I have owned a D7000 for over two years. It produces wonderful photos. But I have found the D7000's AF system to be flaky. I have gotten quite a few photos of birds where the AF is spot on. But I have taken more where the focus is a bit off, which I find frustrating. Much of this could be due to user error on my part, or unrealistic expectations of what it should produce.The consensus of people who have used the D7000 and D7100 is that the D7100's AF system is noticeably better. I would pay the extra money for the improved AF capabilities of the D7100.

David Lal wrote: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.When has asking for arguments being "in a hole".You are giving the OP an advice without telling why. In my World, that is "being in a hole".I'm not outnumbered - I told that the D7100 had an improved AF-system, that it was quicker and maybe more accurate - but that a lot of birders could tell him, that the D7000 was capable to do the job. That was what the OP asked for.So bring in some arguments for your disqualification of the D7000 .BirgerH.

BirgerH wrote:But the OP asked, if the D7000 would do the job - not if it would do it as good or easy as the D7100.The OP asked:"Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick?"And indeed there is a compelling reason: the D7100 autofocus is superior.But enough of this nonsense. I refuse to have an internet battle of wits - especially not with the unarmed. Apologies to Oscar Wilde.Have a nice day.

Compelling reasons for D7100 ought to be improved autofocus as well perhaps as greater latitude for cropping via 24mp (nikon say it is top of the dx line so frankly it should be improved for the extra money otherwise why bother).Compelling for the D7000 may be the fact that if cost is a consideration it is that much cheaper. And of course it can do the job with its autofocus as thousands of photos from people able to use it demonstrate.If you add to either the right lenses and good technique then you're going to get good photos with either.These questions are never easy to answer because compelling may mean a multitude of reasons and people may have their own agendas.For clarity I shoot a D7000 and have never had a problem with it - that said l believe the D7100 is excellent and if l had one I'm sure I'd be very happy too.

David Lal wrote:BirgerH wrote:But the OP asked, if the D7000 would do the job - not if it would do it as good or easy as the D7100.The OP asked:"Is there a compelling reason I should go for a D7100 or will the D7000 do the trick?"And indeed there is a compelling reason: the D7100 autofocus is superior.But enough of this nonsense. I refuse to have an internet battle of wits - especially not with the unarmed. Apologies to Oscar Wilde.Have a nice day.And yet, in direct response to the OP's question: the D7000willdo the trick...at a significant savings based on current pricing. There's no denying that fact and you're arguing over semantics.But to your point, the D7100 has a vastly superior AF system. higher resolution, etc and will lend itself as the better birding camera overall.