SusanW Loc: Huntington, Indiana

I am a very amateur photographer. I took a class several years ago and read information, especially from the posts on here. My problem is I just don't have the time right now to learn to use my equipment the way I should and without being able to practice continually I forget all the important stuff. My wonderful husband thinks I need nice stuff because I love to take pictures. I have a Nikon D3000 that he bought me several years ago. Then he bought me a Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3. I really like this lens, it's generally the only lens I use. Sometimes I get some pretty awesome pictures. Being the wonderful man he is he decided I needed more reach at times and bought me a used Tamron SP AF200-500mm F/5-6.3 Di LD(IF). It's a nice lens and I've used it a few time, but it doesn't auto focus with my D3000. My eyes aren't the greatest and what appears to be in focus on the camera doesn't always come out in focus when the pictures are viewed on the computer. Now he wants to buy me a body that will work with this larger lens and auto focus to help me. I need some guidance and what the best body would be for this lens. Any other suggestions would also be greatly appreciated!

CO

If you want to stay with the DX Nikons you'll need to go to the D7xxx series or higher. The D7500 was just introduced. The D500 is the flagship Nikon DX camera. I have a D500. It has an incredible autofocus system. The D5 and D500 are the first two Nikons to have a processor dedicated to just the autofocus system.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Depends on your budget and what you like to shoot. If action is important, the d500 cannot be beat. If you are just shooting stills and landscape, the d7200 or the d7100 are both fine cameras and much less expensive. The main thing to consider is a body that will autofocus your lens as opposed to needing an autofocus built into the lens. Good luck and happy shooting.
Also, you will be able to find the d7100 and d7200, and possibly the d500, it places like Nikon, Adorama, and B&H Photo refurbished for a lower cost. Refurbished just means the camera has been worked on and brought back to "new" condition. Many have had excellent luck with refurbished and most places offer warranties on the equipment for peace of mind.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

For the best features at the best price --- Refurbished D7200.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Susan,

Do you husband a favor and ask for a new D7100 body. It will handle your lenses, has excellent image quality and enough controls to keep you occupied for years to come and it will only set him back $700.

IBM

You have what you call over kill , you have all these lenses and haven't a clue how or what the things to change to make the picture do
What you want , until you learn what fstops do and shutter speed , white ball , iso and how they all work together, you will have a tough time
Get a good book and start from square one ,use one lens and leave it on tell you know it . It may take a year , but you will know it , or just put the d3000 in P mode and is0 in auto from 200 -800 , don't go higher with that camera

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

7200 is a nice camera, if u want full frame the D810 is a great camera and is way down in price right now.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

What is white ball? I have never heard that term relating to photography.

IBM

It's short for get on the ball and start jamming , (learn all you can In a short time , " hence white ball it "

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Just a 'Shot in the dark' but I would guess the poster means ''White Balance''.

cthahn

If you want every thing to work perfectly, use Nikon lenses.

CO

There's one thing that's also a factor in the autofocus performance. The Nikon version of the Tamron SP AF200-500mm lens has the screw type autofocus. That type of autofocus relies on the focusing motor that's in the camera body. Those lenses generally don't focus as fast as lenses that have an ultrasonic motor built-in. A good example of that is the Nikon 80-400mm lens. The original version, introduced in 2000, had the screw type autofocus and had notoriously slow focusing. They redesigned that lens in 2013 and included Nikon's silent wave ultrasonic motor. It has much faster autofocus than the original. You may get a camera with high performing autofocus like the D500 and never get really fast autofocusing. I don't know specifically about the Tamron - it may have excellent AF performance.

sathca Loc: Narragansett Rhode Island

To get up to speed on photography try John greengo's beginners course at CreativeLive.com or for $10 Stunning Digital photography by Tony and Chelsea Northrup. Johns course is better, but is more expensive and has no accompanying book. Northrup has book and video so for $10 can't be passed up. They also have $10 books ( 12 hours of back up video ) on lightroom and Photoshop. I don't know how they produce that quality for the price.

Kalskag2

Your husband sounds like a keeper!

mborn Loc: Massachusetts