Upgrading from Nikon D5100

[KathP]

I currently have a Nikon D5100 and have been thinking of upgrading to a D7500, why? because I want a faster camera for focusing on birds, have been reading reviews and yes not many like the D7500 but it doesn't worry me about having only one slot, that's all my 5100 has.

why not upgrade to the next in the 5000 line? because I always wanted to upgrade to the 7000 series cameras and like the layout, I like the idea of 8 frames a second, touch screen, tilt screen, I am use to the touch screen on my Panasonic G6.

I have been following posts on the D7500 here and some of you have good reviews on it, just a question, how would the Samsung 150-60mm contemporary lens go on the 7500, would it be too top heavy? Not sure on the weight difference with my current camera and the 7500.

the D500 is priced too high here in Australia so this is out for me, can get the 7500 for around $1300AU online for the camera only, (in shops it's around $2000 and more) D500 is $1900 plus online and even more in the shops. I eventually will upgrade my lenses as still have the kit lens from my 5100, will be using the Nikon 70-300 lens for awhile (has been given to me) and my Sigma for longer reach.

Has anybody been taking birds with the 7500, has does it handle focus tracking as this is important to me as find the 5100 hunts badly sometimes, have got some nice shots with my camera but it's time for an upgrade after six years of use.

--
Kathy
My Albums
My cameras: Nikon D5100, Panasonic LUMIX G6

 

[Blueac]

Dear Kathy

I have the d7100 and the difference compared with the D5100 is noticeable - more accurate and faster focusing, better performance in low light, and more pixels helps when cropping. So i presume the results with the D7500 would be the same or even better, although I don't personally feel the need to upgrade.

Sincerely

Alex

 

[KathP]

Dear Kathy

I have the d7100 and the difference compared with the D5100 is noticeable - more accurate and faster focusing, better performance in low light, and more pixels helps when cropping. So i presume the results with the D7500 would be the same or even better, although I don't personally feel the need to upgrade.

Sincerely

Alex

Thank you Alex, yes that is what I like about the 7000 series, better low light performance and yes more pixels for sure, well more than what the D5100 has.

 

[Burgies]

I have a D7500, also chosen over a D500 cause the price is too high in Australia. I use it with a 200-500, on 3D tracking focus mode it lets you lock on and follow a bird in flight. Its capabilities are far more than my own. Here's one of my shots that I have available right now.









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[KathP]

I have a D7500, also chosen over a D500 cause the price is too high in Australia. I use it with a 200-500, on 3D tracking focus mode it lets you lock on and follow a bird in flight. Its capabilities are far more than my own. Here's one of my shots that I have available right now.



--
https://www.instagram.com/burgies/

Thank you and yes have used 3D tracking on my D5100 but not always a great success, yes I love photographing Egrets and other water birds as well, so you haven't found the 200-500 top heavy on your D7500, this helps me as want to use my Sigma 150-600mm lens on the D7500 when I get it, your shot of the Egret encourages me so thanks for the picture.

--
Kathy
My Albums

http://picasaweb.google.com/purrling

My cameras: Nikon D5100/Panasonic TZ40

 

[Burgies]

The 3D hasnt let me down yet, more so i might miss locking focus or tracking a flying bird. I am still pretty new so a lot of learning to go! I haven't had any issues with the balance, it actually feels quite nice to hold the whole thing. I do recommend backbutton focusing, makes it a bit easier to get your focus and time your shots separately while wielding the larger setup.

I do use a monopod when I expect to have the camera aimed at a bird for a while. This obviously helps with being steady. I also use a Peak Designs strap which goes nicely over the shoulder, with a tether on the lens and the body. Just letting your arms rest between shots also helps with being steady on hand held shots. I prefer using a manfrotto tripod, I like the quick drop in of the RC2 quick release plates over trying to lock in a Arca plate. I have actually been meaning to do a write up on how I have managed to make the strap work happily with the monopod. Should do that soon!

- Burgies.

 

[KathP]

The 3D hasnt let me down yet, more so i might miss locking focus or tracking a flying bird. I am still pretty new so a lot of learning to go! I haven't had any issues with the balance, it actually feels quite nice to hold the whole thing. I do recommend backbutton focusing, makes it a bit easier to get your focus and time your shots separately while wielding the larger setup.

I do use a monopod when I expect to have the camera aimed at a bird for a while. This obviously helps with being steady. I also use a Peak Designs strap which goes nicely over the shoulder, with a tether on the lens and the body. Just letting your arms rest between shots also helps with being steady on hand held shots. I prefer using a manfrotto tripod, I like the quick drop in of the RC2 quick release plates over trying to lock in a Arca plate. I have actually been meaning to do a write up on how I have managed to make the strap work happily with the monopod. Should do that soon!

- Burgies.

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https://www.instagram.com/burgies/

Thank you Burgies, I just cannot get on using a tripod for birding, I have a shoulder harness for my big Sigma lens and all my bird shots are hand held, have not tried back button focus and guess this is something I will try with my new camera when I get it . Thanks for you help, this image was taken with my D5100







--
Kathy
My Albums

http://picasaweb.google.com/purrling

My cameras: Nikon D5100/Panasonic TZ40

 

[Tord S Eriksson]

I have a D7500, also chosen over a D500 cause the price is too high in Australia. I use it with a 200-500, on 3D tracking focus mode it lets you lock on and follow a bird in flight. Its capabilities are far more than my own. Here's one of my shots that I have available right now.



--
https://www.instagram.com/burgies/

Thank you and yes have used 3D tracking on my D5100 but not always a great success, yes I love photographing Egrets and other water birds as well, so you haven't found the 200-500 top heavy on your D7500, this helps me as want to use my Sigma 150-600mm lens on the D7500 when I get it, your shot of the Egret encourages me so thanks for the picture.

Have had my Sigma 150-600 over a year now, but the D7500 is brand new!

Not done any 3D tracking yet, but very pleased with static birds (as yet). And not so static:




Great tit stealing a peanut! Landed, caught the nut and disappeared, in a fraction of a second!






Blue tits are lovely tiny birds, but know in the UK as the

Good luck with the D7500!

PS Love the articulated LCD, the touch-screen, and the grip, too!

--
Tord_2 (at) photographer (dot) net
Nikon V2, J5, D3300, D7500 & D600, some m4/3.

 

[KathP]

I have a D7500, also chosen over a D500 cause the price is too high in Australia. I use it with a 200-500, on 3D tracking focus mode it lets you lock on and follow a bird in flight. Its capabilities are far more than my own. Here's one of my shots that I have available right now.



--
https://www.instagram.com/burgies/

Thank you and yes have used 3D tracking on my D5100 but not always a great success, yes I love photographing Egrets and other water birds as well, so you haven't found the 200-500 top heavy on your D7500, this helps me as want to use my Sigma 150-600mm lens on the D7500 when I get it, your shot of the Egret encourages me so thanks for the picture.

Have had my Sigma 150-600 over a year now, but the D7500 is brand new!

Not done any 3D tracking yet, but very pleased with static birds (as yet). And not so static:


Great tit stealing a peanut! Landed, caught the nut and disappeared, in a fraction of a second!


Blue tits are lovely tiny birds, but know in the UK as the

Good luck with the D7500!

PS Love the articulated LCD, the touch-screen, and the grip, too!

--
Tord_2 (at) photographer (dot) net
Nikon V2, J5, D3300, D7500 & D600, some m4/3.

Thank you so much, if I can get as good photos as you have with your D7500 then I will be very happy, so you haven't found the Sigma too top heavy on the D7500? Had no problems with it on my D5100 apart from it being heavy to hold for too long.

--
Kathy
My Albums

http://picasaweb.google.com/purrling

My cameras: Nikon D5100/Panasonic TZ40

 

[XXTwnz]

The only people that complain about the D7500 having a single slot are the wedding "pros" who are too cheap to buy the pro D500 body with two slots. They are trying to get 99.9% of a D500 on the cheap and Nikon didn't let them so they are pi$$ed and making a big deal. When the D7100 and D7200 came out there wasn't a D500 for the pros but there is now so there was no longer any reason for Nikon to put a pro feature in a consumer body.

 

[Tord S Eriksson]

I have a D7500, also chosen over a D500 cause the price is too high in Australia. I use it with a 200-500, on 3D tracking focus mode it lets you lock on and follow a bird in flight. Its capabilities are far more than my own. Here's one of my shots that I have available right now.



--
https://www.instagram.com/burgies/

Thank you and yes have used 3D tracking on my D5100 but not always a great success, yes I love photographing Egrets and other water birds as well, so you haven't found the 200-500 top heavy on your D7500, this helps me as want to use my Sigma 150-600mm lens on the D7500 when I get it, your shot of the Egret encourages me so thanks for the picture.

Have had my Sigma 150-600 over a year now, but the D7500 is brand new!

Not done any 3D tracking yet, but very pleased with static birds (as yet). And not so static:


Great tit stealing a peanut! Landed, caught the nut and disappeared, in a fraction of a second!


Blue tits are lovely tiny birds, but know in the UK as the

Good luck with the D7500!

PS Love the articulated LCD, the touch-screen, and the grip, too!

--
Tord_2 (at) photographer (dot) net
Nikon V2, J5, D3300, D7500 & D600, some m4/3.

Thank you so much, if I can get as good photos as you have with your D7500 then I will be very happy, so you haven't found the Sigma too top heavy on the D7500? Had no problems with it on my D5100 apart from it being heavy to hold for too long.

I use it with my Nikon 1 cameras, so the lens weight is no major problem ;-)! But with a sturdy monopod, it weighs, with long foot, over 4 kilograms!

But a longer foot is recommended, either a Kirk, or simply a rail (I use an Arca-Swiss-compatible, from Sirui.



--
Tord_2 (at) photographer (dot) net
Nikon V2, J5, D3300, D7500 & D600, some m4/3.

 

[Burgies]

A lot of the time I don't need the monopod, but I basically use it as a walking stick. Its on loop around my wrist so I can essentially drop it to hand held something quickly. When I find a subject I need to wait for, or is especially far away then it's great to drop it on that to keep up steady for as long as you need and wait for the perfect shot.