D7200 Pre release and early adopters discusion

FreezeAction

I've decided to keep the D7200 as is will do on of it's main intended uses better than the 7D MKII and one day it will be left to a granddaughter so I might as well plan on a D5 that a son will appreciate.

Ironheart

@FreezeAction, good to hear you have (somewhat) bonded with your D7200. What were the unanswered questions? I have always thought that a deep buffer wins over sheer FPS, and the D7200 scores here for sure. Yes, you can get a D4 or (eventually) D5 for absolute FPS, but pushing the shutter at the right time helps too...

PB_PM

I don't know that I'd call the D7200's buffer deep...

Ironheart

3x the D7100

PB_PM

That's not saying much... )

Ironheart

I think only the D4 has a deeper buffer...
Which 24mp camera has a deeper buffer? None that I can find.

PB_PM

Never said anything about other camera having a deeper buffer. It's just nothing special. The D750's buffer (also 24MP) is about the same size and I consider it on the brink of being too small.

nukuEX2

D7200 and the 85mm f/1.8 is a powerful combination. )

Ironheart

Ha, well that's like wishing your car had more horsepower :-)
How about we say "relatively deep" buffer.

spraynpray

I think for most shooters (that may not mean most NR members), the D7100's buffer is 'enough' as it allows for bracketed sets up to five shots without a problem. For those with a more specialised bias, the D7200's is certainly enough. Requirements greater than that are not usual so those guys will have to spring for a D4/4s/5 to get it. Or maybe - wait for it - drum roll please - a D400. A deep buffer without monster fps is of pretty limited use anyway if you think about it?

I've only occasionally run into the end of my D7100's buffer and to be honest, I can get as good or better shots concentrating on technique rather than spraying clicks at the situation. My mate has a 7D & 7DII and I can't say he gets great shots as a result of shooting twice the number of clicks that I do.

PB_PM

A deep buffer without monster fps is of pretty limited use anyway if you think about it?

I actually find a deep buffer to be important, even at 6FPS, but it depends on the type of shots you are trying to achieve. For example, while panning, or tracking erratically moving subjects, I find having a deep buffer to be more useful that getting more shots per second. Lets put it this way, I'd rather be able to shoot at 6FPS for 15-20 seconds than shoot 12FPS for 10 seconds. Beyond 6FPS I don't find the speed all that helpful to be honest (the fastest camera I've used could shoot 8FPS), and found it more useful to shoot the subject for longer, rather than have more duplicates milliseconds apart.

Nobody - who doesn't really need one - should have to get a $6k D4s just to get a deep enough buffer to comfortably shoot what they enjoy shooting. That's not a justification for a D400, it is simply saying the already capable D7xxx series is falling short in this area. It's like saying if you want to render more than 5 minutes of video files you must get a workstation Mac/PC, or be prepared to sit looking at the loading bar for hours.

WestEndFoto

I think for most shooters (that may not mean most NR members), the D7100's buffer is 'enough' as it allows for bracketed sets up to five shots without a problem. For those with a more specialised bias, the D7200's is certainly enough. Requirements greater than that are not usual so those guys will have to spring for a D4/4s/5 to get it. Or maybe - wait for it - drum roll please - a D400. A deep buffer without monster fps is of pretty limited use anyway if you think about it?

I've only occasionally run into the end of my D7100's buffer and to be honest, I can get as good or better shots concentrating on technique rather than spraying clicks at the situation. My mate has a 7D & 7DII and I can't say he gets great shots as a result of shooting twice the number of clicks that I do.

I don't agree on the buffer. When shooting portraits, I constantly run out of buffer space on my D800. A much larger buffer would also allow me to save money on CF and SD cards. With six each at 64gb, that is significant if I don't have to buy the fastest just to clear the buffer faster.

FreezeAction

@FreezeAction, good to hear you have (somewhat) bonded with your D7200. What were the unanswered questions? I have always thought that a deep buffer wins over sheer FPS, and the D7200 scores here for sure. Yes, you can get a D4 or (eventually) D5 for absolute FPS, but pushing the shutter at the right time helps too...

The biggest question is and still is can I push the ISO to the max in the 1.3 crop mode and still print at 8x10 with room to crop? I didn't make it to the rodeo tonight as the weather is for a D4/1DX type body with weather proof lenses. As it turns out it can do better at one job than the D810 can with the new 105 Macro. I have to have the camera at 10' from the subject and capture images to be stitched together. Full frame bodies capture to large an image. They cannot be moved closer due to two strobes firing at a 45° angle from both sides. The subjects are paintings. I've done a lot of this but never to the quality I want. The D7200 now is the body of choice for dimension reasons. Soon the camera will be profiled, the monitor (new) profiled, and the printer will have custom profiles so that waste with trial and error will almost no longer exist.

Yes pressing the shutter at the right time is most helpful. With a kid on a mad bulls back the right time is just before the bull gets into position and you never no. Short bursts when anticipated are the only way. They don't stop for a photo op. After taking 200k + such photos I can somewhat anticipate but the D7200 will work with some missed shots (Composition) but still create cash flow. What I learn with an on shoe flash at 7 fps I'll share when I can. I came near to buying the D750 but to shoot in crop mode for noise reduction but no gain in fps and more money for other tools leftover the way I went. Thanks for all the comments.

One add on remark, I'll shoot jpg files and take the 100 in a batch if needed with the fastest sd cards in each slot so that they are backed up. I lost an important shoot after a single sd card died between the shoot and the computer. Never again.

spraynpray

That's OK, we don't have to always agree chaps (although occasionally would be nice LOL!)

My reasoning is that with BIF or fast approaching race cars for instance, they are past or at an unattractive angle so fast that if you don't have high fps to go with your deep buffer, you only get maybe three shots to choose nice wing angles from instead of maybe six.

As for @WestEndFoto: Portraits? Hitting the buffer? Really? I shoot models and portraits sometimes and I have had models dissolve into laughter because I have been making them work so fast but even double tapping them I have never come near the buffer wall even on my shallow buffered D7100. Blimey.

FreezeAction

Amen. I really wanted 10+ fps but, well, the D5 is Coming so I hear... with a full frame sensor too. =D>

WestEndFoto

As for @WestEndFoto: Portraits? Hitting the buffer? Really? I shoot models and portraits sometimes and I have had models dissolve into laughter because I have been making them work so fast but even double tapping them I have never come near the buffer wall even on my shallow buffered D7100. Blimey.

Sure. For example, one technique that I use is to get them to pose and then change it, perhaps transitioning from a smile to a different expression. I then shoot CH until the buffer is full. There is always one moment better than all the rest. But then the action stops until the buffer empties. Really disrupts the rhythm.

One_Oh_Four

As the Dutch say: "The bullet is through the church".... The decision has been made. I've ordered a D7200 plus the 16-80 even if there are 3 unsubstantiated reports on the mythical D400.

Although I love my D800 very much, my theory that it would be great for AIF (aircraft in flight) didn't work out to the level I want. I still need find use for a "crop-body" for this form of photography. As for BIF and motorcycle races... I did try to use the D800 in crop-mode but found that I had difficulty with framing the subjects right. It's too easy to snip off the nose or tail because it isn't very easy to see the boundaries of the crop-frame, even with lighting off. Besides I have some expectations on the pixel density and the placement and performance of the AF sensors.

Even if the D400 comes along, I'd wait a year or so to see that any issues are ironed out so that would mean at least 14 months of photos with the D7200! So I now have the D800 with the "Holy Trinity" for landscapes, architecture and the odd portrait and the D7200 with the 16-80 and the 80-400 AF-S for holiday, AIF, BIF and motorsports!

Ironheart

Excellent combo. Congrats!! Glad the bullet is out of the church :-)

FreezeAction

D7200 in crop mode at ISO 25,600, f3.5/1/320. Very printable at 8x10. Original shot in jpg.

FreezeAction

Well Nikons QC department has struck again. The battery door fell off during a night time rodeo shoot. No sign of the door in the soft dirt where it most likely fell. Camera works without but I bet it has to be sent in instead of them sending me a new door to attach.

nukuEX2

This is what D7200 can do a I use HDR effect however I didn't do any noise reduction in post

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28425344@N02/24945231891/in/dateposted-public/