Nikon upgrade advice

Bigvin

Bigvin

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OK guys looking for some upgrade advice and don't want to mess up the other post about D300s Vs D7000.

Currently I have a D5000 which has served me well over the last 18 months whilst I learnt the basics of photography.

I'm now at the stage where I'm beginning to tire of the menu system to change settings and find that I need to change things more quickly.

About 80-90% of what I shoot is wildlife, so I'll be staying with a crop camera. This brings it down to D300s, D7000 or wait for D300s replacement.

I'm really going round in circles trying to decide which one to go for.

Lens wise I currently have Sigma 10-20, Nikon 18-70, Nikon 70-300, Nikon 35mm, Tamron 90mm and a Sigma 150-500.

I know the D7000 has more megapixels and better ISO which would help should I need to crop or raise the ISO to get a decent shutter speed with the 150-500.

The D300/s is a larger camera which fits my hands better (D5000 is gripped) and has better weatherproofing, although I know none of my lenses have. Also I have no CF cards just SD.

From what I've just written it tells me to go with the D7000, but I then jump back to the feel of the D300 in my hands.

Hope I've given enough detail for you guys to give me some advice.

Sorry for such a long post.

Cheers.
 
If the only thing you're not happy with is the handling, then just upgrade to the cheapest camera that feels right and gives you direct access to functions.

Nikon have just announced the 1 series so I'm not expecting a D300s replacement for quite a while now.

In your shoes, unless you're planning on being out in really inclement conditions, I'd get the D7000 & grip.
 
I've just this week jumped from a D5000 to D300. I deliberated long and hard about D7000 or D300. My final decision was mainly based on the handling/feel of the D300, though in your case it's worth bearing in mind the superb AF on the D300 as well. I didn't feel I needed the high ISO performance the D7000 offers though I admit it's always a 'nice to have'. To me the extra MP is neither here nor there. No regrets so far though I'm sure I'd have said the same had I gone for the D7000.

One thing to mention is that the D300 has so much customisability and extra control that I'm having to re-learn everything. I felt like I knew the D5000 inside out but I'm currently a little out of my depth with the D300. I see that as a good thing though, keeps things interesting.
 
I love the feel and controls of the D300, and really don't think I could get used to the 7000 despite the better ISO. Would get a D300 if I were you.
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

It's just the new tech (D7000) versus the old tech (D300s) I'd hate to think in 10 months time the D300s will no longer be good enough for me and I'd have to buy the D300s replacement. (Although that'll probably happen anyway. Lol. )

Graham. With the D5000 I never go above ISO 1600, could you tell me what the performance of the D300s is at 1600 compared to the D5000 at 1600. The D5000 at 1600 is fine for me so far, so if the D300s is similar then that'll probably be it sorted. (Scared to look at ISO capabilities of D7000 in case it throws another spanner in the works. Lol. )

Cheers Lee
 
Bigvin said:
Thanks for the advice guys.

It's just the new tech (D7000) versus the old tech (D300s) I'd hate to think in 10 months time the D300s will no longer be good enough for me and I'd have to buy the D300s replacement. (Although that'll probably happen anyway. Lol. )

Graham. With the D5000 I never go above ISO 1600, could you tell me what the performance of the D300s is at 1600 compared to the D5000 at 1600. The D5000 at 1600 is fine for me so far, so if the D300s is similar then that'll probably be it sorted. (Scared to look at ISO capabilities of D7000 in case it throws another spanner in the works. Lol. )

Cheers Lee
Click to expand...

I can't really tell the difference at high ISO to tell you the truth. I think the sensor is very similar. I do still have the D5000 for now so if I get a chance I'll do a scientific test side by side. I guess if you're after an improved IQ, whether at high ISO or otherwise, the D7000 is more likely to offer that.

Like you, I was getting frustrated with the D5000's menu driven control system. I also wanted flash-commander which the D5000 doesn't offer. Improved IQ would have been a bonus but was never high up the priority list as I think the D5000 is pretty good to begin with. I suppose one area that could potentially improve IQ is the AF system, particularly on moving subjects. I took some shots earlier of my cousin's kids who were playing on slides and swings etc.. The subject tracking was excellent, I must say. Not sure if the D5000 would have done as well in the same circumstances.

I too was a little worried about buying 'old' tech as opposed to the latest stuff but the consolation is that I've jumped up from a beginner level body to what is essentially a 'pro' body in terms of control. There will always be something newer/better around the corner no matter what you go for.
 
Thanks for the reply Graham.

The IQ on the D5000 is fine for my hobby standard photography, just want to make sure it doesn't deteriorate by raising the ISO. They AF for BIF is something that appeals to me.

Cheers Lee
 
Had a quick play this morning using both cameras. Every setting the same I think. These are straight from the camera raw files, uploaded through Aperture. I'm nor sure whether Aperture does it's own auto noise reduction or not.

These are both ISO 200

D300:

D300 ISO 200 by G.A.D, on Flickr

D5000

D5000 ISO 200 by G.A.D, on Flickr

These are both ISO 1600

D300

D300 ISO 1600 by G.A.D, on Flickr

D5000

D5000 ISO 1600 by G.A.D, on Flickr

I can't personally see much difference but you may draw your own conclusions. I've also uploaded images for ISO's 400, 800 and 3200 and on my flickR. Feel free to take a peak.

Have a look at these images too. It is quite surprising just how small the D5000 is next to the D300. You may or may not see that as a good thing but the D300 really does feel like a big boy's camera. The D7000 and D90 sit somewhere in between these but I would say are closer in size to the D300 than the D5000.


D300 and D5000 Front by G.A.D, on Flickr


D300 and D5000 Back by G.A.D, on Flickr
 
Thanks very much for taking the time out to take the comparison photos Graham. :thumbs:

Details seem fine for what I'll be doing, not that much difference at all.

I'm off into the Toon tomorrow to get my hands on the 300 and 7000 again to make a final decision, although I think i've been convinced to go with the 300.

Once again thanks very much. :thumbs:
 
The example shots you've taken are almost guaranteed not to show the differences - you're playing to their strengths, not their weaknesses

I can't comment on the other cameras but can say that the D300S pulls focus incredibly quickly & accurately and there is lots of flexibility in continuous autofocus setup. That's important for me shooting motorsport - it might not be important for you

The thing I learnt, moving from a D70 to a D300S, is that improved image resolution & better handling of highlights is a given as you upgrade. What I didn't bank on was how much easier the camera is to handle, how much better the AF is and how much difference a big display makes

Nick Froome
 
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bolide said:
The example shots you've taken are almost guaranteed not to show the differences - you're playing to their strengths, not their weaknesses
Click to expand...

I'm not arguing, but in what way are they not representative?
 
gad-westy said:
I'm not arguing, but in what way are they not representative?
Click to expand...

I don't think I articulated that very well

My point is that that test will show very little difference between the two cameras. But there may be a huge difference in the way they handle & pull focus and that is often more important than sheer image quality

Nick Froome
 
bolide said:
I don't think I articulated that very well

My point is that that test will show very little difference between the two cameras. But there may be a huge difference in the way they handle & pull focus and that is often more important than sheer image quality

Nick Froome
Click to expand...

Ahhh, I see. The shots were specifically related to the question about ISO performance. They were manually focussed on purpose so that I took that variable out of the equation. FWIW, I think there is almost no difference in the way they handle noise, though that is perhaps to be expected.

As you say, the D300's focussing system is in a different league. The more I use the camera, the more impressive it gets.
 
The D5000 and D300s have the same sensor. There won't be a difference in high ISO between the bodies.

There will be a difference between the D7000 and those two in dynamic range and High ISO - around a stop. I find the D7000 ISO6400 shots to look like the D5000/90/300 at ISO3200.
The experience I've had with the D300 leads me to think the D7000 AF is as good - both will focus in light too dark to do so by eye, and both hold on to targets once locked on.
The handling of the D300 is better (the ISO button placement especially), but not enough so for it to matter to me. I also found the D3100 handling fine. That said, I like holding cameras with my little finger free and will go for smaller size over bulk as long as it doesn't compromise operation which IMO the D7000 achieves. Pop into the D7k thread sometime :)
 
ausemmao said:
The D5000 and D300s have the same sensor. There won't be a difference in high ISO between the bodies.
Click to expand...

According to various sources, they're 'similar' but not the same. That was the reason I decided to carry out the ISO test. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that showed very little difference between the two.
 
gad-westy said:
According to various sources, they're 'similar' but not the same. That was the reason I decided to carry out the ISO test. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that showed very little difference between the two.
Click to expand...

It seems the difference if any is in the implementation of filters and dataprocessing. It's the same basic design, in the same way the D7000's shares the same basic design as the K-5 and A55, but there are differences in filtering and dataprocessing.
 
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