[David Phillips]

So I’m looking to buy my second dslr (had a canon 15 years ago, sold it 13 years ago). I take a lot of photos with my Samsung Galaxy 8 and Panasonic Lumix and decided to go the full frame route at last. I travel a few times a year for 2-3 weeks at a time and wanted to finally get a decent camera that’ll last me a long time.

Initially thought the Sony DSC RX10 mk3 would suffice because of the all-in-one movie/superzoom functionality but I don’t want to go crop sensor - it’s time I embraced the full frame experience!

Looked at a few Nikon and Canon offerings and settled on the Nikon D750 because of the typically glowing reviews, dynamic range, lens availability etc so now I need some advice:

Is the 750 a good bet for an enthusiastic amateur or would I be better off wth a cheaper full frame model? I’m thinking I could grow into the camera - as I plan to keep it a long time I don’t want to buy a lesser model and have to upgrade it later - but if you’re telling me that a D610 could be better I’d consider that.

I’m looking at just the camera and one lens initially (for budget reasons) so I was looking at this:

https://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/nikon-d750--24-120-vr-kit-2763-p.asp

Is the 24-120 a good lens in your opinion? It seems to have good reports, and I understand the pitfalls of VR and when to use it or not.

Or would a cheaper body, with a different lens (or even a couple, of the body’s saving me money) be a better bet?

I take a lot of landscape photos, some portraits, things like that, as opposed to fast sports photographs. I’d be loathe to lose a zoom function, but if you’re going to tell me the 24-120 is junk and I’d be better off with a 24-85 or even another non-zoom lens I’d consider that too.

Thanks for and advice - I appreciate it.

[Pr. Blurp]

Hi David and welcome to NikonPassion.
Why not a DX D7200 with a Sigma 17-70?
It is lighter, it is cheaper, and you will get almost the same picture quality.

[sylvainmandin]

hello,

D750 is definitely best than D610, but it will depend on how you use it. If you shoot exclusively RAW or JPG or both.
D750 will give you better pictures imediately, sharper, better color rendition, as you can see (and download) here :
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=daylight&attr13_0=nikon_d610&attr13_1=nikon_d750&attr13_2=nikon_d810&attr13_3=nikon_d800&attr15_0=jpeg&attr15_1=jpeg&attr15_2=jpeg&attr15_3=jpeg&attr16_0=100&attr16_1=100&attr16_2=100&attr16_3=100&attr171_3=off&normalization=full&widget=1&x=0.25277270652670025&y=-0.5882613012173397

of course, fine process on your RAW files would give you quite same quality at the end. As a good settings of the "picture control".

i went from Expeed 3 to Expeed 4 when i switched from D800 to D810. Expped is the software of Nikon camera bodies. And i can say that the difference is not only on color rendition (including best White Balance) but also better exposure.
D610 comes whith expedd 3 while D750 has Expeed 4.


24-85 VR and 24-120 f/4 VR are both good lenses but certainly, good primes are better ... such as the AF-S f/1.8 serie. (20-24-28-35-50-85)

cheaper 24-85 VR and 24-120 have quite the same optics qualities.
Sigma 24-105 f/4 is a bit better.

[Jean-Christophe]

Hi David, and welcome on our french space

D750 is a pretty good choice as you metionned already. Consider that ot might be replaced one of those days for a ... hum ... D760 or something ? Don't know.
But the performance/price ratio is pretty good at the moment.

I wouldn't say so for the 24-120, not the best lens to me. Check the 24-70 mm f/2.8 if it is affordable, and add a prime lens for low light, 50mm should be fine.

[sylvainmandin]

24-85 VR and 24-120 f/4 VR are both good lenses but certainly, good primes are better ... such as the AF-S f/1.8 serie. (20-24-28-35-50-85)

here a comparison i did between AF-S 35mm f/1.8 and 24-85 VR at 35mm, f/8 and F/4 :

https://mab.to/TlfTvYW3a

[vigouroux]

Prime lenses are better. Speaking of zooms I prefer Sigma 24-105 rather than Nikon 24-120.

[Philphil]

Hi David and welcome. 

D750 is an excellent choice.
I agree with Pr Blurp and Vigouroux about choosing other lenses than 24-120 even if it's not à bad choice. I suggest you to keep some money for a fixed focal lens  like 1.8 50 mm, always useful in low light.