Upgrading from Nikon D5100: Should I Choose D7100 or D7200?
To the point, the D7200 is the best choice. Here's why:
Brief Details on Choosing D7200
The D7200 offers superior performance for sports and wildlife photography. It boasts faster autofocus (), an impressive buffer, and a higher burst shooting speed. The 51 AF points enable faster focusing even in low light conditions, and higher ISO settings help in maintaining image quality even with teleconverters. The camera is powered by the Expeed 4 processor, which is faster than the predecessor Expeed 3 used in the D7100. While the D7100 does have dual card slots, the advantage is debatable in terms of real-time shooting performance. In post-editing, the differences between the two are minimal.
Should You Upgrading to D7100?
For general photography, including portraits and landscapes, the D7100 is a solid choice. However, the dual-slot capability can be beneficial under certain circumstances. This configuration can help in managing storage redundancy and continuous shooting without interruption during rapid sequences. If the cost difference is not a significant factor, you should consider the D7100 for its greater versatility.
Considerations for Upgrading
At this moment, with the D7500 on the market, the D7200 still stands out as the optimal option over the D7100. The D7200 offers enhanced image resolution, cross-type autofocus points, and overall better performance. However, upgrading to a crop sensor camera again might not be the best choice for most users.
Cameras companies focus more on improving efficiency and feature bundles rather than significantly enhancing image quality each generation. The D5100 is a capable camera in its own right, and it is advisable to fully utilize its capabilities before considering an upgrade.
Conclusion
Only upgrade if you have fully exhausted the potential of your existing camera and found shortcomings that cannot be addressed by accessories or lenses. For now, investing in a full-frame DSLR might be a more strategic move. If you feel you need to upgrade, the D7200 would be the way to go. Additionally, I recommend considering a prime lens, such as a 35mm or 50mm, along with a 70-300mm telephoto lens. These will cover a wide range of shooting scenarios and complement your existing 18-55mm lens.
Happy clicking!