Older DSLR recommendation.

I found a foreigner, who was involved with the club, and arranged that they got my equipment. I then went for Nikon D90X with backpack, which I still have. The day I find a similar club/orphanage with somebody interested, they will get the D300 and D700 and the batteries and CF cards, then at least some unfortunate kids can get something different from old smartphones with games!

That's a good use of old equipment. A neighbor has asked me to post to my club FB page to sell her D5000 kit with 18-55, sigma tele, and an old Nikon 55mm f/3.5 (with rabbit ears), and a Pentax K1000. No taker, So I am buying her D5000 kit to donate to New Urban Art for youths. When I told her, she said I can have the whole thing for $100. Good deal. Good neighbor.

The problem with donating is that to make sure that recipients appreciate and use your donation and not just stash them somewhere and feeling bad because you gave them inferior stuff.

that is the reason I still have the 2 cameras. During the last 8 years I have gone to orphanages 2-3 times/year with donations, but the staff is in general very young and only to smartphones and the manager is an elderly lady, who is very good at taking care of children, but things/assets is so so.

These days I buy used, the last new item I bought was the D600. My Fuji X has been used, my film cameras have been used, going forward they all would be used unless new isn't that much more. My 2 newer Nikon lenses are used.

I think for a hobby and as you say it might be a temporary thing and knowing many people at my camera club from 20s years old to 60s and 70s year olds. Many do not have full frame bodies, 3 F2.8 trio trinity pro zooms. I think if you look at the NZ Photography Society and the UK the average age group might be 60yrs. Many haven't embraced the fancy new mirrorless gear irrespective of brand. Many are still using 6 or 8yr old dSLRs, some with a 24-70 2.8 and then a macro or a nifty fifty maybe a consumer 70-300 etc ... Yes a few do have 3 pro zooms but not many of the group.

I think the D7000 and the D700 full frame are both great cameras still, maybe they don't do video not sure how important for you. They are not that expensive now. I think some of the D5000 series can be an option too cos it is smaller. Even with my own travels I have thought that it would be more convenient than to lug my D600. As a general hobby I've never found it truly necessary to have E lenses compatibility or dual card slots etc ... Oh yeah I still have a working D70 not the best image thou or for a night evening walk after dinner re: higher ISOs.

The problem with donating is that to make sure that recipients appreciate and use your donation and not just stash them somewhere and feeling bad because you gave them inferior stuff.

A good point. I will ask.

I think in general Nikon's DX bodies peak or atleast plateau after 2 generations.

Not sure I'd recommend the D3000, D5000 or D7000. They all have their quirks, be it no LV, low res or very limited buffer or weird battery.

The D3200, D5100 and D7200 have settled to a winning formula. The D5300 added in body GPS and thats about it.

The latest D7000 series went to one slot to try to de-Pro the series in favour of the D500.

I think in general Nikon's DX bodies peak or atleast plateau after 2 generations.

Interesting observation - though not quite true for the D100 - D200 - D300 - D500 succession. Valid for D70 - D80 - D90 though. And also for D1 - D1H/X - D2H/X - D2Hs/D2Xs.

It was a bit of a general observation for the 4 digit DX bodies....:)

I had a D50, D80, D90, D5100, D3200, D5300, D7200 and D500. The D3200 was supossed to be a hi res slide digitizer 'til i realised it wasn't supported by Nikon's own tethering software, so sold it to an architect friend.

The Z50 is an interesting progression.

Only the D3200 was new.The D500 was an ex-review copy.

A good point. I will ask.

So when I donate I usually give money or buy current models in the low end. I wouldn't want to give high end but old equipment because they are not appreciated and not being used. So I ended up having the old cameras for myself.

but you can tether a D3200 with Digicam Control.

Indeed! I never understood Nikon crippling it that way.

I also can't believe Digicam Control wrote the complete program, more like modded D5000 driver or somesuch.

So when I donate I usually give money or buy current models in the low end. I wouldn't want to give high end but old equipment because they are not appreciated and not being used. So I ended up having the old cameras for myself.

You made a good point again. Now maybe I will ask them whether it's better to donate the proceeds from selling the bundle on eBay. I believe the value should be more than $100. Anyhow, due to Covid, the organization is not meeting in person, and I believe they do not have a burning desire to receive photo equipment anyway.