Nikon Camera Recommendation?
Hi, I own a Nikon D3100 and have used if for a few years. I have about 4 lenses for it and I use it quite a bit. Photography is a passion of mine, but I would like to upgrade my setup to a high end camera below $1000. I only have $740 (I'm 14), but I'm saving for a camera. I love my D3100, but it's for beginners (it was my first DSLR) and I need an intermediate-advanced level camera. *A camera that has great quality photos.* I'm a natural photographer and I know how to take photos very well. I just need a sharp, crisp, clean, bold image. If anyone can help that'd be amazing. I will add more for additional details to your answers!
Added (1). AWBoater, I agree with you, but I have all Nikon Nikkor lenses. 35mm, 50-200mm, 18-55mm etc. Thanks everybody for the tips, but I think I'll stick with my camera for now and see if there's anyway I can up the quality. My only problem is a bit of blurriness and grain. I rarely use high ISO because of that. Thanks everybody! I will keep the Q open incase anybody wants to add to it.
Try the d5100, its a great upgrade from your current nikon and it includes a lot of features such as higher fps and a flip out screen.
According to a website, The Nikon D5100 and its included AF-S 18-55mm VR lens offer a host of new photographic and video tools including a 16.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor, 4 fps continuous shooting and breathtaking Full 1080p HD Movies with full time autofocus.
Its around $850 and a great buy!
hope i helped
Get in touch with Fhotoace on this forum. He and I are friends - I'm Canon, he's Nikon. He's been shooting Nikon for years and follows their model development very closely. If anyone on this forum can steer you in the right direction it'll be David (Fhotoace).
Your existing kit is more than capable of doing everything you ask - I'd hazard a guess that the only difference a new body will get you is a lighter wallet.
A natural photographer would have no problem getting the results you want with a camera as sophisticated as the D3100.
Your D3100 will get a "sharp, crisp, clean, bold image". You still have some learning to do with it. When the camera will not do something that you want it to do, that is when you upgrade. For instance, if you need to use AF lenses and want to autofocus with them, that might be a reason to upgrade.
But, to answer your question, the next step up, within your budget, is the D7000, which is about $1100 for the body only.
http://www.nikonusa.com/...D7000.html
If you want to upgrade, you will probably be better off in looking at your current lenses and see if those are lacking before another camera.
One of the biggest mistakes made by new DSLR owners is putting all of their money into the camera, then buying a couple of lenses as an afterthought. And then they go with real cheap stuff, or even worse - lens adapters.
I'm not saying you have done this, but this is a common thing.
But the thing most new owners don't seem to realize that it takes a camera AND a lens to take a photo, and it takes a good lens to get the most performance out of your camera. Upgrading the camera body while keeping the same lenses will not in most cases improve image quality.
The logical choice if you want to upgrade now is the D7000. The D5100 is not an upgrade from your D3100, as it is still an entry-level camera, so it also lacks many of the same features the D3100 lacks.
Crutchfield.com has the Nikon D5100 for $549.99. I have a D90 that I got brand new last year for $699.99 at BuyDig.com. But sense that it has gone up about $100.
With a limited supply of money, the possible advantages of upgrading the body now come at a lot of cost in proportion to the benefit. Better uses of the money can be saving towards something maybe more spectacular next year, and/or upgrading your tripod.