Nikon SLR Cameras

Should I upgrade my camera? - 1

Guest
Guest

I'm currently on my second year using a Nikon D100, I'm defiantly looking to improve on my photography. I'm looking for advice to whether I should upgrade my camera to the Nikon D800 or invest more in speed lights or studio lights? I know the D800 is well more up to date rather than the d100 but I want to make the right decision here and will upgrading make a hugh difference on my images?

Larry
Larry

Nikon D100? Are you sure that's not a typo? That's a 12 year old camera. If it's not a typo, then you must be one of not many people still using that model. That's kind of impressive!

In any case, the common line is that getting a newer camera doesn't automatically translate into better results (not least because you have to learn the ins and outs of the new model), but if you are indeed changing up from a D100, then the D800 is essentially like going from a horse and cart to a Ferrari.

The major difference you're going to get from such a step up is print size. The D100 is a 6 mp camera, and the D800, as you likely know, is 36mp. While that's not QUITE as incredible as it sounds (mp progressions are, to my knowledge, not entirely linear so it's not really a six-fold increase in terms of how much detail you will perceive) it will nevertheless make a very considerable difference in how large you can print your pictures.

The D100 had a CCD sensor, while the D800 is CMOS, which means a definite improvement in high ISO performance (although as you're talking about studios and lights, then you're probably a base ISO shooter).

Flash performance I don't know about, I'm not up on off-camera lighting. I would imagine there are far more options in terms of master-slave relations and triggering capacity.

You could look into a slightly less radical upgrade if money is an issue - there are other full frame options available like the D600 and the newly released D750 (or the D700 before it). If you don't consider it imperative to have full frame, then there are excellent crop sensor bodies like the D7100 too.

Keith
Keith

You can't spell "definitely".

Photofox
Photofox

Getting a "better" camera will not ensure you take better photographs. If you're happy with what yo're using then stick with it and invest your money in accessories.