OK, I am back looking for more advice

[jsianis]

I went back and saw my very first post almost six years ago.

I laugh at my old post because of how little I knew about photography at the time. I know more now, but still learning. So, in the end I didn't go with the Nikon D60 or the Pentax. I went with the D80. I took everyone's advice and actually held the cameras and the D80 just felt right. It did everything I asked of it when I bought it, family pictures, vacations and kids running around.

I added the following lenses to my collection

Nikon 18-200 VR
Nikon 35 mm 1.8 DX
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8

My needs are still family shots and vacations, but the kids sporting events have increased. They do Tae Kwon Do and Swimming the majority of which takes place indoors with crappy fluorescent lighting. I have tried cranking up the ISO on the D80 but getting lots of noise. I have tried using the 35 f/1.8 and cropping the images but that isn't working out so well either. I also can't use flash because it would distract the kids who have the attention span of a gnat. I thought about just adding a Nikon 24-70 f/2.8, but I am not sure that for $1600 it will solve my problem. So after over 45,000 shutter clicks, it is time to upgrade from my D80 that I love dearly.

I have narrowed my choices down to the Nikon D7100 and the D610. Clearly either one would be a significant improvement over what I am currently using in many ways.

I have narrowed the differences that matter to me between the cameras down to this

D610 better at higher ISO
D7100 better AF

For those that may have used both, is the D610 $600 better at a higher ISO than the D7100?
Does the better AF with better FX lenses compensate?

I budgeted about $1700 to get the 24-70 so that is what I have to work with.

I can get a D7100 for about $1000 right now and a D610 for about $1700. Both new. I don't like used or refurbished with it comes to any electronics. That is just me.

My original thought was that to compensate better ISO performance of the D610, I could take the $700 and add a Nikon 50 mm 1.8G and a Nikon 85 mm 1.8G lens to the D7100 which would allow me to shoot in fluorescent light without having to crank up the ISO. My other thought is that adding the FX lenses prepare me for an eventual jump to full frame.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. If it was a choice between a D5300 or a D610, it would be a no brainer. I almost think that if it was between a D7000 and a D610 it would be a no brainer. But, the D7100 looks pretty good. All of the reviews I have read have been great.

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks. I promise not to wait 6 years to post again

[Maestro]

My original thought was that to compensate better ISO performance of the D610, I could take the $700 and add a Nikon 50 mm 1.8G and a Nikon 85 mm 1.8G lens to the D7100 which would allow me to shoot in fluorescent light without having to crank up the ISO.

That sounds like a good plan to me. But if it were me, I would first take a few test shots with the 70-200mm f2.8 to see if another f2.8 (or faster) lens might work with the D80. But that's just me. And as long as I'm posting:

For those that may have used both, is the D610 $600 better at a higher ISO than the D7100?

To my eye, the D610 looks to be about 1 stop better, whether that's worth $600 to you is obviously a personal assessment.

Does the better AF with better FX lenses compensate?

For Tae Kwon Do and swimming (where AF isn't as critical, as compared to a sport like soccer, for example), I wouldn't think so. Heck, I've shot indoor volleyball with manual focus.

And since I only joined the forum 5 years ago, nice to "meet" you! - Mark

[jsianis]

Well, I decided on the D610 and 50 mm 1.8D. Found a combo on Amazon for $1800 and most D610 bodies were going for $1800, so I am pulling the trigger.

In the end the better ISO performance is going to win out and I really want to make the jump to full frame. If not now? When?

I can probably sell my D80, 35 mm and 18-200 VR for about $500 so that should reduce the bite. And I can reduce the number of lenses I have.

WOOT. Can't wait to start shooting with it. I will miss the D80, she has been a good ole girl

[oldCarlos]

If you've already purchased, ignore me, but have/did you consider the D700? (you can still source new if you are lucky)

[jsianis]

If you've already purchased, ignore me, but have/did you consider the D700? (you can still source new if you are lucky)

D700 was on my original list, however only new items that I saw went for $3000+ which was out of my price range. Definitely looks like a nice camera, but all of the reviews that I saw, the D610 stacked up quite nicely. D700 probably has a bit better AF (51 vs 39).

I am pretty satisfied with my decision, but I appreciate the input.

[Rorschach]

D700 probably has a bit better AF (51 vs 39).

It may be the case that the D700 has better autofocus but the number of AF points isn't a direct correlation of how good it the AF system is. Depending on the subject's movement, having or selecting fewer AF points can actually be beneficial as there would be less work for the camera's processor(s) to deal with.

[RexGig]

Congratulations on your D610, , but I would have kept the older body. I have experienced a mirror failure, during a paid instructional photo-walk, and another camera's shutter has recently failed, with fewer than 20K actuations. The latter happened while on the job. In each case, I had a second body with me, thankfully. Of course, I do not carry two camera bodies during most of my personal shooting, but when money or reputation/credibility are on the line, I have two or even three bodies with me.

[jsianis]

Congratulations on your D610, , but I would have kept the older body. I have experienced a mirror failure, during a paid instructional photo-walk, and another camera's shutter has recently failed, with fewer than 20K actuations. The latter happened while on the job. In each case, I had a second body with me, thankfully. Of course, I do not carry two camera bodies during most of my personal shooting, but when money or reputation/credibility are on the line, I have two or even three bodies with me.

It's a great thought. I actually have thought about keeping the D80 and keeping the 35 mm f/1.8 on it. It really is a great camera especially with the 35 mm. My thinking is that when at the pool this summer at my boys swim meets, I can keep the 70-200 on the D610 for all of the swimming I need to shoot from far away, but grab the D80 for all of those moments when the kids are hanging out "just being kids". The wife thinks I am crazy, but after reading your post, I may just do it.

I never complain about all the yarn she has for her knitting hobby