I have been shooting a D700 for a few years for landscape and general shooting and I love it!  I am looking for a DX body for bird photography, to get more reach out of the 300mm f4 I just picked up.  Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick?  Thanks for your input.

For birds, especially BIF, the AF of the D7100 would be worth the price difference.  I personally (some others have and some others have not) had to AF Fine Tune mine, but since getting it dialed in, it has a nearly flawless hit rate and almost every time I do have an out of focus image, it can be attributed to something I did, or on a rare occasion something coming between me and my subject long enough to shift the focus (which is VERY rare).  Even with the older screw drive lenses (80-200 f2.8D) it's impressively fast and accurate.

TomE443 wrote:I have been shooting a D700 for a few years for landscape and general shooting and I love it! I am looking for a DX body for bird photography, to get more reach out of the 300mm f4 I just picked up. Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick? Thanks for your input... would I ever use a D7000 for bird photography. It comes with far too many pre-installed AF 'user errors'[sic]. By contrast, the AF of the D7100 is said to be excellent, on a par with, if not better than the fabled D300.In fact, why not get yourself a secondhand D300 if you do not need video or very high ISO performance? I did. There are some very nice ones available still that are 'almost new' but very cheap.Bluetit, D300 + Sigma 105mm (or maybe it was my D70 + Nik 50mm, can't remember now!)David

David Lal wrote:TomE443 wrote:I have been shooting a D700 for a few years for landscape and general shooting and I love it! I am looking for a DX body for bird photography, to get more reach out of the 300mm f4 I just picked up. Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick? Thanks for your input... would I ever use a D7000 for bird photography. It comes with far too many pre-installed AF 'user errors'[sic]. By contrast, the AF of the D7100 is said to be excellent, on a par with, if not better than the fabled D300.In fact, why not get yourself a secondhand D300 if you do not need video or very high ISO performance? I did. There are some very nice ones available still that are 'almost new' but very cheap.Bluetit, D300 + Sigma 105mm (or maybe it was my D70 + Nik 50mm, can't remember now!)DavidInteresting David.Less than two years ago, the D7000 was very praised for its ability to birds photography.Just search the net - you'll find a lot of very impressive images of birds, birds in flight a.s.o taken with the D7000 - what's happend since?I know, introducing the new AF-system made troubles to a lot of shooters, that was not familiar to an area-AF-system. Did to me too going from D90 - took me quite a learning time.It is another focusing technique than the former - and is no different from the D7100 and the D300 except from the speed and the number (and size) of the focus arrays.I would state that:The reason there are so few focusing claims to the D7100 related to the D7000 (and there are) is that most of the D7100 users learned by using the D7000 (and the D300) more than it is related to the changing to CAM3500DX.Wrong statement?I wouldn't garbage the CAM4800DX - it has worked splendid for a lot of D7000 users - BIF'ers too, and is infact being used in some of the latest D5x00 later on.BirgerH.

BirgerH wrote:I wouldn't garbage the CAM4800DX - it has worked splendid for a lot of D7000 users - BIF'ers too, and is infact being used in some of the latest D5x00 later on.Well, that's lovely for them.

Besides the fantastic AF performance of the D7100, there are two more - just as strong - reasons to get the 7100 over the 7000:- 24Mpixel. Yes. This means your 300mm F4 lens image can be cropped more. This also means if we compared the D7000 and D7100, due to the larger Mpix size, this turns your 300mm lens into a 400mm F4 lens (or similar) - if crop the image down to the same size.- High ISO range. While the D7100 ISO can go higher, with proper de-noise post processing you can get more great shots in challenging light conditions.

GaborF wrote:Besides the fantastic AF performance of the D7100, there are two more - just as strong - reasons to get the 7100 over the 7000:- 24Mpixel. Yes. This means your 300mm F4 lens image can be cropped more. This also means if we compared the D7000 and D7100, due to the larger Mpix size, this turns your 300mm lens into a 400mm F4 lens (or similar) - if crop the image down to the same size.+1

David Lal wrote:BirgerH wrote:I wouldn't garbage the CAM4800DX - it has worked splendid for a lot of D7000 users - BIF'ers too, and is infact being used in some of the latest D5x00 later on.Well, that's lovely for them.Yes it is - but it's not an answer.You are a kind of stating, that the D7000 is no good in no way for Birders - and seaching the net, there's a lot of them, very satisfied, and with rearly impressive images showing.That the D7100 might be even better is in my opinion not a reason to nearly recommend to garbage the D7000 for that use.It would, still as I see it, be a better recommandation to tell, why the D7100 would be better - and worth the diffence in Price, than just (almost) stating, that the D7000 can't be used.Or is it just feelings and no arguments?My argument is still - If the D7000 was the best of the best less than two years ago, it can't be that bad now.BirgerH.

GaborF wrote:Besides the fantastic AF performance of the D7100, there are two more - just as strong - reasons to get the 7100 over the 7000:- 24Mpixel. Yes. This means your 300mm F4 lens image can be cropped more. This also means if we compared the D7000 and D7100, due to the larger Mpix size, this turns your 300mm lens into a 400mm F4 lens (or similar) - if crop the image down to the same size.- High ISO range. While the D7100 ISO can go higher, with proper de-noise post processing you can get more great shots in challenging light conditions.Yes, agree with this. Don't forget the crop and higher ISO availability factors!I am not a birder, but think that the D7100 should be a fantastic.  I have used the crop mode on my D7100 with the Tamron 70-300mm and was very pleased with the results!

I would state that:The reason there are so few focusing claims to the D7100 related to the D7000 (and there are) is that most of the D7100 users learned by using the D7000 (and the D300) more than it is related to the changing to CAM3500DX.well I owned and used D300 and D700 cameras for a number of years before my D7000, which I then sold for another D700 and now D7100.  My D7000 was definitely less reliable and consistent in focus tracking than the other cameras - my D7100 is much better.  D7000 is a great camera for general photography, but the D7100 AF is clearly better.

GaborF wrote:Besides the fantastic AF performance of the D7100, there are two more - just as strong - reasons to get the 7100 over the 7000:- 24Mpixel. Yes. This means your 300mm F4 lens image can be cropped more. This also means if we compared the D7000 and D7100, due to the larger Mpix size, this turns your 300mm lens into a 400mm F4 lens (or similar) - if crop the image down to the same size.- High ISO range. While the D7100 ISO can go higher, with proper de-noise post processing you can get more great shots in challenging light conditions.As far as I can see, both cameras goes to ISO 25600. The D7100 though starts at ISO 50.According to DxOmark, the ISO performance gives a Little advantage to the D7100, their Measurements gives it about 8% higher, which, still according to them, Means less than a third of a third stop.I think, that a de-noise PP will handle that.But it is right with the cropping issue - that's the rearly advantage of a bigger pixel-density. This and the quicker and maybe more accurate AF should be to be considered.BirgerH.

labalaba wrote:I would state that:The reason there are so few focusing claims to the D7100 related to the D7000 (and there are) is that most of the D7100 users learned by using the D7000 (and the D300) more than it is related to the changing to CAM3500DX.well I owned and used D300 and D700 cameras for a number of years before my D7000, which I then sold for another D700 and now D7100. My D7000 was definitely less reliable and consistent in focus tracking than the other cameras - my D7100 is much better. D7000 is a great camera for general photography, but the D7100 AF is clearly better.My point is, that the D7100 is better (I think it is - why would they have changed it elsewhere) doesn't mean, that the D7000 is no good and can't be used. A lot of images on the net tells me, that it can.BirgerH.

BirgerH wrote:labalaba wrote:I would state that:The reason there are so few focusing claims to the D7100 related to the D7000 (and there are) is that most of the D7100 users learned by using the D7000 (and the D300) more than it is related to the changing to CAM3500DX.well I owned and used D300 and D700 cameras for a number of years before my D7000, which I then sold for another D700 and now D7100. My D7000 was definitely less reliable and consistent in focus tracking than the other cameras - my D7100 is much better. D7000 is a great camera for general photography, but the D7100 AF is clearly better.My point is, that the D7100 is better (I think it is - why would they have changed it elsewhere) doesn't mean, that the D7000 is no good and can't be used. A lot of images on the net tells me, that it can.BirgerH.sure. I got many good images with D7000 also. But I did not like the AF as much as the other cameras, and I think I am not alone. So if there is a recommendation to be made...By the way there is a thread right now in the FX forum comparing bodies for BIF and there are multiple posters there saying that D7100 AF is as good as D4 or almost so, better than other FF cameras.http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53636322

BirgerH wrote:David Lal wrote:TomE443 wrote:I have been shooting a D700 for a few years for landscape and general shooting and I love it! I am looking for a DX body for bird photography, to get more reach out of the 300mm f4 I just picked up. Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick? Thanks for your input... would I ever use a D7000 for bird photography. It comes with far too many pre-installed AF 'user errors'[sic]. By contrast, the AF of the D7100 is said to be excellent, on a par with, if not better than the fabled D300.In fact, why not get yourself a secondhand D300 if you do not need video or very high ISO performance? I did. There are some very nice ones available still that are 'almost new' but very cheap.Bluetit, D300 + Sigma 105mm (or maybe it was my D70 + Nik 50mm, can't remember now!)DavidInteresting David.Less than two years ago, the D7000 was very praised for its ability to birds photography.Just search the net - you'll find a lot of very impressive images of birds, birds in flight a.s.o taken with the D7000 - what's happend since?I know, introducing the new AF-system made troubles to a lot of shooters, that was not familiar to an area-AF-system. Did to me too going from D90 - took me quite a learning time.It is another focusing technique than the former - and is no different from the D7100 and the D300 except from the speed and the number (and size) of the focus arrays.I would state that:The reason there are so few focusing claims to the D7100 related to the D7000 (and there are) is that most of the D7100 users learned by using the D7000 (and the D300) more than it is related to the changing to CAM3500DX.Wrong statement?I wouldn't garbage the CAM4800DX - it has worked splendid for a lot of D7000 users - BIF'ers too, and is infact being used in some of the latest D5x00 later on.BirgerH.Hynek,whereas I agree that there are many bird photographers who got great images from a D7000 including some birds in flight, I can't share your reason that was due to practice with the D7000. I used a D7000 for about 2 years and got better at birds in flight but it was always difficult as the AF acquisition speed was noticeably too slow to lock on. Once locked it tracked well. I passed from a D7000 to a D7100 over a weekend and noticed the much better AF straight away. The D7100 is so much better with instant acquisition and great tracking as long as light is average to good. It also seems to have a smaller centre focus point making single point focus completely reliable.

BirgerH wrote:As far as I can see, both cameras goes to ISO 25600. The D7100 though starts at ISO 50.According to DxOmark, the ISO performance gives a Little advantage to the D7100, their Measurements gives it about 8% higher, which, still according to them, Means less than a third of a third stop.I think, that a de-noise PP will handle that.But it is right with the cropping issue - that's the rearly advantage of a bigger pixel-density. This and the quicker and maybe more accurate AF should be to be considered.BirgerH.No, it doesn't, not that it's a big issue.  ISO 100.  DPR's info is inaccurate (unless I have a faulty camera and Nikon's wrong too).

BirgerH wrote:David Lal wrote:BirgerH wrote:I wouldn't garbage the CAM4800DX - it has worked splendid for a lot of D7000 users - BIF'ers too, and is infact being used in some of the latest D5x00 later on.Well, that's lovely for them.Yes it is - but it's not an answer.You are a kind of stating, that the D7000 is no good in no way for Birders - and seaching the net, there's a lot of them, very satisfied, and with rearly impressive images showing.That the D7100 might be even better is in my opinion not a reason to nearly recommend to garbage the D7000 for that use.It would, still as I see it, be a better recommandation to tell, why the D7100 would be better - and worth the diffence in Price, than just (almost) stating, that the D7000 can't be used.Or is it just feelings and no arguments?My argument is still - If the D7000 was the best of the best less than two years ago, it can't be that bad now.BirgerH.Don't tell me what I am stating or not stating BirgerH. I used a careful form of words and stated what I stated. You are welcome to your opinion, as I am to mine but if you look at all the posts below you will see you are outnumbered.When in a hole - stop digging.

Thom and most other reviewers are of the opinion that the chatter about the D7000 'focussing problem' is basically users not understanding how to use the D7000 focusing properly.I have used  a friends D7000 and found it very good for birds in flight and air shows too.If you search Flickr or ipernity you will find many excellent shots of bird and other fast moving subjects taken with the D7000.I may get round to owning one as it uses the same battery as my V1But if you have the cash to splash the D7100 is a fine camera too.

Sonyshine wrote:Thom and most other reviewers are of the opinion that the chatter about the D7000 'focussing problem' is basically users not understanding how to use the D7000 focusing properly... 'user error' was my exact phrase. Paragraph #1, sentence #2. My D300 did not come with any so I have to make them myself.

jimoyer wrote:BirgerH wrote:As far as I can see, both cameras goes to ISO 25600. The D7100 though starts at ISO 50.According to DxOmark, the ISO performance gives a Little advantage to the D7100, their Measurements gives it about 8% higher, which, still according to them, Means less than a third of a third stop.I think, that a de-noise PP will handle that.But it is right with the cropping issue - that's the rearly advantage of a bigger pixel-density. This and the quicker and maybe more accurate AF should be to be considered.BirgerH.No, it doesn't, not that it's a big issue. ISO 100. DPR's info is inaccurate (unless I have a faulty camera and Nikon's wrong too).Sorry - just saw the specs from DPR - shown that there was a "Low".BirgerH.

Brandon birder wrote:BirgerH wrote:David Lal wrote:TomE443 wrote:I have been shooting a D700 for a few years for landscape and general shooting and I love it! I am looking for a DX body for bird photography, to get more reach out of the 300mm f4 I just picked up. Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick? Thanks for your input... would I ever use a D7000 for bird photography. It comes with far too many pre-installed AF 'user errors'[sic]. By contrast, the AF of the D7100 is said to be excellent, on a par with, if not better than the fabled D300.In fact, why not get yourself a secondhand D300 if you do not need video or very high ISO performance? I did. There are some very nice ones available still that are 'almost new' but very cheap.Bluetit, D300 + Sigma 105mm (or maybe it was my D70 + Nik 50mm, can't remember now!)DavidInteresting David.Less than two years ago, the D7000 was very praised for its ability to birds photography.Just search the net - you'll find a lot of very impressive images of birds, birds in flight a.s.o taken with the D7000 - what's happend since?I know, introducing the new AF-system made troubles to a lot of shooters, that was not familiar to an area-AF-system. Did to me too going from D90 - took me quite a learning time.It is another focusing technique than the former - and is no different from the D7100 and the D300 except from the speed and the number (and size) of the focus arrays.I would state that:The reason there are so few focusing claims to the D7100 related to the D7000 (and there are) is that most of the D7100 users learned by using the D7000 (and the D300) more than it is related to the changing to CAM3500DX.Wrong statement?I wouldn't garbage the CAM4800DX - it has worked splendid for a lot of D7000 users - BIF'ers too, and is infact being used in some of the latest D5x00 later on.BirgerH.Hynek,whereas I agree that there are many bird photographers who got great images from a D7000 including some birds in flight, I can't share your reason that was due to practice with the D7000. I used a D7000 for about 2 years and got better at birds in flight but it was always difficult as the AF acquisition speed was noticeably too slow to lock on. Once locked it tracked well. I passed from a D7000 to a D7100 over a weekend and noticed the much better AF straight away. The D7100 is so much better with instant acquisition and great tracking as long as light is average to good. It also seems to have a smaller centre focus point making single point focus completely reliable.Yeah - and it was just a statement - an answer to another  just as documented and more hidden statement.I just wanted to say, that the D7100 has another AF-system - technically similar - but quicker and according to a lot in here more accurate.But the OP asked, if the D7000 would do the job - not if it would do it as good or easy as the D7100.Therefor I felt, that the post, I answered did in very high grade belittled the D7000 - and found a lot of  links on the net to D7000 birders and their images.I'm not saying, that the OP has no reason to choose the D7100 - there will be plenty of them - but it's a wrong statement, that the D7000 can't do the job.BirgerH.