Upgrading from D3200

I have the exact same setup as you, so I understand what your are saying about the focus speed and accuracy of the lens. What "Focus Mode" are you using? Single-point , Multi-point? AF-A, AF-S or AF-C? I find that Single-Point (center) and AF-C works well for that type of shot.

Nice bird capture. I think if you can make the image "pop" a bit if you work with it in ViewNX2 or NX-D. Also, I assume you are shooting RAW?

Sadly you're not going to find what you need in one camera. Which is more important- Birding or High ISO performance?

Birding- You are going to need the reach and extra detail the lack of AA filter will give you. That top grade AF wouldn't hurt either. Get the D7200.

Shooting at ISO 25600? Get the D610. AF isn't bad but it isn't a bird camera.

lepu said:

Hi,

I have been shooting with Nikon D3200 mostly birds, and i am looking to upgrade to a better camera.

D3200 doesn't have good enough AF, it mostly misses the focus and grinds it back and forth.(Nikkor 55-300mm) I know that this lens has slow AF.

Also it seems like i can't get bright photos because i try to shoot mostly in F/8 with my nikkor 55-300mm to get the sharpest possible results, and if i bring the ISO up, its all noisy and shoft.

I have been thinking about D7200 or D610. I am interested in FX because i also like to take night sky photos, and i would get brighter images without having so much noise, but then i wouldn't get as much reach as i would get with the D7200.

Also i live in Finland and the weather is mostly not ideal for bright low ISO shooting, that's also a reason why i am thinking about D610

So is D610 better than the Dx sensor dslr's like D7100 and D7200?

My best shot with D3200 and 55-300mm in good light

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I was in the same position but didn't need the reach. I went d750 and love it. For you, I'd bet the d7200 would be good enough... But if you find yourself at iso3200+ with any frequency the fx sensor will be notability better.

Upgrading from the 3200 isn't going to be a bad idea, but you'll always get better results when you upgrade your lenses first. Consider what lens upgrade you'd like to make first and then think about what bodies you'd consider next.

herbymel said:

Upgrading from the 3200 isn't going to be a bad idea, but you'll always get better results when you upgrade your lenses first. Consider what lens upgrade you'd like to make first and then think about what bodies you'd consider next.

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I dunno the focus improvements are pretty real and apply to any lens.

Your D3200 has Expeed 3, the same class of imaging processing as the D7100 so its solid on the iso capabilities. If you aren't already post processing RAW, that would help recover lots of detail and allow you to adjust for exposure w/o increasing ISO. You can also try fill flash for birds. One of the 150-600's (Tamron or Sigma) may have more of an impact on your photos than a new body. If you aren't post processing, definitely give that a shot first because it will have lots of impact.

Thanks, and yes i shoot with AF-C and single point focus and almost always the center point. Yes i shoot raw + jpg so i can check the pictures with my phone, and delete the ones that are blurry an out of focus. (phones don't support raw)

I think that i will be going with D7200 when it gets released, and i think i will sell my 55-300mm and buy tamron 70-300 or nikkor 300mm f/4 non vr for better sharpness and faster focus.

Thank you all for your much appreciated help!

lepu said:

Thanks, and yes i shoot with AF-C and single point focus and almost always the center point. Yes i shoot raw + jpg so i can check the pictures with my phone, and delete the ones that are blurry an out of focus.

I think that i will be going with D7200 when it gets released, and i think i will sell my 55-300mm and buy tamron 70-300 or nikkor 300mm f/4 non vr for better sharpness and faster focus.

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Tamron 70-300mm VC is a good lens. The D7200 will have some additional AF features that will improve matters. BBF of course, and try menu a1 "Release" and a3 "OFF".

Small bird near minimum focus distance on the Tamron...

lepu said:

Thanks, and yes i shoot with AF-C and single point focus and almost always the center point. Yes i shoot raw + jpg so i can check the pictures with my phone, and delete the ones that are blurry an out of focus. (phones don't support raw)

I think that i will be going with D7200 when it gets released, and i think i will sell my 55-300mm and buy tamron 70-300 or nikkor 300mm f/4 non vr for better sharpness and faster focus.

Thank you all for your much appreciated help!

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Sounds like a good plan to me.

lepu said:

I think that i will be going with D7200 when it gets released, and i think i will sell my 55-300mm and buy tamron 70-300 or nikkor 300mm f/4 non vr for better sharpness and faster focus.

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I would do that as well if it where not for the $$$$ ..... I'll be continuing to squeeze the most and best out of my D3200 set-up unless the D7100/D7200 drops in $$$ a bit more down the road. In addition, don't think there is much of a worthwhile resale value for the D3200 at this point?

Keep us posted as to how your upgrade impressions go when you make the jump.

HX100V_SN-501251 said:

lepu said:

I think that i will be going with D7200 when it gets released, and i think i will sell my 55-300mm and buy tamron 70-300 or nikkor 300mm f/4 non vr for better sharpness and faster focus.

Click to expand...

I would do that as well if it where not for the $$$$ ..... I'll be continuing to squeeze the most and best out of my D3200 set-up unless the D7100/D7200 drops in $$$ a bit more down the road. In addition, don't think there is much of a worthwhile resale value for the D3200 at this point?

Keep us posted as to how your upgrade impressions go when you make the jump.

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Always good to have a back-up once you upgrade...be a good keep in the car just in case camera.

herbymel said:

HX100V_SN-501251 said:

lepu said:

I think that i will be going with D7200 when it gets released, and i think i will sell my 55-300mm and buy tamron 70-300 or nikkor 300mm f/4 non vr for better sharpness and faster focus.

Click to expand...

I would do that as well if it where not for the $$$$ ..... I'll be continuing to squeeze the most and best out of my D3200 set-up unless the D7100/D7200 drops in $$$ a bit more down the road. In addition, don't think there is much of a worthwhile resale value for the D3200 at this point?

Keep us posted as to how your upgrade impressions go when you make the jump.

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Always good to have a back-up once you upgrade...be a good keep in the car just in case camera.

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Yes, I would definitely keep the D3200 as a backup. It can and has produced wonderful images for me. I just can't shake the nagging feeling that the D7100/D7200 would be a hands down more satisfying experience. I particularly have been missing the Auto-Focus Fine Tune option!

So, i was out photographing the sunset at a near field. Suddenly i saw a huge silhouette gliding on the field next to me, and then i saw the mysterious gentle giant perched on top of a nearby spruce, so i then decided to go and try to get closer, and i go really close without bothering the gentle giant. The sun was already down behind the treeline and it was getting dark, but i managed to take a few shots and some video of this gentle giant.




ISO 3200, F5.6, 1/30

So lets imagine that i would've had an FX camera, would have i gotten much better quality pictures? It was really darker than this picture makes it look like and i shot with and ISO of 3200 and 1/30 shutter speed. of course i had a tripod with me.

lepu said:

So, i was out photographing the sunset at a near field. Suddenly i saw a huge silhouette gliding on the field next to me, and then i saw the mysterious gentle giant perched on top of a nearby spruce, so i then decided to go and try to get closer, and i go really close without bothering the gentle giant. The sun was already down behind the treeline and it was getting dark, but i managed to take a few shots and some video of this gentle giant.

ISO 3200, F5.6, 1/30

So lets imagine that i would've had an FX camera, would have i gotten much better quality pictures? It was really darker than this picture makes it look like and i shot with and ISO of 3200 and 1/30 shutter speed. of course i had a tripod with me.

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What lens and zoom level in mm? It's a nice shot, and yes it is at the edge of the equipment capability? How much better is FX? Perhaps someone will reply with that answer soon? Also, I'm confident the image can be made even more interesting in post processing the NEF as well? Keep up the good work.

I shot that with the 55-300mm at 300mm. No Nef this time :/ Don't know why the settings had changed and it only saved the JPEG file and no NEF files. But it has a littlebit of contrast and lightness setting tweaked and a littlebit of nr applied.

HX100V_SN-501251 said:

lepu said:

So, i was out photographing the sunset at a near field. Suddenly i saw a huge silhouette gliding on the field next to me, and then i saw the mysterious gentle giant perched on top of a nearby spruce, so i then decided to go and try to get closer, and i go really close without bothering the gentle giant. The sun was already down behind the treeline and it was getting dark, but i managed to take a few shots and some video of this gentle giant.

ISO 3200, F5.6, 1/30

So lets imagine that i would've had an FX camera, would have i gotten much better quality pictures? It was really darker than this picture makes it look like and i shot with and ISO of 3200 and 1/30 shutter speed. of course i had a tripod with me.

Click to expand...

What lens and zoom level in mm? It's a nice shot, and yes it is at the edge of the equipment capability? How much better is FX? Perhaps someone will reply with that answer soon? Also, I'm confident the image can be made even more interesting in post processing the NEF as well? Keep up the good work.

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First I'd like to say that that is a fine photo. At 100% maybe there is a bit of detail loss due to NR but I really cant tell at this size. It looks fine, I'd be happy with that from any camera.



I feel FX would be a downgrade for birding if you use that 55-300mm DX lens.



Assuming you used the D3200.

1) You had the quivelent of a 450mm lens.

2) You have 24mp to crop from!



Say you "upgrade" to FX and the D610/D750

1) In DX Crop Mode you still have the equivelent of 450mm *You have to use DX mode with that lens.

2) BUT you are only using a small part of the sensor which is about 10.3MP (3936x2624) You are giving up quite a bit of resolution by using it in crop mode.



An equivinlent upgrade would be to an FX body and 450mm lens. Then the D610/D750 would hold more detail and have less noise.

lepu said:

I shot that with the 55-300mm at 300mm. No Nef this time :/ Don't know why the settings had changed and it only saved the JPEG file and no NEF files. But it has a littlebit of contrast and lightness setting tweaked and a littlebit of nr applied.

--
My Flickr

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I'm sure the FX gear (with equivalent FX lens) will produce better results, particularly at the edge of iso, SS, F/stop, as in your owl picture. The question is at what $$$$ and is that worth it to you? I am personally enjoying the extra challenge of getting the best possible out of the modest D3200 DX system. (Same as yours)

lepu said:

So, i was out photographing the sunset at a near field. Suddenly i saw a huge silhouette gliding on the field next to me, and then i saw the mysterious gentle giant perched on top of a nearby spruce, so i then decided to go and try to get closer, and i go really close without bothering the gentle giant. The sun was already down behind the treeline and it was getting dark, but i managed to take a few shots and some video of this gentle giant.

ISO 3200, F5.6, 1/30

So lets imagine that i would've had an FX camera, would have i gotten much better quality pictures? It was really darker than this picture makes it look like and i shot with and ISO of 3200 and 1/30 shutter speed. of course i had a tripod with me.

Click to expand...

Capture wise - yes, the FX will capture it cleaner. To give you an idea, I took two shots back to back of a chair with a dark background and blew them up to 100%. ISO 3200, f5 and 1/10th on both the D3200 and D750. Lenses were different though - D3200 using the 18-55 VR2, and the D750 using the 24-85, but it should still give you an idea of the sensor differences at ISO 3200 on the same scene with the same white balance and same exposure.







Now the real question is... does it matter? To go to FX and capture birds, etc... you'll be needing some fairly long and heavy glass. I don't really go very far out, so it wasn't an issue for me, but it sounds like it could be for you. Also remember the newer DX stuff is cleaner than the D3200 as well, it's not as clean as FX, but it's certainly better than the D3200 especially at these ISO's.

For me the biggest thing I love with FX is the flexibility I get on the exposure, even shooting with a 1.8 prime, I'm not FORCED to shoot wide open to get a decent exposure... On the D750 ISO 12800 is quite usable and images at ISO 5000 - 6400 I don't even think twice about... they'll always come out fine. Are they "perfectly clean" - No, but the noise isn't so objectionable like it is on the D3200. The white specks and color noise just doesn't exist, plus the colors remain far more accurate. I personally hated taking the D3200 over about ISO 1600. That ceiling is just destroyed with FX and then some.

For what you're doing and what you've shown, you're doing great with what you have... I think I'd be tempted to say the D7200 might be the best choice since you can stay with the same glass you have an expect cleaner / better results. If you REALLY feel you need the high ISO performance though, the move to FX will help significantly there compared to the D3200.

If you don't see yourself at ISO 6400+ frequently, then the D7200 is likely the best value. I DO recommend upgrading for focus performance alone. The D3200 left me always feeling like I was front or back focused but never "spot on"... this just is far less of an issue with the better focus systems. The amount of images where the camera "missed" is just so much less, it's really nice. If you're not pixel peeping and checking for focus to the centimeter level it might not bother you... but always drove me nuts.