New Nikon - Advice Please

windrunner

windrunner

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Name
Michael
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Hi Folks,

I've had my D3100 for about 18 months now. I've used it pretty much every weekend since and built up a collection of lens'. Two Nikkor DX - a 35mm prime and a 70-300mm tele. I also use my Sigma 10-20mm quite a lot.

I mostly shoot landscape photos and the D3100 is fine for that but when I'm shooting anything indoors with low light the camera gets very noisy at anything above 400 ISO.

I feel I am at the stage with my photography where I'd like to upgrade. I want to stay with Nikon as I've had no problems with them and I'm used to the controls etc.

I'm looking for advice on what camera I should go for next. I initially thought about the D7000 as I'd be able to keep all of my glass. The D600 full format is dropping in price and is probably now within my budget. I know I wont get the full use of my existing glass but wondered if the difference in photo quality would be significant - significant enough for me to trade in my glass and start to build an upgraded collection.

As I've mentioned, I use my camera a lot so wouldn't mind paying the extra for a better camera but not if I am only going to see the difference at 1:1 scale etc.

Has anyone on here upgraded from the D7000 to the D600 that could give me their thoughts?

Cheers.
 
I'd love to see your idea of "noisy" if you consider the D3100 bad above 400! I've seen images from D3100 users that were shot at ISO 3200 that were pretty clean. A little better than my D90 was, which wasn't too shabby.

Are you using any post processing software currently|?
 
Hi,

Yeah, I use photoshop CS6 and Adobe Camera Raw to process my shots.

I usually dont bother going above 400 ISO unless I really need to due to the loss in quality.
 
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OK, but it really would be fine above 400, once you get your exposures bang on. Not drastically over or under, for example. Underexposing especially, can produce more noise than normal because noise is more prominent in darker/shadowed areas. It shouldn't be so much that you're really noticing at 400 though.
 
Thanks, these photos speak for themselves. You are probably right in that I'm just not using the camera correctly. I don't use it much indoors with most of shooting being landscapes where I have no problems.

Is it possible that I could be seeing this noise issue due to my camera sensor being "well used"? As I noted in my first post - it has seen a lot if use in 18 months? Might be a silly question but thought I'd ask.
 
windrunner said:
Thanks, these photos speak for themselves. You are probably right in that I'm just not using the camera correctly. I don't use it much indoors with most of shooting being landscapes where I have no problems.

Is it possible that I could be seeing this noise issue due to my camera sensor being "well used"? As I noted in my first post - it has seen a lot if use in 18 months? Might be a silly question but thought I'd ask.
Click to expand...

No.

Ive used cameras with hundreds of thousands of actuations, it makes no difference at all. A sensor tends to either work, or it doesnt, there is little middle ground. A duff sensor will often start to exhibit colour casts before it pops its clogs.
The noise issue is simply user error in the settings used for the exposure, and possibly in the post production afterwards.

If you have an underexposed shot and boost the exposure in software, that will cause noise.
 
Just buy a yongnuo yn465 flashgun on ebay for £50 for indoor shots, job done.
 
If you are feeling like an upgraded body... d300, d7000 or d600. Although if budget isn't a problem, then maybe a d800 or a d3...?

If its more your processing, then ok, try using different settings on processing. Also try a few exposures of different settings.



Personally I find on the d300 I get quite a bit of noise if I am looking closely at the pic, but if I frame it so the subject is filling as much as the picture as possible it reduces the need of cropping and hence seeing the noise.

Have a play with some of the settings and light and processing. If you need pointers I think there is a section in the forums for post processing, where you could ask people for opinions on different settings for the post processing. If you have Raw files and don't mind people processing them, you might be able to see where you could tweak your processing to be better/different/more to what you want.

Hope you sort it :)
 
My d300 was worse at 1600 than the d3100 was!


I think then d3100 is a fantastic little camera and punches well above its weight.
 
Cheers guys.

If anything this thread has prompted me to go back and rethink what I am doing with my D3100 and improving PP andshooting technique.

I understand the improvements I'd see in going full frame (higher dynamic range, low light performance etc) and from what I have read today the difference in picture quality between D3100 and D7000 wont blow me away. Most reviews seem to point to the build quality, built in motor and accessibility of controls as the benefits of D7000 - not the actual picture quality.

I do fancy a change though so intend to try and get my hands on a D600 to evaluate the results before deciding to do anything.

Thanks again.
 
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