nick_baker

As you describe your photography I believe you could benefit from an FX sensor. But, you would need completely new lenses at considerable expense and increased size and weight, plus I am not sure that the equivalent FX lenses are better (or even as good). On the other hand, D7200/D7500 would definitely be a step up at much lesser expense and less risk of disappointment. D7200 would be no brainer since it is basically an improved D7000. The main improvements will be more reliable AF system and metering, more reliable metering, and the increased to 24MP and especially removal of the AA filter will give you noticeably sharper images and greater cropping ability. I have not used D7500 but the main advances will be still more sophisticated AF (which you may not need) and a few other features such as auto AF fine tune. On the other hand Nikon have removed some features from D7500 as they have bifurcated the D7xxx series into the higher end D500 and lower end D7500, so the built-in flash and second card slot are gone, plus some reduced compatibility with old manual focus lenses (which you don't own). There is about 2/3 stop improved sensor dynamic range between the D7000 and D7200/D7500. The last two are almost indistinguishable in image quality.

The D500 is a modern D300 so it seems a no-brainer to replace your D300 with a D500 (so long as you do not depend on the built in flash). The D750 is not a modern D700, nothing is. The D750 fills a similar niche, but it's smaller and the controls are different. Plus, there are a lot of shutter recalls. Therefore if you want minimum disruption it would make most sense to replace your D300 with D500. Having done that, your D700 will have no ISO advantage over the DX D500, in fact at base ISO the D500 is substantially better. Except for the fact that you may not have DX wide angle lenses, you may find your D700 less useful going forward. If you really want a straight upgrade to the D700, the D810 may be more similar. Prices are coming down as the D850 approaches. Or you can try the D750 and adapt to the different layout.

I've had one of the original non-VC 17-50/2.8 Tamrons for several years and am very happy with it. I have used fine-tuned this lens on multiple bodies including a D7100, with no problems. Can you try the lens on another body? I find it a bit hard to see how a fine-tune problem can be due to the lens, if the lens will AF otherwise, although I guess this might be possible. Recently I've been using the Dot Tune method for AF fine tune, and I find it quite convenient ( ).

Out of all the Nikon mid-range zooms, the 18-55VR is the one that focuses most closely. Not macro, but better than 1:4, which on DX is good enough for a lot of close-ups. It is significantly better for this than the 18-140VR. If getting to 1:1 is not essential, eg your main use will be close-ups of flowers, butterflies etc, then you might consider this as a one-lens solution for the time being.

"I already have an old 28-105 zoom, and while great on my film F100, I don't like it's rendering on the D700 - dull colors and not very good acuity." Do you use a hood with this lens? It needs it, in my opinion.

It seems that you would benefit from the highest possible dynamic range and since most of your lenses are FX a modern FX camera would be ideal. D600/D610 are your cheapest options. D600 had issues with sensor contamination, D610 is basically similar with this remedied I believe. I disagree with the previous post suggesting any older FX camera. You can look up the respective dynamic range measurements at this site(http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm). You will see that D3/D700 offer no advantage over D7100/D7200 at high ISO and at low ISO these new DX bodies are much better. That matches my own experience (I've owned D300, D700, D7000, D7100 and D7200 cameras). D7100 and D7200 are almost indistinguishable in image quality and would be the next cheapest option to the D600/D610. If you do not need to shoot bursts or have built-in wifi, D7100 is virtually as good as D7200. Some people reported some banding artifacts with the D7100 when trying to push underexposed images (eg by 4-stops or more). I never experienced this with mine but it was very rare that I would try to push this much, only after a significant exposure mistake. I've never used D600/D610 and can't comment on the AF speed or accuracy, but doubt it can be worse than a D70. D7100 is compatible with Capture NX2, but D7200 is not.

<p>Thank you Charles, that's very helpful. I'll look that up.</p>

<p>I was asked to contribute a couple of photographs to a book (about butterflies). I would be grateful for advice as to what I should expect or ask for. Of course I would expect my images to be attributed. I suspect payment is not an option. Will I be assigning copyright to the book authors or publishers? Can I retain use of my included images, or possibly for non-commercial purposes? Any other advice?<br> thank you all.</p>

<p>AF fine tuning does not affect the lens, as it is the camera that is adjusted. Therefore the fact that your 80-400 is sharp on a Df should not discourage you from fine tuning the lens on your D750, since the lens will not be altered. In fact this should encourage you, since the better results on the Df might be due to better AF tuning there (as well as the different sensor).</p>

<p>Nikon D7200 is virtually ISO-less. That means it does not matter much what ISO you shoot, lifting exposure in post yields the same results as raising ISO. So you can just worry about what is the slowest shutter speed necessary. Now if the question is whether the results will be good enough, no-one knows because that depends on exactly how dark it is. As someone already said, FX will be a stop better. </p>

<p>As far as I know the only way to get DOF preview is to close the aperture blades. It would not be surprising if this makes a little noise.</p>

<p>The 'clunking' is normal. Sorry that I have not experimented with different methods of engaging the VR prior to shooting. </p>

<p>The 300 PF VR is an excellent lens but is sometimes prone to VR-related shuttershock for which various fixes (including Nikon's) are sometimes effective. This is unlike the 70-200 f4 VR. If you are absolutely depending on being able to shoot in the ~1/50-1/250th range, you may be disappointed (or you may be fine).</p>

<p>Davood</p> <p>Sorry that I do not have a D7100 any more but I put my 105/VR AF-S on my D7200 body to check your reported issue. In AF-C mode it most definitely tracks continuously while the shutter is half-pressed, at both normal and close focussing distances. This is what I remember from other Nikon bodies also, eg the D300 which I used with this lens extensively. I am not sure what your problem is, and whether it is with lens or body, but it does seem as though you have a problem somewhere. </p>

<p>The 24-85 and 24-120 lenses make little sense. They are not better than what you have, and not significantly faster. Buy them when you have a full frame camera, not before. If you want to replace the 18-55 and 55-200 combination, I suggest the 18-140VR. If you want to replace the 18-55 and 35/1.8 combination, then Sigma or Tamron 17-55/2.8 is an option. The non-VR Tamron is the best, but only available used. If you want to replace the 18-55, 55-200 <em>and</em> 35/1.8 with a single lens, well this can't be done. If you do not need the 80-200 range much, then the 16-80 lens is the best option, at a price.</p>

<p>I used this lens for only 10 days as a rental but I did not notice this. Instead whereas I hoped to use shutter speeds slower than 1/500 with VR on in fact I got the strong impression I was getting sharper images using 1/750-1/1000. I did not try faster shutter speeds. I generally had VR normal on throughout. I was shooting insects handheld and I do not think subject motion has much to do with these impressions.</p>

<p>these all look like common asian species. I think you would find them all illustrated here:<br> http://www.pbase.com/bfmom/southeast_asia_butterflies&page=all</p>

<p>Andrew<br> You are correct that conventional VR becomes less effective at closer focusing distances. Most people use macro lenses at a variety of distances not only at 1:1 magnification. VR retains a degree of usefulness at the many distances between 1:1 and the minimum focus of your normal lenses, for which only your macro lens can be used. As a practical matter, VR in a lens such as the 105VR is quite helpful in a variety of close-up situations. I suppose that's why Nikon made it. </p>

<blockquote> <p>If you do not needto get real close to the subjects, an old Nikon 300mm f4 afD with an extension tube works just great too especially for subjects like dragonflies.<br> Joe</p> </blockquote> <p>Be careful. The Nikon 300mm f4 AFS will vignette on FX with extension tubes. Been there, done that. You need to check whether that is true of the AFD also.</p>

<p>The 1.5x crop factor is a function of the body, not the lens. The 70-200 and 80-400 lenses are both affected equally by the crop factor of the body. Therefore this is not a factor in the comparison.</p>

<p>The 'reach' of DX and the IQ of FX are both determined by physics. They are strict alternatives. You cannot have both at the same time (well you can have a D810 and use it in crop mode for reach, but when in DX crop mode you will lose the FX IQ). You have to choose.</p>

<p>Since the D7200 is 24 MP and lacks an AA filter,whereas the D750 in DX mode is 10.67 MP and has an AA filter, the D7200 can record significantly more detail than the D750 in DX mode. There is no penalty in dynamic range because the D750 and D7200 are extremely similar sensors except for their size. This means that noise levels for D750 in DX mode are basically identical to D7200 (see this excellent site for comparison: http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#). The D750 in FX mode with a longer lens will always beat the D750 with a 1.5x shorter lens though.</p>

<p>If you want a D5 get one. If you want the AF, frame rate and weather sealing of the D5 but worry about the weight and expense, consider the D500.<br> If you just want a backup camera, I would get a D7200, but you might prefer a D810 because it has similar controls to your other bodies.</p>

<p>If you just want a walkaround zoom for convenience, 28-105 AF-D is a good option on D700. It costs almost nothing.</p>

<p>Obviously the 70-200/2.8 is the problem. <br> One of my lightweight travel kits with D700 was either 35mm f2 and 75-150/3.5 Series E. You could pick up this lightweight MF zoom and take your other two lenses. <br> Another cheap used lens that works fine on D700 is 28-105 AF-D. Combines well with a 180mm or 200mm lens. This zoom may not be wide enough for you, however.</p>