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Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Tom_W
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Greetings, Nikonians.
Canon guy here so excuse the potentially stupid questions.
I've a friend that shoots with Nikon - she has two D7200 cameras that she's used for a long time and is looking for an APS-C upgrade path.
Her concerns with going mirrorless are, of course, battery life and having to buy the adapter, but she also wants to keep her pixel density the same or higher compared to the roughly 24 mpx sensor in her 7200s.
Of course, all the new mirrorless Nikons that I see are 20.9, not a huge change, but coupled with the other concerns, she doesn't see that as a good path. I see the D7500 going for a great price these days also, but she doesn't want to give up anything she already has.
Both her cameras are fully functional, and she has but a few lenses including a Sigma 150-600 for birding (she does a LOT of birding, thus the desire for pixel density), an 18-150 (I think that's what it is, maybe 18-135), and a couple of the original kit lenses, and an older 100-400.
As a Canon guy, I can always recommend the R7 but she'd need a complete lens lineup replacement for that, and she's not financially wealthy. Ditto the 90D - a new lens lineup, and not future-compatible as much as mirrorless. Of course, even with the decent battery size of the R7, it doesn't shoot nearly as many frames on a charge as my DSLRs did.
So, looking for recommendations. Any rumors of new Nikon gear coming down the pipe? Any good reliable Nikon rumor sites with a good track record?

Thanks, everyone. Appreciate any input.

Sep 17, 2023 at 11:32 AM

Chris Dees
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

IMHO there’s no Nikon mirrorless crop camera at the same level as the D7200 at the moment.
For birding there’s de Z8 and Z9, but at a totally different price level.
If the D7200’s are getting too old, I would get a second hand D7200 with low shutter count and wait a few years.
With a little bit of luck (or a lot of luck) Nikon will bring next year a better option for DX-shooters to the market.
Adapter + F-mount lenses are most of the time working better on mirrorless than on dsrl’s.
Batteries are light, just put an extra in your pocket.

Sep 17, 2023 at 11:57 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I think if she wants to upgrade now, the simple thing is to upgrade to a D500, which is still a great DX option and would cost very little to make the switch. That ought to hold her for a couple of years, when there will no doubt be other good options at lower prices than today.

Sep 17, 2023 at 12:57 PM

Vinnie_VdB
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Buy a full frame Z body and get it done and over with. There are plenty of 2nd hand FTZ converters out there costing a fraction of a new one. Sure enough is a Z8 playing in a different league but a Z6II could work and perhaps the rumored Z6 III could be something.

Sep 17, 2023 at 01:28 PM

Ripolini
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Tom_W wrote:
Both her cameras are fully functional, and she has but a few lenses including a Sigma 150-600 for birding (she does a LOT of birding, thus the desire for pixel density), an 18-150 (I think that's what it is, maybe 18-135), and a couple of the original kit lenses, and an older 100-400.

My input to your friend is: do nothing but shooting.

P.S.: I guess the "older 100-400" is the AF 80-400/4.5-5.6D VR, the first ever Nikkor lens with image stabilization; it's a good lens on APS-C, wih slow AF though.

Sep 17, 2023 at 02:29 PM

Alan Olander
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I, too, would recommend a low mileage D500. 20.9 MP vs 24 MP isn't much of a difference, 5568 vs 6000 pixels on the long side. The D500 is much advanced over the D7200.

Sep 17, 2023 at 03:54 PM

Tom_W
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Thanks, all, for the advice. I'm just not very well-versed in the world of Nikon. She asked the question on another forum as well, and it was recommended to go with the D500. Although I can see sticking with what she has a little longer. Apparently, the D7200 was a very well-liked model.

Sep 17, 2023 at 08:06 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

D500. IF you go wth a Z body it will NOT autofocus AF-D lenses. Be aware tyhe D500 is very picky about batteries for some reason. Nikon batteries that work in my Z7 sometimes get rejected by the D500?

Sep 17, 2023 at 08:27 PM

suteetat
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I agree with Alan Olander that in Nikon aps-c world right now, D500 is the only
clear upgrade to D7200.
In mirrorless world, Z Fc actually has pretty good AF, in some ways, better than D7200 but
not for birds especially if your friend shoot bif.
A while ago, there was a talk of D500 replacement in mirrorless but that kind of went away.
It probably will happen but not immediately. If she needs to upgrade now, D500 would be the camera
to get. If she can wait, it might be next year (hopefully but you never know with Nikon),
see what Nikon might do with high performance aps-c mirrorless body but it most likely will cost
quite a bit more than used D500 now.

Sep 17, 2023 at 08:31 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I am thinking Nikon is moving away froom APS-C. Of course I may be totally wrong about this but Z6 Zf are the only APS-C cams lately. ETA forgot Z50.

Sep 17, 2023 at 08:53 PM

Tom_W
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I think that would be a bad direction for Nikon. A lot of birders out there like the APS C for pixel density. Hence the fairly popular Canon R7.

Seems like both brands are basically dropping the DSLR from their lineup. Perhaps people just aren't buying them any more.

EDIT - I should have mentioned, pixel density and price. It costs a lot to get those huge telephoto lenses, and if that's necessary, it takes a lot of people out of the hobby.

Sep 18, 2023 at 03:58 PM

runamuck
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I prefer my 100-400 on APS-C over the 150-600 on FX. At my age weight is becoming problematic.

Sep 18, 2023 at 05:07 PM

BSPhotog
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Tom_W wrote:
Greetings, Nikonians.
Canon guy here so excuse the potentially stupid questions.
I've a friend that shoots with Nikon - she has two D7200 cameras that she's used for a long time and is looking for an APS-C upgrade path.
Her concerns with going mirrorless are, of course, battery life and having to buy the adapter, but she also wants to keep her pixel density the same or higher compared to the roughly 24 mpx sensor in her 7200s.
Of course, all the new mirrorless Nikons that I see are 20.9, not a huge change, but coupled with the other concerns, she doesn't see...Show more →

What is your friend trying to fix or improve with an upgrade? The concerns you mentioned above are largely her wanting to maintain at least what she has for specs--but is she looking for AF improvements? Faster shooting? Better viewfinder?

If she wants to keep her same glass, the D500 seems like the best option. I've owned a bunch of the crop sensor Nikon DSLRs and it is head and shoulders above the rest in every way--except perhaps compactness. They stopped depreciating on the used market a few years back but they are still a bargain.

Z50/Zfc have been mentioned, but I have not found long lenses on entry-level EVFs to be much fun.

I think specifc goals and a budget would be the necessary details to give much helpful feedback for this situation.

Sep 20, 2023 at 09:06 AM

Tom_W
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

BSPhotog wrote:
What is your friend trying to fix or improve with an upgrade? The concerns you mentioned above are largely her wanting to maintain at least what she has for specs--but is she looking for AF improvements? Faster shooting? Better viewfinder?

If she wants to keep her same glass, the D500 seems like the best option. I've owned a bunch of the crop sensor Nikon DSLRs and it is head and shoulders above the rest in every way--except perhaps compactness. They stopped depreciating on the used market a few years back but they are still a bargain.

Z50/Zfc have been mentioned, but...Show more →

Well, she wants the same or better, and she wants something with a much smaller number of shots on the odometer. She has some 260,000 shots on her main body, and her other one has some significant cosmetic issues (but is still functional)

The D500 sounds like a good option, though she would prefer not to reduce the pixel count. If nothing else, it could tide her over until a new (hopefully) crop body comes out. Budget is way below what a full frame runs.

She tried a Z50 out in the store, and did not like it with a heavier lens. Not to mention battery life would be significantly shorter than her 7200.

Thanks for your insights.

Sep 20, 2023 at 03:33 PM

Tom_W
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

Good news for Jen - she just bought a D500 from B&H - it was in the "used" department, but sold as new, open box, with full Nikon warranty. A great deal for her.

She asked me if she should switch brands, and even priced out a Canon 90D and 2 lenses. It was all I could do as a Canonite to not say "get the 90D".

I stumbled across this D500 at B&H and sent her the link. Seemed to me to be a great deal for her.

Sep 21, 2023 at 02:52 PM

AcuteShadows
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Future upgrade path for D7200 user

I would also recommend the D500.

If your friend is taking photographs of rather static subjects (e.g. perched birds), then she may be able to make use of additional pixels.

Otherwise, the lenses in the price range compatible with the D7200 or any minor upgrade to the D7200 will often not make full use of the additional pixels beyond 20-24MP on a DX-size sensor anyway. If you are shooting in low light or with fast shutter speeds, then high ISO values (and thus noise) will determine the actual resolution. In this case, large f/2.8 telephoto lenses would help, but at a price that far exceeds that of the D7200 or D500.

Sep 21, 2023 at 06:16 PM


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