Nikon in Europe is supposedly collecting user opinions regarding the D7000 and D5100. Since the release of their first VDSLR, the D90, Nikon has not been responsive regarding firmware feature changes (bug fixes only). They did handle the D7000 back focus and hot pixel complaint situation pretty quickly.
D5100: Nikon still needs to get a clue...
- Thread starter ydgmdlu
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Nikon in Europe is supposedly collecting user opinions regarding the D7000 and D5100. Since the release of their first VDSLR, the D90, Nikon has not been responsive regarding firmware feature changes (bug fixes only). They did handle the D7000 back focus and hot pixel complaint situation pretty quickly.
Exactly what would you tell them?
blickblocks
Active member
That their programmers need to make some changes for usability. A lot of companies are open to input from users, but a large corporation like Nikon is more likely to base these decisions off of their marketing department's narrow minded ideas about who will be using and purchasing their products. Not bashing marketers, this is just something that I've observed as a pattern in corporations I've worked at, it's systemic.
For whatever reason, they believe that the D7000 and above cameras should have better (though not perfect) manual controls than the lower ones. It's a marketing decision, which makes it harder to change, I think. If there were an organized petition, I would join it.
blickblocks
Active member
Sure, I'd sign too!
I think the reason the entry level cameras don't have focus motors is that they want new users to buy G lenses, making it harder to switch systems. Okay, maybe it's not a sneaky conspiracy but it does seem like Nikon only wants to upsell us to D7Ks for video use.
I voted with my feet; I sent back the D5100 today. My time is too valuable to spend it tricking the camera to use the settings I want, not being sure what settings it's on, and then reshooting when it changed its mind at the last half second and chose a different setting. It's too bad, really, that the only Nikon with a flip-out screen has no manual settings.
Zim
Veteran
You wasted your time buying a the camera in the first place. You could have read in advance what the camera does. it is not a pro camera and it is not a pro video camera. It is not bad for what it is. I did an interview with REO Speedwagon friday using my DVX100b. My wife took some pictures with the 5100. The camera takes really good pictures. I bet all in all the video is not bad. We haven't really tried much of that.
John Caballero
Veteran
Exactly. I wonder what people expect from a camera with that price.
mojo43
Well-known member
Too bad... there is a way to get the settings you want the first time...
RRRoger
Well-known member
Compare HDSLRs for Video
Compare HDSLRs for Video
I think the 5D2 is the best Canon (for the money). It replaced my D90.
The AF really sucks, but the camera is great for landscapes and Video.
I also bought a D3100 mostly for trips and hiking but it was too small for me to hold properly and too light to hold steady.
So, I got a D7000. The next day I put the 5D2 up for sale. I like everything about the Nikon better.
When I went to the Camera store to get a second D7000 for my Event business, they had a D5100 on demo.
I came home with it. For my use the D5100 is the clear winner for Video. I prefer to shoot in AutoFocus and AutoISO modes.
I am anticipating the D400 announcement this summer, It should be a better Still and D-Movie Camera yet.
Compare HDSLRs for Video
I got a Canon
I think the 5D2 is the best Canon (for the money). It replaced my D90.
The AF really sucks, but the camera is great for landscapes and Video.
I also bought a D3100 mostly for trips and hiking but it was too small for me to hold properly and too light to hold steady.
So, I got a D7000. The next day I put the 5D2 up for sale. I like everything about the Nikon better.
When I went to the Camera store to get a second D7000 for my Event business, they had a D5100 on demo.
I came home with it. For my use the D5100 is the clear winner for Video. I prefer to shoot in AutoFocus and AutoISO modes.
I am anticipating the D400 announcement this summer, It should be a better Still and D-Movie Camera yet.
adamr316
Well-known member
I have to disagree. If you own a studio and have a working relationship with a dealer you can often "demo" different gear. If you like it you pay for it if not you return it. Same thing. Plus the power of the internet is that we have user reviews. I trust user reviews (collectively) more than I do "professional reviews." For the simple reason that professional reviewers are sponsored by the same people whose products they're reviewing. Users have no allegiance with the camera makers.
Heck, I'm a reviewer on Epinions.com . The one negative review I wrote about a consumer Kodak camera that was a piece of garbage has gotten by far the most views of everything I've written. People want to know the negative. They appreciate hearing about a bad product before they buy it. Thanks to the Internet there is less crappy consumer electronics out there because word spreads fast. Smart shoppers are in more abundance than ever before.
Something to think about - I actually have purchased things from Best Buy numerous times because I could return them if I didn't like the product. That's what got me in the door, even though I could have purchased cheaper online. It's very difficult to know how you are going to like lots of products from looking at it online or seeing it in a store setting. Case in point - bluetooth headsets. I've bought several, and if I don't like it I return it for a different one. People have said to me "you can get that a lot cheaper online" and I reply, "yeah but if I don't like it Best Buy has a great return policy".
So I willingly pay more (on some items) for the privilege of being able to return it if I'm not satisfied. I don't feel guilty about it, because I know darn well Best Buy makes plenty of margin on quite a few items in it's store (some of which I have purchased)
So I understand the argument of "don't buy it and plan to return it", but at the same time if the D5100 blew away the customers expectations there would have been no return. Best Buy has a system that works for them apparently because they remain in business.
I paid full price for my GH1 at a brick and mortar locally, but it was a big investment and I knew they'd stand behind the purchase if I wasn't happy. I was, so they made a good sale and got a repeat customer!
Cheers,
Dan