Trrjohn

I have a D3200, a 18-200mm 3.5-5.6, a 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 and a 35mm - 1.8 lenses. What should be my next step-up in a camera? A 5500? I take prototype railroad and HO scale model railroad photos and general family and scenery pics. - trrjohn

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

And what is wrong / limiting about your current camera? Anyone that answers with a model suggestion is just someone who wants to spend your money.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

[quote=CHG_CANON]And what is wrong / limiting about your current camera? Anyone that answers with a model suggestion is just someone who wants to spend your money.[/qu

Not always true! Hasselblad H5D-200c Multi-Shot Medium Format DSLR Camera Body might be a great place to start. Their inexpensive macro lens, the HC Macro 120mm f/4 II Lens should provide some fairly sharp images.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Take a look at the D7100 or D7200 - used or refurbished.

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

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Depends on how much you want to spend and how far you want to expand your photographic horizon. As suggested, a refurbished D7200; a fantastic full featured DX camera that will challenge you to learn more about photography and can be purchased for around $750, or around $880 new. If you want the ultimate in a Nikon DX camera where photographically the sky is the limit, the D500 is going for $1800.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Well, if you've developed your skills to where this camera and lenses are being put to the task to keep up, then I'd suggest go for it. In fact, go for something you'll probably never exceed the camera's capability. Go for an H6D-100.
--Bob

kschwegl Loc: Orangeburg, NY

If you really feel it necessary to upgrade your camera, go for the D7100 or D7200 BODY ONLY, and keep all your lenses. I went from a D3100 to a D7200 (body only) and I love it. I kept the D3100 as a second camera.

Ken S

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

Re the d500 suggestion; the d7200 is currently half price, has a pop up flash for eliminating shadows AND for triggering off camera flashes, has 24 mp vs 20 mp...

Duane

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

If you feel like buying a new camera--by all means do it. Don't feel for a second that you have to justify anything to anybody on this forum. Enjoy whatever new toy you decide to buy.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I went from a d5000 to a d7200 and glad I did. I had the old 5000 transmuted into an infrared camera and that worked out perfectly. If I wanted to upgrade now I would probably go with a full frame camera but I would not get rid of my d7200, great camera.

BebuLamar

Why do you have to do the next step up? It seems that your current camera is capable of the types of photography you do. If you don't think so then why the next step? Why not going all the way to get the best camera for your need? I think for most people the camera that they have is good enough. If it's not why upgrade in increment? Doing so would cost you a lot in the long run.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I notice your list of Nikon bodies does include the D7200 but not the D500 so I will surmise you don't own and or aren't all that familiar with the D500. I own a whole lot of Canon stuff and 2 Nikon bodies, a D7200 and a D500. The D7200 is an excellent camera as is the D500. The first point you raise about the D7200 is cost. In my response to the OP I started out with “depends on how much you want to spend”. I’ve seen new D7200 on sale for $200 off but not half price. If they’re selling for around $550 new, I may pick up a second one.
You also mentioned pop up flash. I don’t know of many DSLR bodies capable of 10FPS that also have a pop up flash. I didn’t say there aren’t any I said I don’t know of any. I use a SB-400 flash on my D500 & D7200 when I need a flash. I don’t like pop up flashes and all my remote flash controllers communicate via RF signal not by light. The D7200 has 14% more pixels than the D500 but the D500’s pixels are larger than the D7200’s resulting in less noise. A few of the things the D500 has over the D7200, tilt touch screen, 4K video, Bluetooth, 99 cross type AF points vs 15, 153 AF points vs 53, shoots almost twice as fast, substantially larger output buffer, greater ISO range, higher extended ISO, more shots per battery charge. When I’m shooting birds from my deck in the woods, the D7200 is the one on the tripod and the D500 is used for handheld shots, even though the D500 is slightly heavier than the D7200. The D7200 has slightly better dynamic range and color and slightly better resolution than the D500. But, if it’s high resolution I’m going for, I’ll use my Canon EOS 5DSr.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

To me it seems a macro lens could be useful.


You also don't mention lighting.
A few good speedlights and umbrellas/softboxes/grids can move your photography from taking pictures to making them.

Trrjohn

I have several (4) LED 5000K lights, a soft screen and two umbrellas for lighting

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Why does there have to be something next? The D3200 is a wonderful camera, and, with good lenses may be all that is all that is ever needed