camera... Nikon D7100 or D7200?

[VJ]

Ok.. first unboxing... It is a bit of a user-interface shock: buttons have been moved quite a bit. It has a lot of settings, so I have to get around which ones I need and where the ones are that I want to change).
In good tradition, the memorycard I got does not work. I read it may be solved by a firmware update of the camera, but as it is not a card on the recommended list, there is no reason for me to complain. The card works fine in other devices, including my girlfriend's camera, so she can use it.

[VJ]

Well, it is a very nice camera, but I never thought I'd say I miss one feature from my D100. It had 2 'shooting banks' and 2 'settings banks', which worked independently of shooting mode (PASM). I had one shooting bank optimized for raw, the second for jpg and then one setting bank for normal conditions and one for low light conditions.

The D7100 sports two usermodes (u1 and u2), but they include the shooting mode (PASM). It has the possibility to save settings to a card, but you can only save one set of settings. It would be nice if you could save the settings with a chosen name, and then recall the settings you want by choosing the file.

As a workaround, I used the 'my menu' feature, to put the settings that matter most.

But the images it generates look superb. Autofocus is amazing, even the 3d tracking features. And the HDR function really manages nicely. I also started playing with the Creative Lighting System in combination with my external flash, and it is a very powerful feature.

One downside: it made me think of getting an additional lens, some longer zoom range to photograph animals... Thinking of a cheap Sigma 70-300 or so, as I don't want to carry a 2 kg lens...

[Greebe]

One downside: it made me think of getting an additional lens, some longer zoom range to photograph animals... Thinking of a cheap Sigma 70-300 or so, as I don't want to carry a 2 kg lens...

This is one of the issues I have, but in reverse. Have an old Nikon FG, MD-12 motor drive with a beautiful telezoom 100-300mm f4 and an assortment of Hoya 77mm filters. Toting around an +7kg camera all day takes some grip strength, but doubles as a defensive weapon if neccessary, it's glass and metal solid. Slapping one of these old manual lenses on a modern dslr leaves you with a less than ideal balance, albiet lighter. Sadly to get the same optical quality you would have to spend at least a grand to replace it with a modern equivalent.

[VJ]

I'm now looking at this lens: http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Pro....6G-IF-ED.html
I can get it new for a nice price. All reviews seem to say it is excellent in the 70-200 range, and good to 300. Quite light at 745g, which is important. I've lugged around an old 80-200 f/2.8 (push-pull type zoom!), and it is very heavy. I've decided against non-Nikon lenses after I read about compatibility issues (af not working with old sigma lenses on new cameras) and the fact that this lens is also better than the equivalent Sigma (but ok, the Sigma is 1/3 of the price of the Nikon).

I'm not looking at DX lenses, even though they are cheaper (e.g. some DX Nikon 55-200), as I am aware that might current body (D7100) will most likely be my last DX body. So any lens I get should be FX.

I have a holiday coming up, where there will be an opportunity to photograph animals in the wild, so I should get it sooner rather than later...