Hi Matt!
I am not a great photographer by any means. But I am learning more and doing better all the time. My main camera has been the Nikon d7100, and my Wife has been shooting the Nikon d5500. That way we can share specialty lenses. These cameras are perfectly adequate for most everybody. In addition to the 18-300 all purpose lens we both have, we also have a Tokina 11-20 wide angle lens, and a Tamron 150-600.
That being said, just at the end of November we both switched over to the Sony mirrorless cameras. We both got a6000 cameras, and although they came with a two-lens kit, we invested in the Sony 18-200 lenses for our all-around lens. Next on my list is a good wide angle, probably the 16 2.8, which should do me for night shooting of stars. Then a 7.5 fisheye lens for some artsy stuff.
I can't even begin to tell you how much better I like these Sony cameras! First of all, they are smaller and lighter than a big dslr like the Nikon. My Wife, who has had three back surgeries, really appreciates the lighter weight! But so do I! There's nothing like lugging one of those big old cameras around all day to make you appreciate a lighter weight camera. And you don't lose anything as far as features and capabilities goes! As a matter of fact, the a6000, which is not the newest of this line of cameras, beats the Nikon d7100 hands down! It has a 24 mp sensor, shoots up to 11 frames per second, and the auto bracketing is so easy and fast that I am able to hand hold and bracket for my hdr shooting! And one of the very coolest things is that as you change your settings, you can see how your exposure will turn out! We will probably keep our eye open fo a good deal on a Sony a6400 and keep the a6000 as a backup or just a second camera.
So I would recommend the Sony a6000 camera! With the two lens kit we paid $598 from Best Buy. If you can, get just the camera body and then get the Sony 18-200 lens, which is a better lens, and doesn't have you changing lenses all the time. Buying the lenses is what eats your budget. We have had good luck with lenses from the Amazon Warehouse, which can save you a couple hundred per lens.
I hope this helps!
Scott.