I am agonizing over the choice between buying a used D7200 vs a new D7500. My current D5100 has several issues (Flash won't pop up, can't enter video recording mode and most critically I find myself having to switch to live view to take a shot at all. After a shot in live view I'll get to use the viewfinder mode once or twice before having to switch to live view again to take the next shot). Sadly Nikon has told me they no longer repair the D5100 and none of the local shops are willing to work on it either so rather than risking sending it off to an unknown repair shop I've decided I'm better off stepping up. I've loved the D5100 but at 31,115 actuations I can't say I didn't get my use out of it. In addition to the 18-55 and 55-300 AF kit lenses I also have some lenses from my F2/FM film days; a 16mm f 2.8 full frame fisheye, a 50mm f1.8, a 25-50mm f4.5 and a 100-300mm f5.6 (all manual focus) that I'd like to use more often. A good amount of my shooting is various motorsports events so quick and accurate autofocus is a must although I do also do quite a bit of static car photography as well as just general photos. My budget is somewhat limited as I'm a retired senior and Social Security doesn't give me the income I'd need for a D500 or 850. I'd love some input as to how I should proceed.

Thanks in advance,

Ric Johnson
Des Moines, Iowa

I am using a nikon d500 with the Nikor 200-500 and the Nikon TC 14E III. I am having a hard time getting critters in focus using the TC at the top end of 500mm .... anyone have any experience with this setup? I have tried with single point focus as well as group focus settings and I was using a tripod as well, the vc was off. I have had the TC now for a few months and just can't seem to get good shots using it. I have messed around with various shutters speeds as well as ISO's....so is it me - is there something that I am doing wrong or is it the TC?

I only opened these photo's in the Photo's program so that I could save them as jpg's to upload.

Hi friends....I am sure this topic has been covered To Death, and for this I apologize. I have a little Nikon D3300 which I LOVE. It's simple and easy and I never have to think as I use it. Alas, it's getting a bit worn as I have almost used it to death. I am in the market for an upgraded body, but as I have quite a few lenses that I use a lot, I still want the F-mount and whatever else the specs are with the D3300. I am retired, NOT professional and just take photos to please myself.....mostly macro, landscape and family stuff. What would you all recommend as a logical step up? I'd like to not outgrow it, yet have it a bit more sophisticated than my little D3300. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience! Rita

I agree for the most part (although I believe there was a certain "romance" in doing darkroom work. I always embraced the chemical smells and the magic of seeing images emerge from blank pages), but now we are talking photography. My view of the downside is when photography is used as an element of something that is much more. To some, it is just a kind of brush or a tube of magenta oil, not an end in itself. So much of what I see represented as photography is far removed from actual photography and much more in the realm of graphic arts. There is plenty of room for both but I hate to see pure photography diminished in galleries and exhibits in favor of something that was more created in a computer program than through a camera lens.

Good Morning Huggers:

I am a bird photographer and shoot with a Nikon D500 and Nikkor 200-500 zoom. I love this camera/lens and I have carried it for about 4 years now. However, it is getting too heavy for an all day (or almost all day) trip. I have decided to replace the body with a Nikon Z 7 and a zoom as yet to be determined. My current thinking is that I will need to go down to nothing longer than a 400mm. I know this will be a little short for what I get with the 200-500; however I think this will be OK, if my following assumption is correct.

Assumption:
My D500 is a C-crop sensor, so my 200-500 gives me an "effective" range of 750mm; the D500 provides 20mp of resolution. The Z7 is a full frame and has a resolution of 47mp. This is where I think I can compensate. Since the Z7 has more than double the resolution than that of my D500, does this not mean I can crop the Z7 image to get something very close to the size/quality of my current rig if I choose the right zoom for the Z7. I am currently thinking the Nikkor Z lens 100-400mm. This should give me a "effective" look of 800mm. Since I crop to a resolution that has 20+ MP - should this not be the same quality as I am now getting for my D500?

Do you agree with my assumption? I cannot find anyone nearby that has a FF camera with 40 or more MP to test this on or I would try to empirically determine this.

Thanks for any assistance and all the best!

Hello. Been shooting on older D7100 and 17-55mm DX, but my hand-me-down tripod w/ ball head is not steady enough for night sky photography. Want to shoot on my D750 and am getting the Nikon 20mm f/1.8G ED next month. I am still an enthusiast and need advice on a tripod and ball head that won’t break the bank. Aluminum is fine if it’s built well and solid. The cold is not a factor being in the South. I prefer twist locks and haven’t ruled out carbon fiber. Time to upgrade. Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Currently I have a Tamron 150-600mm G1 lens with Nikon D750, and am considering upgrading to a lighter lens. I am 76 years old and would like to switch to lighter gear. I would like to know from UHHers who have used Nikon 300mm F/4 VR PF lens with a TC-14E iii what is their experience. I will be using for wild life photography. I will not be using for sport/ action photography. I realize by switching to prime lens I will loose the zoom but hopefully I will get an edge to edge sharper and faster lens. Look forward to hearing your opinions.

Time for my granddaughter to get into photography ( on yearbook staff in high school) I'm going to give her my Nikon D7000 w/ 18 to 140 Nikon lens. Problem, what to replace it with ? I already have the D800 I use primarily for scenics and a D7100 w/ 80 - 400 for wildlife. The D7000 was my out in the woods hunting or out on the water fishing camera. I'm thinking of the D7500 w/ either an 18 - 140 or an 18 - 300. Thoughts ? from anyone with either combination of a better suggestion ? thanks

I own a D5300 and several lenses but my main "travel" one is the DX 18-300 Nikkor. I will be going to Tanzania in three weeks and want to take the above equipment plus my Nikkor 200-500 mm for longer reach as well as a second body because there's no time to switch lenses and it's too dusty to do so anyway. I am considering the D7500 or D500 (both crop sensors). Of course, after that I would want to use the long zoom for wildlife and birds in the states. I am familiar with the technical specs of both. I would appreciate any thoughts from folks who have used both, particularly as to the build quality (both are supposedly weather sealed) and actual advantages in real use. By the way, the salesman at my local camera shop recommends the D7500 since he doesn't think that I would get an extra $700 of value.

P.S. I don't need anyone to tell me I should buy a mirror-less camera. In Texas I need polarized sun glasses and one can't see anything in the viewfinder with polarized lenses.