Upgrading from D3400 - What's next?

[kreagz]

Hello everyone, first time posting after a couple years of lurking and reading.

I was looking for some advice for upgrading my current kit, as well as some lenses that I should be looking into getting.

For reference, I currently have a Nikon D3400 with the following lens: (all purchased about 3 years ago) as well as a tripod.

• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G DX
• Nikon AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5 - 5.6G DX VR
• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4 -5.6G II ED DX VR

For background - I'm an amateur photographer (heavy emphasis on amateur) with most of my experience being walking around cities and hiking in upstate NY and snapping photos just for personal use and friends/family. I also have a trip to Yosemite coming up in a month.

I love carrying the D3400 around, usually with the 18-55 attached, and frequent swaps with the 35mm. I carry the 55-200 only on a portion of my trips and barely take it out - it worked great on an alligator tour in New Orleans though. I have noticed time when I miss out on a shot here and there, usually with the camera being "too slow" in my opinion.

I would describe my goals for the next couple years to be mostly photographing trips hiking/camping/nature, and traveling around the US / Europe shooting tourist attractions / museums, etc. I do play in a dodgeball league and would like to shoot some of the games (this would be for free/in exchange for a free season of playing. not a paid gig), and I have never shoot wildlife / birds in the past.

I've gone down a rabbit hole since I started researching a couple weeks ago. Started out targeting the D7500, then comparing it to the D7200. Eventually I got into the D750 vs D500 vs z50/z6 existential battle.

P.S. I recently found the following deal for about $1,300 after taxes and fees etc. Wondering if i should just jump at this

For Sale:

• D500 - 10,193 shutter count (purchased Jan 2019)
• AF-S Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX Lens. (A+ condition)
• AF-S Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED DX Lens. (Shows cosmetic wear and tear from filter etc)

 

[bmoag]

If you want to leverage your lenses in Nikon APS world the vertical upgrade is to the D500 or D7500. These use a 20mp sensor (the 24-20 difference is irrelevant) and a pentaprism viewfinder and can record in 4k. If you have not seen the difference between a pentamirror and a pentaprism viewfinder you might be surprised.

If willing to start over the Nikon Z50 two lens package is really an excellent value for your purposes. The one "problem" is that it will be a long time before there are more native mount lenses other than the two kit lenses. The Z 50 kit lenses perform better than those you have so it would make no sense to buy the (in my opinion insanely priced and minimally functional) FTZ adapter, they should be given away with Z cameras for the little they do and the quality of their design.

If you are willing to move off Nikon and willing to consider not only other brands but other formats the choices are wide open.

In your list: if the D500 and the 17-55 2.8 are in good shape at a good price that would be a vertical move both in terms of the camera and lens quality. The 18-140 is just another honking travel zoom, I think comparable offerings from Tamron are superior (lighter, less expensive, equal optical quality).

 

[Autonerd]

I was looking for some advice for upgrading my current kit, as well as some lenses that I should be looking into getting.

For reference, I currently have a Nikon D3400 with the following lens: (all purchased about 3 years ago) as well as a tripod.

Hey there! It'd be helpful to know why you want to upgrade, and what it is about your current setup that you want to improve upon.

BTW, I used to live in Rochester and New York State is one of my favorite places to travel and take pictures. I love all those little canal towns. I'm fortunate that my job takes me all over the country (or at least it used to, pre-COVID), and I don't think any state does charming small towns as well as New York. Even the crappy ones are lovely!

Aaron