billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Interesting statement. The Nikon D5, a $6500.00 camera, has a AA filter. And it take OUTSTANDING images. I wonder why?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

In one sense, you are correct - AA filters have little to do with sharpness - but only a little. It's more about resolution and fine detail capture, which is all about camera resolution.

Sharpness is definitely NOT the same as resolution. Sharpness cannot really be measured or described numerically, but its components - resolution and acutance - or contrast - can.

Sharpness is affected by many factors - many which have nothing to do with the camera and lens, and by manipulating contrast, you can change the appearance of sharpness. Viewing distance is a big factor, as is the viewer's eyesight, whether the image is being viewed by transmitted or reflected light, etc etc etc.

This is a great explanation:

https://luminous-landscape.com/understanding-sharpness/

There is no question that a D800E without it's AA filter captures more fine detail - one could say it has higher resolution - than its sister camera, the D800 - this has been measured and demonstrated time and again.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-review/discerning-differences-between-nikon-d800-and-d800e

https://mattk.com/my-nikon-d800-vs-d800e-comparison/

I am not going to argue that your impression that the D5 captures nice sharp images. But I will tell you that a D800E will capture considerably more detail, and with good post processing, can produce an image with equivalent or better appearance of sharpness, which more detail. Sharpness is more about contrast, and AA filters is more about capturing fine detail.

CO

It has nothing to do with cost. The reason the D5 has an anti aliasing filter is because it's 21 megapixels on a full frame camera. It's more likely to produce moire patterns.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

But it does not produce moire patterns. You really will have to try harder.

CO

Right, it does not produce (or is less likely) to produce moire patterns because it has an anti-aliasing filter. They've started to remove AA filters from cameras because resolution is becoming higher. Look at Canon's description of the 5DS R. That camera cancels the effects of an AA filter.

Low-pass filter effect cancellation
For photographers wanting the ultimate in high resolution capture, the EOS 5DS R camera has a low-pass filter* (LPF) effect cancellation. While a low-pass filter is useful to reduce color artifacts and moiré typical with digital capture, it also reduces detail at the pixel level. With the LPF disabled, the EOS 5DS R takes full advantage of the original resolving power of the camera's 50.6 Megapixel sensor. More detail is captured and retained in the original image, perfect for landscape and commercial applications where pixel-level detail is scrutinized and when the sharpest possible image is needed.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I will respectively agree to disagree with you on AA filters.

ELNikkor

Get the D7500

aweisbach Loc: Omaha Nebraska

I read that in addition to taking away the 2nd card slot, on the D7500 they also took away the Depth of Field Preview button, so if that is something you use and appreciate, keep that in mind in making your decision.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

The 7000, 7100, and 7200 all have dual card slots. The 7500 doesn’t. I upgraded from my 7000 to a 7200 body and I like the added features.

bleirer

Moire only happens when shooting certain types of patterns in a scene, so the aa filter only helps in those cases, otherwise it is not needed. I believe there are things that can be done in post to help also.

repleo Loc: Boston

Look to your lenses first. What lenses do you have? If you already have great glass, fine, go for the body upgrade.

SpikeW Loc: Butler PA

Ok now down to basics---the D7200 or the D7500

uhaas2009

I was one time on the same way like you. Was looking the same cameras and I tried to compare in stores-online, like WiFi, AA filter less....and a lot more.
The d810 FX what I got now (used) Is a game changer.... and I still use my d7000 because of adjustment errors.

today I ask myself why didn’t I got me a high end camera 10 years ago.......do I take better pics-not really but now I have time to learn “light”

bleirer

They have similar dynamic range. Source http://photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm

(Download)

JD750 Loc: SoCal

If you are happy with your D7000 why do you want a new camera?

It sounds like you feel that your pictures are not sufficiently sharp. If that is the case, there could be multiple reasons for that. It is unlikely that the anti-ailising filter is causing the loss of acuity that you suggest.

If you just want a new camera, there is nothing wrong with that.

But be aware that buying a new camera won't magically cure a problem with sharpness.