Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

I made the change from DX to FX some time ago, but did not buy DX lenses for my D70s or D300s bodies. In you case I would suggest to stop obsessing about FX and get yourself a D500 body.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

You didn't mention what you like to shoot. That will also inform your decision. Good luck and happy shopping!

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

Look at a Nikon D500, you can use all of your DX lenses.

pila

Not a bad idea. Rent a 750 for the trip.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Let me give you my take on this since you are asking for advise. Buying a FX camera to use DX lenses is a poor move. A photographer wants a FX camera to use lenses made for that camera for best results. I see no reason buying a FX camera to use lenses that only take advantage of part of the sensor.
You are saying that over the years you have accumulated some very expensive lenses and I have to assume they are professional DX lenses. If you buy a FX camera then you have to buy a new set of lenses for that camera so you are buying a new camera and new lenses. Poor move once again in my opinion. Why not a DX camera with the capabilities you need if indeed the D7000 is not up to the job. I use a D7000 and it is doing a great job for me so I do not feel the need of updating.
Right now the D500, if you need better AF, better shooting rate, a better buffer and better low light performance is being sold at an attractive price new or refub.
That would be my choice if I were you.

pila

Irreconsilable.

pila

Great duo.

pila

Yup.

JohnD3 Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have no intent to give you advise; however, I am the same age and just faced a similar decision. I have had a D80 for nearly 10 years, a few years ago it gave me some difficulty (subsequently repaired) so I decided to acquire a D7100. I have been fantastically happy with the D7100 and found that it did wonders to help me up my game and inspired me to learn much more about post processing in Elements. In fact I have so enjoyed my greater immersion into photography that I began to look at FX format as I felt that it would result in another bump up in my enthusiasm. My research led me to the D610, virtually the same size as the D7100 with identical controls, and several exchangeable items (batteries, etc.). Also, based on my experience with the D7100, I have only purchased two new lens; 50mm 1.8 and 28-300mm, as I found these to be the FX equivalents to my favorite DX lens (40mm & 18-200mm). If you should develop an interest in the D610 I recommend Ken Rockwell's review https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d610.htm.
At this point I plan to sell off the D80 and several of the lens I do not use anymore to help in paying for this adventure.
As I said, not advise just my own thought process.

Old44

Best advice from a fellow Hogger, Steve Perry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWtnt7Ip4Vw

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

I made this switch years ago from a D40 to a D3 at the time. The D3 is still around but has been joined by a D850. The D40 was fully capable of taking fine pictures; where it didn't it was usually operator error. but I still appreciate the advantages of FX. However, if you were to purchase an FX format body I'd suggest the AF-S 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 G VR ED (assuming you stick with Nikon). It will give you a full kit of focal ranges in one very fine unit for about $950! That should get you in business for most general photography needs while you supplement with more specialized glass as your needs and desired dictate.

Paradise Pirate Loc: Cape Coral, FL

I am also 74 and selling my D7000. Just bought a D7500 and D810. One lense for D7500, 18-200 zoom. Bought 1 lense for D810, a Sigma 24-105 ART. Paid $7200 for D7500 (5000 clicks) and $1300 for D810 (3000 clicks)
I plan to travel more starting with western parks in spring. D810 is quite heavy compared to D7500. The D810 till stay inbackpack for use on tripod at select sites. The D7500 will be my walk around camera on a shoulder harness. I love the new D7500 features, articulating screen, touch screen, etc. The Sigma 24-105 was reviewed Northrup photo on youtube with high marks.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

For camera bodies of similar "grade" made at about the same time, sensor pixel density tends to be pretty similar, no matter the format. In most cases, a crop sensor is approximately half the size of a full frame sensor. So the results you get using a crop lens in crop mode on a full frame camera are going to be about the same as the results using that lens on a crop camera produced at about the same time. You in no way move backward by buying a full frame body and continuing to use your crop lenses. You won't immediately gain the advantages of the larger sensor, but you will immediately gain all the advantages of new functions availalable on the new body, and you will be able to immediately start learning how to most effectively use that body. The list of new features developed over the past 8 years is pretty long.

As you learn, you will be able to decide first hand what lenses you want, and you can move toward buying or trading for them in a rational way. For instance, you will find that you have significantly more wide angle choices than you did before...by this, I mean the capability of creating images with a really wide view.

As for weight...the argument that crop lenses are lighter and smaller is, in my mind, pretty bogus. It is true that for general photography working to accomplish similar goals, you will use shorter focal length lenses. 35mm vs. 50mm for a normal lens, 50mm vs. 85mm for portraits, etc. So yes...you will generally be using lenses with shorter focal lengths which are...shorter. But the truth is that there are generally fewer premium quality crop lens choices. So the lenses that are significantly lighter are also lenses of a lower grade...more plastic, fewer elements, and other differences common to consumer grade lenses. The truth is that these lens choices are available for full frame bodies also, so you can choose lighter full frame lenses if you desire.

The advice to think about what you really want to do is good advice. I use both formats now, but rarely pull out a DX body unless I specifically need to create images with smaller associated files. The advantages of full frame have become great enough that I just don't go back that much, even for most casual shooting.

Good luck as you work to decide.

mickmates

About two years ago when I was shooting with a D7100 I decided to add a D610. There was no issue with lenses because I have always insisted on fx lenses with the idea of someday moving to full frame. I was pleased with the D610 and then I had the opportunity to get a D500. The D500 is now my body of choice and I'm considering selling the D610 to acquire some better glass for the D500. It may just be me (I'm 76), but the D500 is all the camera I want and guess I'll need.

sxrich

I'm a little younger than you, 66, but after almost passing away (8 hours before they pulled the plug - pneumonia after a bypass - miraculous recovery), go with the FF. I have both, d7100 and d750, shoot events, second shoot for weddings, shoot headshots for local actors and I will take the FF any day of the week for what I shoot. If all I wanted to do was shoot in decent light, outdoors or with flash indoors, I might not. However, tomorrow may never come my brother! Go for it. Buy some used good glass - like a 70-200 or 24-70 2.8, maybe an 85 1.8 or whatever else you want and have a blast. Consider a used d810 for those 36mp for landscapes. I did a model/actor shoot a few days ago and will be posting pics with the d750, horrible light, no strobe/external lighting and take a looks at the pics.. I could not do this with a the crop sensor you have. I have a d7100 paired with the superb 17-55 2.8 which I have shot weddings with. I will not complain about the weight either.