D5100 or D5200 or alternative?

SamuelJ

SamuelJ

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Sam
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Hello,

Newbie here looking for a bit of advice.

Having owned a Fuji bridge camera for the past couple of years and grasped the basics of digital photography I'm now looking to upgrade to a DSLR. I have a maximum budget of £400. I'm not really interested in auto modes/in-camera filters/effects etc as I want to learn to use manual modes and develop my skills rather than just point and shoot. For this reason I'm more interested in the upper-end-beginner to mid-range cameras over the Fischer Price 'my first DSLR' types. So far by spending a lot of time reading reviews, specs and forum posts etc I've narrowed it down to the D5100 or D5200. I've found both with kit lenses for under £400 with only around £40 difference between the two.

On paper the D5200 appears to be the better camera of the two but I just wondered if anybody had experience of using both that could offer their opinion on the matter? The main reason I ask is that I've spent time looking through Flickr at photos taken with both the above and despite the D5200 appearing better on paper the D5100 seems to come across as slightly better judging by image quality alone. I realise though that it's quite tricky to compare the two via Flickr when you start to take into account lenses, subjects and photographer ability amongst other variables.

I know the kit lens for both the cameras (the same, I believe?) isn't the best, but I can't justify buying a better lens straight away. I do plan to buy a better lens within a couple of months though, most likely a wide angle, 10-20 perhaps as I'm most interested in capturing some dramatic landscape photography.

So basically, any advice on the camera alone with kit lens would be great. Alternatively if anybody has any suggestions for cameras I might have overlooked then fire away! I've dismissed Canon (D600 mainly) due to the fact that reviews suggest image quality isn't quite as good as the Nikons, which is top priority for me, but again if anybody wants to tell me otherwise then feel free!

Thanks in advance. Hopefully once I find a camera I'll be back here on a regular basis!
 
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It's not the camera, it's the photographer!

I doubt you would notice any difference between the 5100 and the 5200. The 5200 is the newer model and should be better.
You've opened up a can of worms with your dismissal of Canon for the reason you've given.
Canon and Nikon both make very good cameras. It comes down to what feels right when you hold it.
I use Nikon mainly as I've never felt comfortable with Canon. Other people find the opposite.
I'd suggest you handle the camera before you buy it or you may not be happy with it.
 
I'm very pleased with my D5100 but I'm using a 16-85mm rather than the 18-55mm kit lens. However, the 18-55mm is not at all a bad lens, just a bit limited in range and built to a price. It is probably the limiting factor on these cameras as it was designed for much lower resolution sensors.

Both the Nikons and the 600D will all give such an increase in IQ over your current camera that any slight difference between them is really academic. As Ken says, pick the one that feels right when you hold it.
 
Spend as little as you can get away with on the camera body and the most you can on good glass.

I have a selection of nikon bodies, from D3S to my sons old d40 and they all produce great images with the right lenses if you know what you are doing. I LOVE my d5100, its what I always reach for when I want to grab a snap of something.
 
Look at price difference!

I would go for the D5100 aand spend the difference towards a good lens.

As writing this, I'm sitting here with a D5100 mounted with the little Nikkor 16-85mm... borrowed from a friend.
He's just back from a week on Gran Canaria and asked if he'd needed width or reach, he answered that there only was a couple of times, he would have liked more reach.

Imho this little kit is near perfect. Balances extremely well, and can't really fault image quality at all.

Highly recommended combo!
waytogo2.gif



And he's not really offended, when I call his little D5100 for a scale model!
biggrin3.gif
 
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And this thread is worthless without pictures!


Just took a shot of the setup....

D5100-16-85.jpg


Cute, isn't it?
 
Coming from the same sort of background a year or so ago, Fuji HS10 bridge to d5100, i can only really tell you what everyone told me.

Go for the cheaper option body and spend on a good lens, im not sure about your budget or if you plan to buy new or nearly new ?? but i have seen under year old D5100's going for around the £250 - £275 mark with kit lens, its a lot of equipment for that kind of money.

But just to put a spanner in the works, a lot, if not most told me i would get frustrated with the fact i had to keep going into the main menu to change settings, as i had done this with the HS10, i didn't really see an issue, but to be honest, yes they were correct, it does get a little annoying trying to get through the menu and change things from the flip out screen, its not the end of the world and you can set some of the other buttons to be quick access, but just something to take into account.

The more experienced people here can help more with this.
 
Hi Sam, If interested I have an immaculate d5100 and kit lens inc box and all accessories currently advertised here on the classifieds for £275 inc postage.
Cheers
Jon
 
Hi,
thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to take a trip into town this weekend and get a bit hands on to see which I like best! I had actually originally settled for the D5200 and even placed an order with digitalrev, but the transaction was cancelled as they were supposedly unable to verify my address. However, their 3rd party merchant still has my money on hold, a week after placing the order, which is somewhat frustrating! But on the plus side it's giving me a bit of extra time to suss out which camera is really the best for me.

Jon, that seems like a reasonable deal. When I finally get my money back I might be in touch!
 
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