wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I would go with the D7000 line, I have a D7100. The big reason is the focus motor in the body. Their are loads of auto focus lenses without a motor that are going for great prices. I got a 70 - 210 constant f/4 for $200. It is just like new. Take a look on eBay. Good luck - Dave

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I would go with the D7000 line, I have a D7100. The big reason is the focus motor in the body. Their are loads of auto focus lenses without a motor that are going for great prices. I got a 70 - 210 constant f/4 for $200. It is just like new. Take a look on eBay. Good luck - Dave

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I'd start with the 18-200 and a tripod. Learn the camera. I shoot with a D850 mostly but I promise you I could make excellent images with the D3400. Don't just think about "taking" good pictures. "Make" good pictures. You are in control.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I use the Nikon J1 with FT-1 autofocusing adapter and the Nikkor 55-300 VR AF-S lens for birding. This package has a 1" sensor for sharpness, and weighs a little more than 2 lbs to make it easy to shoot hand held, and an equivalent focal length of 810mm. I've not found anything else as good for birding hand held.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

I believe you will be happy with the D-7200 and the big Sig.
happy shooting.

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

At $1300, there is no lower priced alternative that will produce the image quality on your camera than the Tamron 150-600 G2. It surpasses the Nikkor 200-500, and is on par with the $2000 Sigm Sport. People who are discouraging you from considering this for your D3400 are only partially right. It will not acquire and track subjects as well as higher end bodies. But it will nonetheless work just fine. It is an F6.3 lens which theoretically "shouldn't" work with your camera, but it does because it's firmware, like just about every other F6.3 lens in production, reports that it is an F5.6 lens to the camera. Only someone without firsthand experience with the combination would make such a mistake.

Eventually as you get more experience with your camera you will be able to decide if you need a D500 or whatever flavor DX Nikon sells at that point. The D7200 is nice, but I prefer just about everything else about the D500, especially the Autofocus system with it's Group AF and 153 focus sensors, 55 of which are user selectable - which works extremely well. Focus performance is only bested by the Sony mirrorless cameras like the A6500.

Or you may decide to upgrade to a full frame camera, which would not be a terrible thing. You can get great images with any of these cameras. You don't need a motor drive in the body unless you are planning on getting older or cheaper lenses that lack the internal motor. The majority of lenses have either a stepper motor (pulse motor) or an ultrasonic motor (Silent Wave Motor in Nikon-speak).

A body upgrade alone is not going to give you the reach of 600mm, only the lens can do that. And you don't need to upgrade the body to start enjoying a long lens with a built in motor.

lemlakit

knowledgeable photographers: question I need your opinion need lots of opinions,
best selection between Nikon P 1000 an Sony RHX10-4 witch to buy,
the zoom difference 1000, to 600, is not an issue, the price difference is not an issue
$1000 to $1700, I will buy this camera to develop knowledge in photography.
Mainly for sports.
thank you
Mel Jordan

Sassimiz

This is my current set up and I’m quite happy with it.


For now

E4Mafia Loc: Knoxville, TN

I would take a gander at this series. Its comical but it just proves that its not the camera but the 12 inches behind it thats important.

https://youtu.be/v6lNCSHH7Vg

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

The D7200 is a fine camera and should be mated with a lens SPECIFICALLY designed to work with the Nikon D7200. The Nikon 200-500 5.6 lens. It gets excellent reviews because it is that good.
Remember, it's the glass that determines image quality, not so much the body.

CO

I wonder about this. Even though it's reporting to the camera that it's an f/5.6 lens, it won't let in any more light to help the AF system. It may trick the camera's firmware but the bottom line is that it's still a dim f/6.3 lens.

2mdman

Nothing to add about what others have said about the camera. Buy a good lens. For an all around lens that's inexpensive and takes pretty good pictures, the Nikon AFS DX 18-300 f3.5-6.3 is a good lens. If you can afford more (and I'm looking at this), get the AFS 70-200 f2.4..

wkillham

The D7200 is an outstanding body. It’s much smarter than I am. That said, why not buy a lens that you can use with a new camera in the future? The 18-200 is outstanding. I prefer it over my 18-300 3.5-5.6. The 70-300 DX is also outstanding. My son has that lens and I have a 70-200 2.8 and at times I prefer to use his (he keeps trying to get me to trade). You can get both of these on eBay for far less than a new body.

Mainiac65 Loc: Maine

Keep the D3400. Look for refurbished or used 150-600mmm Tamron G2 or Sigma 150-600mmm Contemporary at KEH or any of the A, B or C Camera stores popular on UHH. After you have mastered the camera, and it can no longer do what you want to do with it, then upgrade.

Deanie1113

Only one thing to add: with the 7200, if you buy a lens and it turns out the focus is off a little (which happens all the time), the 7200 will allow you to fix it yourself in-camera. With the 3400, there is no capability of fixing a slightly off-focus lens. You'd just have to send the lens back, reorder, and hope the second copy is better - which sometimes it's not! This happened to me, and for that reason, I will never again purchase a camera which doesn't allow the buyer to correct an off-focus lens. I recommend the 7200 with the Tamron 150-600. The images from this combo are tack sharp.