Like almost every pro Nikon shooter, I’m eagerly awaiting the new Nikon D850. In the meantime, I needed an updated backup camera for my Nikon D810. I wanted one good enough to use for “pro” work, but small and light enough that I could easily carry it in a messenger bag with my drone for field work. I’d already shot with the Nikon D500 and Nikon D750, which are both excellent cameras, but decided to be a little more adventurous and purchase the newer Nikon D7500, that fits many of the features of the Nikon D500 into a smaller, less-expensive, package.

After shooting in a variety of situations (wildlife, commercial client work, landscapes) with the D7500, I’m really pleased. I purchased it in a value bundle with the 18-140mm “kit” lens for $1546 from B&H, but you can also get just the Nikon D7500 camera body for $1246.

My full review of the Nikon D7500 is published at Extremetech.com. I encourage you to head over there to read it if you’re still curious about whether it is the right next camera for you. In the meantime, here are a few sample images that didn’t get included in that review:

For our Puffin photography, I paired the Nikon D7500 with the inexpensive,
but quite good, Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary lens. You can see
more images from that lens in my full review of it.
[At under $1K currently from B&H the lens is an amazing value!]

One of the many great things about the many years we have been photographing bears
in the same location is that they are quite comfortable with our presence. This shot used
a focal length of 100mm (150mm effective) and is only slightly cropped.

The Nikon D7500 has an excellent Autofocus system for a prosumer camera.
I had no problem locking on to a variety of subjects with it.

Another advantage of going light with gear is mobility.
These juvenile bears managed to move at the same time they wrestled,
so capturing the action required keeping up with them.

If you'd like to take images like these, please join us in July, 2018.
It'll be our 19th year photographing the bears of Lake Clark Park!

Full disclosure: Yes, I bought the camera and lens for full retail price, and no, no one paid me to do so.