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Upgrading from D3300 - Would you recommend the D7500 or D7200? New or Refurbished?
Jun 12, 2017 17:27:44   #
qualtalk
 
Greetings!

My daughter got me a D3300 about 18 months ago as a present to help rekindle my interest in photography from when I was a teenager. (Pentax Spotmatic F with a nice 300mm lens - great for taking photos of rock groups in Madison Square Garden back in the 1970s!)

Now my wife is interested in starting to shoot some photos and she's inviting me to upgrade my camera. and she'll take the D3300.

My primary uses for the camera are:

• Landscapes
• Occasional wildlife
• Musical performances
• Interior architectural shots
• Video to include in websites

I'm looking at the D7200 and the new D7500. I realize the D7500 has only recently been available for sale and there may not be a lot of people with hands-on experience.

I've already Googled for comparisons between the two models, and I'm just looking for some additional insights from the group with respect to the following questions:

1. Can anyone comment on the difference between the 24MP sensor in the D3200 vs the 21MP sensor in the D7500 (or the D500 since it should be the same one?

2. Since the videos are going to be used primarily on websites, is it necessary to have 4K resolution?

3. Has anyone found the articulating touchscreen to be particularly useful?

4. What are your thoughts and experiences with respect to the need for two card slots?

5. Does the image stabilization for video in the D7500 make a noticeable difference?

6. I already have the 18-55mm and 55-200 Nikkor kit lenses, and the Tamron 70-300mm which is great. Since we'll be sharing these lenses, I'm considering adding the Nikkor 18-140mm. Any thoughts on this lens or any alternate recommendations?

7. When should we expect to see the D7500 profile for Lightroom released?

8. And finally, what are your experiences buying a refurbished camera vs. a new one?

I know that's a lot, but the knowledge in this group has been incredibly valuable in the posts I've been following, so thanks in advance for your insights and comments!

Reply
Jun 12, 2017 20:31:39   #
CO
 
I have a Nikon D7000 and D500. I don't shoot video so I can't answer those questions.

The difference between 24MP and 21MP is not noticeable. Camera resolutions got as high as they are today for marketing reasons. Anything above 6MP is enough.

The screen on my D500 is articulating but I don't use that feature.

It's great to have a second card slot, especially when shooting special events. You can record to both as added security against card failure. You can also configure the second slot as overflow if the first card fills up.

I stay away from superzoom lenses. The engineers have to compromise too much in order to achieve the long zoom range. They usually have a lot of barrel distortion at short focal lengths and a lot of pincushion at long focal lengths. Stay with lenses that have a conservative zoom range. The Nikon 16-85 f/3.5-5.6 lens is a great lens to consider.

Nikon's Capture NX-D software will be updated very soon. It's a free download from Nikon's website. When you use Nikon's software you're utilizing 100% of the information in the RAW files. Third party software makers have to reverse engineer everything. I don't know when Lightroom will be updated.

I've never purchased a refurbished lens so I don't know if that's a good idea.

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Jun 12, 2017 21:32:06   #
qualtalk
 
Thanks for your reply - I appreciate it!

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Jun 13, 2017 08:55:45   #
AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK
 
If you can afford it . . . Go with the D500 . . . It's the best DX camera out there.

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Jun 13, 2017 09:00:08   #
ELNikkor
 
Just a note about the video; 4k won't be necessary at all if it is for websites; don't let the "4k vs 1080p" issue be a factor.

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Jun 13, 2017 09:19:06   #
Riverrune
 
I was making the same consideration about the D7200 and the new D7500. I went with the D7500. Despite the loss of a card slot and slightly lower mp range I think that was the right choice. Its a fast camera that gets great images and very good video.

I don't think there is really that much noticeable difference between the 24 and 21 mp resolution.

So far I haven't had any trouble with the single card slot. Just make sure you get a quality card!

I haven't used the touch screen much, but the articulated screen is a lot handier than I first thought it would be and I'm glad I had it.

I've only bought one refurbished camera over the years, a Nikon Coolpix S8000 from B&H, and had no trouble with it. Its a great little pocket camera.

I haven't really "tested" the image stabilization aspects yet with the D7500 and my 18-105 VR lens, but it did a great job getting crisp images at the Go Pro games kayaking competition in Vail last week. Very sharp and not needing to boost the ISO past 400.

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Jun 13, 2017 09:38:39   #
RickL Loc: Vail, Az
 
I shoot wildlife and landscape and find the second card slot to be very important. I would go for the D500, the D7500 seems to be a step down from the D7200

I have the D7000 and the D810

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Jun 13, 2017 10:15:37   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
Did you consider the D5500? It takes the same images as the D7200 and has most of the capabilities plus lighter weight, articulated screen, and I believe much better control system (touch screen).

I think the D7500 has a touch screen but haven't seen comments on it. The info screen on the D5xxxs is fully active and has what you need to control. The one on the earlier D7xxxs isn't active for what you want to control. That, plus unlighted buttons and a green screen unreadable without reading glasses, are what made it suck for me. I don't know if the D7500 fixes that.

I dislike the unlighted buttons/ unreadable green screen of the D7xxs. I'd only recommend one if you have a stable of very old lenses that need the camera focus motor.

Definitely Nikon refurb. I've had five. All came in new condition and worked flawlessly. Cameta adds their warranty to hive you a year free.

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Jun 13, 2017 10:35:04   #
rrmerkov
 
Hi,

I have a 5500 and find the articulating screen invaluable for landscapes. Often I want to have the camera very low or at an inconvenient angle, the articulated screen enables me to get the shot.

Reply
Jun 13, 2017 11:21:36   #
AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK
 
I went from the 3300 to the 5500 and then to the 500. The 5500 is nice and the articulated touch screen is very useful. For a very good modest upgrade, go with the 5500 . . . If money is no object, go with the D500 . . . It's the best of the best . . .

Reply
Jun 13, 2017 11:33:10   #
Kissel vonKeister Loc: Georgia
 
qualtalk wrote:
Greetings!

My daughter got me a D3300 about 18 months ago as a present to help rekindle my interest in photography from when I was a teenager. (Pentax Spotmatic F with a nice 300mm lens - great for taking photos of rock groups in Madison Square Garden back in the 1970s!)

Now my wife is interested in starting to shoot some photos and she's inviting me to upgrade my camera. and she'll take the D3300.

My primary uses for the camera are:

• Landscapes
• Occasional wildlife
• Musical performances
• Interior architectural shots
• Video to include in websites

I'm looking at the D7200 and the new D7500. I realize the D7500 has only recently been available for sale and there may not be a lot of people with hands-on experience.

I've already Googled for comparisons between the two models, and I'm just looking for some additional insights from the group with respect to the following questions:

1. Can anyone comment on the difference between the 24MP sensor in the D3200 vs the 21MP sensor in the D7500 (or the D500 since it should be the same one?

2. Since the videos are going to be used primarily on websites, is it necessary to have 4K resolution?

3. Has anyone found the articulating touchscreen to be particularly useful?

4. What are your thoughts and experiences with respect to the need for two card slots?

5. Does the image stabilization for video in the D7500 make a noticeable difference?

6. I already have the 18-55mm and 55-200 Nikkor kit lenses, and the Tamron 70-300mm which is great. Since we'll be sharing these lenses, I'm considering adding the Nikkor 18-140mm. Any thoughts on this lens or any alternate recommendations?

7. When should we expect to see the D7500 profile for Lightroom released?

8. And finally, what are your experiences buying a refurbished camera vs. a new one?

I know that's a lot, but the knowledge in this group has been incredibly valuable in the posts I've been following, so thanks in advance for your insights and comments!
Greetings! br br My daughter got me a D3300 about... (show quote)

D7100, refurbished unless you shoot fast action sports, then D7200.

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Jun 13, 2017 14:01:40   #
kpmac Loc: Ragley, La
 
I really like my D7200. Bought it refurbished from Nikon. I upgraded from a D7000. The D7500 features are not a draw for me.

Reply
Jun 13, 2017 16:29:05   #
nikonday
 
As an amateur enthusiast I don't limit myself to any one special category of interest, so every purchase of new photographic equipment for me is due to current interests. Lately I have been capturing a lot of birds
in flight and use my only camera, the Nikon D5300...shooting with a new Nikon 18-140 mm lens and the inexpensive but surprisingly sharp Nikon 70-300 mm lens. I also own the new Nikon 200-500 mm lens. In terms
of all around accuracy and rich color, the zoom capabilities of the Nikon 18-140 mm lens works for a lot of wild bird shots without the discomfort of lugging around a monopod or tripod, which I find is a necessity if I
want to have a lot of "keepers" shooting with the heavier lens. As a side note and recommendation for the Nikon 18-140 mm lens used inside an auditorium or field house at night for stage events, I have been very
satisfied with it's 'reach' and sharpness under available light, either incandescent or fluorescent. The ISO range for indoor photography is between 600 -1600, seldom higher with Aperture Priority using this lens on the
NIkon D5300. If I were to move up to the next Nikon body, it would probably be the D7200; but as of now the camera I have gives me great pictures using the above lenses in many different settings. Good Luck on
your adventure forward!

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Jun 13, 2017 21:35:18   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
A Nikon D3300 is your best bang for your money. 24 megapixels it has. Do not upgrade ever to a D3400. A bummer upgrade. I would upgrade to a D7200. That would be truly an upgrade. You can purchase a refurbished D7200 from B&H now for $789.

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