woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA

OK, i'm looking at upgrading my camera. I have been using a D3100 and a D5100 now for a few years. I would like to get something a little bit better. Doesn't have to be Full Frame. In fact I hae been reading up on the D7200 and the New D500. The D500 is quite impressive. I also have been lookin and see that there are some good used deals on 610,750, and 800's. I want something that I won't be upgrading in the next couple of years. Any suggestions? I really do not have any FX lens at this time but also want a long zoom, been looking at the tamron 150-600.
Any Ideas from the crowd?
Ok some said I should add what kind of pictures I take. I enjoy landscape and wildlife the most. I also go to the sports games of my grand kids, but not much into action shots. I like to also paly with macro, and Astro. Once a year I do family photos.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

It would be helpful if you would talk about what you take pictures of. For example, are you primarily interested in wildlife, sports/events, or landscapes?

In the days of film, you could fine-tune your system by the kind of film you used, but today the different cameras you are talking about are more appropriate for certain subjects.

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

Pick up a refurbed Canon SX50 for a few C notes and see what fun you can have with that !

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

My D800e is my seventh Nikon body (spanning 44-years). I suspect that this is my last camera, as doubt if I will ever need more than a 36Mb sensor.

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

What does your current camera not do that you would like it to? I see folks wanting help to decide on upgrades all the time but I think mostly they need to learn to use what they have more effectively. The 2 cameras you have should be extremely adequate for the type of photography you mention unless you wish to print very large and sell the prints. Do you print your photos or simply e-mail? If this is simply a case of G.A.S. Then spend your money on better glass.

Walt

JR45 Loc: Montgomery County, TX

Purchased a D7200 about three months ago, added a DX 18-300 for a walk around.
Been happy with it so far.
Recently added a Nikkor 200-500, but haven't had a lot of opportunity to use it yet.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I own both, the D7200 and D500. Although the 7200 has higher resolution, I find I'm using the 500 more. They are both excellent cameras, but the 500, in my opinion, is the best dx camera Nikon has made so far.

CO

One nice thing about going to a D7xxx series camera or above is that you get a pentaprism viewfinder. The D3xxx and D5xxx series Nikons have a pentamirror viewfinder. The glass prism in the D7xxx series and above cameras gives you a larger, slightly brighter view through the viewfinder. I have a D7000 and D500. The view through the viewfinder of the D500 is really large - almost like a full frame camera. The D500 is an awesome camera. I've never seen sharper photos. Nikon is eliminating the anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor in many of its cameras now. The color accuracy of the D500 is among the best of all DSLR cameras. Either the D7200 or D500 would be a great choice.

I know someone who has a D500 and the Tamron 150-600mm. He's having problems getting the autofocusing calibrated correctly on the D500. I've read that with third party lenses there's a chance they won't work on future camera models. I've been wondering if the problems he's having are due to that. I would recommend getting the Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

Me too, I recommend buying a used d800e, so much fun!!!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The D7xxx series is great, as is the D500. A refurb D7xxx would be a good deal.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

Rudewon

Just read the responses to which camera is the best. Everyone says that theirs is the best, even the Kodak Instamatic. So what this telling me is that you know what, they all take wonderful captures. Do your research and buy what you like and can afford. Once I stopped reading all those camera ads I finally realized that my current camera is really all that I need. My next camera will be when my current one finally bites the dust. JMHO.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I recently acquired a used D800e. I've read some great articles about the capabilities of that camera prior and subsequent to purchasing it. It'll be a very long time before I exceed the capabilities and look forward to a long relationship with that camera.
--Bob

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

If staying with Nikon I would look at the D500.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes! That's why I read lots of reviews and comparisons.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

First, decide how much you are willing and able to spend on new camera gear. Then look at cameras within your budget. Go to a site like B&H and compare the specifications of possible choices. This will give you a better idea of the similarities and differences to consider.

Keep in mind that DX cameras can use FX lenses, but a DX lens on an FX camera does not work as well. If you have all DX lenses, then you should consider staying with a DX camera. OR you can do what I have been doing - start buying fast FX lenses (f/2.8 or faster) to use with the cameras you own, so that if you do upgrade to an FX camera later, you will be ready. In the meantime you will have the pleasure of using those lenses. You lose a little width of angle at the short end, but gain when shooting farther away.

The main thing is to buy the best you can afford. For lenses, I have purchased both pre-owned and refurbished and been quite happy. But for cameras, prefer to go new. The reason is length of warranty. A camera can wait until the shorter warranty has expired to show any problems, at least with new you have plenty of time during which you are covered. Just look at the number of refurbished cameras available, both on B&H and Nikon's website, and you will see that things DO go wrong.

Nikon DX cameras to consider: D500, D7200*
Nikon FX cameras to consider: D750, D810*

These choices are Nikon's newest and best in their class, unless you want to go for the pro-level cameras which are a lot more expensive.

(*my personal preferences)