DX upgrade

Bub

Senior Member
I have been shooting with a d3400 for over a year now. I have been enjoying the hobby a lot, mostly photos of my kids and cars. I have been considering selling my 3400 body and upgrading, I think the entry level body is limiting the quality of photo I'm looking for. I've made the decision that I will stick to DX format, with that said where would be a good upgrade for me that I can really grow with. I've been looking at the d7200,7500 or just going all in with a d500. Thanks in advance

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You might even consider the D7100. There is not a lot of difference in it and the D7200.
I would take the D7200 over the D7500
If money is no object I would get the D500

D7100 $799.95
D7200 $999.95
D7500 $1,249.95
D500 $1,899.95

these are prices from the Nikon site. You may be able to get these at a lower price on different sites. But beware if the prices are much lower unless they are used or refurbished.
 

Bub

Senior Member
I am considering the 500 only because I don't want to be in a position where I will want to upgrade in another year or two. I'd rather be good with quality and features for a while

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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I have been shooting with a d3400 for over a year now. I have been enjoying the hobby a lot, mostly photos of my kids and cars. I have been considering selling my 3400 body and upgrading, I think the entry level body is limiting the quality of photo I'm looking for. I've made the decision that I will stick to DX format, with that said where would be a good upgrade for me that I can really grow with. I've been looking at the d7200,7500 or just going all in with a d500. Thanks in advance
What lenses do you have currently?

Since it sounds like the D500 is not out of your price-range maybe strike a happy-medium with say, a D7200 *and* a nice new prime or zoom?
 

Bub

Senior Member
What lenses do you have currently?

Since it sounds like the D500 is not out of your price-range maybe strike a happy-medium with say, a D7200 *and* a nice new prime or zoom?
I favor a Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 and a Nikkor 50mm 1.8, I also have a kit 70-300mm

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Texas

Senior Member
I admire folks who need and plan to "upgrade" every year or two so their equipment can keep up with their skills.

Don't think I'll live long enough to master all my D7100 features, especially all the fine points of remote flash. I may, however, wear it out before mastering it.

Still does not stop me from sampling all sorts of lenses...
 

Bub

Senior Member
I admire folks who need and plan to "upgrade" every year or two so their equipment can keep up with their skills.

Don't think I'll live long enough to master all my D7100 features, especially all the fine points of remote flash. I may, however, wear it out before mastering it.

Still does not stop me from sampling all sorts of lenses...
Lol I'm not planning to upgrade yearly, I just don't want to be wanting more out of it for a while

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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I favor a Sigma 17-50mm 2.8 and a Nikkor 50mm 1.8, I also have a kit 70-300mm

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I loved my D7100 when I had it. Great camera. The D7200 was an improvement (primarily for the crippled buffer) while the D7500 I found to be a confusing release. The D7500 has some sweet upgrades but feels "crippled" at the same time For instance the D7500 has but one storage slot and its rear LCD resolution is lower than the D7200's. Still, the D7500 *does* have the better EXPEED 5 processor, group auto-focus, auto-focus fine tune, a much deeper buffer, better high ISO and so forth...

The D7500, all things, considered, is probably what I'd suggest not knowing the particulars of what you shoot, personal preferences, etc.

You seem to have a pretty decent, well rounded selection of lenses. No real suggestions from me on that front.
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
The D7500 is a somewhat backwards step for Nikon from some of their previous D7x00 bodies. They are working on making a bigger gap between pro and consumer gear. The D7200 is a capable body that should serve you well. BUT if you want a body that you won't outgrow for a while, the D500 won't get upgraded for quite a while. Nikon doesn't release new pro DX bodies too often. Good luck with whatever decision you make. :)
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
I will join the club and recommend the D7200. The D500 only has an significant advantage over the D7200if you are heavily into sports and action, which you indicate you are not. I have often stated it was too bad Nikon didn't stick the D7200 guts in the D300s body and call it a D400 :encouragement:
 

Bub

Senior Member
I will join the club and recommend the D7200. The D500 only has an significant advantage over the D7200if you are heavily into sports and action, which you indicate you are not. I have often stated it was too bad Nikon didn't stick the D7200 guts in the D300s body and call it a D400 :encouragement:
Then that might play into my longevity of the camera. My kids are little now, sports could be on the horizon as well as my automotive photography I would like to get into drag race photogrpahy as well. I wouldn't be heavy into those areas but will most likely add them to my portfolio. It looks like my decision is the logical choice the 7200 or go all in on a d500

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Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
By the time your kids are grown and into sports that need a faster frames per second rate, maybe the cameras will have changed quite a bit. I've been told by a Nikon rep that camera bodies are an expense where lenses are an investment.

So my suggestion is to go with the D7200 and with the money saved, get yourself a few prime lenses 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8 and 85 1.8. With this combination, you'll be ahead and when times come to get a D500 or D7,300 (depending on how fast they change models), you should upgrade while loosing less.

But it's all a question of how much money is available and how much you want the best right now. Best of luck deciding. :)
 

Texas

Senior Member
It will probably be all mirrorless all the time when the kids get older.
Look what has happened in the last 15 years with DSLR's. Like going 0 to 100.
 

aroy

Senior Member
I really wonder what do you want from a higher priced DX body? Is it dual SD slots, or more AF points, or larger buffer, or the extra LCD, or a more robust build?

As far as image quality goes, both the D3400 and D7200 are pretty close to each other. Nikon bodies are quite robust. My D3300 is now 4 years and 95,000 images old and it is still going strong. So I guess that your D3400 will last a few years more.

If I were to upgrade, then I would go the FF way for better DR. Rest of the feature are of not much use - 2xSD, Extra LCD, More AF (as I normally use Single Point AF with central sensor most of the time), Faster burst rate (and bigger buffer), and so on. In fact my ideal camera body would be a Full Frame D3300 as it is. A screw driver AF is welcome, but newer lenses that are replacing screw drive AF are way better.
 

C. Hand

Senior Member
If you are planning on another upgrade, I would go with the D500 just for resale, but I have the D7100 and the D7200 was available when I bought it. I love it and would not trade it for any other crop sensor. I have already vowed to keep it when I step up to a D850.
 

Chris@sabor

Senior Member
Here is my experience. Granted I am primarily a wildlife shooter. Started with D7000 which is an excellent camera. Moved to D7200 with slightly better focusing, high ISO and image quality. Now, D500. Every single image I shoot, whether it be wildlife, landscapes, sunrises, ect. seem to me to be far superior to either previous camera. Focusing, unbelievable! Buffer, incredible! High ISO, unrivaled in dx and almost good as some full frame! The controls and grip are just awesome. The only thing I would add to make this the perfect camera is a silent shutter. Don't waste your time and money, if you are serious about photography the D500 should be your choice in dx!
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
If you will be taking pictures of things that move, the D500 is certainly better than the D7200. I have both. The focusing system is much better in the D500. Also, the focus points are spread all the way across the screen. That can be very helpful.

Other things that make the D500 a better overall camera in my opinion:

Construction, it's much beefier and weather proofed.

Bigger, brighter viewfinder

Auto AF fine tune. Some people like this, some don't.

Articulating touch screen - this can be great with live view, and makes things like picture review easier.

Focus point joy stick.

Button lighting for nighttime work

Huge buffer for shooting continuous frames, and 10 frames per second. This is a really big deal for those of us who shoot sports and wildlife. You may not need it often, but when you do it is the difference between getting all the action or not.

Dedicated back button focus button.

While some will tell you otherwise, it has been my experience that battery life is longer. Other users have reported short battery life, but often that is due to settings that can easily be changed, or using inferior batteries.

I never shoot video, so I won't comment, there.

All in all, if the money is there, I would always pick the D500 over the D7200.

With that said, though, I love my D7200 and still use it all the time. I would never consider it anything but a great camera. I use it as my wildlife backup and my primary landscape camera.

Also, I've never shot a D3400, but if you can identify all the features that you feel are missing, that might help you with you decision, as well.
 
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