jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you're itching for a new camera, get one. The D5600 would be a big step up. It's not a matter of need, it's a matter of getting a new camera that you will learn, use, and enjoy.

Some comparison sites -
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

This makes way more sense than what you originally posted. I have both the D500 and D7200 and couldn't understand why you said what you said. The D7200 is an excellent camera but with the irrelevant exception in resolution, isn't quite the camera the D500 is.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Wow yes going from a d500 to a d7200 would be a "downgrade" so that clarifies it a bit. I went from a d3300 to a d7200 and hardly use the d3300 anymore. The main benefit for me was the 100% vf (vs 95% on the 3300). The bonuses were better IQ, handling, 2 card slots, etc. For the OP I would say investing in better lenses or other equipment should take priority over a new body...unless you are maxed out there.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Only move up if there is something significant about your current setup that you think would be "fixed" by the upgrade. Is there something you are unhappy with?

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

I'd only move if you thought you can not get the quality you want. Prove it to yourself by renting one and see.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

That is an excellent suggestion.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I agree with the other posters that the D5600 isn’t enough of an upgrade. Go for the D7500 or D500. You won’t be sorry

SeaBrat Loc: St Petersburg, FL

I started with a D5100 also and it still works very well. My wife used it for a couple of years then I bought her a D5600. She loves it because it is smaller, lighter weight, touch display, easier to use and she gets more keepers than with the D5100. I bought a D7500 and love the sub command dial, top display, and other improvements. Both use Snapbridge that I finally learned how to use. So now I can shoot with either camera, convert best raw files to .jpg and send to my cellphone for upload to Facebook. I also use Snapbridge to add location info to my D7500 pics. Both are great cameras.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

If you're happy with the camera you have and you know how to use it well, don't switch. If you are looking for more capability in the crop-sensor series of cameras, consider the D-500.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

For what you shoot, I might recommend a D7200, with some reservations (see below).

The D7500 is a bit more geared toward fast action photography (up to 8 frames per second), sort of like a lower cost alternative to the D500 (even higher specs such as 10 fps... but D500 would be ridiculous overkill for your purposes). D7500 (and D500) use a 21MP sensor and have high frame rates, which are most useful for action shooting. The lower resolution sensor also allows higher ISOs (100-51200, expands to 1640000) and thus, faster shutter speeds) to be used, which can be handy shooting sports indoors, for example. Their AF systems are also geared toward shooting active, moving subjects (the $1900 D500's AF system is one of the best available for that purpose.... which YOU don't need to shoot landscapes, car shows and family).

The D7200 is a bit slower (6 fps) and not quite as high ISO capable (100-25600, expands to 102400), but has a higher resolution 24MP sensor... good for more detail in landscape and automotive shots. D7200 has slightly higher dynamic range, better quality high ISOs, dual memory card slots and gets more shots per battery charge. At about $1000, it's also a bit less expensive than the D7500 ($1150).

The only problem is that the D7200 doesn't have an articulated LCD... it's fixed. The D7500's screen tilts (but isn't fully articulated, doesn't swivel). D7500's is also a "Touch Screen", but is lower resolution (922,000 dot.... versus 33% more, 1,299,000 in D7200). With D7200 you'd have less versatility using the rear screen and would likely need to use the viewfinder more.

Both the D7200 and D7500 have the in-body focusing motor, which allow them to autofocus more lenses than the D3000 and D5000-series cameras can. Both have 53-point AF (19 points the "better" cross type).

Both D7200 and D7500 also have a "true" pentaprism, which makes for a bigger, brighter viewfinder than the D3000/D5000-series cameras, which use a "penta-mirror" to reduce weight and cost.

Of course, D5600 uses the same 24MP sensor as D7200, has almost as fast 5 fps shooting, and has similar 100-25600 ISO range. It also has a more fully articulated LCD screen than either of the D7000-series cameras. The resolution of the LCD screen is same as D7200, too (both are 33% higher rez than D7500's).

D5600 is cheaper too, at about $600 right now. As mentioned, it uses a penta-mirror instead of a pentaprism.... And it has a lower specification shutter (1/4000 top speed and 1/200 flash sync, compared to 1/8000 and 1/250 in the D7000-series models). And it uses a lower spec AF system: 39-point with 8 cross type. It also uses a smaller battery, so doesn't get as many shots per charge (almost as many as D7500, but about 33% less than D7200).

Really, any of these would be a step up from your D5100.... Compare the above with your camera's 16MP, 4 frames per second, ISO 100-6400, 11-point AF with one cross type (center), and more.
https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D5100-vs-Nikon-D5600
https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D7500-vs-Nikon-D7200
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Nikon_D7200_vs_Nikon_D7500_vs_Nikon_D5600_vs_Nikon_D500/BHitems/1127271-REG_1333060-REG_1308818-REG_1214161-REG

You'll need to decide what's most important to you. Do you need the articulated LCD screen, or will a tilt-only or even a fixed screen suffice? Would the bigger, brighter viewfinder, ability to autofocus additional lenses, more sophisticated AF systems, higher spec shutter, more shots per charge, etc. be worth the higher cost of one of the D7000-series cameras? If so, which one fits your needs better? Though D5600, D7200 and D7500 all would be a solid upgrade from your D5100, there are pros and cons with each of them.

Have fun shopping!

AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK

I went from a D3300 to a D5500 and then to a D500. Many folks like the D7200/D7500 cameras . . . I skipped them and went to the D500. The D500 is the BEST DX camera existent. If you can afford a few more bucks, I suggest you get the D500 . . .

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

You presented a decent comparison between the D7200 and the D7500, if one only looks at the specifications. Let me add to that as I have a D7500 and I have compared it to a D7200 side by side on several occasions.

The D7200 is a great camera, but it is 4+ year old technology. The D7500 uses the same sensor and image processor as the D500, the EXSPEED 5. The D7200 has the older EXSPEED 4 image processor.

The internal buffer of the D7500 is MUCH larger than the one in the D7200. This does not really come into play unless you take a lot of pictures rapidly. When you crank up the D7500 to 8FPS, you can snap away for 12 seconds (50 RAW pictures) before filling the buffer and if you use fast SD cards, you can really keep going. If you store JPEGs, the number goes up rapidly from there.

The D7500 records 4K video.

The monitor of the D7200 has a higher resolution compared to the one in the D7500, however the monitor of the D7500 is much better in sunlight compared to the D7200 and it just looks overall better and crisper. I compared both in the same conditions; to my eyes, it wasn't even close. The D7200's monitor is very good; the one in the D7500 is that much better. But this only counts if you use the monitor a lot, especially outside.

The D7500 does SnapBridge and with WiFi speeds, not limited to Bluetooth.

The D7500 has the same auto-focus processor as the D7200 but it has some enhancements, like the group focus, with which I am now playing.

The stated number of pictures per battery charge is quite understated for the D7500. I've exceeded that number every time, and by far and I switch the batteries as soon as I reach one bar.


To the OP: All that said; the statement earlier concerning your possible reasons for looking at an upgrade was very correct. What feature(s) are you looking for or you believe are lacking in your current camera?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

My advise is to do what you want to do as long as you can afford to do so. As for which camera I would suggest, as I previously stated I have the D500 and D7200, both excellent cameras. If you aren't interested in learning all the functionality of the D500 then get the D7200, you won't be disappointed. If you have the time and want to learn how to use the top crop sensor DSLR available today, get the D500, it is an amazing camera. If you want something that is in between but just as good, go for the D7500. I can't advise on the D7500 because I only know what I've read about it.

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

Keep and enjoy.

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

I have a D5200, love it and my wife bought me a D750 for Father's Day a year ago. The D750 is quite a leap forward, I still use the D5200 due to it being much much lighter and much less complicated. IMHO, keep your D5100 and keep on pushing that shutter button, unless you are in a major GAS attack. I love my D750, but the D5200 is still used at least as much. And the screen articulates a lot better than the D750.