I own both of these cameras. They are easy enough to start with but complex enough to lean from for several years.

Some classes will have a minimum requirement for a camera. Almost any DSLR will qualify.

I would recommend a camera body with an internal focus motor, such as the Nikon D7200, or other
brand equivalent. This will allow you to use older AF lens that are not as heavy as the as the newer
lens with internal focus motors.

Wildlife usually requires a lens of 200-300 mm minimum. Zoom lens are not quite as sharp as
prime lens, but I prefer a single good lens of 18-300 mm then carting around a bunch of primes.

Get the best your budget will allow that is comfortable in your hand.

one more thing, if you're going to be around the ocean, check about the weatherproofing.

I hope this helps.

This is my opinion.

If you have intentions of turning pro in the future, and can afford the price difference, go FF.

If you are like me, and just want to take decent pictures of travels and other odds and ends, go DX.
I have both Nikon D7200 and D500. I have printed acceptable 12x18 prints from pics cropped to
as little as 20% of the original pic.

I have an older 28-200 (no internal focus motor) and a 18-300 that I use on a D7200 or D500 body.
One of the combinations usually works for me.
That's what I would recommend.

I would put the faster card in slot 1 for raw, and use slot 2 for jpg.

I shoot Nikon. I use the Nikon software to upload the pics and go thru them.
Anything I want to do follow up with, I save to a different folder as TIFF.

I would opt for the D7200, but, then I already have one.

Use a smaller (higher numbered) aperture.

Don't know why not. If they work with your current camera they should work with a D7200.

Have had a D7200 for about twq years. that's a new one for me.

I have had the D500 for about a year now. Normally I have the 18-300 lens attached. Sometimes the 200-500 or 28-200.
It works well for me.

Somewhere on the Red River paper web site, I remember reading something about the best type
of paper to use for different types of photos. Maybe this will help.

https://www.redrivercatalog.com/

One vote for Canon. I have the Pro-100.

Try ed er Paper

https://www.redrivercatalog.com/

Thanks. I looked up the sharp shined. That's what I believe it is.