rangel28

I may have missed it in your replies but are you shooting Auto ISO? Try taking the camera off of Auto ISO and control the ISO settings yourself, then keep ISO at a reasonable number for the conditions. I find that when I put my D500 (or D7200) on Auto ISO the camera compensates for my settings and bumps up the ISO considerably.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Good move, he is a talented photog and very helpful. Me thinks he is on the money with his suggestions!!

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

The weight issue can helped with a good wide cross body camera strap. If I just hold something it may drop, so this helps me a lot. And I have some notso light MF cameras.
The chart may be accurate- but realize the scale. Sure, A is better than B. But by how much? Is that $1500 difference really going to change the quality of your pictures that much?
And yes, without further information I'm also going to WAG here and say your speed, aperture and/or ISO may be too high. Do some youtube for D5500 base settings, learn why and try them out.
FX will be heavier than DX. FX means buying more lenses. X budget camera, 3X for lenses. To start.
FX cameras will have different sensors and OS programming than DX- most of what you think you know and learned shooting the D5500 will be different. Almost like switching brands entirely.
I too have shot some kinda noisy pictures lately. ?!?! Then I found the traces of a child's syrupy fingerprint on my lens ...

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

I have a D5300 (for 3 years now) and Df (FF) cameras and I am pleased with the D5300. I'd first try a prime lens - 50 mm f1.8 or 35mm f1.8 and use an ISO setting at 100 or 200 and see if there is still noise that you cannot accept. I had the 18-140 lens and am sorry I sold it. First test with a prime lens and let us know.

teacuppic

I agree with aellman. I am a first time responder. I recently moved from my much loved Nikon D7000 (bought in 2014) to the full frame mirrorless Nikon Z7. A lighter weight camera was one reason that I made the change; I now carry it pretty much daily. I was unable to manage that with the D7000, especially with my prime lenses. It was just too much weight for me. I am a lady photography enthusiast, probably a hacker in the opinion of many of the long time participants here. That's okay, too. In addition, I am thrilled with the results that I am able to achieve with the Z7.. I'm also elated with the user friendly features that end up making me look much better at photography than I really am. I too am looking at the 18-300 tomorrow. I'm interested in carrying it as maybe my only lens on an upcoming trip with my husband to spend some time exploring the Thousand Islands area on the St. Lawrence Waterway. I'm excited about the possibilities with my new camera and possibly the same lens that you are considering. Good fortune with your hunt.

CO

To use the 18-300mm on the Z7 (667 grams w/battery) you'll have to use the Nikon FTZ adapter (133 grams). It would actually be more weight than if it's on the D7000 (774 grams w/battery).

teacuppic

Thank you. That’s one of the things I’ll consider when I look at the 18-300. I already have the adapter to use with my existing lenses.