Hello all,
I'm looking for input on some possible upgrade options I'm considering as I'm torn on the best approach.
Currently I have a Nikon D7200 with a selection of lenses but 99% of time only use my Sigma 17-50m and Nikon 70-300mm. This works I'd say 80% of the time for what I photograph; mostly wildlife with occasional motorsport and portraits but in recent shoots I have been wanting a better and/or longer telephoto lens. This is where my dilemma starts as I see I have 3 options;
Option 1 - Buy a better/longer dx lens.
This is by far the cheapest option which is the biggest pro for this but it makes some sense as the D7200 is a great camera and most of the limitation I have is simply not enough zoom or cropping/resolution issues. The big con for this is that DSLR/f-mount are EOL so it would basically buying into a dead ecosystem which puts me off this as at sometime I will make the jump to mirrorless. Which leads on to option 2.
Option 2 - Go mirrorless today.
Upgrading to full frame has been a consideration for a while but I've been put off buy needing all new kit. If I'm going mirrorless then that means new kit anyway* so it seems a good time to upgrade to full frame also. I've been looking in the Z6iii or Z8 and based on reviews leaning towards the Z8 with the 24-120mm lens and add a 180-600mm lens it would fill most of my needs. Pros for this are the Z8 is a newer better camera than the D7200 with all the new features (increased continuous shooting, IBIS, faster AF, better tracking with recognition, pre-release capture etc.) make this choice tempting. The obvious con is the cost of this option as it comes in around £4k. I'm not opposed to spending that but I'm struggling to feel the 'value' in this - Maybe I'm underestimating how good the new cameras and features are? But this leads to option 3.
* I know I could use the ftz adatper to use my dx lens on a mirrorless camera. But given the smaller image circle and limitations of this, I've ruled this option out.
Option 3 - The middle ground? - A better/longer fx lens
This is basically the same as option 1 but I figure buying an fx lens, while no benefit now, would mean I could use the ftz adapter to carry it over when I eventually do switch over to mirrorless. This is more expensive than option 1 but also negates the con of option 1. Though does come with the con of needing to use an adapter. This also comes with a decision of what lens to get, a 400mm lens with 1.5x crop factor would give 600mm which would be perfect but then when I upgrade, 400mm probably wouldn't be enough so should I get a 600mm which is way over what I need with the crop factor but would be perfect after going full frame.
I realise this is some verbal diarrhoea but I'm assuming there's people on here who have made the jump from dslr to mirrorless and can offer their opinion.
I'm looking for input on some possible upgrade options I'm considering as I'm torn on the best approach.
Currently I have a Nikon D7200 with a selection of lenses but 99% of time only use my Sigma 17-50m and Nikon 70-300mm. This works I'd say 80% of the time for what I photograph; mostly wildlife with occasional motorsport and portraits but in recent shoots I have been wanting a better and/or longer telephoto lens. This is where my dilemma starts as I see I have 3 options;
Option 1 - Buy a better/longer dx lens.
This is by far the cheapest option which is the biggest pro for this but it makes some sense as the D7200 is a great camera and most of the limitation I have is simply not enough zoom or cropping/resolution issues. The big con for this is that DSLR/f-mount are EOL so it would basically buying into a dead ecosystem which puts me off this as at sometime I will make the jump to mirrorless. Which leads on to option 2.
Option 2 - Go mirrorless today.
Upgrading to full frame has been a consideration for a while but I've been put off buy needing all new kit. If I'm going mirrorless then that means new kit anyway* so it seems a good time to upgrade to full frame also. I've been looking in the Z6iii or Z8 and based on reviews leaning towards the Z8 with the 24-120mm lens and add a 180-600mm lens it would fill most of my needs. Pros for this are the Z8 is a newer better camera than the D7200 with all the new features (increased continuous shooting, IBIS, faster AF, better tracking with recognition, pre-release capture etc.) make this choice tempting. The obvious con is the cost of this option as it comes in around £4k. I'm not opposed to spending that but I'm struggling to feel the 'value' in this - Maybe I'm underestimating how good the new cameras and features are? But this leads to option 3.
* I know I could use the ftz adatper to use my dx lens on a mirrorless camera. But given the smaller image circle and limitations of this, I've ruled this option out.
Option 3 - The middle ground? - A better/longer fx lens
This is basically the same as option 1 but I figure buying an fx lens, while no benefit now, would mean I could use the ftz adapter to carry it over when I eventually do switch over to mirrorless. This is more expensive than option 1 but also negates the con of option 1. Though does come with the con of needing to use an adapter. This also comes with a decision of what lens to get, a 400mm lens with 1.5x crop factor would give 600mm which would be perfect but then when I upgrade, 400mm probably wouldn't be enough so should I get a 600mm which is way over what I need with the crop factor but would be perfect after going full frame.
I realise this is some verbal diarrhoea but I'm assuming there's people on here who have made the jump from dslr to mirrorless and can offer their opinion.
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