tonyjag Loc: Bolton, Ma.

With a trip to Antarctica coming up in December, i am thinking about a new body and using the trusty D5300 as a backup. All of my lenses are Nikon or Nikon-compatible with focus motors and image stabilization built in. Most are also DX, so i am not interested in an FX or any non-Nikon body. And i hefted a new Z7 at a camera shop and found it surprisingly heavy and expensive, with just one card slot, so I am going to stick with DSLR.

On a recent trip to Australia and New Zealand, i had my first-ever SD card problem. It was a new Sandisk Extreme 32G card which had worked before, but the camera said it was bad. Fortunately, there were no images on it yet and I had plenty of other cards. I am therefore thinking that the new camera should have two card slots so I can store every image to both. There was a survey in 2014 that seemed to conclude that SD card failures are rare.
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-222456-8.html
Anyone have new quantitative info on that subject?

Candidates so far and main drawbacks of each:
D500: -No pop-up flash - No GPS - Big -Heavy -Different battery (from D5300) -Screen only tilts up or down
D7200: -No GPS -Different battery - Fixed screen
D7500: -No GPS -Different battery -Screen only tilts up or down -Only one SD slot*
A second D5300, Compared to any above: -less weather sealed -Lower performance -fewer buttons/dials, no top LCD display

*If the D7500 had kept the dual slots from the 7200, the choice would be a no brainer. How important is dual slots really?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Dual slots are like heath insurance - of no use unless you need it. I use the second slot as a backup for the first. It's also good insurance if I forget to put Card #1 back into the camera.

I would suggest the D7200, even though it doesn't have the tilting screen. If that is so important, then get a D5600

Bill_de Loc: US

You looked for the negatives in each, what are the positives?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I highly recommend you get a D500. Full pro, weather sealed body that will use all your existing lenses. You will be blown away at the improvements it offers over your entry level D5300 body.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

MT is correct (as usual). If you can afford it, the D500 is one of the best (if not the best) crop cameras in existence. It's only 3 ounces heavier than a D7200 (which would be my second choice). If you really need GPS, use your phone, and the fact is that except for that occasional outdoor fill lighting, you'll want a separate flash anyway. If it fits your budget, it's THE choice.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Excellent advice as always! Two years ago, I upgraded from my trusty D5200 to a D7200. About a year after that, I upgraded to a D500 (the buffer on the D7200 just didn’t cut it for me) and sold my D5200. If I’d known then what I know now, I would have just skipped a step and upgraded to the D500. It’s a great camera and has become my workhorse. Learn from my “mistake”. Listen to Carter and go for the D500. Of course, I do have my D7200 as my back-up body.

Enjoy Svalbard. Was there 3 years ago and it’s a unique place.

puku8849

I thought the OP said Antarctica. As far as I understand, Svalbard is closer to the Arctic. It's an interesting place anyway. A long zoom with the D500 will certainly reward you with many great pictures. D500 is the best Nikon APS-C body, period.

sclay1234 Loc: Ocean county nj

yes you are all correct on the 500 also I have found that a pop up flash in most cases is not needed. and as for the gps when I down load the files in the properties it shows on maps where the photo was taken. I have had the d500 for a little less then a year best thing I have done. big upgrade from the d200. my next upgrade is to a fx d810

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I would go with the 7500. I had a d7000 with two slots and never once did I overflow to the second slot. That said, l only shoot RAW and very rarely burst shooting. It worked just fine for our National Park tour where I shot on average 750 to 1000 images per day. I did off load to an external hard drive each night and reformat for the next day. If you need two slots, then the 7200. It all depends on how you shoot and how much you shoot. What a great trip you have to look forward to! P. S. Given the extreme conditions, had you considered an Olympus Tough TG5? Yes it’s a point and shoot but it’s weather and water sealed, drop and crush resistant and it will shoot Raw. Just a thought.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I would choose a D500. However, knowing what I know I might choose the Z6 because of the high ISO capability.

ELNikkor

Since you are bringing the D5300 for back-up, use that for the occasional need for flip-screen. After that it is a toss-up between the D7200 and the others. If you pick the D500, the D5300 can also be used for those times when you want the built-in flash feature. The adjustable screen and built-in flash are such necessities for me, that I skipped anything above the D5xxx line and went to the D750 when my D5100 got old.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I have NEVER used both card slots at the same time. I do not believe that for my photographic style I have lost anything.

pahtspix

The D7200 is a super bargain for a GREAT camera for around $700 for the USA mode!..Just buy it and don't look back!..You'll be happy for a long time, and it will work with most all Nikon f mount lenses!!

awis01

I agree completely with MT Shooter. I have 2 d-500's and am extremely happy with them.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Only one card slot would be a deal breaker for me. My vote is for the D500 that I have and love. It’s so good in low light that a flash is rarely needed; but I do carry an SB-400, just in case. It’s no longer available, but you may be able to get one on eBay. I never liked the look from the pop up flash anyway. The only thing I ever used it for was to trigger off-camera speed lights. I now use strobe lighting for portraits and radio trigger on the hot shoe; but I do have a SU-800 commander that I no longer need. I don’t find it it to be heavy. Mine came with a free battery grip that I rarely use and the great 16-80/2.8-4 lens.

Before I got the D500, I had a D7100 which was disappointing in so many ways. One card slot, fixed screen, terrible in low light. The last one was why I sold it. The D7200 is somewhat improved, I hear. Too bad Nikon didn’t put two card slots in the D7500.

You mentioned no GPS in any of the cameras you are considering. For that, you can take one picture with your cell phone that will capture GPS for you.