Another great image.... Did you get the PM I sent you???

Thank you so much for your thoughtful answer and helpful hints!! I have confirmed my settings to "jpeg fine", and I suspect at least PART of my issue is pp program that is antiquated at best, and obsolete in all probability. I do not currently have computing power to efficiently pp raw images. I am sure when that happens, I will have better success at salvaging what the D7500 captures.
I have already reformatted the card, so i cannot try the "D lighting" technique on these images, but I will definitely try that moving forward.

I am always torn on using my limited budget for faster/better glass or better pp hardware/software. Always a balance act for me, and I am sure many others also.

Thanks again. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into helping me

Interesting settings, why the extremely high Aperture??? What effect were you hoping that would provide? Just curious....

Great comments all. Thank you. I ended up having much more time that I originally figured I would. When I arrived in the area, I was hoping to get shots of the subject flying, so as I approached, I had the settings set at a higher shutter speed. As I found that the subject was not as skittish as I had planned, I was able to not only walk around the subject (from a distance) to "choose" the best background I could, I was also able to adjust various shutter speeds, aperture, and ISO settings to see what happened. I did not get a single image from about 150 that had the breast feathers detailed. (of the 150, I would say that about 125 were acceptable for focus and exposure (relatively speaking) and I only posted a few to show variety.

Thanks to all

A couple of young hawks were prowling the neighborhood this morning. Not as shy as the parents, even though the screeching let me know that they were around.

The lighting was really difficult, but I had time to try several combinations of ISO, shutter, and aperture. As I look at my results, the chest feathers seem to be overexposed as there is not much detail in them. When I look at the same images thru the back of the camera, there is NEVER any "blinkies" on the bird, but often the background has overexposed "blinkies" showing.

Does my D7500 just not have enough IQ to capture the chest feathers clearly, or do any of you have any suggestions as to different settings to help capture this?

Thank you for your help and suggestions.

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It's always interesting to me when opinions are posted by those who don't seem to have any images worth posting... In this case from either card from your camera...

I bought mine used in Sept' 18 for $825.00. It had less than 2000 shutter clicks. I would spend those same dollars again. I am well pleased with this piece of equipment.

Like them all.. LOVE #4

Great captures Vic... looks like # 2 needs a bit of post processing to bring out the colors of the subject and diminish the distraction of the background.... IMHO.

No question the camera work in all of these is TOP SHELF!!!

HOLY #(@*..... That might be one of the best series of captures I have ever seen on UHH..... AMAZING

Now just "clean up" the spots on the water and I'll frame it and put it on my wall...

number two for crop... but shift bird and reflection to the left so that there is more perceived motion in the image... looks like the subject is moving in a direction, not static....

Not sure your distance, or time of day, but here is what I would try:

Manual with auto ISO

Shutter speed 1250 to catch the smoke and flamed crisply

Aperture probably 9 or 10, to get some depth of field

Auto ISO with Max set at 5000 or 6400
To catch proper exposure in RAPIDLY changing light

Center weighted meter

Single focus point

Burst mode with bbf continuous focus

And I would see the exposure Compensation to -.7 to try to minimize over exposure of the flames

That's a lot for a newbie, but that d3500 can do a ton more than most give it credit for

That's where I'd start

Bless you for being purist. But you do realize that not everyone is more interested in camera function vs. captures of great images. I often wonder if those who seem to pride themselves on the purity of total manual also only use images SOOC or if Photoshop et.al is an acceptable non manual alteration. If one is so skilled at using pure manual, then zero editing should be needed.

I am also get curious with purists who don't have a body of images posted. I admire good work, and pure manual, SOOC images would be great to see.

My "discounted" images are in my link Below....

The OP had a valid question, but I don't think your purist response was even an attempt to be helpful. But who am I? I just use what I can to get the best images I can... Go figure....

My $0.02, and it probably isn't worth that

2 hours east of Evansville....