Advice on where to go needed

[hagr182]

Hello,

I have been an aspiring photographer (Meaning it´s not my main Job, but from time to time I get an assigment to cover some events) for 3 years now. I cover mainly events ranging from parties, conferences to charitable work (which is my main area of focus), but I also like to take pictures of nature and landscapes.

My gear, albeit a little old (well the camera anyway) has served me right and beyond what you´d expect.

I own a D5000, the nikon 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses and the nikon 50 mm 1.8.

My debate is wheter to invest in a new body or get some glass. Should I get a new body I am looking at the D810.

But frankly, I think it´s best for me to invest in some glass and upgrade the body once I have all the glass I need.

What glass would you recommend? Low light performance is a must for me atm.

Also would you recommend getting a cheaper body, like say D7100 OR D610 along with decent glass (this would cost the same as the D810)?

If I went for the later I would keep the D5000 as an extra body.

Thanks in advance,

 

[MCAsan]

Camera bodies come and go. Good glass can last a lifetime. Plan to get rid of the kit glass and move on to a few carefully selected lenses that will work for the jobs where you get paid. Remember that you can very often find a better value with a third party lens such as a Tamron or Sigma.

At Canon USA you could purchase refurbed lenses, including their L series, for a very good deal. I have no idea if Nikon does that. You can also look at used lenses at your area camera stores or at KEF.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Hello,

I have been an aspiring photographer (Meaning it´s not my main Job, but from time to time I get an assigment to cover some events) for 3 years now. I cover mainly events ranging from parties, conferences to charitable work (which is my main area of focus), but I also like to take pictures of nature and landscapes.

My gear, albeit a little old (well the camera anyway) has served me right and beyond what you´d expect.

I own a D5000, the nikon 18-55 and 55-200 kit lenses and the nikon 50 mm 1.8.

My debate is wheter to invest in a new body or get some glass. Should I get a new body I am looking at the D810.

But frankly, I think it´s best for me to invest in some glass and upgrade the body once I have all the glass I need.

What glass would you recommend? Low light performance is a must for me atm.

Also would you recommend getting a cheaper body, like say D7100 OR D610 along with decent glass (this would cost the same as the D810)?

If I went for the later I would keep the D5000 as an extra body.

Thanks in advance,

Glass, glass, glass.
How much are you looking to spend?
Check out my signature for my suggestions!

 

[Razeus]

I would just keep the body.

For the work you said you're doing, I'd get the Tamron 17-50mm and keep your 50mm 1.8.

The 17-50mm would be your event/travel lens that gives you great low light aperture and speed for the type of photography you're currently doing.

The 50mm can be your portrait lens.

Sell your kit lens and the 55-200 as they are useless. They should pay for most of the Tamron lens.

After that, THEN I would get the D7100 (or D7200 if it's out by the time you change up your body.

Don't waste your money on a D810 unless your a paid photographer with consistent business.

I'll let you in on a little secret that I've learned over the last 5 years since I took up this hobby - You don't need as much glass as you think.

 

[steveash]

I would just keep the body.

For the work you said you're doing, I'd get the Tamron 17-50mm and keep your 50mm 1.8.

The 17-50mm would be your event/travel lens that gives you great low light aperture and speed for the type of photography you're currently doing.

The 50mm can be your portrait lens.

Sell your kit lens and the 55-200 as they are useless. They should pay for most of the Tamron lens.

After that, THEN I would get the D7100 (or D7200 if it's out by the time you change up your body.

Don't waste your money on a D810 unless your a paid photographer with consistent business.

I'll let you in on a little secret that I've learned over the last 5 years since I took up this hobby - You don't need as much glass as you think.

That's great advice. Couldn't agree more.

 

[ChrisA]

If you upgrade the body, no one but you will know. There will be nothing different in you photos to show for the money spent.

If you have money to spend replace the f/5.6 kit zooms to f/2.8 of faster. A used 70-200 f/2.8 would be good but expensive an used 85mm f/1.8 AF is cheap and will blur out bad backgrounds at events.

For nature, I looks like yu could use a macro lens but truthfully diapers on the 18-55 work well enough as you don't need to care about things lie flat field or blur in the corners if shooting three dimensional objects. A tripod is a must for nature photography

What about lighting for you event work? Some kind of bounce and/or defuse flash.

The only reason I would suggest a new body is if you wanted to get into video to supplement your event photography work. But that is a BIG step

 

[monokakata]

Do keep in mind that if you buy new DX lenses for your D5000, those lenses won't be very useful if you do decide to go full-frame (FX, like the D610/D810).

Yes, they will mount, and yes, they'll do what they're supposed to do. But you'll get a DX-sized image from your FX frame.

On another DX body they of course will do just fine.

I spent a few years using FX lenses on my DX (D300) body, knowing that I'd be going FX at some point. The wide wasn't as wide as I wanted, and the longs were too long, but I survived and then with the D800 they did just what they were supposed to.

All the suggestions here are excellent. All I'm saying is that if you feel sure that you're going FX at some point, then maybe getting new DX glass isn't your best choice. Only you can answer that.

 

[MiniD3]

Hi There,

I think you will have more flexibility going FX, (full frame)
>better ISO
>wide angle is going to be really wide angle
>more choices of glass
>a whole lot more detail for landscape
FWIW, the new f4 glass is really good if budget is a concern, plus, they a whole lot lighter

Disadvantage going FX
If you are a wildlife shooter, your going to need expensive long glass, I guess you do with a DX but you still get a 1.5 "crop factor" advantage and a whole lot of pixel density with say a 7100

If you do go the 810, there are other considerations when shooting with a 36mp camera
>Any shortcomings with shooting discipline will soon show shooting 36mp
>36mp produces huge files and, often, a computer upgrade and storage options need to change, even 24mp may require a re-think

lastly.
if you are even thinking of going FX, buy FX glass
DX glass will still work on FX bodies but you lose all those pixels you paid for
.........Gary

 

[mofunk]

Rent the glass and see which you would use more. For events you could go with either 17-55mm or 24-70mm range. A used nikkor 17-55mm is a good investment. Tamron version is about $500 less


https://www.lensrentals.com

From there decide on the lenses. Add a flash. Down the road pick a body. I wouldn't go with the D810 because the file size is big and the price. Either D7100 or D610 should be enough. If most of your gigs allow you to use a flash, then get the SB-700 for your D5200.

 

[Meister]

>Any shortcomings with shooting discipline will soon show shooting 36mp

thats not true.

 

[hagr182]

Glass, glass, glass.
How much are you looking to spend?
Check out my signature for my suggestions!

Well, I do agree I´d be better off investing in glass, a new body could come later in time. I want to keep on buying glass and equipment from today to december.

I could get around $4500 usd to spend along the year plus my xmas bonus. I was thinking of buying one of the trinity lenses, I was thinking of getting the 24-70 2.8 as it seems to be the most versatile.

I am at a loss on whether to get the 18-200 and sell the kit lenses (I use both the 18-55 and 55-200 for group shots and basic telephoto on events) or rather keep them and get a D7100 or D610, keeping my D5000 as a backup body.

Or I could get the BIGMA and that way my gear by december would consist of: 18-55, 55-200, 24-70 2.8, the bigma (50-500), 50 1.8 and an SB910 (got a good deal and got a new one for 300).

----------

Do keep in mind that if you buy new DX lenses for your D5000, those lenses won't be very useful if you do decide to go full-frame (FX, like the D610/D810).

Yes, they will mount, and yes, they'll do what they're supposed to do. But you'll get a DX-sized image from your FX frame.

On another DX body they of course will do just fine.

I spent a few years using FX lenses on my DX (D300) body, knowing that I'd be going FX at some point. The wide wasn't as wide as I wanted, and the longs were too long, but I survived and then with the D800 they did just what they were supposed to.

All the suggestions here are excellent. All I'm saying is that if you feel sure that you're going FX at some point, then maybe getting new DX glass isn't your best choice. Only you can answer that.

Yup, im thinking of buying FX glass since I know I will eventually get onto FX

----------

If you upgrade the body, no one but you will know. There will be nothing different in you photos to show for the money spent.

If you have money to spend replace the f/5.6 kit zooms to f/2.8 of faster. A used 70-200 f/2.8 would be good but expensive an used 85mm f/1.8 AF is cheap and will blur out bad backgrounds at events.

For nature, I looks like yu could use a macro lens but truthfully diapers on the 18-55 work well enough as you don't need to care about things lie flat field or blur in the corners if shooting three dimensional objects. A tripod is a must for nature photography

What about lighting for you event work? Some kind of bounce and/or defuse flash.

The only reason I would suggest a new body is if you wanted to get into video to supplement your event photography work. But that is a BIG step

I read your comment as a friend who has a local photo store is closing down, managed to get an SB910 for 300, which should compensate the lack of "speedy" glass until I decide where to go next

 

[mofunk]

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 is fast. I rent it for events and what I noticed that it's faster than the 17-55mm. I wouldn't get the 18-200mm if you are set on getting the 24-70mm. I had the 55-200mm and rarely shot anything at 200mm. Down the road you can pick up something that shoot around 70-200 range. The 70-200 f/4 or a 70-200mm f/2.8 will fit nicely with the 24-70mm. On days you want to carry something light, take along the 50mm lens.

Shooting with anything that has an aperture of f/2.8 or lower with D7100 or D610 or D810 will give you sharper images and all that oooh and ahhh

 

[Meister]

I read your comment as a friend who has a local photo store is closing down, managed to get an SB910 for 300, which should compensate the lack of "speedy" glass until I decide where to go next.

A flash can not compensate for fast glass.