Next move up from my trusty old D5300

I am looking to upgrade from my ol' reliable D5300 , It has served me well for years ! I think it was perhaps the best of all 5XXX cameras.

I shoot landscapes ,most often in early morning or late evening low light 90 % on a tripod. Macros of insects and flowers usually cloudy or full daylight sometimes in brightly lit sun,most often handheld or a monopod.. A few portraits.
I don't shoot much indoors.Don't really consider flash photography right now

I'm trying to figure the next logical Nikon (because of my lens stock),and I just plain like Nikon -that will improve dynamic range,autofocusing when I use it, and better ISO performance. with less grainy images . This is a headache.

My current lenses Sigma 17-50 2.8 DX , Tokina 11-16 DX, Sigma 150mm FF macro (a fantastic beast on DX) , 35mm1.8G and the Nikon 18-200 VR are well tailored for what I do.
Screw drive would be a benefit if I branch out in lenses some day,but I'm in no rush to get more lenses.

A D7200 ,while a great camera doesn't have a flip screen. I value a flip screen more than two card slots.The articulating screen on the D5300 is nice,but a flip would be better because of L bracket fit.
If I go full frame, I won't be able to upgrade my prized DX lenses for a while,leaving only three of five for full frame images without the crop and lesser quality;otherwise I would consider a used D750.

Is the D7500 a good choice for landscapes? I don't hear many photographers talk about it.
What good choices in F mount are there for what I do ,and what have your experiences been?
Thanks for any feedback.

I upgraded from my D5300 to a D7500 about 12 months ago.

The main reason why I upgraded to the D7500 was my eyesight isn't as good as it was and the viewfinder on the D7500 is much larger.

I also went for the D7500 for the following reasons.

Flip screen as I used the articulated screen a lot.

I also use GPS which is built on on the D5300, using Snapbridge with the D7500 is not quite as good but more than satisfactory once you get used to it.

The AF is better than the D7200 and I didn't want the D500. The general features are improved over the D7200.

I didn't need a second card slot. I also have a D800 which I use if I need a backup/second body.

There are some things the D7500 can't do which the D7200 can. Older screw drive lens do not work as well for example. This didn't concern me as I am not interested in lens which are that old. Nikon Lens Compatibility (kenrockwell.com)

I am sure those which prefer the D7200 will tell you why the D72000 is better than the D7500. If you want to save some money and use the older lens then buy the D7200 (or D500).

If you want better noise capability then you have to go full frame but you won't see any difference in almost every situation unless you look for it.

Thanks for your first-hand info. Bbetter AF would be nice. Does that work better even in low light?

I'm not hooked on the screwdrive ,just thought it would be nice if I got any older D lenses with a fast aperture. I do like bokeh sometimes.

Do you have thoughts on the highlight weighted metering?

I think the D7500 is the camera you want, especially if double card slots and grip capability aren’t that important to you, but a flip up rear screen is. Performance wise I also think it’s a (slight) step up from the older D7200.

The D500 is a big step up in terms of build quality and performance but it’s more oriented towards action and nature photography, and of course is priced significantly higher.

D750 + Nikon 18-35mm AF-S seems the logical 'budget' upgrade for your landscapes, although you would lose ~1mm at the wide end. ( I am only going off specs and reviews here...)

Problem with D7xxx is that the sensor upgrade may be too minor in terms of high iso noise, e.g. see studio scene tool elsewhere on this site.

Possibly would be helpful to post sample of where high iso noise is causing problems (e.g. lifting shadows, or handheld macro).

Thank you ! I like both the 7200 and the 7500, but really want the flip screen.It's so nice when you are shooting at/near ground level. Even when I didn't use it, the 5300 screen could be flipped flat backwards so the screen faced in. Nice.

Any personal insight into strongpoints of the focus system of the D7500? I've read so many specs and figures; now I'm looking for first-hand experiences.

Living out in cowflop land has scenic advantages,but walking into a store and trying out a camera isn't one of them . . ;-)

Thanks,rdavy.
I have considered the D750. In an ideal world where I wouldn't have to sell my DX lenses and replace with similar 2.8 FF counterparts,that would be a go;just not affordable with my pocketbook.
The D750 in my consideration the ideal "Goldilocks" camera, but good used 750's are going for the new price of the 7500. I take good care of my cameras and lenses, but they don't hold much value in a reselling market.

F8AD said:

Thank you ! I like both the 7200 and the 7500, but really want the flip screen.It's so nice when you are shooting at/near ground level. Even when I didn't use it, the 5300 screen could be flipped flat backwards so the screen faced in. Nice.
Any personal insight into strongpoints of the focus system of the D7500? I've read so many specs and figures; now I'm looking for first-hand experiences.
Living out in cowflop land has scenic advantages,but walking into a store and trying out a camera isn't one of them . . ;-)

Click to expand...

I don't have a D7500 (I do have a D7200 and a D500) but I have used a friend's a few times.

The D7500's focus system does seem a little faster and seems to track better than the D7200 but in reality this only comes into play for fast moving subjects like birds in flight (at which the D500 is considerably better than both of them).

As good a camera as the D5300 is all of these newer models are a step up in build quality, durability and weather sealing and the many extra button controls on the back means you won't have to delve into menus to make changes. They will also support older screw drive Nikon lenses many of which can be had inexpensively.

My upgrade from a D5500, rather than a D5300, was to a used D500. It took a while to find one in the right condition and at the right price but IMHO it was certainly worth it. Performance, build quality etc are all a significant step up. So long as the size and weight don't matter too much and you can get over buying used rather than new (and I sure love buying new) I am sure you won't regret it

New D610 bodies are under $700. and a rock solid camera by every measure. A nice jump up in performance.

Some specs:https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D5300

The D610 was an excellent camera in its day but is now almost 8 years old and has no flip screen, which the OP wants.

Sactojim said:

New D610 bodies are under $700. and a rock solid camera by every measure. A nice jump up in performance.

Some specs:https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D5300

Click to expand...

This would be my pick too, if it weren't for the flippy screen restriction. I have a D500 for birds and wildlife, but still choose my D610 for everything else. I love the output from this camera!

To the OP, I think you first need to decide if you want to go FF or not. If that is your goal, the D750 has the flip screen and would be a nice upgrade for the kinds of things you shoot. A D610 would another great choice, but you lose the flip screen.

DX is still great and you already have some nice lenses. The D7500 seems to fit your needs well. The D7200 is also very good. You might look at this link that compares your D5300 with the D7500 and D750.

I moved from D5300 to D7500. Things I really like about D7500:

1. Viewfinder
2. Size/Ergonomics/Handling
3. AF system is better, I especially like Group Area focus (D7200 does not have this)
4. Metering system is better
5. LCD screen that flips up (D7200 does not have this)

You have to decide what features are important to you. Both D7500 and D7200 are fine cameras. For me personally, the D7500 is superior.

" newer models are a step up in build quality, durability and weather sealing and the many extra button controls on the back means you won't have to delve into menus to make changes. They will also support older screw drive Nikon lenses many of which can be had inexpensively."



Exactly my thinking.

The additional buttons instead of endless menu scrolling is fantastic, and the customization is an advantage. Weather resistance is also a plus. I'm shopping for one now.
Thanks to all of you.

Unless it's broken I think another dx camera will not be an upgrade for image quality. You could go with a more modern d5500 or d5600 if you are worried about your current camera dying. That might give you a touch better sensor performance, but it would be marginal.

You're probably better off getting a used Z5 or Z6 when prices come down. With a Z14-30S or 24-70 Z4 and a full frame sensor that would be an improvement. Used Z7 would be even better for landscape. I'd probably choose the Z6 over Z5 if you rely on AF in low light.

Good thinking and a rational choice, but the 7500 has the features I need, and is also cheaper used.At this point,I don't see the need for the additional buffer or physical size.
Focus points are definitely a plus. Thanks!

Going to the next D5XXX doesn't seem like an upgrade .There will be no Z camera in my future ,unless next year Nikon decides it's time for a "premium" DX Z. There are too many compromises using F mount on a FTZ adapter -some lenses may not utilize VR and I have a good stock of DX lenses.Shockingly low battery life ( all mirrorless ) ,and I'm not happy with the limited number of Z lenses and the upgrade cost. The 5300 has about the same gram weight as many mirrorless brands, though. I know I'd like focus peaking,though. ;-)

IF I were to go mirrorless ,I would grudgingly sell all the Nikon and start with Fuji.

If I would go full frame,I'd probably wait it out:

"I have considered the D750. In an ideal world where I wouldn't have to sell my DX lenses and replace with similar 2.8 FF counterparts,that would be a go;just not affordable with my pocketbook.
The D750 in my consideration the ideal "Goldilocks" camera, but good used 750's are going for the new price of the 7500. I take good care of my cameras and lenses, but they don't hold much value in a reselling market." as I remarked to rdavy.

I'm shopping for the 7500.

Love the D7500 so far.
The Fn buttons and control wheel combinations are so much better than scrolling through menus. I have set it up how i think I'll use it,but have only taken 10 or so images to see how they look. Better out of camera colors. Sharp focus with three lenses I've tried.

I have one nagging issue that I can't seem to find an answer to ; hoping someone may help. Is the status display on top supposed to stay on when the camera is turned off ? ?
It just shows the number of shots left on the card when I turn it off - unless I remove the battery. Seems like a battery drain to me.

Any helpful comments are appreciated .

Yes, that's normal. My D7200 and D500 both do it.

While it is a battery drain it's probably minuscule. I mean I've had digital watches that display much more info for years before needing a battery change.

And, I just pulled out my old D90 which hasn't had its batteries charged in many months. It's showing the number of shots left too.

Edit: You should also probably check your D7500's manual. My D7200 manual states that this display is dependent on your memory card, and "some memory cards in rare cases only display this information when the camera is on". My D500 manual makes no such statement. The things you learn!