D7000 or upgrade to D750 (NSFW)

You might, but nobody else will.

I 'upgraded' my D7000 to a D700 a couple of years ago, because I'd always wanted one for the granite-like build and I'm not disappointed. Apart from a reduction in resolution (16MP down to a meagre 12) I cant see any difference in my pictures. Of course the jump to a D750 would be a greater leap, and in the 'upwards' direction so I'm sure there would be improvements in all sorts of areas. Are you going to notice them? Maybe the increased dynamic range and better low light performance in the more extreme images, but other improvements I suspect would be minor. If as you say, you are quite happy with the D7000, I'd stick with it, and then, when it dies in a few years time, buy yourself the D750. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, buy glass!

Read a review for the D7000 from the time it was released. It was the best DX camera Nikon had ever released and the image quality was phenomenal. It still is if you don't compare it with something newer.

I have plenty of AIS lenses to use. I bought them for a Nikon FM2.

Which lenses? Some old Nikkors work brilliantly on FF digital, others not so well or even quite badly. Certainly badly enough to negate the use of a full-frame body.

Would you see the difference between a several year old 16 Mp DX sensor and a more recent 24 Mp FF one? With equally decent lenses on each, most probably. I can certainly see a difference between my 36 Mp D800 and the 24 Mp D7200, which is about the same megapixel ratio. But it's not just about the megapixels. The FF D800 just gives 'cleaner' looking pictures, and if you're into bokeh and shallow depth-of-field then FF will make an obvious difference. OTOH, if you rarely venture wider than f/5.6 maybe you won't notice the difference.

Read a review for the D7000 from the time it was released. It was the best DX camera Nikon had ever released

Well, it would be wouldn't it? I can't see Nikon making a worse camera, can you?

the image quality was phenomenal. It still is if you don't compare it with something newer

Which is EXACTLY what the OP is asking about???

The D750 will blow the image quality out of the water compared to the D7000. Sure, if you use rubbish glass what's the point anyway?

See, this blunt wooden stick is way better in everyway especially if you don't compare it to this sharp metal one....!

I can testify to the enormous real performance boost the OP will experience going to the D750. This won't really be seen in snapshots, but will be fully seen in the more difficult regimes, such as low light, action, extreme telephoto, etc. It's not worth it unless the D7000 is holding you back. If you're running hard up against its limitations, then it's time for a serious upgrade. (When I bought my first DSLR I was struggling to pick between the D7000 and the D5100. I picked the D5100, and soon enough regretted it.)

One thought: What is it you image most often? The D750 is the bee's knees for just about all general-purpose photography. But, for landscapes, portraits, and the like the D8XX series is the bomb. For birds in flight or action sports, the D500 (though still an APS-C sensor) is purpose built for that use. Then there're always the single-digit pro cameras, but they're too expensive for my game. One would be hard pressed to find a better all-around camera body than the D750, but I've never heard anyone call it a specialist, either. Maybe because it does just about everything quite well enough?

Are current Nikon lenses far and away better than the AIS's? Anyway, I shoot mostly street candids, at which the D7000 is quite good. But would the D750 give me better AF and speed?

For studio work, the D7000 is excellent. The addition of a tripod makes the images really sharp.

Are current Nikon lenses far and away better than the AIS's?

In general, yes. If you shoot at wide apertures, almost universally so. At f/5.6 and smaller you might have to look hard to see any difference.

With some Ai-S lenses the difference is as if someone has breathed lightly on a modern lens before taking the picture.

In general, yes. If you shoot at wide apertures, almost universally so. At f/5.6 and smaller you might have to look hard to see any difference.

 

With some Ai-S lenses the difference is as if someone has breathed lightly on a modern lens before taking the picture.

My AIS lenses were chosen for their good reputations. I would like to try them on a FF camera. I have a couple of D type AF Nikon lenses. They are really good. Here's a shot from D 35mm focal length.. Hand-held.

Here's a shot from D 35mm focal length

So, about 50mm on an FX body? 1/500 f4 ISO 400

There's something weird going on with that grey background....:confused:

Interestingly, EXIF thinks the lens is the DX 35mm f1.8G AFS.....:)

Copyright to Robert Kildare 2016??

So, about 50mm on an FX body? 1/500 f4 ISO 400

 

There's something weird going on with that grey background....:confused:

 

Interestingly, EXIF thinks the lens is the DX 35mm f1.8G AFS.....:)

 

Copyright to Robert Kildare 2016??

The copyright info is outdated, very outdated, going back to a previous owner. The picture was shot in 2020. You named the right lens, Mike. I failed to pack a couple of other lenses, so I had to shoot everything with this lens that I did pack. It turned out to be a real gem. Not much good for street shooting, though.

The body was a D7000. I had to replace a busy background with pure gray--in PS. The selection tool grabbed part of the bed, so there's color spill. I liked the effect, so I left it. I shot this in Asheville, NC, where the model lives. She's a gymnast. Muscular, but discreetly. Her skin is satiny and beautifully hued. .

1/500 f4 ISO 400

Is there any reason you didn't use 1/125 f4 ISO 100?

DR would be much better on such an 'old' sensor, as-well as much less noise.

Are current Nikon lenses far and away better than the AIS's? Anyway, I shoot mostly street candids, at which the D7000 is quite good. But would the D750 give me better AF and speed?

I cannot compare the D7000 to the D750. I went directly from shooting film on a F100 to the D750 and purchased a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 at the same time to use on both the D750 and my F100. I used my F100 lenses all Nikon - AI'ed 24mm f/28, and 105 f/2.5 and 50 f/1.4D and 35-70 f/2.8D with the D750.

At first, I was very satisfied with this kit. After about a year, I could see the old Nikon lenses left something to be desired; not all that much, but still something. After doing some research and posting questions here on photo.net, I purchased a Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 G2 and a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 G2 macro to take the places of the 35-70mm f/2.8D, the 105mm f/2.5 and the 50mm f/1.4D. I kept the Nikon lenses and still use them occasionally - I find the 50mm excellent when I want a lighter walk around lens.

From my perspective modern lenses, even third-party modern lenses, are better than the old Nikon lenses. Would a Nikon 24-70 have been better than the Tamron I purchase? Yes, very slightly perhaps; I had a hard time differentiating. But IMHO the Tamron lenses won based on cost/performance.

Would a Nikon 24-70 have been better than the Tamron I purchase?

Optically, maybe, but I tried several, new and used, and none of them had a smooth zoom action. The new ones all felt 'graunchy' to downright stiff, and the used one I considered was sloppy to the point of feeling worn out. A quick Google revealed it was apparently a common problem. So I never bought the Nikkor. Quite happy with Tamron's SP 24-70 f/2.8 now though.

Optically, maybe, but I tried several, new and used, and none of them had a smooth zoom action. The new ones all felt 'graunchy' to downright stiff, and the used one I considered was sloppy to the point of feeling worn out. A quick Google revealed it was apparently a common problem. So I never bought the Nikkor. Quite happy with Tamron's SP 24-70 f/2.8 now though.

Yours was one of the replies to my post on photo.net back in 2018 that made me decide to purchase the Tamron 24-70. I have never regretted that decision; it's a great lens.

Once again, thank you for the good advice.