Are there any newer alternatives to the Nikon D7000?

Upgrading from a D5100 in order to able to film better quality video and take better photos at higher ISO ranges. Was going to go for the D7000 but noticed that it has been out a while and wondered if there were any newer/better alternatives in the same/similar price range. If not I'll still be happy to go for the D7000. Also - would you recommend buying the body only and purchasing a separate 15-300mm lense (for use as an all-rounder until I can afford more lenses) rather than the standard kit one?

The new Nikon D7100 will be introduced in the next few months.

http://nikonrumors.com/category/nikon-d7100/

There's nothing from Nikon at the moment that matches what you are looking for.

You'd have to go to a lower end model or jump to full frame if you want a new model.

I don't think anyone is sure at this point that Nikon will even directly replace the Nikon D7000.

They never replaced the D300/D300s, the D seven hundred, the D90. I've been seeing that rumor of the D7000 replacement for a long time.next week, next month, the next big electronics show, but it never comes. Replacements for the entry level come fast because that's where camera companies make the big money.

As you go higher up the chain, things slow down a lot. Since you have Nikon glass, I doubt you will jump. The Pentax K5 II uses a newer, better version of the Sony Exmor sensor used in the D5100 and D7000.So you will just have to wait.

And since the D5100 and 7000 share the same Sony sensor, the image quality will be nearly identical anyway.

The standard 18-55mm kit is fine, but it's nothing special. Not the best for low light. Do you really want a big zoom lens with 300mm on the long end? Your use will be limited, image quality won't be as sharp, and low light, forget about it.

two better all around zooms whether they come as kits or you buy them would be the 18-105mm or the 18-135mm. Remember when you go with a wider range like 18-200mm and beyond, image quality and actual light transmission drop, there's no free lunch in photography.

your first lens after your zoom should be a prime for low light, for sharper images, and for defocused backgrounds (when you take control) the 35mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.8 are cheap and they are really good.