mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Get a camera that has the resolution (number of pixels) and the dynamic range that will suit you for the future. Unfortunately you have listed two characteristics that are, to a certain extend, mutually exclusive - light weight and simple to operate. The light weight DX cameras are the ones with all the gimmicky 'modes'. The simplest to operate are the pro/semi pro models like the D3, D800, D810. But they are bigger and heavier. It takes a bit of study and a little work but it is possible to turn off or permanently set most of the settings that you don't want to play with. You can, of course, ignore all the silly gimmicky modes. I recently moved from a D800E to a D750 and I just ignore the features on the D750 that I don't want to play with. Virtually all of them operate on jpegs only so wouldn't be of any use to me anyway. If you are looking for simplicity stay away from mirrorless, they have more adjustments than the Hubble telescope. I'm not very familiar with the Df but it might meet your need for simplicity - but it's FX too.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

The last statement I quoted is rather strong. How many MILC cameras have you used? Have you used a range of DSLR and MILC cameras from the same manufacturer? Just about a year ago I bought a Pentax Q-7 small-sensor MILC; I found its controls to be very straight-forward. Six months later I bought a Pentax K-30 DSLR; I found its controls to be virtually identical to those of the Q-7. Earlier you noted a difference in controls between DSLRs made by Nikon. If you had more familiarity with other brands, I'm guessing that you would discover similar complexity in the rest of the camera universe.

rbfanman

My Nikon D3300 works well for me. For remote flash, it can use the SB-500AF flash which has Command, and Remote, flash functions. Whether such would suit you, only you can say.

BebuLamar

No wonder I have to learn what the full auto does.

PVR8 Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have a D7000 and a D200. I don't have any problems with either camera. I actually enjoy shooting with the D200 a bit more than the D7000. If you really liked your D50 you would probably love a D200. It's a prosumer camera that feels great and renders beautiful images especially in good lighting situations. It's not as great in low light but it's more than acceptable in most lighting situations.

EDH1943 Loc: Wilmington, NC

I agree that the D5500 is hard to beat. I too sold my D7000, bought the D5500 and have never looked back!

Jim216 Loc: South Carolina

I love my D3300 and it didn't break the bank...

SteveR Loc: Michigan

My recommendation is not a different camera, but to buy from a dealer with a 30 day return policy. My D7000 was my first digital camera and I was amazed at the colors and the photos that it took. I did, however, buy it from a dealer with a 30 day return policy. If it had been a lemon....and all manufacturers make them, or required repair right off the start, I could have returned it for a new camera. I'm not sure if B&H or Aldorama have these policies, but Arlington Camera in Arlington, TX does.

Also, as far as a camera that will suit your needs....while the D7000 may have more buttons and gadgets than you're used, to, you can start simple and just shoot with aperture or shutter priority, setting your iso where you'd like it. You could even start in P mode and let the camera do the work. What you have, though, is the opportunity to grow and learn with a great camera. Get a good book like Mastering the Nikon D7000 and read about subjects as you need to (you don't need to read from cover to cover). I'd start with reading about focus, then about metering. Whatever camera you end up with, this is a good approach.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Actually your D7000 makes for a fine candidate for what you described!

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Before you dump your D7000; have you tried correcting your problem using focus fine tuning built in the camera? A simple ruler set at 45° on a table propped up on some books , a vertical focus target (optional) lined up to a major division mark, a tripod at minimum focal distance for the lens, aperture wide open for thinnest DOF and plenty of light to get a good set of exposures, take an exposure and using the menus to access focus adjustment make an adjustment, another sample shot and continue until your camera is sharp at your intended point of focus. Camera will assign the offset to your lens, no need for you to remember. Do this with each of the lenses you intend to use on that body, only then if you're unable to get good results that way, you can send to Nikon for factory adjustment. Buying another camera in the D3XXX or D5XXX families could still have this type of issue with no in camera adjustment options as they are entry level cameras. If you insist on replacing the camera I'd say move up to the D7100 which is a better camera than it's predecessor the D7000 all the features you'll need and then some that you can grow into. Hope this helps...

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

All Nikon DSLRs are RAW capable not just jpegs, in fact most from the D3xxx on up can save both jpeg and Raw at the same time.

klaus Loc: Guatemala City, Guatemala

You know you can adjust the back-focusing problem on the D7000

BebuLamar

Want a simpler camera you have to go higher end. Staying with Nikon the only choice is the D5.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

If fine tuning the AF on your D7000 sounds difficult.....find a camera repair shop or a real photography pro that will help you with your problem for a reasonable price. That would be much less expensive than a new camera. As I said before...I got great photos from my D7000 right out of the box. I think I set it on P and let the camera do the work and then progressed from there. I pretty much shoot in either Aperture or Shutter priority, depending on the priority of the shot. I set my ISO according to what I believe the light requires and do not use auto ISO.

As far as two card slots....you don't need to use two card slots. Under settings, just select which card slot you wish to use. I have found that the second slot comes in handy when I shoot video of my grandsons either around the house or playing soccer or basketball. However, since video is something you don't use....you would not need a second card. Video is added on to camera these days because it is something that manufacturers can do easily and because many customers do use it. In fact, the high end DSLR's are capable of shooting commercial quality video.

Don't however, be afraid to become familiar with the settings on the D7000. The selections that you make will affect the quality of your photos. For instance, to get the best out of the pixels in your camera your would want to select large and fine under size and image quality. I also selected "vivid" under Picture Controls.

Jim Bob

You ain't never lied.