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

D500

CO

There also seems to be less vibration from mirror slap with DX cameras. I was wondering if that's because the reflex mirror is smaller. Because the mirror is smaller, there's less mass flipping back and forth. The mirrors are balanced, so I'm not totally sure about that.

ELNikkor

Handle and try both the D500 and D7500, then choose. (For budget reasons, the D7200 would also be decent.)

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

I bought a Nikon factory refurbished D500 as an upgrade to my D5600, and couldn't be happier with it.

uhaas2009

DX body would be the 7500 or 500. The 500 is the pro and the 7500 is the semi pro. 500 is a nice body.....

Bill_de Loc: US

I have always put vertical grips on my DSLRs. I own a D500 and a D7200. Not too long ago it hit me that with some of todays lighter lenses like the 300mm PF, the D7200 without the grip is the way to go. If weight is not an issue, like shooting from a tripod with a long lens the D500 is my pick between the 2. The D500 also wins on frames per second which may be important for fast moving subjects. They are both excellent cameras that can produce excellent pictures.

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Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

If you enjoy shooting wildlife as I do go with the D500 fast focus, 10fps and weather sealed. The D7200 if you enjoy landscape or people.

old poet

I made the jump from D7200 to D500 and I do not regret it. The D500 is a great choice...but remember that it does not have a built in flash.

AnthonyBiss Loc: Toronto, Ontario

Since you want to retain your current gear, I would suggest the D7200, if you can get one. It is the best Nikon DSLR for your money up from the D7100 which I have. My pro buddy bought one last year and raves about the camera. The images are superb, metering system is great. The best model Nikon have ever made.

Overthehill1

Adding my vote to the D500. Bought one lightly used earlier this year and have barely scratched the surface of its features. Probably the last camera I will need to buy.

BadPhoto Loc: Maryland

You have 3 choices for DX body and wireless image transfer. In all cases, Bluetooth is used to pair and then switch to WiFi for control and transfer. Some of the FX bodies allow use of Bluetooth for remote control.

Those DX bodies are the D500, D7500, and Z50.

The D500 has two card slots and takes a vertical grip. The D7500 and Z50 do not.

The D500 has the pro user interface, whereas the D7500 and Z50 have the consumer user interface (as did the D7100). This also effects things like remote shutter controls.

The D7500 and Z50 have a built-in flash. The D500 does not.

If you want a camera most like the D7100, get the D7500.

If you want a pro DSLR with dual slots and vertical grip that is great for action, get the D500.

If you want a camera that is smaller, lighter, better for video, and basically the wave of the future, get the Z50.

My recommendation would be to get a Z50 kit with the FTZ adapter and both DX Z lenses (16-50, 50-250) and trade in or sell the 7100 and whatever DX lenses you have that are redundant.

Ralf11 Loc: PNW

Yes. The issue is improvements in other areas that the IQ of a static subject. For the record, I'd get the D7200.

I kept my D5300 because it has built-in GPS when I moved to m43 and now have a bunch of lenses up for sale.

Image transfer will be a lot faster via cable.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The D7100 is a good camera. Since you already have four DX lenses, you might want to stick with a DX camera. And there's no reason to leave Nikon (a switch of brands is also a lot more expensive). So here are your options:

Nikon D7200 superseded the D7100 some time ago, so that's the first possible upgrade.

One of the most notable differences with D7200 is a much larger buffer so it can accommodate more shots in a burst before it needs to slow or pause to clear the images from the buffer. That's one of the main complaints about the D7100, that it has a tiny buffer that limits how many shots you can get when shooting rapidly. But if you don't shoot that way, if you take single shots at a more leisurely pace you might never notice the D7100's small buffer. .
Both D7100 and D7200 are 24MP cameras and their "external" features are virtual identical aside from the model name.

However, D7200 got an improved sensor and/or processor that allows it to have a higher ISO range, greater dynamic range and more bit depth.

The D7200 also has slightly improved autofocus... the main difference being that it's able to keep working in slightly lower light conditions. Nikon rates the D7100 to focus as low as -2EV light, while the D7200 can do -3EV.

The D7200 does have built-in WiFi (D7100 requires an added module). But, frankly, this type of WiFi really isn't practical to transfer images. It has very limited range (25 or 30 feet at best) and it's not fast enough. It also makes heavy use of the camera's battery... draining it rather quickly. Probably the main use for the type of WiFi found on D7200 and D7100 is remote operation of the camera... though, again, distance is quite limited.

For practical wireless image transfer would need to get a more pro-grade camera with a separate Wireless File Transfer module. Nikon's are VERY expensive, but there is a third party called Camranger that offers them much more affordably. They sell two models: Camranger 2 and Camranger Mini, which sell for roughly $300 to a bit over $400. These give you up to 300 foot range and are dual band, providing faster data transfer than standard WiFi.

Camrangers work with D7100 and D7200, as well as other Nikon DX models. And, of course, they can be used to remotely operate the camera, too.

If you use a battery grip on your camera, the D7200 and D7100 both use the same MB-D15.

Nikon D7200 is now only available used and sells for roughly $500 to $650, depending upon "mileage" and condition.

Compare D7100 to D7200: https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D7200-vs-Nikon-D7100

Nikon D7500 is the current model in this DX series. It superseded the D7200 several years ago and is a mixed bag.

On the one hand, the D7500 has an articulate rear LCD Touch Screen and it can shoot 8 frames per second (where D7100 and D7200 both have fixed LCD screens and top out at 6 fps).

D7500 also was one of the first Nikon to get Anti-Flicker, which is very helpful solving exposure problems under fluorescent and similar lighting. D7200 has slightly higher usable ISO, too.

Also, D7500 has Blue Tooth (see above regarding it's usefulness). It also can shoot 4K video, if that's important. (The earlier models maxed out with HD video.)

However.... on the other hand, the D7500's is a 21MP camera (not 24MP), it actually has less dynamic range and color depth than D7200 and it's rear LCD screen is slightly slower resolution. It also only has a single memory card slot and there is not vertical battery grip for it. (Vello makes a 3rd party grip, but it's hokey.... uses a funky external wire and doesn't increase battery capacity at all.)

In my opinion, while the D7500 got a few nice, new features, it was in too many other ways a step backward from the D7200. Other people must feel the same, because D7200 have kept their value on the used market better than most digital cameras and were actually selling for more than D7500 when there were still some new D7200 available. Now only used D7200 are available, but some with fairly low shutter "clicks" can be found.

Compare D7200 versus D7500: https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D7500-vs-Nikon-D7200

D7500 currently sells for close to $1000 new.

Nikon D500 is their top of the line DX model and is one of the best anyone has ever made. It has higher durability rating and better weather sealing than any of the other Nikon DX cameras. It also has one of Nikon's most advanced AF systems.

The D500 is a fast shooting camera.... ideal for sports, active wildlife, etc. It can shoot 10 frames per second and has all the best features noted above and more.

Compare D500 with D7200: https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D500-vs-Nikon-D7200

D500 are currently selling for about $1500 new.

This would also be an opportunity to switch to a mirrorless camera, if you wish. Nikon offers two DX format mirrorless that would probably be the easiest transition. There are both positives and negatives to a switch to mirrorless.

Nikon Z 50 is selling for about $860 new (body only), almost $1000 with Z DX 16-50mm kit lens and nearly $1200 with both that 16-50mm and a Z DX 50-250mm lens.

The Z 50 is a 21MP camera using a sensor similar to D7500 and D500. An advantage of most mirrorless, including this one, is an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that can do all sorts of neat things. It can give you an exposure preview, display an electronic level or preview histogram to help with composition and exposure. It also has an AF system that covers more of the image area and can shoot at 11 frames/sec. These cameras also can detect faces to focus upon, and in some cases even peoples' eyes!

One of the downsides is that the EVF draws a lot of power. It has to be powered up continuously any time the camera is in use, and this is a heavy drain on the battery much like using Live View continuously on your DSLR. as a result, you get far fewer shots per battery charge than you do with a comparable DSLR. There also isn't a battery grip available for the Z 50.

Compare Z 50 with D7200: https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-Z50-vs-Nikon-D7200

Nikon Z fc is a new mirrorless DX model that's coming very soon. It is virtually the same as the Z 50, except the Z fc is a "retro" styled model. It looks a lot like the FM and FE series cameras of the 1980s. Nikon has even produced a cool looking 28mm Special Edition lens to pair with it. And the Z fc comes with your choice of 6 or 8 different colors of leatherette! The Z fc will sell for $960 body only or $1200 with the 28mm SE lens. While I love the looks and general idea of the Z fc, it really is more of a fashion statement than a camera upgrade... it's so similar in specs to the Z 50.

While Nikon has changed the bayonet mount in their mirrorless cameras, a $100 adapter is available that allows you to fully use your DX and FX F-mount Nikkors on the new cameras.

The Z 50 and, to a lesser degree, the Z fc are a bit smaller and lighter than the D7000-series DSLRs. The Z 16-50mm lens is also very compact. However, otherwise there's not a lot of difference lens to lens or other accessories.

Nikon also offers a number of full frame DSLRs and mirrorless. I'm not going to get into those here because any of them would essentially require you replace all your DX lenses. Yes, full frame Nikon can utilize DX lenses... but there will be a significant image crop and in most cases you end up with less resolution than you'd get using the same lens on a DX camera. So it's pretty self-defeating to use DX lenses on FX cameras. You spend a lot extra to get all the "goodness of full frame", then don't take advantage of it! (And, frankly, unless you make big prints from your images, are unlikely to see very much "goodness", even if you spend a lot of money to upgrade to FX lenses, too.)'

In case you haven't guessed by now, I know what I'd do and what I would recommend...

Either stick with the D7100 or upgrade to the D7200. At most this would cost around $650 (for a very low mileage D7200) and, in my opinion, the D7200 was the best Nikon DX camera ever made, for most peoples' purposes. An exception would be sports and other action photography, where the D500 would be a better choice, especially for a pro who makes heavy use of their camera and work under difficult conditions. Sticking with your D7100 or updating to a D7200 will leave a lot of money that you may want to put toward a new lens or a lens upgrade. I don't know what lenses you've got now or what you like to shoot, but as a general rule money put into lenses is more productive than spending the same on a new camera. Lenses almost always can make a bigger difference in your end results. But you may not even need those and best use of the remainder of your budget might be a trip somewhere to take photos or similar.

Ralf11 Loc: PNW

"I am particular about quality of my images"

If the above is the emphasis, then the best upgrade might be to buy Nikon's FF glass in the pro range. You can use it on your D7100 or get a D750 or D610.

You don't say which DX lenses you have but many are not as good as Nikon's better FF lenses. The DX lenses are fine for IQ, just not in the top rank. This is a big change from your posted direction, I know but...

ricosha Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

D500, love mine, great with long lens and with a 16mm to 35mm not to shabby for wide shots. Best DX on the market.