You may not want my thoughts! You appear to be out of touch with today's highschool students. Based on personal experience with granddaughters doing the paper and year book, the the dominant workflow is with connected cameras called smart phones. Anything like a D7000 doesn't fit and could deem your granddaughter as an outcast in the social network. The team approach does not have one member on a Kawasaki road bike with the rest are peddling bicycles.

Secondly, if your granddaughter is interested in photography it will be her version of it. She needs to be picking out her tools, not taking your cast offs.

Social needs in that age group are intense. She is picking a group to join and fitting in can be precarious. Dangling a Nikon around her neck could be as strange as showing up wearing grandma's diamonds!

You already have a D7100 with 80-400mm lens for wildlife. I don't see what you would be gaining by buying a D7500 with 18-140mm or 18-300mm lens.

If your 80-400mm lens is the first generation one with the screw drive autofocus, I can see upgrading that one. It had slow autofocus and was not good for continuous autofocus tracking. I have the newer AF-S version. It's worlds better than the first one. It has very fast autofocus and is excellent for continuous AF tracking.

A significant DX sensor upgrade would be a D500. The D5, D500, and D850 have Nikon's best autofocus system and are the first to have a processor dedicated to just the autofocus.

Given his location, that is what you can expect. The liberal west coast states of this country are filled with people who adhere to a strict guidance of following the social code. They are afraid to look out of place, and are limiting the growth of a healthy social policy. There is no room in their liberal mind set of seeing things in a different light. That is why he wants his granddaughter to be a follower, it is easier than standing out and being different. We should all feel sorry for this person's weakness, and stand strong in not allowing this feebleness to affect us!

I've read through all six pages of this thread. A lot of drivel and a lot of common sense.

We have nearly two dozen grands, acquired through birth, adoption, and marriage. Some of them are very interested in photography, some couldn't care less about it. All are equally valid viewpoints.

Encourage the ones who are interested, whether their interest is limited to capable phone cameras, digital cameras, or even <gasp!> film!

We have some of each, and we do what we can to encourage all of them who are interested, including particularly, sharing photos and videos of their activities and interests. I've given digital gear to those who would appreciate it, encouraged those whose photos are made with their cameras, and mentored all who have an interest in our art form in the ways that they will most appreciate. I'm not concerned at all about the "gifts with strings" thoughts expressed earlier - if you have established relationships of trust and love with your grandkids, an expensive gift will not have any effect at all.

We love our kids and grands, as, I'm sure, everyone in this thread does. I've always believed in encouraging your young'uns in whatever
interests them, whether it's sk8er videos or anthropology. If photography is among their interests, do whatever you can and it will be enough, but not too much.

Andy

Being on this forum, I have discovered some uhh members only have one camera, and some have many cameras and lenses. I own 3 cameras and a smartphone. None of them are pro level cameras, but none older than 4 years old. My next purchase will be another lens, not a new camera. Giving your granddaughter your D7000 and a lens was generous of you. If you want to replace your D7000, that replacement will not break the bank. I saw an ad for a refurbished D7500, not long ago, for $599. And that camera is better than the D7000, IMO. The D7000 has 16 megapixels. The D7500, has the same sensor as the D500, 20.9 megapixels. I hope your granddaughter does well with the D7000. Good luck.