Agree, human eye’s focal length is ~45mm but the overall perceived focal length is ~21mm.

Check out this article:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/cameras-vs-human-eye.htm

This is a pretty interesting subject, but suffice to say while the actual ‘focal length’ for our total amount of vision is in the wide-angle range, the field of view we have that we can pay conscious attention to at a given time can be approximated by about 45mm.

I appreciate it!

Hi Katelyn,
My recommendation is to go for the most current model you can afford and still have funds for a stable of good glass. Cameras like computers are subject to Moore’s Law that posits that tech doubles it’s capabilities every 18 months. With Nikon currently offering models shooting 4K video and using the Expeed 5 processing engine, and with a 20mp DX sensor in the D500 for $2000 is tempting.
I have owned Nikons starting with a D-70s, then a D-200, then making the FX jump with a D-600 and currently my daily work-horse is a D-800 (I bought refurbished for 1/2 it’s original retail). At the time I bought the D600 I bought my wife the D7100 with dedicated DX glass which is a great camera.
I shoot landscapes and all along the way, I have produced stunning images in every camera.That being said, I also made the next jump because you start to see how your current model is limited in what you want to achieve.
Be prepared to stick with whatever body you eventually buy and wring everything out of it you can because Nikon or Canon are going to come along and tempt you all over again.

I thought human field of view is approximately 21mm?

Very true.

Hi Katelyn! I’m glad the article could help you!

As for your upgrade wondrings, I’ve only ever shot with the 5D Mk.III (my current body) so I can’t really speak as to the two Nikon’s, but I can say that I do really like the 5D. I got it for the “full” frame, ISO performance, and general ruggedness that I need for wilderness photography. That said, switching brands means having to switch out all your Nikon lenses to Canon ones, which can be a big expense.

One thing to consider when deciding to upgrade to full frame is what kind of photography you’d like to do long term, although it seems like you’re still keeping yourself open. While full frame is amazing for shooting low-light landscapes, I know some sports, wildlife, and wedding photographers actually prefer crop bodes, because of the extra “zoom” provided by the crop factor (which usually more than compensates for the decreased megapixels).

To learn more, ID suggest searching this site for articles on full frame, and maybe just doing a general Google search for the comparison. A lot of times random forums will have great real-world discussions on these types of compariosns.

Good luck, and thanks for reading!

Definitely! It’s really just a matter of the type of image you’re going for in a particular scene. Even though you generally don’t want all your photos to have the 6ft human perspective, there are some scenes where that’s the exact perfect place to get the right image.

Hey Paul! That’s another great type of lens range to use. The difference of shooting around “normal” range probably deserves its own article!