Swap Sony for Nikon?

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I have a Sony a77 and numerous lenses flash guns etc.

I'm thinking of a switch to Nikon and concentrate mostly on Wildlife and Birds, therefore the equipment I have will be sold. Possibly on this forum

My question to you Nikon guys is: What Nikon body would suit my needs given a budget of around £1,000 - usable images at high ISO is a must , this is where the a77 fails above ISO 500

I have a lens in mind so I don't really need info on that

Thanks in anticipation

Les
 
Do you want DX crop sensor or fx full frame? For a grand you're on middle ground between the two
 
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Mark twiglet said:
Do you want DX crop sensor or fx full frame? For a grand you're on middle ground between the two
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Now this is where my limited knowledge comes to the front Mark :D

the Sony a77 has a crop sensor, would a full frame benefit me in my quest to become a better wildlife photographer?? in terms of IQ etc

Les
 
Lez325 said:
Now this is where my limited knowledge comes to the front Mark :D

the Sony a77 has a crop sensor, would a full frame benefit me in my quest to become a better wildlife photographer?? in terms of IQ etc

Les
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Not really, no... you'll just loose effective focal length. That's never a good thing for wildlife I can only imagine.

Do you actually NEED the marginal gains in image quality you'll gain from full frame? Do you print your work big? If not, you're wasting your money IMO.
 
View attachment 32140 View attachment 32137 hi Les.. I would think that you have opened a can of worms. Nikon, Canon, . Cannot
comment on the high end nikons D800 D750.. I've only used cropped cameras.
at moment 7100 which I'm quite pleased with, for longer reach I use the nikon 1 system with lens adaptor , it keeps the weight down... I'v been down the long lens
route ,and still go back to the 300mm f4 which i think is heavy enough to lug about..
the canon 7d m2 looks very good also... mark.
kingfisher was taken with nikon v1 stonechat with the d7100.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Not really, no... you'll just loose effective focal length. That's never a good thing for wildlife I can only imagine.

Do you actually NEED the marginal gains in image quality you'll gain from full frame? Do you print your work big? If not, you're wasting your money IMO.
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Thank you for that David- I don't print my images large- I think the largest one measures 20 x 16 inches

It's more the noise handling ability I have read about with Nikon Cameras as said the Sony is just bad above ISO 500, most wildlife shots I get are early mornings with less than perfect light conditions
and using a long lens the need to keep the shutter speed high is paramount hence the ISO being pushed

Les
 
Thank you Mark, I'm more confused than ever lol

I have been looking at the Nikon 7100 on WEX and the 300mm f4

Les
 
Lez325 said:
Thank you for that David- I don't print my images large- I think the largest one measures 20 x 16 inches

It's more the noise handling ability I have read about with Nikon Cameras as said the Sony is just bad above ISO 500, most wildlife shots I get are early mornings with less than perfect light conditions
and using a long lens the need to keep the shutter speed high is paramount hence the ISO being pushed

Les
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If you're happy with the AF performance and handling of the A77, then a D7100 may be worth looking at as it will be an improvement in all areas.
 
Lez325 said:
Thank you Mark, I'm more confused than ever lol

I have been looking at the Nikon 7100 on WEX and the 300mm f4

Les
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That is the exact setup i use (the now old 300mm f4, not the brand new one) and i love it, i did dabble in FF with a D700 but lost far too much reach, and went back to crop with the D7100

Have a look through my Flickr to see how it performs with wildlife
 
.
 
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D7100 has a good following as a crop camera.
  • 24MP
  • 51-point AF
  • Expeed 3
  • ISO 100-6400
  • 6 fps
The new D7200 improves it with the following.
  • Multi-CAM 3500DX II 51-point AF system, all sensitive to -3EV (D7100 to -2EV)
  • ISO 100-25600
Both of which will be significant improvements for wildlife.

Of the FX selection I would say D750 or D800 in or near your budget or D810 above it, the D6xx series IMO doesn't have the capability for your needs.
 
.This is with a d7000 with nikkor 80-200 f2.8
 
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Full frame will give you a bigger brighter view finder, and generally improved AF, something like the D800 / D810 will give you the bigger view finder, and the ability to crop the image quite heavily.

Or just go the smaller lighter D7100 / D7200 route.
 
If you're a raw shooter that likes rapid fire shooting the buffer on the 7100 is limited! Try maybe the 7200 with improved buffer! But that's the budget blown on body only!
 
Only trouble with d800 is the buffer! It's slow rapid fire
 
On the other hand you could try using one of the excellent specialised noise reducers now available, which tend to give about two stops extra over the average. On the other foot you could try a Better Beamer for long distance flash.
 
Or I could throw a spanner in the works and suggest Olympus m4/3! Crop is 2x so a 300mm becomes 600mm ! And I've tried the m5mk2 and it's brilliant
 
In considering swapping from Nikon to Olympus
 
Thank all for the input

there a MK2 version??? Jessops seem to have them, @ £750 or thereabouts are you saying the noise handling would equal; that of the Nikon D7100

I appreciate I would loose vast amounts selling all my Sony gear too, so there in lies the problem

Les
 
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Lez325 said:
Thank all for the input

there a MK2 version??? Jessops seem to have them, @ £750 or thereabouts are you saying the noise handling would equal; that of the Nikon D7100

I appreciate I would loose vast amounts selling all my Sony gear too, so there in lies the problem

Les
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The A77 mk2 is a very big upgrade over the original A77. Plus you are used to the layout/ergonomics/EVF.

For sensor performance look at this comparison…

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Comp...-D7100-versus-Sony-SLT-Alpha-77___953_865_734

More here regarding ISO

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a77-ii/sony-a77-ii-image-quality.htm

Full review

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a77-ii/sony-a77-iiA.HTM
 
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I have the Sony A77 mkii. It'd definitely consider that first. The noise handling is easily as good as on the A580 which is one of the least noisy crop sensors out there. I'd say the A77ii was probably better.

Have a look on dpreview etc and do comparisons on their images.

If there is a particular lens you are after that is nikon only then I'm sure there was a sony/nikon adapter around. I know Ffordes had one so they do exist.
 
As been said the A77 mk2 makes the most sense. The only thing, there doesn't seem to be a lot of wildlife examples posted, especially small birds, so you would need to try one to make sure it meets your requirement.

For me, I don't like the D7100 for high iso and the buffer, I don't like going over iso 800 if I can help it, this wasn't the case with the D750 I owned last year. I'm currently using the D7100 with the 300mm f4 and it's good combination, but I will be glad when I can go back to the D750 shortly.
 
twist said:
The A77 mk2 is a very big upgrade over the original A77. Plus you are used to the layout/ergonomics/EVF.

For sensor performance look at this comparison…

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Comp...-D7100-versus-Sony-SLT-Alpha-77___953_865_734

More here regarding ISO

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a77-ii/sony-a77-ii-image-quality.htm

Full review

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a77-ii/sony-a77-iiA.HTM
Click to expand...


Yes that does make sense-

srichards said:
I have the Sony A77 mkii. It'd definitely consider that first. The noise handling is easily as good as on the A580 which is one of the least noisy crop sensors out there. I'd say the A77ii was probably better.

Have a look on dpreview etc and do comparisons on their images.

If there is a particular lens you are after that is nikon only then I'm sure there was a sony/nikon adapter around. I know Ffordes had one so they do exist.
Click to expand...

I have been offered a Nikon 500mm f4 at a reasonable price, I do however know my way around a Sony a77 so a Mk2 maybe the way to go

Les
 
Swanseajack said:
For me, I don't like the D7100 for high iso and the buffer, I don't like going over iso 800 if I can help it, this wasn't the case with the D750 I owned last year. I'm currently using the D7100 with the 300mm f4 and it's good combination, but I will be glad when I can go back to the D750 shortly.
Click to expand...

Seriously, i find it usable up to around 2200

This was taken at ISO 2200, this is a slight crop as well


Painted Hunting Dog by RichPICings, on Flickr
 
The buffer on the nikon 7100 is weak. Single digit number of RAWs, no mention of RAW + JPG and only about 30 full res JPGs. The Sony manages 25 RAW +JPGs or 50 odd full res jpegs. That's a massive difference in real world shooting. Buffer clear time is supposed to be really quick as well. I've never really used it for anything like wildlife or motorsport yet.

If you can find a sony/nikon adaptery thingy then you may find you can have your cake and eat it :)

This might be worth a punt:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fotodiox-Lens-Mount-Adapter-Minolta/dp/B0048A6VS8
 
Lez325 said:
Thank you Mark, I'm more confused than ever lol

I have been looking at the Nikon 7100 on WEX and the 300mm f4

Les
Click to expand...

The new Nikon 300mm f4 VR PF, look very very good from a number of standpoints - (have a look at the images on the thread), it is small, light and has VR
OK it's almost £2k but that lens should perform very well with the D7100 with and without the TC14Ell or lll ……… hand held
A new D7100 is now being sold at a "give away" price and spending more money on glass, IMHO, is the way to go…….. and the new (announced ), D7200 doesn't look to give any big improvements
I have the Nikon 300mm f2.8VR, 300mm f4 and 70 300mm VR zoom but still reckon the new PF lens is worth having ……. I also use the V1 +FT-1 with the 300mm's

I still reckon a DX sensor is the way to go for small bird shots

just my opinion
 
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rpsmith79 said:
Seriously, i find it usable up to around 2200

This was taken at ISO 2200, this is a slight crop as well


Painted Hunting Dog by RichPICings, on Flickr
Click to expand...

Yes the camera can use higher ISO's but for me and bird photography, I'm finding I am loosing the finer detail when I shoot above ISO 800. If I was changing systems now myself, I would go for the D750 after owning both cameras or the D810 for the extra cropping if he can afford it.

Also, as it seems that the OP has been offered a 500mm f4 lens at a good price, too me it makes even more sense to go Full Frame. Although some say it's a gimmick, I dont, you also have the DX mode with the FF cameras.
 
The 500mm f4 is quite a specialised lens and usually comes after you have a 300mm etc., - with the 400mm + most will need to improve their technique - use a tripod for the best results and have a really steady hand

It is also "good" at a certain distance and maybe not as good as say a 300mm f2.8/f4 at close range …… a 300mm with a TC is more flexible generally for hide shooting, walking around and general work … from my experience anyway

Carting around and walking with a 400mm plus prime lens can get a bit tiring

400/600/600mm lenses are good but you need to experience what you are getting and be comfortable using them …… which is not always the case ……. the new generation of long primes are getting small, lighter whilst still being technically as good or better ……… but 400mm f4 onwards will still be a bit piece of glass

the 24 meg pixel DX sensor on the D7100 still has very good performance, it is the other aspects of the camera that need improvement and upgrade.
 
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a77 mk2 is very nice :), its not worth swapping unless you need a evf or some lens ud use loads which you cant get on a mount
 
I shoot with Nikon, both a d7100 DX and a D700 FX body. The D7100 is my primary body for wildlife and birds, the D700 for people. Whilst the D700 is the better performer for general high ISO work in poorer light, in practical terms the advantage of the extra 'reach' DX sensor offsets this. At 500mm on the D7100 I'm shooting at F4 and the equivalent of 750mm (1000mm in 1.3 crop mode), to get 850mm on FX I'm utilising a tc1.7 teleconverter and loosing 1.5 stops of light, in practical terms 2 stops because I'm stopping down to F8. That to me pretty much cancels out the better ISO performance of the D700. The sensor on the D7100 renders finite detail much better than the older sensor imho. The biggest flaw with the D7100 is as others have stated the awful buffer and modest 5fps. I've just returned from India and for the first time in a long time shot JPEG to help get around the buffer issue when photographing kites in flight. In terms of AF performance I don't think there's much in either of them, both pretty good.
 
Hi Les, looked at an a77 mk2 a while back and compared with my 70d, as my brother is a sony user and wondering about upgrades from an a65. The a77mk2 is very good to my eyes, it matches my 70d in terms of high iso noise. I will upload some indoor test shots I took with the 77mk2 to my flickr so you can take a look if you like.


test pics I shot indoors in low light here taken with an 85 f2.8 and you should be able to view them full size.
 
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I am leaning towards the a77 Mk2 to be honest - having so much Sony related equipment would be a royal pain to shift it all

Les
 
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