The Nikon D850 would be great but it's $3200 for body. I just bought a D810 for less than half that price, many used 810s are available because people are switching to the D850. I got a D810 with 3000 shutter clicks on ebay. It will do the job without breaking the budget and allow for a good FX lense purchase.
I really like it too, great picture.
I am also 74 and selling my D7000. Just bought a D7500 and D810. One lense for D7500, 18-200 zoom. Bought 1 lense for D810, a Sigma 24-105 ART. Paid $7200 for D7500 (5000 clicks) and $1300 for D810 (3000 clicks)
I plan to travel more starting with western parks in spring. D810 is quite heavy compared to D7500. The D810 till stay inbackpack for use on tripod at select sites. The D7500 will be my walk around camera on a shoulder harness. I love the new D7500 features, articulating screen, touch screen, etc. The Sigma 24-105 was reviewed Northrup photo on youtube with high marks.
It sounds like you want to start at the top with pro grade equiptment. A beginner could start with less expensive DX camera and learn all you can before taking the next step. I have had D80, D90,
D7000 and recently purchased a D7500. Each camera step-up has a learning curve. I just printed two 20x30 canvas from 16 meg D7000, looks pretty good. As I look back in my pictures I see a lot wrong, mostly my fault but some image files are too small for stock agencies. I plan a FX purchase in near future for a trip to national parks. The FX for high detail tripod shots and my D7500 for walk around. Are you going to print very large images for gallery sale or just for your own pleasure.
I believe it is Tony Northrup (youtube) did comparisons and found the lens weight is still heavy although the body is lighter. The combination causes camera on tripod to want to dip downward. I would wait awhile for things to fall out, the D500 is a good camera. Prices may come down depending on tarrif wars.
You need to measure the distance from the side of the camera and your battery door. I have a D7000 and found a lot of brackets (generic & 3 legged thing) were about 100mm which would block my door.
I bought a Desmond L plate on Amazon for 19.95 and it has a base plate of 80mm which clears the battery door. The bracket works fine. It needs a cushion between plate and camera, I had small thin cork circles on the plate, I have seen rubber available. The other drawback with generic plates is they usually do not allow access to the plugins on the camera end. I really dont use themanyway. The other option is to go with the 100mm and place far enough left to clear doors and may give access to plugins. $19.95/$50.00++
I have used Sams and not happy with results. Canvas print at Costco was on canvas and stretcher, Sams ran a special so I tried them. Sams printed on canvas embossed paper (cardboard) that folded in on the sides to look like a stretcher, cheap results. Local Costcos in SW Florida have also closed, ordered a 4x6 and 5x7 2 days ago. Will be delivered by the 10th of Sept, not like it use to be but still cheap and I hope good. I had my monitor set to local printer machine, mail order I dont know.
I just bought En-El15a battery and have 2 MH-25 chargers (wall plug & cord type) I researched topic and found they are interchangeable. MH-25 takes a little longer to charge En15a battery than the newer MH-25a but its not worth the money when I have two.
One shot of many from photo session
I have used Sam's for 1 20x30 canvas and first print was way too dark, second time ok. Canvas print was on cardboard that folded up like a canvas wrap but way cheaper looking.
