Used D5300/5400 or New D3200 for portraits?
Discussion
...or other Nikon - has to be Nikon. Budget £400 - £450, but as little as possible, really. Use will be portrait photography on a semi-pro basis, mostly around friends and family.
Not for me (honest) - user is very familiar with Nikon, so won't have anything else. Both would be paired with a 50mm Prime.
Is she better off with a brand-new 3200, or a used-but-good 53/5400 for much the same price? I know nowt about Nikon, being more used to Canon and (latterly) Sony for many years.
Not for me (honest) - user is very familiar with Nikon, so won't have anything else. Both would be paired with a 50mm Prime.
Is she better off with a brand-new 3200, or a used-but-good 53/5400 for much the same price? I know nowt about Nikon, being more used to Canon and (latterly) Sony for many years.
The D3xxx and the D5xxx series models from that sort of vintage are much the same, the D5xxx ones being distinguished by having a swivel LCD which I'm not sure would add much value for portrait photography.
Other than that, they're consumer focused ranges lacking dedicated buttons for much of the finer controls which you'd find on models like the D7x00 and the D610 etc which makes changing settings during a photoshoot just a little bit more time consuming...
I started with a D3100 and have moved onto a D7000, D500 and a D610. Currently eyeing up a Z7 II ...
Other than that, they're consumer focused ranges lacking dedicated buttons for much of the finer controls which you'd find on models like the D7x00 and the D610 etc which makes changing settings during a photoshoot just a little bit more time consuming...
I started with a D3100 and have moved onto a D7000, D500 and a D610. Currently eyeing up a Z7 II ...
littleredrooster said:
...or other Nikon - has to be Nikon. Budget £400 - £450, but as little as possible, really. Use will be portrait photography on a semi-pro basis, mostly around friends and family.
Not for me (honest) - user is very familiar with Nikon, so won't have anything else. Both would be paired with a 50mm Prime.
Is she better off with a brand-new 3200, or a used-but-good 53/5400 for much the same price? I know nowt about Nikon, being more used to Canon and (latterly) Sony for many years.
Doesn't matter. The thing that will make the difference is the lens and the lighting and background.Not for me (honest) - user is very familiar with Nikon, so won't have anything else. Both would be paired with a 50mm Prime.
Is she better off with a brand-new 3200, or a used-but-good 53/5400 for much the same price? I know nowt about Nikon, being more used to Canon and (latterly) Sony for many years.
A 50mm prime is good for portraits (but not for full-length shots if used indoors).
Just background and lighting to go then
The two camera models you mention are essentially the same camera sensor wise.
As mentioned, you'd be better off in a d610 or even a d750 if possible. There are some more used D800's on the market, but the D750 is better as a more casual camera.
Does it have to be the 50mm? The 85mm 1.8 d is very affordable and pairs nicely with the d610 or d750, but wont AF on the crop sensor camera's mentioned.
As mentioned, you'd be better off in a d610 or even a d750 if possible. There are some more used D800's on the market, but the D750 is better as a more casual camera.
Does it have to be the 50mm? The 85mm 1.8 d is very affordable and pairs nicely with the d610 or d750, but wont AF on the crop sensor camera's mentioned.
Simpo Two said:
Doesn't matter. The thing that will make the difference is the lens and the lighting and background.
This x 100!Would suggest two lenses beyond the 50mm: the 35m (handy for shots with a few people in them and also gets some nice effects), and 85mm. As mentioned, neither are expensive. The 35mm is, in my view, one of the best lenses Nikon make but also one of the cheapest.
As this is for semi-pro use, you need the camera to be reliable so avoid anything with mega high shutter counts. And a clean sensor.
Thanks, chaps - some good pointers there, and some great advice.
The D6xx/D7xx/D8xx are probably out due to budget, the only used ones with a reasonable price tag seem to have monster shutter-counts or minor damage. A new D3xxx looks the way to go, given the similarity of the sensor to the D5xxx - didn't know that! Another reason to avoid the full-frame cameras is that the lens is 50mm on a full-frame, so I thought it would equate to ~85mm on a crop, a good starting point for portraits.
The latest conversation with her leads me to suspect that the true purpose of all this is more like "Daddy, will you buy me a camera?" however...
The D6xx/D7xx/D8xx are probably out due to budget, the only used ones with a reasonable price tag seem to have monster shutter-counts or minor damage. A new D3xxx looks the way to go, given the similarity of the sensor to the D5xxx - didn't know that! Another reason to avoid the full-frame cameras is that the lens is 50mm on a full-frame, so I thought it would equate to ~85mm on a crop, a good starting point for portraits.
The latest conversation with her leads me to suspect that the true purpose of all this is more like "Daddy, will you buy me a camera?" however...
littleredrooster said:
Another reason to avoid the full-frame cameras is that the lens is 50mm on a full-frame, so I thought it would equate to ~85mm on a crop, a good starting point for portraits.
Spot on. Well 75mm actually as the Nikon DX crop factor is 1.5, but it essentially makes it a portrait lens.As for background and lighting, a good place to start the 'What do I need?' process is to find some portraits you like and reverse engineer them to work out what was used. Look at the reflections in the eyes and the shadows (position and hard vs soft).
Lighting can be flash or continuous - the latter is easier to get started with and doesn't need triggers, but flash is more powerful.
Simpo Two said:
Spot on. Well 75mm actually as the Nikon DX crop factor is 1.5, but it essentially makes it a portrait lens.
As for background and lighting, a good place to start the 'What do I need?' process is to find some portraits you like and reverse engineer them to work out what was used. Look at the reflections in the eyes and the shadows (position and hard vs soft).
Lighting can be flash or continuous - the latter is easier to get started with and doesn't need triggers, but flash is more powerful.
She already has most of the kit, it's just the camera she needs. Can't really say too much publicly, but she can't use her existing camera for her 'sideline'.As for background and lighting, a good place to start the 'What do I need?' process is to find some portraits you like and reverse engineer them to work out what was used. Look at the reflections in the eyes and the shadows (position and hard vs soft).
Lighting can be flash or continuous - the latter is easier to get started with and doesn't need triggers, but flash is more powerful.
littleredrooster said:
She already has most of the kit, it's just the camera she needs. Can't really say too much publicly, but she can't use her existing camera for her 'sideline'.
Ah, new information emerges rendering previous musings obsolete.Just get the best you can afford. DX is fine. If it's used, you'll get more camera for the money. I'd stay away from the entry level ones in favour of better controls.
I agree with the opinion the d750 is one of their great cameras. It really is very good and the body isn’t too big.
Otherwise - a d7200 is an excellent crop camera. I loved mine and it helped me really get into photography. The sensor is the same as the d3200 but it’s got a built in af motor for af-d lenses (much more affordable) and the controls / features are much friendly imo than the d3200.
I’m biased in my preference towards more professional equipment - but I’ve seen more used d800’s falling in price and the image quality is right up there with today’s best imo.
Otherwise - a d7200 is an excellent crop camera. I loved mine and it helped me really get into photography. The sensor is the same as the d3200 but it’s got a built in af motor for af-d lenses (much more affordable) and the controls / features are much friendly imo than the d3200.
I’m biased in my preference towards more professional equipment - but I’ve seen more used d800’s falling in price and the image quality is right up there with today’s best imo.
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