Updated question: If you were going to look just beyond the D7100 and D5300, what would you do? Am I just a couple hundred dollars from an exceedingly better camera and should just hold out on the extra lenses? If my budget was more around $1,500-would that change anything?

I'm starting to plan Christmas and I had entertained the idea of getting my wife a new camera.  I got her a D50 I don't even know how long ago(maybe 8 or 10 years?)

She's been happy with it but I think it's time to get something up with the times. I was looking at the D7100 and the D5300.  I was wanting to stay around $1,000-$1,200.
I could probably go D7100 and a few small things, or a D5300, new lens and maybe a hotshoe light and spare battery.  Is the D7100 really worth it for "amateur" use?

I've got 2 kids (4 & 5) and will have more use at school functions, dance, and sports.  There is a lot of family photos taken, but not much real portrait-just candid.

The lower shutter lag and wider ISO range make me wonder if the D5300 is really best for our use. I don't see her ever going out and doing landscapes or professional work.  If she does-time for completely different class of camera IMO.

Any advice from the experts is truly appreciated.  As for the D50-might sell it(don't think it's all that highly valued), might just keep it.  I could always use the 18-55mm lens on the new camera and have it as a backup body just in case.

I have a 5100 that replaced my D90s and I'm planning to buy either a 5300 or 3300 as my primary camera, and use the 5100 for back-up.

I see no reason to pay a premium for 7xxx body when the three or five series has the same sensor and most of the same capability.

Jim

Get a D5200 or 5300 depending on the features you want.  No real point in going with a more expensive 7100 for casual use.

You'd have a hard time giving the D50 away, even thought it'll still take a nice image in competent hands.  KEH is selling them for $130.  May as well hang onto it and use it for high-risk events.

OP, not sure if you have or plan to venture into astrophotography at all or not. If so, that would be a good way of re-purposing the D50, just get the IR filter removed.

Zach

Thanks for all the input. I think the 5300 with another lens will be a better fit. I was having a hard time convincing myself that the 7100 was that much of a better camera for what we would use it for.

Update shown in first post.

From a technology perspective, anything from the D3000, D5000, and D7000 lines will be a good upgrade for you.

Your best bet is to go to a camera store and play with the cameras to see which one feels best in her hands for size, weight, button placement, shape, etc.  Then buy that one.

I have the 7100, upgraded from a D80.

Honestly?  For the average amatuer, it's overkill, and the 5300 would work just fine. Not a bad plan to save some bucks on the body, and use that for better glass, flash, bags etc.

Do you have DX or FX lenses?

That will determine your choices.

The only lens I currently have is the 18-55mm DX lens that came with the D50.