Do you do a lot of portraits and shoot events? Do you like having more camera at the bottom of your hand when you hold it? If you answer yes to these questions then get a battery grip. If no, don't bother. If you're using a Nikon get a Nikon grip. The third party stuff just can't compete.
I really need them to release a 135 art. I love my 85, but the focal length when I was on a crop sensor was much better.
The size alone is why I don't want that lens the price don't help either. I think I'm happy with 1.8 lenses, 1.4 just sounds like a pain to shoot at. Not to mention the AF. Sigmas need to be calibrated severely.
See that's the thing. Every time I fine tune it just winds up being numerical guess work for me. I'm never sure whether to go up or down with that so I usually just prefer not to do it. Not to mention every Sigma lens I own needs calibration. The 17-50, 18-35 and 70-200. I had to calibrate the 70-200 across three different bodies and none of the settings are identical and the 70-200 still doesn't seem to be exactly all there on the D600 yet.
I'd say get a 7200, but no touch screen and Nikon gives no fucks for DX primes. There's a DX 1.8 35mm that's good and a DX 85mm Macro lens if you want. I'd start doing crop sensor math on that one if I were you. I do believe the 80D has a touch screen. Really depends how much that means to you. I prefer Nikon ergonomics, but it depends on what you feel comfortable with.
Occasionally check B&H the refurbs aren't that much more expensive than 1300 if I remember right, though you do have to factor in tax.
I'd honestly get the D7000 if I were you. I pretty much got started on a D7100 and it's only "advanced" until you get used to it. Oh yeah 70-200's are not cheap whether they be F4 or F2.8, what's your exact lens budget?
It mainly depends on how important video modes are to you. If it is I wouldn't go older Nikon. I don't care for video and purely shoot for still purposes. If you're looking for cheaper lenses then Nikon is usually pretty good. I wouldn't touch Sony lens prices with a stick. I also much prefer cameras with two command dials. Makes changing shutter and aperture pretty easy. You might want to try finding an NEX 7 or something honestly.
As long as you don't need good low light you should be fine. If you do...that's when it gets tricky. I'm kind of sort of meh in regards to Sony, but that's just me personally, I don't like the user interface. But if video is a thing you can get a Sony or a Panasonic I believe. The G7's aren't hyper expensive, but probably still above your budget.
Most people really don't need to, just depends on what they do. I do events and my light is un god damn predictable at times. Have fun shooting at 5000 iso and such yeesh.
Don't have it for long, but the fuji 23mm is the same for me. A mix of sharp, convenient, and all around useful focal makes it a winner.
