Is the D7000 good enough?

P

paula

Messages
79
Edit My Images
Yes
For professional portrait use?
I have been shooting amateur for the last few years using a D80. I got nice images (a few have been printed in magazines) but I think I have outgrown it and find some of it's limitations frustrating. also I think that as a professional one should have two bodies. And as I am turning pro this year the question has arisen of which camera go for as a primary body. Lens wise, I do have a kit lens that I never ever use, a 50mm 1.4 G (use it 90% of the time) and a 85mm f1.8, with money saved for a 24-70 f2.8 and maybe a 135mm f2.

I initially had thought about going full frame but the idea of investing in a d700 and that in 6-9 months a new model comes up makes me really unsure about getting one (it happened with the d80, and I was really, really upset, silly of me, I know, but I can't control it!).

However the d7000 looks like has got rather good reviews all around, so it has caught my attention that it may be a solution for now, and in the future the d7000 will still be handy to have as is a smallish dslr that It's fine for traveling and non professional family events purposes, so it will be useful to me even if I decide to upgrade to full frame later on the year for professional reasons.

so, what do you think? Is the d7000 ok as a professional replacement for my d80? Or Should I go for the d700 and struggle when the newer better model comes out?
 
I have recently bought D7000 and I LOVE IT. Well built, smaller than D3, great ISO performance and the new sensor really improved the image quality in comparison to D90.
I will be using it as a second body (wide lenses on D3, 80-200 on D7000).
 
Paula, I doubt you'll 'struggle' with a D700 - amazing camera and a 'D3-lite' in effect, so nothing bad about it.

Joe Public won't know the difference between what camera you use but you will. Do you need FF? Will you want FF? Will you get a benefit from FF? These are the kinds of questions you have to ask.

Inevitably, the D7000 will be replaced by something better, but that won't make it a bad camera in the same way that the D700 replacement will be good but a D700 will still remain a very good buy.

Out of interest, is this studio or location portraiture you're doing?
 
Sebastian said:
I have recently bought D7000 and I LOVE IT. Well built, smaller than D3, great ISO performance and the new sensor really improved the image quality in comparison to D90.
I will be using it as a second body (wide lenses on D3, 80-200 on D7000).
Click to expand...

Thanks Sebastian. This is the type of answer I was looking for regarding the specifics of the d7000.
 
specialman said:
Paula, I doubt you'll 'struggle' with a D700 - amazing camera and a 'D3-lite' in effect, so nothing bad about it.

Joe Public won't know the difference between what camera you use but you will. Do you need FF? Will you want FF? Will you get a benefit from FF? These are the kinds of questions you have to ask.

Inevitably, the D7000 will be replaced by something better, but that won't make it a bad camera in the same way that the D700 replacement will be good but a D700 will still remain a very good buy.

Out of interest, is this studio or location portraiture you're doing?
Click to expand...

Struggle as in when the new one comes out, i am the kind of person that struggles to spend £1500 or so in a camera knowing that there is a newer improved version on the way in the near future. If I could find a used d700 for £1000 the choice would be easier!I know the quality of the body won't change whether there is a newer version in town, but I know how my mind works! It is a challenging mind.

I completely agree about the public, how many times i hear wow, my concern is in the professional plane. And I think your answer is of great help. I really don't think that full frame is essential at the moment, but I feel kind of obliged to do so. I have read all the reviews that I could find on the net about both cameras, but I am still undecided whether a d7000 is appropriate for a portrait lifestyle photoshoots (a lot of indoors non studio situations).

I do on location photoshoots outdoors and in their homes. It looks like children portraiture is going to be the main job.(I do have a sb900 with tt1 and tt5 plus an umbrella and softbox and stand.)
 
WillNicholls said:
Just because a camera is replaced doesn't mean the replacement will be overall much better.
Click to expand...

Very true, but people do expect some improvements that seem to me a good idea.
 
blackalice82 said:
It is good,but it is expensive for me.
Click to expand...

When it was first released it did look very steep but prices seem to be tumbling fast. I see Jessops already have it for less than £900. Not cheap certainly but probably a fair price.
 
Moving to full frame would give you the option of shallower depth of field, which you might find important for portraits.

Personally I would go for a s/h D700 but then that is the way my mind works! Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Tracer said:
Moving to full frame would give you the option of shallower depth of field, which you might find important for portraits.

Personally I would go for a s/h D700 but then that is the way my mind works! Good luck with whatever you decide.
Click to expand...

I think that is what I am going to look into. Sounds like something that I can live with.

Any recommendations regarding places to look for one?
 
The d7000 is very nice, the high ISO performance is superb (and better than my D300s) which is quite something given it's a DX sensor. I do find it a little too small though, so I probably wouldn't use it as a main camera but it'd be perfect as a backup.
 
Paula, I think you answered your own question in your original post i.e. getting the D7000 for now and using it as a back-up or travel camera when you buy the D800 later this year! That is what I would do, and if the D7000 is better than the D300s as Stu says, then you have a pro-enough DSLR until you go for the full frame number.
 
If you're concentrating on portraits, I'd have thought if you can get a S/H D700 for similar (ish) money to a new D7000, that's the way to go. When the D800 comes out, get that and D700 will be your back up.

Or spend the money on counselling to sort out you new gear lust addiction :naughty:
 
Thank you so much for all the answers. A quick search for used d700 shows me that prices are still steep. New d7000 at around £900, used d700 around £1300, new d700 £1600.
But still thinking about it! Yes I do have a new gear addiction going on!
 
Last edited:
It's fine for traveling and non professional family events purposes, so it will be useful to me even if I decide to upgrade to full frame later on the year for professional reasons.
Click to expand...

No offence intended here, but everybody seems to think pro = Full frame and vice versa.

I can name a fair few high level professional fashion photographers that use cropped cameras. Cropped cameras have their own advantages too, weight, speed, lens sweet spot and so on.

If you're only going full time this year you have plenty of time to slow down and wait for the newest releases and make your educated decision from there.

If you're going to be doing mainly children portraiture as you've said, the D7000 or D300S for that matter will provide you with everything you need and more. You do not need to feel obliged to buy a D700 because apparently FF is godly. On the cropped cameras you can print more than big enough for your requirements. Nobody cares other than you what you shoot it with.

Then if you get into higher profile portraiture your best bet is medium format anyway ;)
 
Nothing to be ashamed of! Also, for me, weight is a consideration. If I win the lottery then it would have to be a Leica, without a doubt!
 
Have had a d7000 since day one and don't think you will have any issues - has all the pro features you may need - dual identical cards, great battery - it's only nikon who class it as non pro and that's only cause they only class d3 as pro
 
tim_uk said:
Have had a d7000 since day one and don't think you will have any issues - has all the pro features you may need - dual identical cards, great battery - it's only nikon who class it as non pro and that's only cause they only class d3 as pro
Click to expand...

Technically they class the D300S, D700, D3, D3S and D3X as pro DSLRs
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
You do not need to feel obliged to buy a D700 because apparently FF is godly. On the cropped cameras you can print more than big enough for your requirements. Nobody cares other than you what you shoot it with.
Click to expand...
This is quite true...but FF does give you the possibility of shallower depth of field if you need it, and which is popular in portrait photography.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
No offence intended here, but everybody seems to think pro = Full frame and vice versa.

I can name a fair few high level professional fashion photographers that use cropped cameras. Cropped cameras have their own advantages too, weight, speed, lens sweet spot and so on.

If you're only going full time this year you have plenty of time to slow down and wait for the newest releases and make your educated decision from there.

If you're going to be doing mainly children portraiture as you've said, the D7000 or D300S for that matter will provide you with everything you need and more. You do not need to feel obliged to buy a D700 because apparently FF is godly. On the cropped cameras you can print more than big enough for your requirements. Nobody cares other than you what you shoot it with.

Then if you get into higher profile portraiture your best bet is medium format anyway ;)
Click to expand...

No offence taken.
I think this post has made my mind up. I will get a hasselblad with a phase one digital back iq180 and a leica m9 for traveling purposes.

Funniest thing is, I am not a gear orientated person per se, but I like to invest in a savvy way and the opinion of peers is very important to me.

Now, would it make sense still to get the 24-70mm 2.8 with the d7000?
 
Tracer said:
This is quite true...but FF does give you the possibility of shallower depth of field if you need it, and which is popular in portrait photography.
Click to expand...

Very true, it is one of the main reasons why I thought at first of going ff. But, maybe by getting a 135mm f2 DF, plus my 50 1.4 and 85 1.8, can do a pretty nice job too.
 
Tracer said:
This is quite true...but FF does give you the possibility of shallower depth of field if you need it, and which is popular in portrait photography.
Click to expand...

Depth of field is indeed utilised to add effect to many portraits. However depth of field not only depends on sensor size but also distance to subject, lens focal length etc.

To frame a full frame camera, to get the same frame as a crop camera, you need to get closer to the subject, and it's the distance to the subject, and being closer, which I have been told has the more drastic effect on the DOF.

Fast lenses are the key rather than sensor size, give me an F1.4 or 1.8 on a cropped over a 2.8 on a full frame any day for that kind of thing
 
paula said:
No offence taken.
I think this post has made my mind up. I will get a hasselblad with a phase one digital back iq180 and a leica m9 for traveling purposes.

Funniest thing is, I am not a gear orientated person per se, but I like to invest in a savvy way and the opinion of peers is very important to me.

Now, would it make sense still to get the 24-70mm 2.8 with the d7000?
Click to expand...

It really depends how you shoot, to be honest nobody can tell you whats best for you without knowing exactly what you shoot, and even then it's only an opinion.

I've got my eyes set on the H4D-31, I'm not greedy like you!

I use the 17-55mm 2.8 Nikon, 35mm 1.8 DX, and 85mm 1.8. The 24-70 certainly has it's place, to be honest I'd probably prefer it, I actually don't like wide angles. My next lenses will be 135mm F2 DC and maybe the 80 or 70-200mm 2.8

And I use a D200, old school generation just like your D80.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Technically they class the D300S, D700, D3, D3S and D3X as pro DSLRs
Click to expand...

guess it depends who at nikon you ask:

Consumer D40, D40X, D50, D60, D70 (up to 128MB , over 128MB), D70s (up to 128MB , over 128MB) , D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D300S (CF), D300S (SD), D700, D3000, D3100, D5000, D7000

Professional D1, D1X, D1H, D2H (up to 256MB , over 256MB), D2X (up to 512 MB , over 512 MB), D2Hs (up to 512MB , over 512MB), D2Xs, D3, D3S, D3X


Pretty sure I read somewhere the D7000 counts for membership to their pro users club - whatever that is - so I wouldn't put to much weighting on what they say is pro or not on any given day.
 
tim_uk said:
guess it depends who at nikon you ask:

Consumer D40, D40X, D50, D60, D70 (up to 128MB , over 128MB), D70s (up to 128MB , over 128MB) , D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D300S (CF), D300S (SD), D700, D3000, D3100, D5000, D7000
Professional D1, D1X, D1H, D2H (up to 256MB , over 256MB), D2X (up to 512 MB , over 512 MB), D2Hs (up to 512MB , over 512MB), D2Xs, D3, D3S, D3X

Pretty sure I read somewhere the D7000 counts for membership to their pro users club - whatever that is - so I wouldn't put to much weighting on what they say is pro or not on any given day.
Click to expand...

I don't know where you got that info from, I got mine from the Nikon website. I think if you have 3 products listed as pro, inclusive of a pro listed body, you can register them and yourself in the professional scheme
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
I don't know where you got that info from, I got mine from the Nikon website. I think if you have 3 products listed as pro, inclusive of a pro listed body, you can register them and yourself in the professional scheme
Click to expand...

the info was from:

https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26795

also looked at their professional scheme and the D7000 is on that list too as a backup body.

http://nikonpro.com/renewal_instructions.html


Personally I think it's all a load of cobblers, if you make money from your photos you're a PRO whatever camera you use !!
 
Last edited:
tim_uk said:
the info was from:

https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26795

also looked at their professional scheme and the D7000 is on that list too as a backup body.

http://nikonpro.com/renewal_instructions.html


Personally I think it's all a load of cobblers, if you make money from your photos you're a PRO whatever camera you use !!
Click to expand...

The list has loads of lenses that are clearly not "pro" - quite a few are f/3.5-5.6 zooms whereas a pro will generally use a zoom with a constant f/2.8.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
This is the list according to the Nikon site for what current equipment qualifies you for NPU membership

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/pro/Pro_NPU.page?
Click to expand...

Is anyone on here a member of the NPU? Is/would be of any help to your business? I had never heard of it before(most of my friends are canon).

Personally, I am not that concerned in term of having what it is perceived as a pro camera, rather than I want to be confindent that I can deliver images that have a pro quality and that the camera will help me reach that goal a bit easier than my current d80 (11focus points!!!!,) and a bit safer too, as it would be nice to have a double card slot (I shoot raw, but would like to have a jpeg back up option in a separate card).

Anyway, a short look through my latest state of finances has settled pretty much the subject. Lower end of the scale.
 
Last edited:
I'm a member of the NPU, but I'm afraid I've no idea what the benefits are either! I it's more of a sales gimmick. However if you're a pro and can prove it, you can then join the NPS, there are some good benfits to that like faster repairs, loan kit etc.
 
paula said:
Is anyone on here a member of the NPU? Is/would be of any help to your business? I had never heard of it before(most of my friends are canon).

Personally, I am not that concerned in term of having what it is perceived as a pro camera, rather than I want to be confindent that I can deliver images that have a pro quality and that the camera will help me reach that goal a bit easier than my current d80 (11focus points!!!!,) and a bit safer too, as it would be nice to have a double card slot (I shoot raw, but would like to have a jpeg back up option in a separate card).

Anyway, a short look through my latest state of finances has settled pretty much the subject. Lower end of the scale.
Click to expand...

If you can take fantastic portraits with a D700, you'll be able to take fantastic portraits with a D80, and vice versa.

What features from FF are you feeling you will benefit from?

Focus points?? 11 is plenty!! Hasselblad H4D is single centre point, and that's no slouch.

I intend to upgrade to a newer cropped body or a D2X, but I may wait for the D300S replacement, I actually WANT a cropped body strangely enough. I'll hire a Blad whenever I need something more potent :)
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
If you can take fantastic portraits with a D700, you'll be able to take fantastic portraits with a D80, and vice versa.

What features from FF are you feeling you will benefit from?

Focus points?? 11 is plenty!! Hasselblad H4D is single centre point, and that's no slouch.

I intend to upgrade to a newer cropped body or a D2X, but I may wait for the D300S replacement, I actually WANT a cropped body strangely enough. I'll hire a Blad whenever I need something more potent :)
Click to expand...


11 may sound plenty but it gets to a point where it is frustrating with children, with adults has never been an issue.
Thank you, it is always refreshing being told that gear does not matter as much as our technical abilities and vision. In a weird sort of way, it gives me confidence both in my decision and in my abilities.
 
treeman said:
I'm a member of the NPU, but I'm afraid I've no idea what the benefits are either! I it's more of a sales gimmick. However if you're a pro and can prove it, you can then join the NPS, there are some good benfits to that like faster repairs, loan kit etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I guess you never had to use those services?
 
treeman said:
I'm a member of the NPU, but I'm afraid I've no idea what the benefits are either! I it's more of a sales gimmick. However if you're a pro and can prove it, you can then join the NPS, there are some good benfits to that like faster repairs, loan kit etc.
Click to expand...

Hi,

I am also a NPU member. You get a nice membership card, once in a blue moon you get a glossy magazine and you also get some money off their in-house training courses.
You will also get invites to free seminars. I have attended three of them, DSLR movies, Tips and Tricks and The Creative Lighting System.
The CLS seminar with John Clements was excellent.
Otherwise the NPU has no real benefits, but it does not cost anything to join.

The Nikon chaps did say that working togs would be better off joining their NPS service, here is the list of eligible equipment
 
This has been a very good thread to read!

I currently have a D90, and am thinking about adding a D700 somewhere along the line, which would mean having to sell my 17-55 and buying a 24-70, which again adds to the cost....

All this has made me think, but has also made it more confusing! ;)
 
paula said:
11 may sound plenty but it gets to a point where it is frustrating with children, with adults has never been an issue.
Thank you, it is always refreshing being told that gear does not matter as much as our technical abilities and vision. In a weird sort of way, it gives me confidence both in my decision and in my abilities.
Click to expand...

I have exact that issue right now, I have 11 focus points on the D200 too. The only reason I'm considering the D300 against the older D2X is it has the same AF system as the D700 and D3 (51 points) and the 3D tracking is fantastic for keeping erratic children in focus, the focus point moves around the screen itself it really is great. Get to a camera shop and test it out, I'd prefer the D300S to the D7000, and you can nab a good one 2nd hand for about £750 now
 
Ok, this is how I understand it to be, in my little brain :)

A couple of points to consider, depth of field. If you like shallow DOF, then it will be better on a F/F body.

F/F body with 85mm lens at f1.4 portrait taken at 6' DOF will be 1.5 "

Crop body same lens but you'd have to move back to say 10' away to get the same crop, (I don't have a crop body so I'm only roughly guessing here) DOF will be 2.78".

Secondly if you want to blow your prints up big, the F/F body will hold up better the larger you go.

Yes, of course if you've got the money, the logical step would be medium format, as you'd get even shallower DOF and even bigger print potential. However, financially it's not a practical option for me.

If neither of these two factors are important to you, stick with crop bodies, and spend your money on the best glass you can get.
 
Medium format and its depth of field implications also mean that when you do want deeper dof, you also need a shed load of light. It's a positive at one end, but a negative at the other
 
Your maths look about right to me. Out of interest though, how low do people actually want the DOF for portraits? I would have thought that at 1.5", you're going to struggle to get both eyes and nose in focus. I guess it gives you options though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top