Is a D7000 worth it?

[RampantAndroid]

Hi all,

I'm currently using a D70 with a few good lenses: 35mm F1.5 prime, 18-200mm VR lens, and a 70-300mm for long telephoto stuff (non-VR) - I've easily hit the limits of my D70 in terms of its low light performance, and it can't go very high ISO without noise/its low light performance is less than I hoped for.

I'm obviously locked into Nikon, but was unsure if the D7000 was the best choice? It certainly looks to have the best ISO performance of the DX frames? The cost seems a little on the high side for me, given I'd be buying a new base and I'd need to grab some SD cards too.

I mostly shoot outdoors, but that's almost more a function of the D70 not doing indoors well (my prime lens handles low light great, but then has zero DoF) and I wouldn't mind jumping from 6MP to 16MP.

Thanks!
RA

 

[CuriousMike]

Random random point: Would the D5100 do what you want?

You'd get the improved ISO performance. It appears your lenses all have AF motors, so you would be ok there.

 

[blurredvision]

I've been eyeing the D7000 as a possible upgrade for myself early next year. I do have a couple of reservations, though. The first is the price. It was much lower just a couple months ago until Nikon instituted their new pricing for retail (similar to how Apple restricts the pricing on their products). Add to that their supply problems with the flooding in Thailand, I'd just hate to pay $200 more than what it was just a couple months back.

My second reservation is that the refresh on that line is due up in less than a year. Whether it will hit or not is anybody's guess, but it's still there. I'm one to wait a few months for the replacement, but who's to say it will be worth it.

Other than those two things, it seems like it'd be a great upgrade to what you've got. Much better sensor, more features.

 

[AkumaX]

i'm just going to say "yes"

 

[RampantAndroid]

The 5100 seems similar, but the build quality concerns me. It's not waterproofed, for example. I don't shoot much in rain, but at the same time, I hike with it...

Also, I use the top LCD on my D70 a fair amount, and I'd miss that on the D5100, I think. Plus, I love my D70 for it's insanely long battery life - given no top LCD, I'd see poor battery life on the D5100, right?

 

[Deleted member 4644]

The sensor in the D7000 is excellent. The D5100 has the same sensor, but gives up some other features.

Both are excellent cameras for the price, and are big upgrades over the D70

 

[CuriousMike]

It sounds like robustness is a concern; of course the D7000 is (somewhat) weatherized and ruggedized.

I get excellent battery life from my D5000; I don't know how the D5100 compares.

I'm all for you getting the D7000; your criteria is morphing on me from "better high ISO and value" to "I really want a full featured DSLR".

Other than a used D90 (which you should consider), the D7000 sounds like it.

 

[RampantAndroid]

It sounds like robustness is a concern; of course the D7000 is (somewhat) weatherized and ruggedized.

I get excellent battery life from my D5000; I don't know how the D5100 compares.

I'm all for you getting the D7000; your criteria is morphing on me from "better high ISO and value" to "I really want a full featured DSLR".

Other than a used D90 (which you should consider), the D7000 sounds like it.

What does the D90 add over a D5100?

What main features is the 5100 lacking, aside from an top LCD and rugged construction that the D7000 has?

I bought this D70 used a within the last year for $150, and also got a 18-70mm kit lens that's "meh" and the 70-300mm lens included. I later bought the 18-200 and 35mm prime lenses used for less than the 18-200 lens costs new (only wear is that the 200mm lens will zoom all the way in if it hangs down - it has no internal resistance, and no 18mm lock.)

I guess the D70 was testing the water and seeing "Do I want to really do this?" at the price of a point and shoot (and my point and shoot canon camera had just kicked the bucket.) I do in fact want something better, and my biggest issue is low light. Next biggest I'd say is the low MP count on the D70. I think my lens lineup is so far strong, and only needs the F2.8G DX wide angle Nikkor lens before it's pretty much complete.

 

[CuriousMike]

The D90 adds the top LCD and additional controls.

Yes, I covet an extra wheel to dial ISO in (without having to Shift(Fn)+Wheel) and the aforementioned top LCD.

The sensor in the D5100 is likely higher quality than the D90, but I'm not qualified to say with certainty.

The D5100 has no internal focusing motor -- so it won't auto-focus with non-AFS lenses. Your current lenses all seem to feature that.

Google "D5100 vs. D7000" to get a better idea of the diffs.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

As a broad generality, I would get a D5100 over the D90... unless you plan to use old motor-less lenses (such as the 50mm motorless).

 

[tdawg]

Here's a thorough review of the D7000: http://www.ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review-nikon-d7000-nikons-best-dx-camera/

Verdict - definitely worth the upgrade. I've got a D90 and am trying to justify the upgrade. And for the record, I love using the D90.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

The D7000 is $1100 refurbished by Nikon. Oddly, I miss the work involved in getting clean shots in low light from the old D200. The D7000 seems almost like I'm cheating.

Warning...when you move up to the D7000 you'll start to want better glass than the 18-200/70-300.

JR

 

[RampantAndroid]

The D7000 is $1100 refurbished by Nikon. Oddly, I miss the work involved in getting clean shots in low light from the old D200. The D7000 seems almost like I'm cheating.

Warning...when you move up to the D7000 you'll start to want better glass than the 18-200/70-300.

JR

I don't doubt that I will, but the 18-200 was a steal. The 300 was last used in summer when whale watching in the San Juan Islands, where there is an enforced distance to be kept from Orcas...and the 300mm proved useful. Otherwise, the 18-200 is a perfect lens for hikes, it lets me get close shots with a large enough aperture/low DoF for some fun, but also lets me zoom on some things. I just wish it was lighter

I looked into the 5100 enough to see its the same sensor, but I've become used to the extra buttons I have on the D70 and I'd lose most of them on the 5100...so I think it'll be the 7000. The D90 isn't quite enough.

Is Nikon refurbished worth the $200 savings? I'd just buy the base, no kit lens needed. I haven't looked - is the warranty on the refurbished unit the same as a new unit?

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Is Nikon refurbished worth the $200 savings? I'd just buy the base, no kit lens needed. I haven't looked - is the warranty on the refurbished unit the same as a new unit?

No, the refurbs have a shorter warranty. However, that being said, I almost always go with the refurb. My thinking is that whatever was wrong to begin with has been fixed and the refurb has been individually checked out and calibrated by a Nikon Tech. This isn't true of the stuff off the assembly line. I believe the refurb to be better than new.

$200 is 2/3rds of a 50mm f/1.4D lens, BTW.

JR

 

[blurredvision]

No, the refurbs have a shorter warranty. However, that being said, I almost always go with the refurb. My thinking is that whatever was wrong to begin with has been fixed and the refurb has been individually checked out and calibrated by a Nikon Tech. This isn't true of the stuff off the assembly line. I believe the refurb to be better than new.

$200 is 2/3rds of a 50mm f/1.4D lens, BTW.

JR

Good point, never looked at it that way.

 

[Dubb]

The D5100 refurb kit is $650 w/ an 18-55 (adorama & B&H). Sell the lens and you come out at half the refurb D7000 cost. I just grabbed one as a small body upgrade. Pretty awesome sensor for the price.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

I upgraded from a D70s myself this summer, so I'm familiar with the decision. I did consider the D5100, but ended up with the D7000 because the 5100 seemed like a step back in too many ways from the D70s (oddly enough).

In addition to the obvious things that everyone's already mentioned (additional controls, weatherproofing, etc.), one thing that you might want to consider is the ergonomics of each body. The D5100 is a fair bit smaller and lighter than the D70, and had a much different feel in the hand (to me), while the D7000 is more similar to what I already knew (comparable size, a bit heavier).

There's also the issue of the articulating screen, which I could have found useful in certain instances, but ended up sacrificing for everything else offered by the D7000.

The itch for new glass definitely will be strong, especially when you compare shots from the 35mm prime to your other lenses. (I have the 35mm 1.8 as well as the 18-105 kit lens and a few other non-pro grade lenses.) I know I've found myself looking at higher end lenses lately.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

The 5100 seems similar, but the build quality concerns me. It's not waterproofed, for example. I don't shoot much in rain, but at the same time, I hike with it...

Also, I use the top LCD on my D70 a fair amount, and I'd miss that on the D5100, I think. Plus, I love my D70 for it's insanely long battery life - given no top LCD, I'd see poor battery life on the D5100, right?

you definitely will miss the auxiliary LCD and dials.
the d7000 is a worthy upgrade if you can afford it.

 

[RampantAndroid]

you definitely will miss the auxiliary LCD and dials.
the d7000 is a worthy upgrade if you can afford it.

Yeah, I think I decided on the 7000. Now to wait for Crutchfield to get it back in stock to use discover cash back.

 

[Munky]

I consider the D7000 the best APC-C DSLR at the moment, if any of them are worth the price, this is it.

 

[Krioni]

I upgraded from a D50 to a D700 with kit lens early this year. All I can say is WOW WOW WOW!!!!!

I don't have experience w/ the D5100, but have heard it's also a great camera.

One advantage of the D7000 that I didn't see anyone else mention is that you can use it as a commander for wireless flash (assuming you get compatible flash).

Like many others, I'd say, if you can afford it, you won't regret the D7000. Ok, well maybe your checkbook will

In short.... I LOVE MY D7000