Camera upgrade

Computers & Tech
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Boy has a Nikon D3100, with lenses like 18-55, 55-200 and a couple more. He takes photos and videos of wildlife and trains.

He has suggested an Xmas present of a 600mm lens. I have two issues with this: firstly it’s probably the wrong thing, as he tends to walk around taking pictures rather stay in one spot with a tripod. Secondly it’s fucking expensive!

I think that a much better choice would be to get a used D3500 or D5600 body, as this would give higher resolution, much better low light output and ISO, plus phone connection etc.

But I’m slightly concerned about getting a camera like that when the future seems mirrorless. That said, a whole new camera system is unlikely to be within budget.

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

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If we are in that mode

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D700?

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I don’t think that the existing lenses work with full frame, so that would be a complete change

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He will love you for it

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I think that this kind of thing might be good for a complete change

Has anyone used anything like this? I’m hopelessly out of touch with these

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Buying that and you will be paying for lenses that he already has. It may be too small a camera to easily use with large lenses should he get one.
I think the lightest fx fit 150 - 600 is over 2kg that is a lot to lug around

Going from 200mm to 600mm is a really large step, perhaps too large. Is getting a Tamron 100 - 400 an option? and later if needed a 1.4x converter?

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That’s made for video.

No viewfinder will be a nightmare with long lenses if you’re taking hand held stills.

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Yeah they do talk about vlogging a lot!

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Yeah, it will be close to useless for telephoto stills.

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Looks like you need the z50, another £200 for a viewfinder

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The mirrorless is a different mount system, so the existing camera would be redundant

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What’s the budget roughly?

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I don’t really know, but I’m unlikely to spend a grand on Xmas. Less than half that, really, unless it’s just perfect.

Andy’s idea of a Tamron 100-400 is probably favourite, if we don’t get him a D3500

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If the budget is £500 something like this might be worth looking at

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/sigma-150-600mm-f-5-6-3-dg-os-hsm-contemporary-nikon-fit/sku-1742078?gclid=CjwKCAiAhKycBhAQEiwAgf19em9RERMMEta1D9LkZmqGHc-IbRzGGUvYkN0lGo9ChHKYw1Fl1zDltBoCCiYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The D3100 has an APS-C sensor though so it will effectively be a 225-900 zoom.

The problem is the more lenses you buy for that body the more that could be defunct when he inevitably gets a better body.

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Hmm yeah, the Sigma looks like a decent option

That’s part of the problem, for sure.

I reckon that a new body would actually be the most useful in practice - having an extra 4 stops is very handy, as well as lots of features and better AF. But a new lens does things that you just can’t do with they lenses he has.

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You’re starting to sound like you’ve already made your mind up

How does a new body do this? Unless you’re talking about increased ISO capability

^ this

Go for the lens, it isn’t a lot of money for that Sigma and he can always put the whole lot in p/x when/if he wants to upgrade the entire system.

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I’ve got a Sigma 150-600 that has a bit of fungus an therefore unsellable - I can send it to you for nowt (donation to AA) if you like.

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Why would I want it?

It’s Adam that’s looking for a solution.

But thanks anyway.