Upgrade from D3100 to D7000?

[faeriegodess612]

I picked up a D7000 at Best Buy the other day and fell in love. From everything that I've read online, its a hell of a camera. But, it has its issues. From the other photography forum, I've seen a lot of people say theyve had to send theirs in for things. Such as issues with oil getting on the sensor and creating what looks like sensor dust, back focusing, and even this from one member:

I just bought a D7000 (upgrading my D90). I'm wondering if any of D7000 users here can give some advise. Fyi, I bought this unit in Malaysia from Nikon Authorized Dealer. The product stated Made in Thailand. My questions:

1. Is your D7000 also made in Thailand?
2. Do you notice bad pixels (2-3 on the very same spot) when shooting ISO-100 with exposure >1sec?

When changing position of camera (taking landscape to portrait: I mean horizontal to vertical), I can hear a clicking sound (mechanical). Sound something like little screw hitting some of the inner part near the viewfinder. First I thought it was my lens. But it gives same result without lens. Of course it's not coming from the strap holder, but the sound could be similar to that. For mine, I don't need to shake the camera. It's enough to turn the camera from position horizontal to vertical.

So, I'm just wondering,....if I were to try and save up for one, and I went with a site like B&H thats trusted, would you go new or refurb? Are cameras like cars? The ones that are about a year old or so are usually better because its mechanics are broken in and any bugs have been fixed? Or like game consoles,...you never buy the first run, because they havent worked out the kinks.

Some of you may be wondering too why I'd want to upgrade. Because of the capabilities of the D7000 over my D3100. It has a better sensor, 100% viewfinder, dual card slots, 39 focus points, the ability to shoot in mirror lock up, as well as other features that my consumer grade D3100 just doesnt have.

[SwissJon]

Oooohh, I have a D7000, and I KNOW why you're upgrading.. It's a REALLY nice camera, far far nicer than the D3100.

I sent my camera/lens back to Nikon within a week. It came back 3 days later. The only thing that was wrong is that I didn't know how to use microadjust properly!!!

I've not had any other issues with it, it takes superb photos and I'm extremely happy with it. No clicking when changing portrait to landscape etc.. It just works as it's meant to work.

I can't recommend this camera enough.. You're gonna be a very happy woman (Or rather a very happier woman, cos I know you already are! )

[Bruce A]

They are most likely all (D7000 and others) made in Thailand. But they are made under Nikon's control with Nikon parts. Nowdays it's usually only the real hi end of the brand that are made in the founding country. This applies to other products also like hi-fi gear. No bad pixels on mine and I think it's a fabulous camera - and still getting used to it. If you buy from a reputable dealer with a proper warranty you will be okay. I bought from a reputable HK dealer who offer their own warranty and I have no worries about them. Did the same with my previous D90 and some lenses. But I save big money compared with the local prices and was willing to take my chances. I doubt you'd be buying first run models since they've been out for around a year or so.

[BigFuzzy]

The only question I have (and I'm not actually questioning your decision to upgrade) is what does all the differences mean for the quality of your photos? Will any of those things improve the quality of your images more than, say, a new/better lens?

I'm a canon guy, so I can't comment on the camera itself, but just curious as to whether you need or want the upgrade. How is the camera you own now actually holding you back in terms of something more than just numbers on a spec sheet?

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

The only question I have (and I'm not actually questioning your decision to upgrade) is what does all the differences mean for the quality of your photos? Will any of those things improve the quality of your images more than, say, a new/better lens?

Originally Posted by faeriegodess612

Some of you may be wondering too why I'd want to upgrade. Because of the capabilities of the D7000 over my D3100. It has a better sensor, 100% viewfinder, dual card slots, 39 focus points, the ability to shoot in mirror lock up, as well as other features that my consumer grade D3100 just doesnt have.

If you are going to benefit from these, then by all means.

I moved from a D60 to D90 at one point for commander mode and in body focusing motor because of off camera work I wanted to do and lenses I wanted to use. You just need to be sure you will use those features and the cost difference is worth it to you.

[amy_bb]

Originally Posted by faeriegodess612

I picked up a D7000 at Best Buy the other day and fell in love. From everything that I've read online, its a hell of a camera. But, it has its issues. From the other photography forum, I've seen a lot of people say theyve had to send theirs in for things. Such as issues with oil getting on the sensor and creating what looks like sensor dust, back focusing, and even this from one member:

I just bought a D7000 (upgrading my D90). I'm wondering if any of D7000 users here can give some advise. Fyi, I bought this unit in Malaysia from Nikon Authorized Dealer. The product stated Made in Thailand. My questions:

1. Is your D7000 also made in Thailand?
2. Do you notice bad pixels (2-3 on the very same spot) when shooting ISO-100 with exposure >1sec?

When changing position of camera (taking landscape to portrait: I mean horizontal to vertical), I can hear a clicking sound (mechanical). Sound something like little screw hitting some of the inner part near the viewfinder. First I thought it was my lens. But it gives same result without lens. Of course it's not coming from the strap holder, but the sound could be similar to that. For mine, I don't need to shake the camera. It's enough to turn the camera from position horizontal to vertical.

So, I'm just wondering,....if I were to try and save up for one, and I went with a site like B&H thats trusted, would you go new or refurb? Are cameras like cars? The ones that are about a year old or so are usually better because its mechanics are broken in and any bugs have been fixed? Or like game consoles,...you never buy the first run, because they havent worked out the kinks.

Some of you may be wondering too why I'd want to upgrade. Because of the capabilities of the D7000 over my D3100. It has a better sensor, 100% viewfinder, dual card slots, 39 focus points, the ability to shoot in mirror lock up, as well as other features that my consumer grade D3100 just doesnt have.

I have this camera and really love it. It does so much more than any other camera I've ever had and I've never had any of the problems that I read about on the Flickr site (which terrified me until I realized that it was a very small sample of D7000 owners).

My advice to you is as follows: Don't drop it on the driveway after you've owned it for 4 days b/c your mad at your teenager and at the same time you put on a pair of mud boots in which you feel a soft, squishy object in the footbed which you convince yourself is a mouse so you jerk quickly and release the camera from your hand as you realize you did not use the neckstrap. This results in a cracked top LCD screen and a lovely growing, black blob of LCD material creeping across the readout. Just some helpful advice.... If I'm nothing else, I'm full of great nuggets of wisdom just like this.

Originally Posted by SwissJon

I sent my camera/lens back to Nikon within a week. It came back 3 days later. The only thing that was wrong is that I didn't know how to use microadjust properly!!!

Swiss--Sorry for the dumb question, but what is microadjust? Maybe I'm just not familiar w/the terminology.

[SwissJon]

Here's a brief run down BF.

Picturing Change Compare Nikon D5100 vs D7000 vs D90 vs D3100

The differences are fairly real in terms of the end users ability to take a decent photograph.

Just a quick rundown of the highlights:

Wireless flash commander mode for off camera speedlights with the built in flash (The D3100 doesn't have this capability, and it works VERY well.)

Twice as fast continuous shooting, with a much bigger buffer.

Advanced Autofocus.

2 Memory cards

Full time autofocus on full HD videos

100% coverage eye peice (Compared to 95% on the D3100)

Native ISO maximum is 6400 compared to 3200 on the D3100 (Expandable to 25600 and 12800 respectively)

More sophisticated metering system (2016 pixel against 420)

16Mpx vs 14mpx

Ok, some of those might not make much of a difference to your ability to take better photos, but others, particularly the wireless flash, High ISO and the autofocus definitely will.

Worth the extra money in my opinion.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by amy_bb

Swiss--Sorry for the dumb question, but what is microadjust? Maybe I'm just not familiar w/the terminology.

Basically, when you marry a new lens to a camera, the sensor might be in a slightly different spot to the sensor on the test camera they used in the factory. Micro adjust allows you to set up custom positions for the sensor to get the best focus point using autofocusfor each lens you have (I think in increments of 0.01mm for up to 0.2mm forwards and back, but I could be wrong). The camera can store the settings settings in camera under one of the the menus.

I can't remember which menu it's found under, probably the spanner, but it's well worth micro adjusting your camera for each len you have, especially if you do a lot of photos ad very small depth of field (f2.8 for example) with a prime lens, as it can mean the difference between having the thing that the focus spot is on in focus, and not. Which ruins the photo.

[BuddhaPi]

the only I have with the d7000, is the hack pushing the button!

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Here's a brief run down BF.

The differences are fairly real in terms of the end users ability to take a decent photograph.

I have no doubt it's a better camera Jon, I just always question people (not just you FG) whether it's a need vs. a want thing.

The question I always have is whether the potential purchaser really is using their current body to it's fullest potential?

All those upgrades you mention, though great, may mean nothing if the potential purchaser doesn't need them.

For example, if she never uses continuous shooting, it's useless.
If she doesn't use the camera as a commander of OCF, that function is useless to her (at this moment) and there's nothing in her flickr (which is all I can see) that implies she does OCF.

I could go on, but I think you see my point .. many many times I think photographers ar held back more by the quality of their glass than the quality of their camera body and just want to make sure she considers.
As noted, I'm sure it's a fine camera and probably "better" than your current one, I just hope it's money well spent is all.

But thanks Jon, now I want one to upgrade my Canon 5d (non-mkII!!) haha.

Originally Posted by scootermcq

If you are going to benefit from these, then by all means.

I moved from a D60 to D90 at one point for commander mode and in body focusing motor because of off camera work I wanted to do and lenses I wanted to use. You just need to be sure you will use those features and the cost difference is worth it to you.

Yeah, the point I was trying to make,...just more succinctly!