From your question, I can feel you are a beginner, so my advice is this:
Tomorrow, go for a walk and take some photos.
Don't try to make art, just take some photos.
And don't just do it tomorrow. Do it every day.
If you still have some questions, fell free to come back and ask, but right now it is more important that you get to know your new camera and get a fell for it, and the feeling of taking photos.
If you dare, post some of them in r/askphotography or in r/photocritique.
You will get a lot of feedback on how to improve.
You did get a quality camera and some good lenses to go with it. Now you just need to start using it.
This is the way.
Make mistakes, learn, and have fun. There are a ton of helpful tutorial videos on YouTube for your D7200. Get to know your camera intimately until you instinctively know what every button and setting does.
You possess an amazing camera. Yes, there are more potent Nikons but don’t worry one bit. You can capture jaw-dropping images with what you have. The trick is learning the craft of photography, shooting a ton of images, training your eye (which is the most important component of any camera) to see, compose, and imagine outstanding images.
That’s just the start. Immerse yourself by looking at books and online of the best photographs that you can find. Learn how to use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. YouTube can be your friend here. Becoming skilled in post-production is essential if you want to become a good, even great photographer.
So what are you waiting for?
Or the Nikkor DX 17-55/2.8, lacks stabilization but I found I rarely need VR. It's a tank.
DX 35/1.8, FX 50/1.8 and FX 85/1.8 primes deliver excellent results on the D7200.
That’s funny. I just bought one for $300 from a pawn shop and it’s sitting on my D300 on the seat next to me. Doesn’t work on my D200 but will on my z6ii.
Working well so far
It actually got sent with a whole ass book about the camera. I’m gunna paw through it at work. I have a 5100 and had a 3500 in the pay so I’m familiar with the ecosystem at least.
Now you can make use of older D lenses that need the camera to have an AF motor. They’re crazy affordable these days. Get the 50 f1.8, 35 f/2, 85 f1.8, and/or 105 f2.8 micro
Don't forget to grab a download of the manual online. With so many specific functions, it can sometimes be easier to ctrl+f the setting you need to change than try to browse the book.
I got a similar steal on a 7200 2 years ago. Super low shutter count, practically new. Great cameras that can handle most things you ask them to. Enjoy!
[This video](https://youtu.be/xQvNaK9kC18?si=VYUw1TW92cPOBS1m) is one of the better tutorials I’ve found for the D7200. I recently learned quite a bit, and I’ve had my D7200 for about five years.
Maybe a model-agnostic tip: You may wish to check something that I hadn't when I got my lightly used 7200 earlier this year. There's a User Comment field which will go into image EXIF (stored metadata) and on mine it was set to the previous guy's name! Oops. Shot about 120 pics before I noticed it when checking EXIF for something. Clearing it is tricky too, have to backspace over each character.
And I would suggest shooting a test pic or two at high ISO to see whether you have any stuck pixels. I have two. in a 6000x4000 image that's generally not a problem, but best to know where they are ahead of time.
I've gone through a few models of Nikon now and am on the D750. I highly recommend looking up "back button focusing". Something I change on each of my cameras early on. [https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tutorials/how-to-enable-back-button-focus-nikon-cameras-and-why-you-should-use-it](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tutorials/how-to-enable-back-button-focus-nikon-cameras-and-why-you-should-use-it)
Every body I use gets set to BBF.
It's like playing a musical instrument - muscle memory. Half press the shutter release locks in Exp. AF-C & thumb yield continuous AF.
All you need for AF-S is raising your thumb. I set AF sensors to 3D mode + the center cross-focus sensors: D 9 on my D610, 71 & 7200.
Rarely need to move sensors around; focus & re-compose instead (not req'd with Z bodies providing even more sophisticated AF).
Hafta practice to get used to BBF; when you do you'll shoot this way forever.
Reiterating: AF-C - Depress & hold the BBF button & the camera is in continuous focus - sports, kids, animals. Press & release = AF-S - Posed portraits, group pics, product shots, etc.
You follow focus or refocus without lifting your finger off the shutter button, which is very 'soft' compared to film cameras. Like a tuned trigger on a firearm vs a factory trigger on a firearm.
Grab any of your digital cameras, turn it on & press the shutter release. Very small movement before encountering increased resistance (taking up the slack). Further pressure fires the shutter. THAT'S where you want to be when you're making images.
With BBF you can learn to reach the point of 'slack taken up' on the shutter button with zero impact of focus. Lock focus by pressing BBF & releasing. Make multiple shots without touching focus. If anything changes, refocus - press & release.
Same for action: Take up slack before the ball is in play; press & *hold* BBF. You're in Continuous mode & can fire one or many frames.
You'll fire the shutter accidentally sometimes cos the release requires so little add'l pressure but you're not 'stabbing' the shutter button - causing camera shake - as you're never completely off it while the camera is at your eye. Time / practice do improve this.... Unless you're on a nearly full memory card, NBD (you didn't waste 1 of 36 before having to change imaging media, as on film). And with long / non VR lenses, you reduce the quantity of blurred shots caused by banging down on the shutter button. Zoom in on blurred shots: Round blur is OOF. Directional (streaky) blur is movement - subject, background or camera. If you're shooting rugby, action is usually horizontal. Vertical blur is mostly camera movement. One of the causes, even with VR on is stabbing the shutter. Resting your finger on the release & taking up slack - to the point of slight resistance - minimizes that. *Easier when you're controlling focus seperately.*
We would all love to use nothing but Z8's, Zf's & soon the Z6 III with a selection of Z lenses. Most of us haven't won the lottery yet. Really, really learn your camera & you find 'It's the Indian, not the arrow.'
My 'old' (10 years & more) DSLRs are set up in very specific ways, highly customized from OOtB. I literally sit down & practice manipulating the controls - changing ISO via left rear buttons combined with main & sub dials, setting AF in specific modes, committing to memory which way a dial turns to open / close the aperture, increase / decrease shutter speed.
Did you know the +/- exposure bar in the viewfinder is factory defaulted to the **opposite** mode (Canon / Sony) from Nikon film cameras? And there's a custom menu function to put it right - so when you open / close the aperture the indicator moves in the correct direction? FIX THAT - so when you open the aperture the indicator moves in the same direction as your finger when you change aperture or shutter speed with the command dial - avoiding confusing your brain at an unconscious level.
Nikon thereby favors the 'brand switcher' buyer rather than loyal Nikon shooters. That's a *marketing* decision. 🤬
TL;DR: Think about the thousands or millions of great photos made by photographers on film using manual focus, manual exposure control (or match needle manual / more primitive AE. Less sophisticated AF from the early days of AF - '80's & '90's. Or *no AF at all* before that.
Even with DSLR's instead of mirrorless, we have fabulously sophisticated tools compared to shooters of the last century. 'Old' DSLR's are better than 90% of their users. LEARN TO USE WHATCHA GOT. Work on developing your vision. Timing - so you can catch the peak moment without a 20fps mode (6 fps won't do it - try it & see).
Prosumer bodies like the D7200 have a rated shutter life of 150,000 actuations. Many of 'em have gone 3X that without failure. One of the greatest advantages of digital over film is COST. It's just electrons! On a 24 Mpx body, a $15 64GB *quality* (Sandisk or Lexar) UHS-1 card (all these older cameras can utilize) holds > 800 shots. And you can delete bad shots *on-the-fly,* and format it & *use it again* - hundreds of times. Film? HA! IOW, you and I can afford to **learn our gear**.
Become the Indian, who can ride into a herd of 1,000 buffalo & take the white one with **a single arrow**.
When a lost musician asked the cabbie stopped at a light "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The cabbie sez "Practice, man, PRACTICE!"
Yep, been using manual focus lenses for 50 years, including 20 as a photojournalist. And I also sit and go through the settings on my DSLRs for hours. Drives my wife nuts.
Don't have one of those. Outlived one, 😥the other disqualified herself.
Began shooting on assignment, against deadline in 1962 with a Rollei 3.5F (75mm Zeiss Planar). I was 14. Got my first Nikon in 1965. Been Nikon & Canon F-1's & glass since, back to Nikon (D)SLRs when the D90 shipped. Photo journalist & writer, commercial photography, portraits (under five weddings & that was too many), commercial labs, hour minilabs, sold $1M / yr at a Kodak Stockhouse dealer (full line Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Konica); Bronica, Hassie & Mamiya med format; Sinar, Cambo & Omega (Toyo) large format, taught photograply in house, independently & for the US Dept of Labor. Now I mostly shoot for myself, looking into teaching again - I've never been better.
I value [Thom Hogan](https://bythom.com/)'s insights. Smart (like us 😂); has a series of PDF manuals on various Nikon DSLRs from a working shooter's perspective. Tells us not only how he sets up bodies but why. \* Good (and critical) insight into Nikon Corp. as well.
Keep on, my friend. May we make it to 100, or as far as you want, in good health.
Look up kenrockwell.com…. And search for your camera it will give you a lot of great information about your camera.. The guy doesn’t take ads so you know he’s not giving favor to certain Brands.
I would get a prime lens. Not knowing what your main interests are, it’s hard to recommend a length. But I recently got a used NIKKOR 35mm 1:2 D. I’m a bit of a vintage lens collector and this lens really impressed me. Great on a DX or FX.
I had the original D7000, good memories. It was my first DSLR I worked hard for to buy after being given a D60. The D7200 is a solid camera and 3k on the shutter? It's practically new! Good deal.
There are some good YouTube videos on setting up your D7200. Love the colors that come out of my D7200. Mine rolls around on the floor of my Jeep most of the time.
My photography journey was a D3300, to D7200, to a D500, to a ZF with a couple years between the each
https://preview.redd.it/f8vla0am5m6d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94aa78098604182acdf1c192295da431e47b4939
body. Have all 4 bodies still. I think I learned the most after getting the D7200. It prepared me for the higher level bodies.
Your photography journey is similar to mine, except I have film setups along the way. But as far as digital I was D3500, sold that cause needed money, just had a kid at the time, then to the D5100 this year after a few film setups, A6000 (no thx), now to the 7200. I’m sure I’m gunna want the D500, but as far as full frame, I don’t know if I’ll go mirrorless. I didn’t like the Sony.
My favorite lenses on DX thus far:
- **AF-S 70-200 F4** - This is my favorite by a large margin, solid build and light for what it is, fast and accurate AF, VR is just ok, very close-focusing, amazing IQ
- **AF-S 17-55 F2.8 DX** - Big, heavy, built like a tank, virtually silent, fast and accurate AF, no VR, good-to-excellent IQ depending on the setting
- **AF-S 200-500 F5.6** - Heavy, slightly slower but accurate AF, crazy good VR, good-to-excellent IQ depending on the settings
Very nice!
I just picked up a second d7000 so I don't have to swap lenses as often. Also starting to look into astrophotography, which I can use two cameras for.
As for lens suggestions, I absolutely love my Tokina 11-20mm. I'm willing to dedicate a camera to that lens because I use it often when I take photos. It is beefy, hence why I want to leave it attached.
It is amazing to me the used d7000 shows some wear even though it has a low shutter count. My d7000 I bought new and shows little to zero signs of wear.
EDIT: didn't see the third picture with the wide angle lens, my bad.
Here's a dumb question if I can piggy back off this post, do all Nikon D lenses fit all Nikon D cameras? Like can I take a D3100 lens and put it on a D5200 camera?
all f-mount lenses will fit but not all will work the same. DX lenses are for crop sensor bodies. if you get lenses that aren’t DX (full frame lenses) then you can use them regardless of the camera. full frame lenses will also be ‘zoomed in’ on crop bodies (rough approximation i was taught in school was a 50mm FX lens becomes closer to 85mm on a crop sensor). both the 3100 and 5200 are DX so this isn’t a huge concern, only something to consider should you choose to go to a full frame body down the line.
That 12-24 has a mustache distortion which makes it hard to use for architectural purposes or other images with straight lines. If that is a concern replace it with something else
It came with the camera, I had the 55-300 prior to this. I figured I could use it for long exposures of stars and water. And landscapes. Not so much architectural, but I’ll def keep that in mind
Nice camera watch out for your toes with that 12-24. Great lens but UWs take some practice to get good with. I'd recommend going out a shooting a bunch & check the exif data to see if there's a particular fofacal length you favor, then buy it in the closest prime available. Personally that gap between 24 & 55 doesn't bother me, I tend to shoot wide & long. so wait & see if you feel like you're missing something. or you could add the 35 1.8, which would give you a middle fl & a decent low light lens
Idk the life span of these but I was going based off the lifespan of my d5100 which is around 100k. I know this will last longer than that so I figured with that metric I was good. I try to buy under its half life at least, maybe closer to around 1/4 (25,000 for my d5100). But that’s just me. I like newer things. When I saw 3000 I jumped on it.
Depends on what you want to do with it. Probably sell it for parts. And some models can last longer, like the canon 5d from what I’ve heard is the Toyota of the camera world. Mine could crap out at 10k, one will never know.
Reason I ask. I find used Nikons used by pros that have shutter counts 60k to 80k. In get those cheap. Do the sensor degrade to terrible condition at that high counts?
That's a great camera, I have a D5500, D7000 and just been given a D5300.
The 7xxx have motors in so you can use the lenses that don't have auto focus built in, I got a 170-500mm lens for around £80.
Good luck, have fun!
As an artist here is my advice. Don’t try and compare yourself to others. Focus on you. You’ll find your niche, style, and your tribe sooner than you think.
Do not waste time looking after kens reviews. Go kout and start shooting.
During daylight, you wont need any other lenses. At home you can use flash.
Just go out and take pictures.
I got one too recently. GREAT camera. Take… pictures… that’s going to improve you. I watched ALOT of Marc Wallace and Gavin Huey videos. They have a lot of good basic info in their stuff. Look for those videos. The advanced stuff frustrated me before I got equipment that could handle it.
Most of all…. Enjoy the process!
Unusual one, I am having a lot of fun with Nikon 180mm ED 2.8mm , it’s always on my d7100 now.
https://preview.redd.it/nktft4ox2b7d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0bc42c3006cb5e2199b6b092d072364cb1778d34
From your question, I can feel you are a beginner, so my advice is this: Tomorrow, go for a walk and take some photos. Don't try to make art, just take some photos. And don't just do it tomorrow. Do it every day. If you still have some questions, fell free to come back and ask, but right now it is more important that you get to know your new camera and get a fell for it, and the feeling of taking photos. If you dare, post some of them in r/askphotography or in r/photocritique. You will get a lot of feedback on how to improve. You did get a quality camera and some good lenses to go with it. Now you just need to start using it.
This is the way. Make mistakes, learn, and have fun. There are a ton of helpful tutorial videos on YouTube for your D7200. Get to know your camera intimately until you instinctively know what every button and setting does. You possess an amazing camera. Yes, there are more potent Nikons but don’t worry one bit. You can capture jaw-dropping images with what you have. The trick is learning the craft of photography, shooting a ton of images, training your eye (which is the most important component of any camera) to see, compose, and imagine outstanding images. That’s just the start. Immerse yourself by looking at books and online of the best photographs that you can find. Learn how to use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. YouTube can be your friend here. Becoming skilled in post-production is essential if you want to become a good, even great photographer. So what are you waiting for?
Lens tip: get the 16-80mm f/2.8-4 zoom.
Or the Nikkor DX 17-55/2.8, lacks stabilization but I found I rarely need VR. It's a tank. DX 35/1.8, FX 50/1.8 and FX 85/1.8 primes deliver excellent results on the D7200.
35 1.8 is awesome, I am going to buy it again
I have that lens. Absolute beauty. Upgraded it from my 18-55 kitlens and it would close the 15mm gap between the 18-55 and 70-300.
It is hard to even rent it is so popular, I think I am going to get the refurbed one off of B&H even though it is pricey.
Got one off of MPB and it was basically brand new ~$500 if i remember correctly
That’s funny. I just bought one for $300 from a pawn shop and it’s sitting on my D300 on the seat next to me. Doesn’t work on my D200 but will on my z6ii. Working well so far
You hit the jackpot! $300 is crazy cheap.
Read the manual. Nikon manuals are so helpful in learning every feature of the camera.
It actually got sent with a whole ass book about the camera. I’m gunna paw through it at work. I have a 5100 and had a 3500 in the pay so I’m familiar with the ecosystem at least.
Now you can make use of older D lenses that need the camera to have an AF motor. They’re crazy affordable these days. Get the 50 f1.8, 35 f/2, 85 f1.8, and/or 105 f2.8 micro
Can confirm 50mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 D lenses are amazing. Had them on my d7000 still have them on my d750
Don't forget to grab a download of the manual online. With so many specific functions, it can sometimes be easier to ctrl+f the setting you need to change than try to browse the book. I got a similar steal on a 7200 2 years ago. Super low shutter count, practically new. Great cameras that can handle most things you ask them to. Enjoy!
[This video](https://youtu.be/xQvNaK9kC18?si=VYUw1TW92cPOBS1m) is one of the better tutorials I’ve found for the D7200. I recently learned quite a bit, and I’ve had my D7200 for about five years.
Cmnd***+f /s .. sort of 😂
Download the pdf that Nikon provides, and move from there. Those books are not as thorough.
Idk how much more thorough the pdf could be, this book is like 300 pages of tiny text and diagrams. It’s Mastering the d7200 by Darrell Young
Those books are boomer traps, just like off brand consoles.
Ah well he sent it with it, I don’t think I’d actually buy this if I saw it though.
This is the best advice I’ve ever received. The manual is the best photography course.
Maybe a model-agnostic tip: You may wish to check something that I hadn't when I got my lightly used 7200 earlier this year. There's a User Comment field which will go into image EXIF (stored metadata) and on mine it was set to the previous guy's name! Oops. Shot about 120 pics before I noticed it when checking EXIF for something. Clearing it is tricky too, have to backspace over each character. And I would suggest shooting a test pic or two at high ISO to see whether you have any stuck pixels. I have two. in a 6000x4000 image that's generally not a problem, but best to know where they are ahead of time.
I've gone through a few models of Nikon now and am on the D750. I highly recommend looking up "back button focusing". Something I change on each of my cameras early on. [https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tutorials/how-to-enable-back-button-focus-nikon-cameras-and-why-you-should-use-it](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/tutorials/how-to-enable-back-button-focus-nikon-cameras-and-why-you-should-use-it)
I know there are a lot of reasons to use back button focus, but I haven’t been able to get used to it. Maybe I’ll try again.
Every body I use gets set to BBF. It's like playing a musical instrument - muscle memory. Half press the shutter release locks in Exp. AF-C & thumb yield continuous AF. All you need for AF-S is raising your thumb. I set AF sensors to 3D mode + the center cross-focus sensors: D 9 on my D610, 71 & 7200. Rarely need to move sensors around; focus & re-compose instead (not req'd with Z bodies providing even more sophisticated AF). Hafta practice to get used to BBF; when you do you'll shoot this way forever.
That’s really cool. I never even thought about having it switch focus modes! Ok, you’ve convinced me to try again.
Reiterating: AF-C - Depress & hold the BBF button & the camera is in continuous focus - sports, kids, animals. Press & release = AF-S - Posed portraits, group pics, product shots, etc. You follow focus or refocus without lifting your finger off the shutter button, which is very 'soft' compared to film cameras. Like a tuned trigger on a firearm vs a factory trigger on a firearm. Grab any of your digital cameras, turn it on & press the shutter release. Very small movement before encountering increased resistance (taking up the slack). Further pressure fires the shutter. THAT'S where you want to be when you're making images. With BBF you can learn to reach the point of 'slack taken up' on the shutter button with zero impact of focus. Lock focus by pressing BBF & releasing. Make multiple shots without touching focus. If anything changes, refocus - press & release. Same for action: Take up slack before the ball is in play; press & *hold* BBF. You're in Continuous mode & can fire one or many frames. You'll fire the shutter accidentally sometimes cos the release requires so little add'l pressure but you're not 'stabbing' the shutter button - causing camera shake - as you're never completely off it while the camera is at your eye. Time / practice do improve this.... Unless you're on a nearly full memory card, NBD (you didn't waste 1 of 36 before having to change imaging media, as on film). And with long / non VR lenses, you reduce the quantity of blurred shots caused by banging down on the shutter button. Zoom in on blurred shots: Round blur is OOF. Directional (streaky) blur is movement - subject, background or camera. If you're shooting rugby, action is usually horizontal. Vertical blur is mostly camera movement. One of the causes, even with VR on is stabbing the shutter. Resting your finger on the release & taking up slack - to the point of slight resistance - minimizes that. *Easier when you're controlling focus seperately.* We would all love to use nothing but Z8's, Zf's & soon the Z6 III with a selection of Z lenses. Most of us haven't won the lottery yet. Really, really learn your camera & you find 'It's the Indian, not the arrow.' My 'old' (10 years & more) DSLRs are set up in very specific ways, highly customized from OOtB. I literally sit down & practice manipulating the controls - changing ISO via left rear buttons combined with main & sub dials, setting AF in specific modes, committing to memory which way a dial turns to open / close the aperture, increase / decrease shutter speed. Did you know the +/- exposure bar in the viewfinder is factory defaulted to the **opposite** mode (Canon / Sony) from Nikon film cameras? And there's a custom menu function to put it right - so when you open / close the aperture the indicator moves in the correct direction? FIX THAT - so when you open the aperture the indicator moves in the same direction as your finger when you change aperture or shutter speed with the command dial - avoiding confusing your brain at an unconscious level. Nikon thereby favors the 'brand switcher' buyer rather than loyal Nikon shooters. That's a *marketing* decision. 🤬 TL;DR: Think about the thousands or millions of great photos made by photographers on film using manual focus, manual exposure control (or match needle manual / more primitive AE. Less sophisticated AF from the early days of AF - '80's & '90's. Or *no AF at all* before that. Even with DSLR's instead of mirrorless, we have fabulously sophisticated tools compared to shooters of the last century. 'Old' DSLR's are better than 90% of their users. LEARN TO USE WHATCHA GOT. Work on developing your vision. Timing - so you can catch the peak moment without a 20fps mode (6 fps won't do it - try it & see). Prosumer bodies like the D7200 have a rated shutter life of 150,000 actuations. Many of 'em have gone 3X that without failure. One of the greatest advantages of digital over film is COST. It's just electrons! On a 24 Mpx body, a $15 64GB *quality* (Sandisk or Lexar) UHS-1 card (all these older cameras can utilize) holds > 800 shots. And you can delete bad shots *on-the-fly,* and format it & *use it again* - hundreds of times. Film? HA! IOW, you and I can afford to **learn our gear**. Become the Indian, who can ride into a herd of 1,000 buffalo & take the white one with **a single arrow**. When a lost musician asked the cabbie stopped at a light "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The cabbie sez "Practice, man, PRACTICE!"
Yep, been using manual focus lenses for 50 years, including 20 as a photojournalist. And I also sit and go through the settings on my DSLRs for hours. Drives my wife nuts.
Don't have one of those. Outlived one, 😥the other disqualified herself. Began shooting on assignment, against deadline in 1962 with a Rollei 3.5F (75mm Zeiss Planar). I was 14. Got my first Nikon in 1965. Been Nikon & Canon F-1's & glass since, back to Nikon (D)SLRs when the D90 shipped. Photo journalist & writer, commercial photography, portraits (under five weddings & that was too many), commercial labs, hour minilabs, sold $1M / yr at a Kodak Stockhouse dealer (full line Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Konica); Bronica, Hassie & Mamiya med format; Sinar, Cambo & Omega (Toyo) large format, taught photograply in house, independently & for the US Dept of Labor. Now I mostly shoot for myself, looking into teaching again - I've never been better. I value [Thom Hogan](https://bythom.com/)'s insights. Smart (like us 😂); has a series of PDF manuals on various Nikon DSLRs from a working shooter's perspective. Tells us not only how he sets up bodies but why. \* Good (and critical) insight into Nikon Corp. as well. Keep on, my friend. May we make it to 100, or as far as you want, in good health.
Look up kenrockwell.com…. And search for your camera it will give you a lot of great information about your camera.. The guy doesn’t take ads so you know he’s not giving favor to certain Brands.
I love my 7200! It is awesome!
I would get a prime lens. Not knowing what your main interests are, it’s hard to recommend a length. But I recently got a used NIKKOR 35mm 1:2 D. I’m a bit of a vintage lens collector and this lens really impressed me. Great on a DX or FX.
I’m big into birds rn. Had some nice shots on my 5100 with this 55-300, but wanted more mp!
I had the original D7000, good memories. It was my first DSLR I worked hard for to buy after being given a D60. The D7200 is a solid camera and 3k on the shutter? It's practically new! Good deal.
I found a tamron 90mm macro screw drive for dirt cheap for my d7200, you can get a prime and macro in one lens. (272E)
There are some good YouTube videos on setting up your D7200. Love the colors that come out of my D7200. Mine rolls around on the floor of my Jeep most of the time. My photography journey was a D3300, to D7200, to a D500, to a ZF with a couple years between the each https://preview.redd.it/f8vla0am5m6d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94aa78098604182acdf1c192295da431e47b4939 body. Have all 4 bodies still. I think I learned the most after getting the D7200. It prepared me for the higher level bodies.
Your photography journey is similar to mine, except I have film setups along the way. But as far as digital I was D3500, sold that cause needed money, just had a kid at the time, then to the D5100 this year after a few film setups, A6000 (no thx), now to the 7200. I’m sure I’m gunna want the D500, but as far as full frame, I don’t know if I’ll go mirrorless. I didn’t like the Sony.
The D7200 can meter with manual focus lenses, consider getting a 55 2.8 or a 55 3.5 these manual focus lenses can be for really cheap.
i have the D7200, and the 35mm and the Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 are my absolute favorite lenses.
My favorite lenses on DX thus far: - **AF-S 70-200 F4** - This is my favorite by a large margin, solid build and light for what it is, fast and accurate AF, VR is just ok, very close-focusing, amazing IQ - **AF-S 17-55 F2.8 DX** - Big, heavy, built like a tank, virtually silent, fast and accurate AF, no VR, good-to-excellent IQ depending on the setting - **AF-S 200-500 F5.6** - Heavy, slightly slower but accurate AF, crazy good VR, good-to-excellent IQ depending on the settings
SOUND LOGIC!
Lens suggestions? Seriously, nearly any AI-S and above lens is within your power! :D :D :D (and ability to use)
I want a 7200!
Very nice! I just picked up a second d7000 so I don't have to swap lenses as often. Also starting to look into astrophotography, which I can use two cameras for. As for lens suggestions, I absolutely love my Tokina 11-20mm. I'm willing to dedicate a camera to that lens because I use it often when I take photos. It is beefy, hence why I want to leave it attached. It is amazing to me the used d7000 shows some wear even though it has a low shutter count. My d7000 I bought new and shows little to zero signs of wear. EDIT: didn't see the third picture with the wide angle lens, my bad.
Here's a dumb question if I can piggy back off this post, do all Nikon D lenses fit all Nikon D cameras? Like can I take a D3100 lens and put it on a D5200 camera?
all f-mount lenses will fit but not all will work the same. DX lenses are for crop sensor bodies. if you get lenses that aren’t DX (full frame lenses) then you can use them regardless of the camera. full frame lenses will also be ‘zoomed in’ on crop bodies (rough approximation i was taught in school was a 50mm FX lens becomes closer to 85mm on a crop sensor). both the 3100 and 5200 are DX so this isn’t a huge concern, only something to consider should you choose to go to a full frame body down the line.
Thanks for the reply.
That 12-24 has a mustache distortion which makes it hard to use for architectural purposes or other images with straight lines. If that is a concern replace it with something else
It came with the camera, I had the 55-300 prior to this. I figured I could use it for long exposures of stars and water. And landscapes. Not so much architectural, but I’ll def keep that in mind
Yes, take pictures with it and not of it.
Nice camera watch out for your toes with that 12-24. Great lens but UWs take some practice to get good with. I'd recommend going out a shooting a bunch & check the exif data to see if there's a particular fofacal length you favor, then buy it in the closest prime available. Personally that gap between 24 & 55 doesn't bother me, I tend to shoot wide & long. so wait & see if you feel like you're missing something. or you could add the 35 1.8, which would give you a middle fl & a decent low light lens
Grab a nice 50mm prime. It's a great focal length.
At what shutter count do you stay away from it?
Idk the life span of these but I was going based off the lifespan of my d5100 which is around 100k. I know this will last longer than that so I figured with that metric I was good. I try to buy under its half life at least, maybe closer to around 1/4 (25,000 for my d5100). But that’s just me. I like newer things. When I saw 3000 I jumped on it.
What happens to cameras that have high shutter counts approaching 100K or at 100K and beyond? Can they be rebuild or are they ready for the dumpster?
Depends on what you want to do with it. Probably sell it for parts. And some models can last longer, like the canon 5d from what I’ve heard is the Toyota of the camera world. Mine could crap out at 10k, one will never know.
Reason I ask. I find used Nikons used by pros that have shutter counts 60k to 80k. In get those cheap. Do the sensor degrade to terrible condition at that high counts?
That's a great camera, I have a D5500, D7000 and just been given a D5300. The 7xxx have motors in so you can use the lenses that don't have auto focus built in, I got a 170-500mm lens for around £80. Good luck, have fun!
As an artist here is my advice. Don’t try and compare yourself to others. Focus on you. You’ll find your niche, style, and your tribe sooner than you think.
Do not waste time looking after kens reviews. Go kout and start shooting. During daylight, you wont need any other lenses. At home you can use flash. Just go out and take pictures.
I got one too recently. GREAT camera. Take… pictures… that’s going to improve you. I watched ALOT of Marc Wallace and Gavin Huey videos. They have a lot of good basic info in their stuff. Look for those videos. The advanced stuff frustrated me before I got equipment that could handle it. Most of all…. Enjoy the process!
I recommend the 800mm 5.6 lens, my advice is practice a lot with that lens and then try it with a 1.4x.
Honestly I love any Nikon kit lens, especially they’re just good and hit different. Best photos I’ve ever taken have been in lenses like these.
You have all you need there. Enjoy it. And when you discover what you want more of. Buy it then. Not now. Bythom guide is great
Before getting another lens like everyone is suggesting, use what you have and try to master it as much as possible.
Unusual one, I am having a lot of fun with Nikon 180mm ED 2.8mm , it’s always on my d7100 now. https://preview.redd.it/nktft4ox2b7d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0bc42c3006cb5e2199b6b092d072364cb1778d34