GraphitePaddle
Since I had a Canon w. the speed-lite 430 II external flash, why switch brands, when moving to a DSLR? User Interface. G12 minimized the need to dig through menus will all of its dials & buttons. Canon goofed when they didnt do that with their APS-C sensor cameras. Want buttons & dials? D7100 or some of the Pentax DSLRs, but the later is weak on lens selection. (Want the Tamron 150-600 long telephoto lens. Too bad if you have a Pentax camera.) Any DSLR, just by having a larger sensor, will have better image quality than an advanced P&S (also have the Olympus XZ-1), so why else should you select the D7100 over another DSLR? Full-size optical view finder: See all of your composition, aperture, shutter time, exposure, focus point(s), and if in-focus indicator if you are focusing manually. Plus much less power consumption vs. the Live View on the LCD. Amazing how few DSLRs have a full-size OVF. And you can use it to compose w. the camera turned off. Other pros: Weather-resistant & great Live View on a large LCD display. D7100 has a fantastic auto focus system, and works better in Live View, compared to the OVF for static objects such as macro work & landscapes. OVF rocks for that snowy owl taking off, because its fast response time. Pictures are @ ISO 6400; even ISO 25,400 is not bad. Dynamic range is also excellent, because where I used to used to bracket with the Canon G12, dont have the need to take multiple exposure shots w. the D7100. Lenses & use: Nikon 70-200 f4, which was my first before I wised up & bought a walk-around lens; Nikon 17-55 f2.8. Both were intended for outdoors, but the later does well indoors without the flash. Landscapes are my favorite topic, but have used to the 70-200 to photograph birds. 96%+ shots are with either the monopod or tripod. Always shoot in PASM to create raw files (never .JPGs) processed by DXO Optics Pro; A & M over 98% of the time. (Never tested the scene modes or auto, so dont know if they work.) Cons: Internal flash should be off to the side, not directly over the lens. OVF has an optimum MF indicator; would be nice if Live View had the same. BIG ONE is the tiny buffer, which fills fast ... shooting smaller formats such as .JPGs helps, as does 1.3 crop mode, as well as a fast memory card (e.g. Sandisk Extreme Pro). Not for everyone: Shines would you take the time & getting the settings right, but a lower resolution P&S can do better in a pinch. Recommended accessories: Sandisk Extreme Pro memory cards, extra battery, Lenspen, microfiber cloths, rocket blower, good how-to book ( Mastering the Nikon D7100 , and great lens. Regarding lenses, rent 1st to see its right for you & be prepared to return bad copies when purchasing. Bottom Line: No longer satisfied w. taking snapshots & want to do photography? Great camera to grow into.
