Nikon D7000 DSLR (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)

Nikon D7000 DSLR (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)

• High Resolution 16.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor
• Body only; lenses sold separately
• High Speed 6 frames per second continuous shooting up to 100 shots
• Breathtaking Full 1080p HD Movies with Full Time Autofocus
• Dynamic ISO range from 100 to 6400

Buy Now : Nikon D7000 DSLR (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)

Brand : Nikon
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,DSLR Cameras
Rating : 4.7
Price : US $899.99
Review Count : 1225

Nikon D7000 DSLR (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)

• ========================================================================Bottom-line: the greatest trick Nikon\'s marketing department ever pulled========================================================================------------------------------------------------------------------------Quick summary (see below for more details)------------------------------------------------------------------------**** see update at the end ****The Nikon D7000 is NOT the best APS-C DSLR in the market.After taking thousands of pictures with the D7000, I have concluded that:* It produces soft images* For ISO 200-1600 the IQ is inferior to the D90* For (1600 > ISO <= 4000) the IQ is better than the D90* For any ISO above 200 the IQ is inferior to that of the D700* For ISO 100 the dynamic range is superb* It\'s not really a robust camera in terms of build quality (the D300s, D700 are)* The AF system is just average, on par with the D90 and well below the D700* The raw files are prone to develop artifacts very quicklyAnd on the plus side...* It has a magnificent dynamic range at ISO 100* It has some nice features (micro AF adjustment tops the list for me)========================================================================Review========================================================================------------------------------------------------------------------------3 important preliminary notes------------------------------------------------------------------------Target audienceThis review is mainly intended for the user of cameras such as the D90, D5000, and D80 that is considering this camera against alternatives like the D700 and D300s. Probably the owner of the D60/40/3000 may also find something useful.A word about videoI don\'t care at all about video. Video is a completely useless feature for me. I only care about stills and this review completely disregards video capabilities and features. So please, keep that in mind for the bits where you will read things like \"better in every aspect\".Foundations of this reviewI\'m keen amateur photographer. I put a great deal of effort, love, and attention into this craft and I consider myself a photographer -an amateur photographer but a photographer nonetheless. I have extensively used the D700, D7000, D90, D5000, D40, D60 and to a much lesser extent other bodies (such as Sony, Canon). Thus, I\'m basing this review on actual and extensive experience with those cameras and from patient comparison of same-subject shots taken under same conditions.------------------------------------------------------------------------Why I bought this camera------------------------------------------------------------------------I decided to try this camera as it was a virtually risk-free exercise. A friend was travelling back to the US and I can sell it second hand at almost the same price in London. So, I decided to give it a go.The number 1 reason I considered this camera was because it offered micro-AF adjustment. I do a lot of low light shooting and shallow depth-of-field shots so AF accuracy is very, very important for me. Let me be clear about one thing: I don\'t have any problem whatsoever with the AF in the D90 with Nikkor lenses. I do however have problems with third-party lenses (see my review of the Sigma 24 f/1.8 for an example).The second reason why I decided to give this camera a try was the dynamic range. I love the colours and contrast offered by bright sunny days and sunsets as much as I hate white skies resulting from poor dynamic range.In all honesty, I didn\'t have any other reasons to justify this camera.I also knew that the extra 4MP would most likely render noisier images without any meaningful/observable increase in resolution.I also didn\'t care at all about the (partial) alloy frame, mild weather sealing, video, and the double card thing.------------------------------------------------------------------------Reality check: the distance between marketing and actual performance------------------------------------------------------------------------Let\'s start with the good.Remember what I told you about my reasons to try this camera? Yes, (1) Micro-AF adjustment, and (2) dynamic range. Well, let me tell you that it delivered in both counts.I\'m very happy with the micro AF adjustment. I can now use third-party lenses without spending too much time manually focusing to get sharp images. Great. Excellent.Next: dynamic range. I knew the extra dynamic range would show up only at ISO 100, and it did. Fantastic. A clear 1 (1 1/3 I would say) extra stop which results in a meaningful, observable, and delightful, improvement in my landscape photography.If you just give me a D90 with those extra features (micro AF and expanded dynamic range) I would buy it in a heartbeatNow, let\'s move on to the rest...------------------------------------------------------------------------Noise------------------------------------------------------------------------Let\'s start with the elephant in the room that apparently nobody wants to see: the D7000 produces more noise than the D90 from ISO 200 to ISO 1600.It doesn\'t matter how you want to slice it: between ISO 200 and ISO 1600 the D90 delivers lower noise than the D7000.Am I surprised? Not at all; do I care? Yes, but not muchFrom ISO 3200 to ISO 6400 is the other way around. In particular, with the D90 my limit is ISO 1600, beyond that I have to put extra work and technique to get useable images; with the D7000 I can dare to go to ISO 3200 -and then put extra work and technique if I want to go beyond that.* Noise Vs the D700Let\'s be clear in one thing: the D7000 handles noise with decency from ISO 1600 to around ISO 4000. However, it does NOT come close to what the D700 can do. The D700 smokes the D7000 when it comes to low-light / high-ISO performance. These are two worlds apart.Really, don\'t kid yourself. For a lot of people the way the D7000 handles high-ISO noise is more than enough -but in no way is at the level of the D700.------------------------------------------------------------------------Dynamic range and colours------------------------------------------------------------------------* Dynamic range and colours at ISO 200 and aboveAt ISO 200 and above, the D90 delivers marginally better dynamic range and colours than the D7000. The difference is small, and most people will not notice it. Yet, the difference is there and plays in favour of the D90.When compared to the D700, well, things are different: The D700 captures colours and tones in a way the D7000 can only dream of. As for dynamic range, the D7000 still trumps the D700 up to ISO 300/400. Beyond that, again, the D700 smokes the D7000.------------------------------------------------------------------------Overall Image Quality------------------------------------------------------------------------This is the biggest issue.From ISO 200 to ISO 1600, the D90 delivers better image quality than the D7000. The D90 has better colours, less noise, often better dynamic range, and -very important- higher acuity.Please, pay attention to the last part: the D90 images have higher acuity than those from the D7000.Let me put it in other words: the D7000 produces SOFT images. I hate to break it to you because I was very surprised by that, but there is no doubt: the D7000 produces soft images.Above ISO 1600, the D7000 produces better images than the D90.What about the D700? Well, in this case things are very simple: the IQ you can get from ISO 200 and above is clearly, vastly, superior in the D700. The images are better both at low and high ISO -but it gets bigger as ISO increases.* ArtifactsIf you had asked me before, I would had said that is the other way around, but as it turns out, the RAW files in the D7000 offer significantly less latitude for post-processing than both the D700 and the D90. The key failure here is sharpening: there is very little latitude to get a natural look. Don\'t ask me why, but with the D7000 artifacts build up very quickly during sharpening. Lens aberrations are also harder to work with in the D7000 -again, don\'t ask me why.------------------------------------------------------------------------AF system------------------------------------------------------------------------The 11 focus points in the D90 are enough for me -heck, I have no problem with the 3 focus point in the D40. But having 39 focus points is a very, very nice addition. I don\'t complaint.However, the AF accuracy of the D7000 is really not what you expect. It\'s largely on par with that of the D90 -that is, nothing extraordinary.How does it compare to the AF in the D700? Well, the AF system is simply inferior to that in the D700. There is a significant advantage for the D700 that really makes a difference in terms of performance.------------------------------------------------------------------------Build quality------------------------------------------------------------------------Lots of people got excited by the stronger frame and weather sealing. I have only played for a little while with a friends\' D300s and at the store, and I can tell you this: the D300s is a much stronger camera. Needless to say, the D7000 also pales against the D700.The truth is that after almost 50,000 shots with the D90 I never felt any disadvantage in terms of ruggedness or durability, and after several thousand shots with the D7000 I can\'t see much of a difference. Yes, I know is marginally stronger but I don\'t really see any advantage in that to be honest. I would trade the partial magnesium alloy frame for better image quality without thinking about it.------------------------------------------------------------------------Additional things------------------------------------------------------------------------There are a few things that I like in the D7000. I find the buttons layout and ergonomics to be very good. Also, the 100% viewfinder coverage is definitively a plus. And the live view system is significantly better than in both the D90 and D700.* ExposureOne thing that you may have read is that \"the D7000 overexposes\" -nonsense.First, it\'s your fault if you don\'t understand how the camera meters light. Second, any photographer worth his salt would make the exposure decision. The way I see it, whenever I read \"the D7000 overexposes\" I know that person doesn\'t think like a true photographer. And third, it\'s simply not true: the metering is very accurate and reliable. I usually select something else simply because I\'m looking for something different than the average and because I already have in mind what I\'m going to do with that shot (really, until you have figured out what you are going to do with the shot you can\'t really say that it is over or under exposed).========================================================================Conclusion========================================================================After taking thousands of pictures with the D7000, I have concluded that:* It produces soft images* For ISO 200-1600 the IQ is inferior to the D90* For (1600 > ISO <= 4000) the IQ is better than the D90* For any ISO above 200 the IQ is inferior to that of the D700* For ISO 100 the dynamic range is superb* It\'s not really a robust camera in terms of build quality (the D300s, D700 are)* The AF system is just average, on par with the D90 and well below the D700* The raw files are prone to develop artifacts very quicklyIn short, the D7000 doesn\'t have the best image quality, is not the strongest camera, and it doesn\'t have the best AF performance.Should you get a D7000? Well, that depends. Why do you want it? For the low-light performance? If so, wait a little more for a second hand D700. For the ruggedness? Get a D300. For the IQ (iso 200-1600)? Get a D90. For the AF? Get a D300 or above. For the dynamic range? Good reason, but remember that is only very good at ISO 100 and you still will have to deal with the softness of the image.I now have put my hopes in the D300s replacement. I do need the high dynamic range, but I put acuity, colours, noise performance, and AF accuracy before the extra dynamic range at ISO 100 any day. The new technology that Nikon has revealed in the J1/V1 hints to promising things for the upper-end DSLRs. But only using the yet-to-be-announced camera will tell if the better performance is actually there or just in the marketing brochures********************Feb 2012 UPDATE********************I\'ve just sold my D7000.After spending a few more months with the D7000 I decided to sell it (the reasons are described in the review, nothing new here)The price of the D700 is coming down, so if you are interested in stills, go for the D700 and ditch the D7000.I may go for the D800, but I hope Nikon will release a camera with the D4 sensor and the D800 body. That\'s the one I would go for with my eyes closed.
• After shooting with the Nikon D7000 for a little over two months now (mine arrived in mid February), I\'m at a point where I feel comfortable putting together a brief review for those still considering making a D700 purchase. I won\'t try to duplicate the level of detail that you can read in some of the excellent reviews that have already been posted (here, and on many other sites), but will try to summarize some of my experiences with the camera, as well as provide some of the most important information regarding the camera. I\'ve been primarily shooting with the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens, but have also used the Nikon f/1.8 50mm prime, as well. So, my review here will be focused on those lenses, but it is useful to have this background as you read my comments.Getting straight to the nitty-gritty, and leaving extended explanations and comments until afterwards, and based on my actual use of this camera:Pros+ Ability to shoot at extremely high ISO levels with little noise (comparatively speaking) makes this a low-light shooter\'s dream+ Sophisticated 39-point focus system+ Good overall image quality in a wide range of shooting situations+ Good video quality that makes up for many of the deficiencies of previous Nikon models+ Huge feature set, with large number of customizable settings surpassed only by very expensive, professional cameras+ Excellent construction quality, with few, if any, squeaks and/or loose assembly parts+ Large set of \"mechanical\" controls, including switches, knobs, and assignable buttons which allow you to shoot without being required to dig through menus+ Optical viewfinder amongst the best you will see in the camera\'s price range+ LCD display at top of camera displaying current settings+ Built-in autofocusing mechanism allows for the widest range of compatibility with past and current Nikon lenses+ Extremely good battery life - I\'m getting 400-500 shots on a single battery (no flash)+ Quick turn-on time; it\'s ready almost as soon as you flip the switch+ Excellent rear display that provides good resolution imaging and also provides an excellent setting display (each when activated)+ Dual-card SDXC memory slots which can be set for either simultaneous (i.e., duplicate) or consecutive (i.e., switches to card 2 when card 1 is full) writing+ Reasonable pricing, when you consider what you getCons- A bit heavy; this thing can wear you out after a few hours- Although many report a comfortable grip, the size of the camera could have been smaller (this is personal taste, however)- No articulated display screen (the lack of which really limits video taking, but for those of us who have for years used an articulated display for photography, it\'s a real shortcoming, and one that is not easy to work around - again, as it pertains to PHOTOGRAPHY, this is a very personal taste issue; for VIDEO, which this camera shoots quite well, it\'s a real shortcoming)- LiveView is still too slow to be really feasible (and can in no way match Sony\'s SLT cameras and some of their traditional SLRs, some of which focus instantaneously in LiveView; if you are looking for LiveView, I suggest you look elsewhere)- Power on/off flip switch feels somewhat mushy, with no clear click position for On\" (and its wild just how much this can bother me over time)- Battery charger design is too large, and does not have foldable prongs for the wall outlet (who at Nikon can overlook such simple, but important things as this?)- No built-in GPS (can\'t believe its not included at this price; it\'s an optional component)- Pricing is unlikely to come down in the near futureThere is no reason to try and deny it: the Nikon D7000 is, in many respects, an amazing camera. As I mentioned above, one of the areas in which I have been most impressed is the camera\'s ability to have it set way up to 2,400 ISO and even higher and then just be used to knock off good quality photos in very low light settings at noise levels that were typically associated with cameras shooting at 400 ISO. In a pinch, you can move the ISO way up to 6,400, and although at this point noise is a real factor, you can still get some shots that would have been impossible before. But even at modestly high ISO levels in the 2000\'s and 3000\'s level, you can take shots with little noise, and this is, where in my mind, the camera really stands out from many others (the camera uses the same Sony sensor used in Sony\'s SLT a55 camera, which may largely account for this capability).The camera feels tightly built and well constructed. Whether or not it is 100% magnesium construction underneath (you can read this debate in many online postings), the camera feels much more like a professional camera that a lower cost entry level model. The grip and design of the camera make holding the unit comfortable, although it is a bit on the large side (some people like the large size to help them hold the camera better). In addition, the camera is physically heavier than I would prefer, and I find myself dreading picking it up at times because I know its weight. This is, of course, multiplied when you add a lens like the Nikon VR 18-200mm that I am using, because, by that point, you have a pretty heavy set. But, as I say, this is a personal preference, and many people considering a purchase like this understand ahead of time (and accept) that this type of camera will be somewhat large and somewhat heavy.Image quality is very good. The camera is capable of producing extremely high quality images, given the right lens selection and the right technique. I say that sentence carefully, because it is really a mistake to think that you can purchase a D7000 kit and, based on the rave reviews, just knock off one great picture after the other. Many, many reviewers (both professional and lay) have confirmed that that kit lens sold with the D7000 is not up to a camera of this quality, and simply exposes the shortcomings of the lens in shots. This means that in order to take advantage of the D7000\'s capabilities, you really need to put a good lens on it. My choice of the Nikon VR II 18-200mm may not be that lens for that absolute best quality, due to compromises such a zoom lens makes to get such wide range coverage. However, putting a prime on the camera can allow the camera\'s characteristics really shine, and even using the 18-200mm is a huge step up from the kit (and offers you wide versatility). But, in addition, the proper technique must also be used to achieve optimal results. One should use a working knowledge of photographic technique to get good images. Use a tripod - even a mini one - when you can. Always use the lens hood, especially when shooting outside. Use fast shutter speeds to keep images sharp. Increase aperture when shooting indoors to maintain sharpness. The camera tends to overexpose in bright light shooting, so reduce the exposure to -1/3 or even -2/3 for outdoor shooting. And on and on. The D7000 can put out great shots, but you can\'t overlook technique and expect it to rescue every shot without effort. You also need to experiment with normal/vivid settings, because these greatly affect the overall color and saturation of the images according to taste.One thing I feel needs to be mentioned is the image softness of the D7000. Many other reviewers have mentioned this (both arguing that such softness does, and then, does not, exist) but my own experience does indeed find that the D7000 images tend to be on the soft side. But that does not mean the photos are bad, or that this an unalterable outcome. There is in-camera sharpening that can be applied. Better still, one can shoot in RAW mode, and then use software tools to post process the images (using RAW mode can also address the overexposures that sometimes occur in bright light situations). Even if shooting in standard jpg format, you can use image editing software and bring up thee sharpness quite well. But, in my own experience, the D7000 does tend to be a bit soft, and knowing this ahead of time can allow you to take steps to address this before you even shoot your first photo. Of course, if you have the budget for it, putting high quality prime lenses up front will really move image sharpness upward, but this is often a costly route for the lay photographer.In sum, I have found the Nikon D7000 to be an impressive camera that represents a next step in the evolution of SLR technology. It would have been nicer if it had been a bit smaller and lighter, and infinitely more enjoyable if an articulated screen had been employed, but these things are often in the realm of personal taste, and thus, are not fixed determinates of how one will like the camera. The D7000 can knock out great photos in low light conditions that you have previously given up on, and its slew of features and customizability will keep you busy for months learning it all. It\'s a shame the price won\'t be coming down in the near future, but it does not seem likely at this time. Five stars. Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DX-Format Digital SLR Cameras Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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