This is a very old article from the beginning of my professional photography journal. Much of what I wrote here is still true, although the landscape has changed so drastically since then that it is nearly unrecognizable. If you take anything from this, let it be that you can make great photos with just about anything.
My new Nikon D610, a full frame camera
After playing around with the D610 for a few days, here are my thoughts on upgrading to a full frame:
You hear photographers talk about the benefits of a full frame constantly: better low light performance, better lenses, better autofocus, and higher image quality. While I have found these things to be true, I have not seen as big of an improvement as I thought I would see.
The new controls on my D610 are less intuitive. I shoot just about everything in manual mode and I expect easy-to-access controls for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. They are the three most important settings on a camera and should be easy to reach. With the Nikon D3300, an entry level camera, I had all of this. You could make every adjustment while looking through the viewfinder.
The D610 requires me to take the camera away from my face and hit an ISO button to adjust sensitivity. It is a mild inconvenience, but important when you are in fast-paced situations. It is also easy to hit the quality button and accidentally adjust the RAW/JPG settings when you are trying to change the ISO, since they are switched when compared to the D3300.
There is a really convenient LCD screen on top, but it lacks the one thing it should have, an exposure meter. There is no setting to have the info screen come on after partially pressing the shutter either. That is how I metered with my D3300. Now I have to press a button on the body or look through the viewfinder to do it. I even feel like the auto white balance is worse on this camera than on the D3300. It is no big deal and I can fix the images after the shoot, but why should I? The screen is more contrasty, which takes some getting used to.
I know the controls feel a little clunky now, but I am sure I will learn them soon. The real reason you buy a full-frame camera is for the image quality and depth of field. It is true that I can take better pictures now, yet the differences are hardly noticeable and you would never see them looking at a Facebook compressed image.
On the plus side, the autofocus is faster and the viewfinder is bigger and clearer. It is wonderful to handle and shoot with. I will not be going back to my D3300 except as a backup. It is the photographer that makes the image, not the camera.
In conclusion, if you are new to photography and lack funds, do not assume a bigger camera will make you a better photographer. Finding the right light, the right subjects, and learning a photo editor will do that. Spend your money on lenses, lighting, and travel first.
Update: A few weeks with this camera, and I am a believer. It is not perfect, but the flexibility I get out of the RAW files, plus the better image quality is worth the cost for me.
- Mia Quain, The Nikon Kidd
Here are a few sample shots from the D610:
Lake Ann Waterfall - Bella Vista, Arkansas
Tanyard Creek Waterfall - Bella Vista, Arkansas