D5100 or D7000

What would you do time gear enthusiasts.

I have been using a D5100 for a couple of years. I've got it down and I get great output from it (after a ton more time learning post than actual exposure capture).

I have a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 and a Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6. They both work great on it and I don't see myself needing any other lenses.

I picked up a D7000 thinking it would be fun to transition to using a more advanced body, but I'm having second thoughts.

If I keep the D5100 I can resell the D7000 and pocket about $150 (profit, it was a good deal). If I sell the D5100 it's no out of pocket cost to "upgrade."

I shoot my kids a lot outside so I'm thinking the better AF and HSS flash (my current one does not have the capability) would be good to have.

I don't shoot video on the DSLR (have a RX100 for that) and I use the flip out screen once in a blue moon.

I can't shake the feeling that if the photos are essentially going to be the same then what am I doing although a new toy would give me an excuse to pick up the learning curve again.

I'm also considering the D7000 will have more residual value in a couple of years (see D90) while the D5100 is about at the end of the road for being very marketable.

I'm having trouble seeing through the deal fog and not wanting to let the D7000 go because I got it for such a good price.

Anybody care to weigh in? Anything I'm missing?

The d7000 has a bigger viewfinder, right? I would find it hard to go back to a smaller one.

HSS isn't something I value so much that I would swap bodies to get it. Of course the D7000 has faster sync speed and higher max shutter speed.

I've messed around with it, but I really can't tell much difference in my perception of the viewfinder. I think it has to do with the tiny points on the D5100 versus all the stuff in the D7000. However, you raise a good point that I have on quite a few occasions kicked myself for what was hiding in that little bit of the frame I couldn't see through the finder and thus didn't consider. That is exactly the kind of thing I was trying to put in the pro/con list. Thanks.

I'm quite surprised you have difficulty telling the difference in the two viewfinders. In my opinion, it is quite dramatic. Back on topic, well done on making the D5100 perform to your satisfaction shooting children. I've been in the same situation in the past, really loved the D5100 more than the D7000 with its crazy AF. Sold D7000 but the limitations of the D5100 got me back onto another D7000. The D5100 was slow to work with and slow to process in comparison.

Seeing as the D5100 is currently working well for you, in your shoes I would sell the D7000 and keep the money for mid-2015 when D7100 have possibly dropped in price due to the imminent release of D7200. That, to me will be a worthy upgrade.

You're right, you're going to get the same IQ.

I had the D5100 and I don't see the point in messing with a D7000.

I'd say sell both and buy a D7100. Better IQ and much better AF.

I also have a D5100 just recently got a D7000 for one and only reason - it was a great deal. I was not even considering upgrading but came across the deal and went for it. I was aware of the reported AF issues but was willing to give it a try because I knew I could return it. I have to admit that I could never "connect" with my D5100, not even after using it for 2 years so maybe subconsciously I wanted to replace it. The single thing I liked on my D5100 over my D40 was the image resolution. My D5100 is listed for sale now I still have time to return the D7000 but, even if I do for some reason, I am still selling my D5100.

So far I only shot one event (actually, my kids at an event) with D7000 and had no AF issues. These are the things I really like on D7000 (and the reasons I am keeping it):

AF focus points size and display in viewfinder (D5100 are tiny and all are displayed at the same time... sometimes it's hard to tell which one is active)
Number of AF points - now it actually makes sense to pick a focus point
It balances with 18-105 way better than the smaller cameras
High speed flash sync - have not tried it yet but I use flash outdoors most of the time so this will come in handy
Flash sync of 1/400 with non-dedicated flash (with the one I have, not sure about others)
Can assign rear command dial to flip through pics in image preview - not really a big deal but this is something that drove me nuts going from D40 to D5100... on D5100 you have to get out of the image preview, get into the image review and then you can use the dial
User modes (U1 and U2) - now I can toy with the back button focus with a flick of a mode dial and just flick it back to "normal operation" when I want; no need to look for stuff in the menus
Operational speed - everything seems snappier than on D5100
AF - I seem to get way fewer missed focus shots with D7000 than with the D5100

I am sure there are more reasons I like D7000 more I just can't think of any at this time. Anyway, love my D7000

StrokerAce23 said:

What would you do time gear enthusiasts.

I have been using a D5100 for a couple of years. I've got it down and I get great output from it (after a ton more time learning post than actual exposure capture).

I have a Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 and a Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6. They both work great on it and I don't see myself needing any other lenses.

I picked up a D7000 thinking it would be fun to transition to using a more advanced body, but I'm having second thoughts.

If I keep the D5100 I can resell the D7000 and pocket about $150 (profit, it was a good deal). If I sell the D5100 it's no out of pocket cost to "upgrade."

I shoot my kids a lot outside so I'm thinking the better AF and HSS flash (my current one does not have the capability) would be good to have.

Click to expand...

Do you have an external flash? If so, you can trigger it with the D7000. That is a lot of fun and can greatly affect your images.

StrokerAce23 said:

I don't shoot video on the DSLR (have a RX100 for that) and I use the flip out screen once in a blue moon.

I can't shake the feeling that if the photos are essentially going to be the same then what am I doing although a new toy would give me an excuse to pick up the learning curve again.

Click to expand...

They can change if you use off camera flash.

Have you thought about getting some sort of 50mm f1.8 lens? If so, the one without the motor is a bit less than the one with the motor. And it can be used with the D7000, not the D5100.

And if you think you might get some sort of 70-200 f2.8 (or 80-200 f2.8) down the road, and you don't mind buying used, it will be easier to find one since you can also use the ones without the focus motor.

And micro focus adjust!

And the U1 and U2 settings on the dial, which can come in handy if you like to switch things up while shooting, but get tired of resetting everything when jumping back and forth between.

StrokerAce23 said:

I'm also considering the D7000 will have more residual value in a couple of years (see D90) while the D5100 is about at the end of the road for being very marketable.

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I wouldn't hang onto a camera because of its residual value. The way I think of cameras is how many keepers am I getting out of it. If I'm getting keepers and it lasts a few years I figure I'm coming out ahead. And how does that compare to not having the camera? Keepers (memories) are priceless. Cameras are just an expense to get the keepers.

StrokerAce23 said:

I'm having trouble seeing through the deal fog and not wanting to let the D7000 go because I got it for such a good price.

Anybody care to weigh in? Anything I'm missing?

Click to expand...

I've actually got both the D5100 and the D7000 and I don't plan to get rid of either. When I go shooting, I simply have a lens on each, and find it faster to switch cameras rather than lenses.

I'm planning to get a FF next year, but even then I don't think I'll get rid of either of these 2 cameras. The D7000 will be my backup camera. And the D5100 (which has way too many clicks on it to sell it and have a clean conscience) will end up as a hackabout camera.

Just thinking about it, the missing part is . . . will this camera get any images than the current camera. For me personally, the D7000 allowed me to get shots that I couldn't get with my D5100. Not many, but some. And for the shots that I could get with both, the D7000 allowed me to do it more easily.

Take care & Happy Shooting!


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I really appreciate the input. It's made me think I'm headed in the right direction in that the benefits that I see are valid.

However, the crux seems to be the end result a difference in the experience and not the end result the vast majority of the time.

I have a committed buyer on the D7000 and I feel good about it so I think that answers that. I'm going to kick back my kit buddy $20 for the bundle extras I'm liquidating so I'll have $150, a camera that works great and time to consider more.

I take the point on the D7100, especially if a refurb hit around $500 (I can hope) in the coming months with Feb frenzy.

However, being a Sigma lens owner I have worries about my glass being problematic. Will research that more in the meantime. I'm in those for so cheap there's no way I could replace them for close to the cost.

StrokerAce23 said:

I'm having trouble seeing through the deal fog and not wanting to let the D7000 go because I got it for such a good price.

Anybody care to weigh in? Anything I'm missing?

Click to expand...

I had a D5100, switched to D7000 and wouldn't switch back. Some reasons to keep a D7k...

- U1/U2 modes. I love this. I have a portrait and sports mode dialed in.

- 2 control wheels. Manual mode is much easier, or use Easy-ISO to boost shutter speed by increasing ISO.

- AF-D lenses with autofocus. I discounted this with the D5100, but I was wrong to do so. Access to autofocus on the AF-D 80-200 2.8 for example... this lens was only $600. It sounds like a lot but the AF-S or VR1 versions over $1000. The list of great inexpensive AF-D lenses is very long.

- Burst speed and AF... I shoot my kids sports a lot. The D7k never fails. A lot of people will dismiss the D7000 AF, they are flat out wrong.

- Some "nice to have" things like the top LCD and AF mode switch are a nice bonus.

Now all that said if you don't need those features by all means stay with the D5100 and save yourself some money.

Initially for me one of the big factors in choosing my D7000 was the dual dial and the internal focus motor. Since I have also found the flash capabilities to be great and the AF fine tune to be very helpful in getting the most from your lenses.

It really comes down to though which of the two you are more comfortable with and which of the two you will end up using more.

I forgot about fine tune. It is necessary with my lenses. Although it's hard to call it a "feature" when (A) it shouldn't be necessary to fine-tune the lenses to the bodies and (B) all Nikon cameras should include the ability, so long as it's needed anyway.

Yeah, you'd think they would include it on everything in order to better support their own lenses. I bet it cuts down on customer service calls not to have it on lower end bodies though.

Luckily, I have never been wanting for proper focus with the D5100 and I've used 8 lenses on it bought new, used, and pawn shop sketchy. That's part of why I'm hesitant to give it up.

I would LIKE to have all this stuff and it sounds like it matters. An upgrade will happen at some point, I guess it just looks like the D7100 would do more for the actual image itself (attributes, if not "quality") in addition to the improvements. I have found that the crop leeway of the 20 mp out of my RX100 is nice.

However if you are happy with you 5100 just keep it an call it a day. If you eventually find that there is something you can't do with your 5100 then upgrade.

I would go for D7000 just for the Autofocus micro adjustment. I have d5100 and I cannot calibrate it with all Lens I poses.

The trouble is there isn't anything I have a hard stop on with the D5100. Just got a shot at an essentially free "upgrade" and got to thinking about it. Going over the holiday photos and I was in a cave, in a well lit house, and outside in full sun. Kids running all over mix of lighting and I got everything I wanted in the way of images. I've learned to control the variables in common shooting situations for me with this body. Even if I can't get everything exactly right I can handicap it for what I can fix in post because I know what I can do with the files.

One of the grandmothers also pulled some photos off Flickr to make calendars for the kids. Most of it was ISO 3200 and printed at a strip mall on budget paper. It all looks great. Wife gave me a print on wood and same story. Guess I'll put this in the "want" category for the time being and keep trolling for deals that I can make some quick cash on.

I'd pursue more shooting for money to justify it, but I get the impression not many people need that done at my house after 9:00 PM since that's my only free time and even if they did I'm not sure I want that gig.