Hip Coyote

It happens to all of us. I am working on a shot I got of a humming bird that I liked until I saw some foliage behind it where it looks like the bird was stabbed in the head by a green spear. This shot was taken in Peru so I cannot just go back and shoot it again. So, I am suffering thought dealing with post processing where I have to learn a lot to make it look ok...but I guess that is part of the fun and education of the whole thing. Next time I will pay more attention to chimping to see if I goofed up in the first place!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I would say so too. 16MP is not poor resolution. The obvious solution in your posted example is to zoom in on the subject. That would instantly give a huge increase to the number of pixels being used to render the eagle - far more than you'd get with a shot taken with a higher resolution camera and using identical framing.

ELNikkor

Using a longer lens and higher shutter speed at f8 would have helped the eagle be sharper, but if you are prone to getting optimal quality images, and your D7000 is long in the tooth for an upgrade, going whole hog into the FF Z system, body and lenses, is a wise (but expensive) choice.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

The DOF seems very shallow! Did you shoot wide open, and if so why?

Walkabout08

Looking at the download it’s difficult to tell why is actually in focus. None of the pine needles look sharp to me. That suggests movement, either camera shake or wind. So as others have noted use a faster shutter speed, 1/400 and to increase the dof use a smaller aperture. I try to shoot most landscape at f8. That’s the technique part. As for equipment a longer telephoto will also provide better results. Remember though a longer lenses requires a faster shutter!

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

In total agreement. In my last cruise photographers aboard were using the Nikon 16-80 and I did not see a single image that they posted that was not in focus and sharp. I am guessing you used a large aperture and focused on the eagles which will throw out of focus background and foreground.
No, another camera will not do better assuming you use the same technique you used for this image. What you were supposed to use was a longer lens.

Incidentally, I have and use very often a D7000. The camera still performs very well and the images I get from it are more than enough for my needs.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

Perhaps a setting of "auto ISO" would have helped on this one.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Resolution has to do with pixel density - whether it be a crop sensor or full frame. Your D7000 has MORE pixel density than most Full frame sensors ! The other parts of resolution are focus, shutter speed/stabilized camera, software and proper application, and lens optical quality. In your case, there are many optically "better" lenses - mostly non-zoom prime lenses.
Regarding Z series cameras, they would be an upgrade for YOU only if they had a Full frame sensor with 46+ MP sensor and/or using a Z native lens. The Z50 crop frame pixel density WOULD be an upgrade and further, with Z lens to match.
.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you want to shoot wildlife, concentrate first on a lens that gets you into the 400mm range, regardless of camera sensor size or sensor resolution.

SHWeiss

A camera with bird eye auto focus could help

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Get a D7200 body for a 50% increase in megapixels plus a couple other nice features.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

One mistake I occasionally make is forgetting to take the camera off Auto-Focus when shooting a subject in an area with competing subjects. On Auto the camera will often select a different focal point than what I want.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I don't have access to these cameras for real-world comparative analysis..." Actually you do Geosailor... Rent before your even think of buying... Even then go with "Previously Owned" from a vendor who will allow you to return it if it doesn't meet your expectations... i.e. KEH; mbp; B&H ect...

"...I'm in the market for a new camera..." Why Geosailor, your D7000 is more than capable (in skilled hands) of turning this hat trick without even breathing hard. It's your optic that is limiting... as Paul mentioned "Bird" photography starts at 400mm (minimum).

"...I'm left with getting opinions from folks with more experience..." Something that is typically in short supply... Unless you pony up the fee for a "Hands On" seminar from the likes of a highly skilled "Bird" photographer such as Steve Perry https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-profile?usernum=60547 Get on Steve's web site if you are serious about bird photography.

I would also suggest you join flickr and become a member of many of the groups devoted to "Bird" photography... Study their masterful work... The best thing about flickr is there is very little BS since flickr posts the actual EXIF data from the photographs... So you get a valid window into what it takes.

Food for thought: Wildlife photography is for those who are independently wealthy... It (along with Sports photography) demands Pro-Level kit. Maybe rethink going down the bottomless rabbit hole... Just saying...

Final thoughts? Your D7000 can easily handle this mundane shot of a "Sitting Duck" or eagle in your case... You seriously need to capture your Bird In Fight otherwise referred to "BIF" to gain any real traction or recognition from your photographer "peers" As others have said, you actually may need considerably more training, NOT a new camera, albeit consider a decent optic (that can approach reaching an "angle of view" of over 400mm.)

Below is a BIF capture with a D7000... Your issue isn't with the D7000 Geosailor... It's with the optic you decided to mate to it... and very possibly your skill-set: Oft said "It's a poor craftsman who blames this tools for want of success..."

Hope this helps... and please give flickr a try, there you'll find some breathtaking imagery and talent...
One of the many flickr "birding" groups https://www.flickr.com/groups/bird_photography_excellence/
Cheers!
.

BIF i.e. "Ballerian in Flight" Camera: Nikon D7000; 1/800 (and panning); f/5.6; ISO: 800; Angle of View 365mm

(Download)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I've been on a razor-sharp detail journey for the past few years now. Not only is it a long and bumpy road, but it is also full of twists and turns and I have found myself off the road and in a ditch many times.

I found that regardless of the resolution out of the camera, it is reduced to the processing of the image. Unless I am shooting RAW and saving the file in a format that retains the most data possible and sending it out for printing (which I did for projects before retirement) the resulting image is only as good as what I do with it to save it and to share it.

JEPG format is far from "high resolution" friendly for it goes through an aggressive compression process and throws out large amounts of data. Sharing photos online is limited to the screen resolution of the viewer along with the viewer's personal monitor settings.

A bit of "learn by example" has always helped me and I go to Flickr, I can do a search by "camera model" and I can see what others are doing with it that I may find interesting as well as if that make and model is producing the type of images I'm hoping for.

wide2tele Loc: Australia

Get a longer lens.