Body: Nikon D7500 -
(1) The top of the Nikon DX (APS-C format) digital SLR
(2)
Sensor: 20.9MP APS-C CMOS (23.5 x 15.7mm)
Focal length conversion on lens: 1.5x
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Viewfinder: Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage
Max video resolution: 4K UHD 3,840 x 2,160
ISO range: 100-51,200, expandable to 50-1,640,000
Autofocus: 51-point phase-detection AF, 15 cross-type
Max burst rate: 8fps
Screen: Tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen, 922k dots
Shutter speeds: 30-1/8,000 sec, Bulb
Weight: 720g (body only, with battery and memory card)
Dimensions: 136 x 104 x 73mm
Power supply: EN-EL15a lithium-ion battery (supplied)
(4) Tilting Touchscreen LCD screen
(5) Wireless/Internet
Like other recent Nikon DSLRs, the D7500 comes with Nikon’s SnapBridge wireless picture transfer and remote control system. This uses a Bluetooth LE always-on connection to automatically transfer 2MP versions of your photos to your smart device, via Nikon’s free SnapBridge app. The idea is that this Bluetooth connection can also activate the Wi-Fi connection when required for remote camera control and full-size image transfer. If you’re using an iOS device like an iPhone or an iPad, however, you will still need to authorise the Wi-Fi connection manually. This is a security measure built into Apple’s operating system, and there doesn’t seem to be any immediate workaround.
This means that setting up a Wi-Fi connection still involves a tedious bit of button-tapping, but the automatic image transfer is very useful for social media sharing. Images don’t always appear on your smart device straight away, but the fact you don’t need to do anything is a major boon.
(6) Ref: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/nikon-d7500-review
(7) 2/23/2020 B&H $599.00 - Nikon D7500 DSLR Camera (Body Only, Refurbished by Nikon USA) -
1/2021 bought from Terry's friend $650. He bought from B&H in April 2019.
1/22/2021 bought Tamron lens $599 exact from Abes of Maine . Tax free.
(8) Maximum Sync Speed: 1/250 Second
Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR Telephoto Zoom Lens
- weather resistant - it has a rubber ring at the lens mount to prevent dust, dirt, and water from getting into the mount. All that said, Nikon does not claim weather-proof or water-proof for any of their lenses that I know of, other than the AW lens series for the AW1 camera. As lenses get more and more electronics and motors in them, this can be a bit disconcerting to some. My experience says that most Nikkors are sealed well enough to be usable in light mist and rain without really being concerned, though.
- FX
- 5.74' minimum focusing distance
- Accommodates 77mm filters
- Specifications
So D7500 + this lens is 5lbs.
Lens: Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens for Nikon F
- A sealed, dust- and moisture-resistant construction benefits this lens' use in inclement conditions, and a fluorine coating has also been applied to the front lens element to protect against dust, dirt, and smearing.
- much cheaper than Nikkor 80-400mm
- weight: 2.45 lb / 1115 g
- Minimum Focus Distance: 4.92' / 1.5 m
- Accommodates 67mm filters
- Maximum Magnification: 0.28x / 1:3.6
Lens: Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens for Nikon F
- rubber sealing is incorporated in the mount design to render it dust- and splash-resistant. "The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens takes on the same general look and feel as Sigma's other recent lenses, albeit without quite the same level of ruggedness and weather sealing as some of their more expensive offerings. With that said, the lens does feel robust despite its lightweight design and offers dust and splash-proofing around the mount." imaging-resource.com review
- weight: 2.55 lb / 1160 g
- Minimum Focus Distance: 5.25' / 1.6 m
- Accommodates 67mm filters
- Maximum Magnification: 0.26x (1:3.8)
- lack of a tripod collar
I bought this lens 9 months ago, and wanted to wait until I had used it for awhile to write a review based on real use and not just initial impressions. When I decided to get a longer zoom to shoot animals, birds and BIFS, I first looked at the 150-600 Sigma C and Tamron G2, and the Nikon 200-500. I never got to test out the Sigma, but I did rent the other two. I wasn't so impressed with the G2, but the Nikon was wonderful. Ultimately I decided all of them at 4.5 to 5+ pounds were just too big, bulky and heavy to use for long periods of time. I analyzed all the test shots I took with them and realized that most of what I was shooting was at 400mm or less. Cropping in a bit to get a 500mm or even 600 mm equivalent when needed is easy, so I decided I could go smaller, that having 600mm wasn't worth the weight and size. Next I compared this Sigma 100-400 and the Tamron 100-400. Both produced equally beautiful still shots, but despite all the reviews claiming the Tamron has faster and better AF, I did not find that to be the case. I had both lenses at the same time and in testing I was able to compare shooting the same subjects in the same light. For tracking moving and flying birds, the Tamron went oddly out of focus far too often to be acceptable, whereas the Sigma was pretty spot on every time, and its AF seemed plenty fast. I got considerably more tack sharp keepers with the Sigma. The Sigma was also on a great sale at the time, including a free UV filter and dock, so that helped make my choice easy. My new Sigma was perfect right out of the box on my D7500, so there was no need to fine tune, it is tack sharp at every part of the range. The dock is important to have for firmware updates (there have been two since I got the lens). You can also use it to do specific adjustments for the Custom focus switch settings, and that's a nice capability to have with a lens. The latest firmware update made focusing even better, and it was already very good. The lens handles well and I always shoot hand held. People may complain about the lack of a tripod foot, but it really is not needed because the lens is not all that heavy. I do not get tired shooting with it over long periods of time. Had a tripod foot been offered, I would not have bought it anyway. Image quality is incredibly good...tack sharp, fantastic contrast, excellent clarity, gorgeous, rich color, and although this is not a low light lens I have gotten excellent shots in very poor light situations with a slightly boosted ISO. In the last 9 months this has become my top favorite lens, it is such fun and so easy to shoot with, and I am 100% satisfied with it and would buy it again. After looking at hundreds of photos from various lenses, I am convinced that Sigma lenses have a very special image quality that makes them stand apart from everything else, I always like the Sigma photos much more, they seem uniformly more striking on all levels. In addition to shooting critters, this lens is wonderful for landscape photos due to the sharpness and great color. Sample photos below. The first photo of the standing gull was shot late in the day, with low and gray overcast light at ISO 1400, 1/1250 and f/6, so this lens does quite nicely in less than optimum light! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially with the D7500 or D500. And here's a BONUS.....I bought the Think Tank Retrospective 10 v2 camera bag. It easily holds this lens mounted on my D7500 and laying on its side with grip side up, PLUS I can put several other lenses under the sling section that supports the camera/lens. Fantastic setup, and with this bag you can flip up the top flap of the bag and grab the camera very quickly. Love it!
Sigma USB Dock for Nikon F-Mount Lenses
The Sigma
USB Dock allows
you to connect your Sigma Global Vision lenses to your computer in order to
update firmware and adjust focus setting parameters using the Sigma Optimization
Pro software.
This dock is only compatible with the Sigma Art, Contemporary, and Sports line
lenses featuring a Nikon F lens mount.
If you use Sigma gear, you need this thing, period. First of all, being able to seamlessly and effortlessly update firmware is a no-brainer. Second, I've used this device on Sigma Global Vision lenses in both Pentax K and Nikon F mount, and it just plain works. Third, this little device saved my current relationship with a mint copy of a 150-600 Contemporary that I purchased from a good friend when I switched systems to Nikon. Having come over from Pentax where I used both a Sigma 120-400 and 150-500, I had become very used to the rather visible, dynamic OS on those lenses; when it locked on, quite obviously I might add, I knew to pull the trigger and get the shot. When I went over to the Nikon D500 with the Sigma 150-600, the OS function so smooth, transparent and totally invisible, that I was completely thrown off and thought perhaps that it wasn't on or working; my relationship was immediately in serious jeopardy. I got the USB Dock a couple of weeks later and hooked the lens up to it, which first updated the software (I didn't know it was o.o.d.). Next, I set the custom functions to have the dynamic OS hit really hard, kind of hard, and just as it was, with the 3 position custom switch. Finally, I set the AF speed to it's fastest setting (the stock setting is pretty fast, but this is amazing), and after that, it was love at first click. I was lucky enough to get the dock bundled with the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM, which is weird because that lens doesn't even work with that dock, but even at whatever they charge for it, it's worth the money. The Optimization software the USB Dock works through is very lightweight, smooth, efficient, self activating and easy to use regardless of the operating system you're using, even back to Windows 7, which I still use. It's just the worth the money and you totally need it.
configuring the D7500 with the optimal settings for shooting wild birds