61LongLegs Loc: Ohio

I’m in the market for a new camera. I’ve mastered my Nikon D5100 and take great photos but would like to upgrade. I’ve had it for just over 11 yrs. I’d really like to have the Nikon d850 but it’s so pricey. I’ve also looked into the d750, z50, etc.

I mainly shoot candid, my children, their sports, mini shoots and just getting into using backdrops.

What’s the best camera to look into.

I’m not a fan of the battery life of Nikon z50 and I’m told it’s not the greatest for sports? Is this true?

Thanks

JimT9620

I had a D5100 for 10 years then upgraded to a D7200 plus a D5600.
Both have much better resolution than my old camera but still use virtually all of my old lenses and accessories.
I got the D7200 first but missed the fold out viewfinder so much that I bought the D5600.
I got both online from reputable dealers and couldn't be happier.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Ok, so you've "mastered" the D5100. What doesn't it do that you need to do?
--Bob

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Welcome to the HOG! I had a D5000 for a long time, along with a D7100. Love the articulating back screen on the 5 series. And the 7 series has much better resolution than earlier models. I finally bit the bullet and bought a D850 two years ago. Of course it's full frame so I went through the full frame search for full frame lenses. It's been an expensive ride but I'm not looking back and have no regrets. The D850 is an incredible camera!
If you don't want to go too expensive I would say the D7500 would be a great choice.

JohnR Loc: The Gates of Hell

The D5300, D5500, D5600 all have the same 24MP sensor and would accept lenses from your D5100. The D750 being a full frame camera would need bigger full frame lenses for full functionality.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you don't have a bundle of mostly full-frame lenses, considering an FX body just means you're upgrading both the body and the lenses, maybe a more expensive idea than you were planning.

Staying with a DSLR and the newest models gives options of the D5600, D7500, D500.

Alphabravo2020

Renewed D7100s and D7200s are at a great spot now for cost and functionality and quality. I use several. They have a great sensor with maybe the highest resolution in the entire Nikon lineup.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I guess the first question is do you have full frame lenses or more crop sensor lenses? The you can use the suggestions above. I loved my d7200 but if you want a movable screen then the D5oo or the d5600 maybe?

ecommons

I've been in the Camera stuff since the Late 1960's There's always something newer, better and more expensive.

it was this way with film and it's even worse with digital.

But as long as I stayed with a camera that would let me use my older lens system, I might be able to justify the cost. (Nikkormat, FTn, F2) But in the digital case, it's not just a new body, it's a lens upgrade as well. A D5100 lens may work on a D7000 series, but will they work on a FX series or the new mirrorless series.

You not only have an investment in new camera bodies, your lenses may be incompatable with the newer series and now you have an even higher cost factor.

If you are a professional, you can justify the cost and get a tax break. If you are an amateur, unless you have a bottomless wallet, the cost may be unjustified.

It's ultimately your decision.

Somehow, we have been sold on the ideal that newer is better. My theory, if the current product does everything I need it to do.... stick with it. My D7000 does everything I need it to do. Will a D7200 or whatever do enough better. A D 900 or whatever the current one does, may have higher resolution and a new gimmick But are my prints, 11x14
inches or 10 feet by 25 feet? Digital technology will change faster than film technology ever did. What ever you buy today, will

tramsey Loc: Texas

As long as you have a dx camera stick with that type unless you want to invest a couple of thousand in lens. I think the Nikon d500 would suit you just about right. It is even fast enough to catch the kids in sharp focus.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

D850 and D750 are both full frame cameras. To shoot sports with full frame generally requires longer focal length lenses, which are necessarily bigger, heavier and typically a lot more expensive.

If you want to avoid that, stick with APS-C cameras like your D5100 (16MP, 11-point AF, 4 fps).

The very best upgrade that keeps you shooting Nikon DSLRs would be the D500 (21MP, 153-point AF, 10 fps).

A close second place would be the D7200, which has been discontinued and is now only avail. used. (24MP, 51-point AF, 6 fps).

I'd rank the current D7500 in third place, because in some ways it's an upgrade from D7200, but in other ways it's a downgrade (21MP, 51-point AF, 8 fps).

The Z50 probably has better battery life than you've heard (standardized CIPA tests require cameras with built-in flashes use them for half the test shots, which heavily drains the battery). Still, as mirrorless cameras go the Z50 is just an early attempt from Nikon and is actually getting a little dated. If you want to stick with Nikon, wait to make the switch to mirrorless. I suggest you "make do" with one of the three Nikon DSLRs for the time being. All three of them would be very solid upgrades from your current camera, can use any and all lenses you already have (some older 3rd party lenses may not work). But eventually you will probably want to move to a mirrorless system, and no doubt Nikon will be introducing new and better ones in the future. The upcoming Z9 sounds like one heck of a camera, but isn't what you're looking for by any means.

All these cameras can handle everything else you say you shoot... Sports is among the most challenging. It demands highly capable AF systems (and photographers who know how to use them). Faster frame rates are "nice"... but not as important as AF speed of acquisition and ability to track movement. Often with sports it's also necessary to use a faster shutter speed, which means increasing ISO and these newer cameras are no doubt better at that, too, than your current camera.

Here's a comparison of D5100 vs D7200:

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D7200-vs-Nikon-D5100

And here's a comparison of D500 vs D7500:

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D7500-vs-Nikon-D500

Those comparisons can be changed if you wish. And they just summarize key differences. You should search for more detailed reviews of any model you want to consider.

Just for example, I prefer to use a battery grip on my cameras, both to double the battery capacity and for the vertical grip and controls it provides. The D500 and D7200 both can be fitted with a grip. The D7500 cannot. For some reason Nikon chose to design it without that as an option.

Another example: "Flicker Reduction" is a feature in the D7500 and D500, but not fully implemented in the older D7200. If you anticipate shooting sports under the lights, this may be important. This is a feature that greatly reduces exposure problems that occur when shooting "under the lights". Some types of lighting (e.g., fluorescent) rapidly cycle on and off. It's so fast our eyes don't see it. But the short duration of our camera's shutters can occur at the wrong time during the light cycle and result in images with serious under-exposure and color shift. Before "flicker reduction", we had to use a longer exposure to avoid this. But that's not a option when shooting sports, so I'd see a lot of badly exposed images when I was shooting under certain types of lights. As many as half my images could be bad enough that they were worthless, so I shot a lot of extras. "Flicker reduction" for still images solves the problem by detecting the cycle of the lighting and timing the shutter release to the peak output of the lights. Usually this is so fast you don't notice, but every once in a while you might have a slight shutter delay. This is not to be confused with flicker reduction in video, which many cameras had long before a similar feature was available for still photos. The D7200 has flicker reduction in Live View and video mode.... neither of which help with most sports photography.

D7200... $434 to $549 used (depending upon condition, shutter count, MPB.com)
D7500... $997 new, used from $749 (MPB.com)
D500... $1597 new, used from $789 (MPB.com)

Quixdraw Loc: x

I have several FX and use the D7200 as much as any of the others. Already having lenses is a big plus, and there are some good prices out there right now, and some suppliers even have extra Christmas discounts. Not much of a financial risk for an excellent camera.

BebuLamar

It's up to you but if you would really like the Nikon D850 then either get it or keep using the D5100. You don't need either camera but anything lesser than the D850 won't make you happy.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Your usual level of expertise. Not your money, you haven't a clue what is going on in the OP's mind. I researched the D850 vs. D810 and bought a used D810 which has more capabilities than I need. D850 had many of no value to me plus the issue of processing time for larger files. The D7200 is extremely capable, and BTW bought it used instead of the D7500 for the same reasons as the D850. Lenses - the OP has lenses for DX, far more practical to upgrade from there than crippling an FX camera with DX lenses, or expensive lens upgrades across the board as well as an expensive new camera.

BebuLamar

Not everyone has the money. If you can't afford it, just don't buy it. Don't buy anything less than what you want. It's not a necessity like food if you can't afford steak you eat eggs. I am sure the OP doesn't need a camera to make a living. Although I wouldn't even want a D850 but if someone like it there is no substitute. So sure any camera and the D850 would have features you don't want but the OP said he really like it.