Nikon D80 upgrade to Canon 7D

willbowles

willbowles

Messages
29
Name
Will
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all,

I currently have a Nikon D80, only my second DSLR, which has been fantastic and a great jump from the D40 I initially had. However I'm finding the D80 can no longer handle what I want it to do. I love motorsport and on a sunny day the D80 still takes a cracking picture but if and when the light begins to go, it struggles. Any low light or night photography is pretty much a no go. The ISO range is too shallow and the shots get very noisy when trying to compensate for the light.

I'm looking at getting a Canon 7D for my next camera. High FPS, high ISO range and a good jump in specifications. Would anyone disagree and recommend something else? £700 is roughly my limit for a body. The reason I'm looking at a Canon is so I can share my friends lenses.

Thanks

Will
 
How many Nikkor lenses to you have? Would be a shame to switch systems if you already have nikon lenses, as that's quite an expensive upgrade.

Considered the D7000? Fab auto focus, wonderful in low light, but only 6fps instead of 8... but you can do a lot of damage with 6fps :)

It's cheaper too so you have some money for your lens fund.
 
The question should be......what lenses are you using on the D80?
 
Yes i would look at the d7000 too which is probably a better iso performer, altho the 7d has better fps and af.

As others have mentioned maybe you need too look at your lenses first.
 
Last edited:
Morning,

Lens wise I have the following:

  • Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8D
  • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

I am familiar with the Nikon system and haven't had a great deal of exposure as of yet to Canon cameras. I guess I could get the D7000 and just grow my own lens collection.

The D7000 does look like a decent spec and a good step upwards. I had thought about a second hand D300S but that is quite an old model too?

Cheers

Will
 
Last edited:
The d7000 is marked discontinued on a big Australian store. You could wait for the new version or my the d7000 when the price drops. Or keep the d80 and buy a better and faster zoom lens.
 
Last edited:
willbowles said:
Morning,

Lens wise I have the following:

  • Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 Di VC USD
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8
  • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

I am familiar with the Nikon system and haven't had a great deal of exposure as of yet to Canon cameras. I guess I could get the D7000 and just grow my own lens collection.

The D7000 does look like a decent spec and a good step upwards. I had thought about a second hand D300S but that is quite an old model too?

Cheers

Will
Click to expand...

Stick with Nikon. Not that there is anything wrong with Canon, but it'll be a shock to the system, no real benefit unless you have a compelling reason to switch, and you'll have to replace all your lenses.

I'd suggest the D7000 too - as an ex-owner, I can confirm it's a fantastic enthusiast camera, not to mention it's a bargain these days. You won't be disappointed.

I wouldn't worry about a D300s, unless you really want the semi-pro build quality. There will be a successor to the D7000 soon, but it'll most likely be >£1000 as the D7000 was when it first launched.
 
Last edited:
willbowles said:
Morning,

Lens wise I have the following:

  • Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 Di VC USD
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8
  • Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR

I am familiar with the Nikon system and haven't had a great deal of exposure as of yet to Canon cameras. I guess I could get the D7000 and just grow my own lens collection.

The D7000 does look like a decent spec and a good step upwards. I had thought about a second hand D300S but that is quite an old model too?

Cheers

Will
Click to expand...

There's your problem......Lenses....... You don't need a new body you need to invest in faster lenses. Your lenses are ok for sunny days, but you'll need f4 or faster for the grey days.

Don't dismiss used equipment, but you need to upgrade your 70-300mm. f5.6 just doesn't cut the mustard for motorsport all conditions.

The Nikon 300mm f4 is a good option or sigma 100-300mm f4 (used £450), but it depends what you're will to spend.

Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 another option for motorsport, used (non OS version) about £800-900 or the OS version around £1500 - 1600

I would be investing in better lenses rather than a new body because with a new body you'll still have issues with the 70-300mm.
 
willbowles said:
Morning,


I am familiar with the Nikon system and haven't had a great deal of exposure as of yet to Canon cameras.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't even consider Canon until you have at least had a play with one to see if you get on with them.
Ergonomically, they are very different.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Canon, but I personally don't like the way they sit in my hand, and that is quite important to me.
But as everyone else has said, the D7000 is a great piece of kit. Good IQ, good high ISO performance, and you will be more comfortable with the Nikon feel, menus, etc etc.
 
GHP said:
I wouldn't even consider Canon until you have at least had a play with one to see if you get on with them.
Ergonomically, they are very different.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Canon, but I personally don't like the way they sit in my hand, and that is quite important to me.
But as everyone else has said, the D7000 is a great piece of kit. Good IQ, good high ISO performance, and you will be more comfortable with the Nikon feel, menus, etc etc.
Click to expand...

After using a Nikon for years, I tried using a Canon recently and felt like a complete numpty - I just couldn't get the hang of it! I imagine it'd be the same going in the other direction.
 
Thanks for all the replies this is really helpful.

I haven't invested into professional lenses yet as it is still early days into photography for me. I was recommended the Tamron I bought for motorsport but on the more budget end. It was excellent when I went to Le Mans last year, in the daylight! It did cost me a little under £300 when I bought it and was hugely better than the Nikon 70-200mm I had previously (forget which model exactly). The speed of the auto focus is very good in comparison, or so I thought!

I also have a D3000 which I am going to sell along with my D80 so together I'll use the money I make and upgrade. I'm also planning on getting better quality lenses. Photography is becoming more of a hobby I'd like to pursue more seriously and my goal is to obtain a media pass for track events. Shooting from stands or through a tiny gap in a fence is becoming such a pain!

The D7000 certainly looks like a great camera and very affordable. I have used a Canon 450D in the past and really didn't get on with it too much but I put that down to my inexperience back then.

Cheers

Will
 
Last edited:
I have a 7D and think it's a great camera ... for everything but high ISO shots. It has excellent AF speed, enough AF points and decent FPS but for anything approaching low/bad light I reach for my Pentax K-5.

I know some people will post up pics showing otherwise or swear on their unborn child's life that they have no problem shooting up to ISO 6400 but personally I find the 7D to be lacking above ISO800 and much prefer the cleaner output of the K-5.

I'm not saying buy a Pentax ... I'm saying it uses the same sensor as the Nikon D7000 which imo is the best crop sensor available atm
 
Pablosammy said:
After using a Nikon for years, I tried using a Canon recently and felt like a complete numpty - I just couldn't get the hang of it! I imagine it'd be the same going in the other direction.
Click to expand...

Exactly this. I have been using Nikon since the F2AS days !! (Showing my age now)
Getting me to use Canon would be like learning to write with my left hand!
As I say, nothing wrong with them, it's just what you get used to.
 
willbowles said:
Photography is becoming more of a hobby I'd like to pursue more seriously and my goal is to obtain a media pass for track events. Shooting from stands or through a tiny gap in a fence is becoming such a pain!
Click to expand...

I'm still there taking images through the gaps, but thats why I have a 300mm f2.8 and TCs.

Unless you have good contacts and the best thing since sliced bread interms of your photography, thats becoming more and more difficult, probably impossible in todays market. With most motorsport togs, your not just taking images anymore, its more photo journalism, so you have to have jouralism accrediation as well, its more a story + images and you have to have a number of published articles etc.

As for making money in motorsport, don't give up your day job, its probably one of the most difficult professions to establish yourself in, but it has been done.

But you need to seriously upgrade your kit for that.
 
I can believe that! I'd just love the opportunity to stand the other side of the fence for once! I do know someone with an international press pass but whether I'll ever get the chance to go with him I don't know.

Has anyone ever used www.digitalrev.com? The D7000 is on there for sub £600...
 
willbowles said:
I can believe that! I'd just love the opportunity to stand the other side of the fence for once! I do know someone with an international press pass but whether I'll ever get the chance to go with him I don't know.

Has anyone ever used www.digitalrev.com? The D7000 is on there for sub £600...
Click to expand...

Lots of cheaper sites, digitalrev or onestopdigital are HK based outfits. Hdew and panamoz are the others people would recommend, but you're buying a grey import, so with warranty issues you might have to send them back to HK to be fixed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top