D300

From 2007 to 2010, I was very happy with the D300, and I also had a D300s on load from Nikon for a couple of months. The D300 was a much better camera for wildlife photography compared to the film bodies I used before, including the F5. AF was very good and "high" ISO up to 800 and 1600 were sufficient, while even negative film maxed out at ISO 400. However, by late 2010 Nikon came out with the D7000 with an improved, 16MP sensor, and I gradually shifted to the D7000, even though its AF is not quite as good as that on the D300.

by late 2010 Nikon came out with the D7000 with an improved, 16MP sensor

I went to the local camera store with the intent to trade my D200 and D300 for two D7000 bodies but when I handled the D7000 in the store for 10-15 minutes, I walked out without making the trade; for me the D7000 was an ergonomic disaster. I held onto the D300 until it became clear that a D400 was not to be and then stupidly purchased a D7100 with its totally insufficient memory buffer before settling for a D7200. Better sensors than the D300 for sure, and luckily marginally better ergonomics than the D7000.

I forgot which D7xxx I bought (mail order) and did not like it as the interface felt "foreign". Fortunately a photographer friend wanted one and I sold it. To this day I still wonder if she ever thought I was passing something I did not like to her. However, so far she remains friendly, so she must like it. ;)

I forgot which D7xxx I bought (mail order) and did not like it as the interface felt "foreign". Fortunately a photographer friend wanted one and I sold it. To this day I still wonder if she ever thought I was passing something I did not like to her. However, so far she remains friendly, so she must like it. ;)

Mary, not everybody dislikes the D7000 series. After the D7000, I also got the D7100 and then D7200, before finally settling on the D500 in 2016. I have not purchased another DX body since the D500, though.

Mary, not everybody dislikes the D7000 series.

I do. But only because of my main interest (which had me choose to take the D200/D300 path instead of the D80/D90). I quite liked the D7200 in particular when used with some smaller lenses. The D7000 was different; I couldn't even hold it comfortably with a 24-120 zoom; my hand hurt after a few minutes.

I have not purchased another DX body since the D500, though.

Unless Nikon unexpectedly comes out with a true Z-mount D500 successor, I won't either. I went with Nikon DSLR DX out of necessity, which doesn't exist anymore with the Z-mount (or at all).