all the full-frame cameras. D3, D3s, D3x, D700. The top of Nikon's range in the DX market, which will allow you to use your current batch of lenses is the D300s, rumoured to be replaced in a few weeks. The D7000 has only been with us for a year or so and is unlikely to be scrapped just yet.