In your price range, I would suggest a Vanguard 263AT with a BBH 100 or BBH200 Both heads use Arca compatible mounting plates..I have this tripod with the GH200 pistol grip, but it does have some limitations.The 2 BBH heads also have a self leveling feature..All good value for what you are looking for..
These are sold by Amazon, B&H, and Adorama..All with GREAT service, and have this tripod/head combo within your price range..
Good luck!
Eddie
Save some "serious" money, and get this very highly recommended 23" IPS monitor which I have been using for my photo editing for almost 2 years.. Tim Grey has great things to say about this monitor.. Colors are great, and a good match from screen to print.. It tilts, swivels and pivots and is height adjustable. Out of stock right now, but due in a couple of weeks..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0053YKE72/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1405165889&sr=8-1&keywords=viewsonic+vp2365-led&condition=new
I use a Nikon D7000 with a 12-24 Nikkor and process "realistically" with HDR... 3 shots, processed in camera raw..Room cleared of clutter, and all available lights "on". It's necessary to correct as much as possible for any w/a distortion that may come up..All the same for interior and exterior
Another way that works for me for even lighting is to use a speedlight flash in a Gary Fong Lightsphere diffuser and pump up the ISO to around 600....Most of these images will never be blown-up larger than maybe 5x7, and noise will not be any issue at all(even at MUCH larger sizes)..From my own experience technique is the answer for real estate shots...
ALWAYS, ALWAYS on a tripod!
I have a VIEWSONIC VP 2365 23" led IPS monitor.It tilts and swivels..I get great color out of the box for viewing , Photoshop editing, and printing....around $250 from Amazon..Highly rated by may photographers as an excellent monitor with GREAT "bang-for-the- buck"..I purchased this monitor over a year ago, and have had a screen to print match that's very acceptable..It replaced an aging NEC 24" LCD monitior hat was not giving me a good match, even following calibration..See it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Viewsonic-VP2365-LED-23-Inch-Monitor-Black/dp/B0053YKE72/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401275935&sr=8-1&keywords=viewsonic+vp2365-led
All FYI
"PAHSTPIX
Get on http://www.youtube.com and search for Anthony Morganti . He has some GREAT tutorials on Lightroom at NO COST to you, and very easy to follow. find his tutorial on "organizing in Lightroom", and start with that one..Have fun!
Eddie (PAHTSPIX)
Hi Rick..
I'm in the same boat as F-Stop12..I also have 3 or 4 Topaz filters that I use occasionally, but I bought the whole "Nik(Google)" package a year or so ago for around $125 with a discount, and I find that it's more intuitive than the Topaz set. All of mine are plug-ins to Adobe CC for Photographers which I subscribed to for like $9.99/month..
A GREAT deal all the way around, and the NIK programs integrate very well with Adobe PS and Lightroom..
Eddie Wiseman (pahtspix)
I, like some others would recommend the 50mm 1.8 lens, as you have stated that an 85mm 1.8 would be "too long" to get a full body image..The 85mm would be my 1st choice, but you would need some "working room" to use it for full length shots..On your camera, a 50mm would give you a "75mm crop factor", while still maintaining a relatively close distance from your subject..It's kind of a great all-around portrait lens with great out of focus backgrounds at wide apertures..
Good Luck!
Eddie (pahtspix)
I, like some others would recommend the 50mm 1.8 lens, as you have stated that an 85mm 1.8 would be "too long" to get a full body image..The 85mm would be my 1st choice, but you would need some "working room" to use it for full length shots..On your camera, a 50mm would give you a "75mm crop factor", while still maintaining a relatively close distance from your subject..It's kind of a great all-around portrait lens with great out of focus backgrounds at wide apertures..
Good Luck!
Eddie (pahtspix)
The lenses you're using for your current camera will give you the same results you're seeing with your D5200..A 18-55 will still view as an 18-55mm, a 70-300mm will still work as a 70-300mm..The D7100 will be able to resolve a little more.. The d7100 does have more features
Why do you wish to change? If you are NOT getting great results from your D5200, maybe something is wrong with the camera or your technique(s)?
Your D5200 is considered to be a very good camera.
I currently own a D7000..If I made the jump, I would go for a D7100.
Good Luck on whatever you decide
Ditto..I have a 105mm Nikon Non/D for full frame film and for crop sensor APSC..It.s the sharpest lens I own..Great for portraits as well as macro..I bought mineused about 12 years ago.If you have plans for ever migrating to a full-frame sensor Nikon like a D610, do not get the 85mm..Also, there are MANY used ones on the internet with sellers such as KEH Camera, and many choices on eBay (make sure the seller has done at least 50 deals, and close to 100% positive feedback..I've bought and sold quite a few cameras and lenses on eBay.
Good luck
IMHO, they're ALL good lenses..I personally own a Nikon 105 f2.8 Micro AF (non-D) I purchased used about 15 years ago with very low miles..I currently use it with my own D7000, but have used it with a N90S, an FM3,a D50, a D70S, and D80. It's aGreat portrait lens as well, but is so sharp (it's the sharpest lens I own!), you may need to "tone-down" the sharpness for portraits. If I were buying a Macro today, I would probably go for at least a 150mm-200mm to give me 1:1 at a further distance from tmy subject. Sigma makes a great 150mm Macro BTW..
Good Luck in your choice!
Eddie
http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Digital-Photography-Guides/dp/1285763092/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391971328&sr=8-1&keywords=david+busch+nikon+d7100
http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Compact-Field- Guides/dp/1285763114/ref=pd_sim_b_1
I have BOTH of these..The big one for my home base, and the small spiral bound for my camera bag.."INDISPENSIBLE!"
Pahtspix
I very much agree with those that have recommended the David Busch manuals..I have his book on the D7000, and the smaller camera bag sized version that contains most of the
same info and easy to follow style with MANY color references throughout, using very legible type..Absolutely the BEST references on specific cameras that I've ever used in 35 years of shooting..A good read, and an excellent reference book!
The biggest "MISS" on this HP as far as I can tell is that the monitor doesn't swivel to the "portrait" position for editing a "vertical " image.. Much nicer to have this feature for editing a LARGE vertical image actual size on the screen to give you a better idea of your final results..That one is a MUST for me for a picture editing setup.
Eddie(PAHTSPIX)
Hi ..
Like most everyone has said, get an "IPS" type monitor.The angle of view on an IPS is usually 178 derees across and up and down. The Hanspree specs lack this. I've be doing Photoshop editing for about 12 years, and I now use a Viewsonic VP2365-LED..GREAT monitor for around $250 from Amazon and others..It also tilts and swivels..Many of those in the know will point you to this one..It's endorsed by Tim Gray as well..
Eddie (pahtspix)