Just a thought. The batteries specifically for the D500 will work in the D7100 but the reverse is only true with quite a reduction in apparent shots per charge. So, yes both cameras can use the same battery but the one that came with the D500 will produce far more shots per charge than the D7100 battery will in the D500. In the D7100 it doesn't matter which you use.

I hope that doesn't confuse the issue too much. When the D500 first was released Nikon swapped older batteries for brand new ones to avoid the very problem you seem to be having. That program, I believe has ceased. Remember, the D7000/7100/7200 are all now discontinued models. The D7500/D500 and the Z50 are the current DX model cameras from Nikon. All three use the same batteries for what it is worth.

Bill Waxman

If you seriously miss it I have a whole F3 kit that you might like to have. PM me for details.

Bill Waxman

p.s. my favorite film cameras were the Nikon F, F2sb, and Nikkormat FTn. Digital, by far the D500.

Just shot a bike event in a quick downpour with D500 and 16-80mm lens, both weather proof with no problem. Left the lens shade on, of course. Did another shoot the next day having done no more than wipe off the water from the camera. All is well. The rubber ring at the mount end of the 18-200mm as well as 16-80mm both protect the front of the camera. The solid top does the rest (no flip up flash) I'd be careful about pointing the camera straight up to shoot clouds in rain as I suspect that the zooming portions are not quite so well protected. Otherwise, short of a typhoon or hurricane I would think that ordinary rain is no problem. Common sense helps too.

Bill Waxman

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/dslr-cameras/d500.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-TechSpecs

The above link will take you to the specs for the batteries. I forget the cost, not inexpensive certainly, but ups the number of shots significantly.

Bill Waxman

I agree wholly with the above, having had a D7100 and using a D7200 for a time. The D500 is far and away a better birding camera owing to its incredible focusing system (right out of the D5 with only some exceptions). Coupled with a decent telephoto you will get shots you have only thought about in the past. The D850 is a lovely camera as well but far more expensive and full frames lenses are not inexpensive either and together the increased weight and bulk might just be more tiresome than you want to put up with.

The D500 has a higher frame rate at 10 fps and a huge buffer. You can increase battery life by getting the higher powered (more expensive D5 battery with adapter) or use the available grip that holds a second regular battery or Alkalines in a pinch.

I've been using Nikon cameras since the 1965 version of the "F" and, in my opinion - for my purposes - the D500 is the best of the bunch.

Bill Waxman

I have Picasa 3 on my Windows 10 machine and it works just fine, go to Google and look around.

Bill Waxman

If it would help, I can send you a list of the settings I most often use for general photography. I have found the results, to my eye at least, outstanding. The question of exposure, I have found is aided by going ahead and most of the time dialing in (on my camera/lens combo anyway) a compensation of +.07 and that seems to give better results in mixed lighting. In most situations I use the P setting with the added alterations in my list of parameters.

You will find, with practice, that the autofocus system on the camera is incredibly fast and accurate, especially if you dial in a slight delay for objects that come between your camera and the subject briefly. It will ignore such and remain stuck to the subject while tracking it across the frame.

PM me if the settings would be of interest to you.

Bill Waxman

Looks to me as though you've got it figured out already. Without the EXIF data I can't tell what lens you are using but the focus looks good in this view, eye looks sharp and the exposure caught the bird nicely as well as the dappled light. Keep up the good work.

I use a whole raft of pre-sets on my D500 intended to get the most I can from each type of shooting. Too lengthy to go into here but know that there are downloadable specialized manuals available from Nikon for free to help you in whatever kind of shooting your mostly do.

Bill Waxman

Unlikely, but do you still have one of these?

Bill Waxman

The D7000 is an excellent camera capable of outstanding images. Start by reading the manual and if you don't have one, it is downloadable for free from Nikon. I used that camera for several years and enjoyed it very much as well as getting very good pictures with it. Never had any problems using single spot focus (which can be moved around at will once you understand how to use it).

Mostly, have fun with it.

Bill Waxman Nikon film and digital user since 1965

Nikon D500 with AF-S NIKKOR 16-80mm f2.8~4E ED (Equivalent to 24-120mm on the DX sensor)

Bill Waxman

Yikes! Relax, everybody, I was just posting what I thought was a fun picture that surprised me. Not perfect, by any stretch of anyone's imagination. Ordinarily I wouldn't dream of shooting a picture of a bird with that lens, it was simply what I had at the time on the camera. A brand new camera/lens combination and I was just fooling around on a short walk.

Bill Waxman

Shot with the AF-S 16-80mm f2.8-4E ED on the D500 and cropped from the original frame. ISO 100 f10.0 1/400 @80mm.

Just in case there were any concerns about the quality of the images capable with that combination. Sure, I could have used a longer lens or left the image non-cropped but...I think it speaks for itself. Real plant and real bird, by the way, despite it looking a little fake.

Is the lens I used, the very best for the camera? I don't know but as I have said in an earlier post, it certainly does the job for me. I'll make some more of my shots available if anyone is interested.

Bill Waxman

I have found that the 16-80mm f2.8~4.0 E lens that came on my D500 does an excellent job at all focal lengths within its range. What does that mean? I get pleasing photos using that combination. No, it doesn't do everything, I still need a long lens for birds in flight or sports, but for simply going out and doing a job, the combination is superb for my use.

I have used Nikon professional cameras since the first Nikon F I bought in 1965 and this is, thus far, the best one ever for my particular type of photography.

Now, isn't that what really matters to you as well?

Bill Waxman

Think about how long an apparent successor to the D300 took to appear. The D500 is actually in a class of its own and closer in intended use to the D5 than anything else in Nikon's lineup. I would not think that Nikon is likely to upgrade that model anytime soon, there being no particular need. Rather, firmware updates are more probably what will appear over time.

All the rest is simply, as stated elsewhere in these comments, marketing - at which Nikon is occasionally very adept.

Finally, it is doubtful that this is a similar event to the release of the Nikon V2 while warehouses were apparently full of V1 cameras resulting in a dramatic price reduction for awhile.

Bill Waxman