adamsg Loc: Chubbuck, ID

I know this has been discussed a lot and have read posts on the topic. But, I can't keep all the past UHH postings and just want some advice on the better of two possible choices. Working with a limited budget, I want to upgrade equipment to further my interest in landscape and wildlife photography. I currently have a six year-old D3100 and have been very pleased with it. It came as a kit with the 18-55 and 70-300 lenses. For wildlife, I want to look at a zoom lens going out to 400. But, I also wonder if my overall work would benefit more with an upgrade to a D5500 or 5700? I'd like to do both, but the money is a limiting factor. What lens possibilities could any of you suggest, or body choices? Being semi-retired, I have plenty of time during the summer and the photography fire is burning pretty hot. I want to keep the 3100 and prevent lenses but need advice on choices. Buying refry items looks best for me. Sorry to be so long winded!

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

If about $800 is in your budget I suggest the D7200. I use two of them when shooting sports each has a different lens on it. Instead of changing lenses I just swap cameras. I did that in 35 mm days too Only I shot Canon back then and sold all my Canon before digital hit hard. I recommend it as the ISO is much higher than the models you mention and it has 2 drive cards which can either extend the shooting quantity or use the second one for backup. I shoot as a pro so i use the second slot for backup. It will accept any lenses you already have and will work with manual lenses that you might find cheap or in garage sales. In garage sales just try the lens on first to find out if it works be4fore you buy it and you can also find those bodies you mention in pawn shops possibly cheaper than form B&H. keep the 3100 as a back up body. I had 2 D3200 and I gave them to my daughters for xmass a couple of years ago when I decided to go back to being a pro and got the D7200's. I have a D5200 that I am hoping to have converted to infrared just for more shooting like I did in 35mm days when you bought infrared film. Since you have at least one lens maybe two ask the dealer if he can sell you the body with a 50 to 300mm lens attached.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I would do the lens first - either Tamron or Sigma 100-400 - I prefer the Tammy with tripod collar. Then do the body 7100 or 7200 ...or, if possible 7500.

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ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Checking the Specs : the D5500 looks better than the D5700 and it is half the price. To me, the newer D5700 specs do not warrant the price increase. Try them both out with your lenses at your camera store. Remember to bring your memory card so you can go home and ceck the test photos out on your computer without a sales person hovering ove you. Sigma web site has factory referbished lenses, with warranties. Tough to go wrong with Factory Referbished equipment. Happy Shooting

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Look at good used cameras or refurbished cameras as well as lenses you’ll save a lot of money. Try B & H, KEH etc.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Of the cameras you mentioned - the D5500 is the better choice. I have it, as well as the D3200, and D5300, and D7000 and D7100. The latter is my choice when shooting stuff I'm going to sell, but the D5500 is my "go-to" camera for all other things. It has everything I need, and uses almost all the Nikkor, Sigma, and Tamron Lenses I have. The Tokina lenses can only be used on either the D7000 or D7100, though. But, that's not a big deal ....

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

It would be helpful to know what you plan on budgeting. I have a Nikkor 200-400 refurbished by Nikon that I use on both my D5100 and D750. Which I find to be really good for what you want to photograph, however even refurbed the cost was around $1400.00. Honestly you could go with an older refurbed body i.e., a D5300 or a D7200 from Nikon at reasonable prices.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Do not buy a refry camera. I am sure you are not going to be very pleased! If instead you buy a refurb camera then you will be pleased.
If you can get a refurb or used in good condition D7200 you will be better off for your wildlife photography. A lens like the FX 70-300 VR should get you started in the right direction with wildlife photography.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

The D5300 is also a fine camera, AND it has a GPS!!!! ... However, it lacks the Touch Screen provided in the later models in the series 5500/5600/5700.

Plus, the D5300 - right now - is selling for a very attractive price, brand new! ... Thinking about getting another one!!!!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

The Tamron SP 70-300 VC USD is a really fine lens, and can be picked up right now, for less than $500. It has ample reach, and is known to be the best of the crop in the category ... it will work on the D3100 as well ....

Also, the Sigma 70-300 APO Macro is a wonderful lens, and can be picked up for less than $200 ... but it does have two drawbacks - first, it lacks VR - plus, you will need one of the Nikon Prosumer line, to be able to use it in AF - this means a D7000/D7100/D7200/D7500 ... obviously, the oldest one can be gotten for the least dough ... but, it is only 16MP and uses a 3" screen, but it DOES have dual card slots. The others all have a 3.2" screen, and are 24mp (except the newest - the D7500, which is only 20MP, and lacks the dual card slots of the others.)

allanwalls Loc: Fairhope, Alabama, USA

Good question, and many good answers. I started out with the D3400 and it is a fine camera. I upgraded to the D7500 and it was definitely the right choice, at the time. I do a lot of macro and the 7500 with the Nikkor Micro 85mm DX is a great combination. But I also wanted to shoot wildlife and needed some reach, so I went with the Nikon AF-S 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 VR which I picked up, used, for a song at MPB. On the crop frame D7500 this lens gives me plenty of reach and nice sharp images. There are deals on the D7500 if you get it new but I would check out MPB first and see if they have a nice used one. My favorite wildlife setup is now the D850 with a Tamron 150-600 G2 but the weight is a drawback and it is not fun to shoot without a sturdy tripod and gimbal head - so, I end up taking out the trusty D7500 and VR 70-300 when I want to walk and shoot handheld. Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

There are different kinds of upgrades. You can upgrade the technical options to more or different choices, or you can upgrade sensor capabilities, or you can upgrade lens quality and features, or you can upgrade your artistic vision through study. The latter might be the first place to start. It is for me anyway.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Refry??? You mean Refurb??? This isn't a bad idea. Or buy a used lens. The lens is the most important part of the camera. You can pick up a 150-600mm zoom lens by Tamron or Sigma for about $1200 new, or less if refurbished and even less if you buy used. So I'd figure $600 to $1200 for the lens. That will get you some decent wildlife photos.

As far as the body goes, everybody likes a new body. I don't know why other than to say it's always nice to get something new. Like buying a new car. The old car gets you from point A to point B but a new car just seems to really be appealing even though it doesn't really get you there any better that the old car. So you have to decide if a new body is in your budget.

But to get those wildlife pictures, there's no getting around it. You'll want a longer, better lens. That being said, I know a lot of guys that stuck with a 300mm prime lens for a very long time and have fantastic images of wildlife. The trick they use to get those images is to go alone, get as close to the subject as possible, and be patient. I say they go alone because that's how they seem to get those images. I figure if they were with other people and the other people aren't as skilled as they are at being patient and skilled at stalking the wildlife, they'd be stuck farther away from the subject and never get those fantastic shots I see them get. But if you like company, you'll definitely need a long lens. Longer than 300mm that's for sure.

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

Oops memory is going make that the Nikon 80-400 f4.5-5.6 ED-VR AF lens.

adamsg Loc: Chubbuck, ID

Oh for spell check when I need it!:)