Nikon D7000 driven to upgrade ! thanks to Lilian Nabora Photography.
The Nikon D7000 digital SLR camera is a relatively new addition to the Nikon range of cameras.As i hold and look at my D5000 (comparison video) ...i do realize i got to step up to this beautiful piece of tech with all its glory. Nikon have invested a lot of time and effort in crafting the perfect camera that can cater for any photographers needs without breaking the bank. The camera was first announced on September 15th 2010 and was released for sale shortly afterwards.
Since the camera hit the market there have been numerous glowing reviews for the camera which praise both its image quality and design. This year alone the D7000 has won numerous awards including the Red Dot product design, European Advanced SLR Camera 2011-2012, CameraGP Japan 2011 and the Best DSLR Advanced category in the TIPA awards.
Many consider this camera to be a replacement for one of Nikon’s most popular DSLR’s the D90 (learn more about the Nikon D90 here). There are a number of significant upgrades over the D90 which includes a full magnesium alloy body construction which is completely sealed for protection against moisture and the weather. There is also 39 focus points (previously 11), dual slots for an SD memory card along with compatibility for a range of older lenses.
The new features don’t stop there either, there is also full HD video recording with audio and autofocus support which can also take sound input from an external microphone. You can also take advantage of the GPS and Wi-Fi support.
Nikon D7000 Feature List
The amount of features this camera has is ridiculous for the price in all honesty. Let’s take a closer look at all of the features that are on offer-- 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor
- Capable of capturing up to 6 frames per second
- All new 2,016 pixel RGB sensor delivers
- Brand new Nikon EXPEED 2 image processor
- Record full 1080P HD video at 24 frames per second
- 3 inch LCD at 640×480 resolution with strengthened glass covering
- Live view shooting mode to use the display instead of the eye piece
- A range of subject tracking and auto focus features including face detection
- Capable of delivering ISO100 – ISO6400
- Two card slots for SD memory cards that are compatible with SDXC and Eye-Fi
- Sealed magnesium alloy construction to protect against moisture
- Integrated sensor cleaning system
- Compatible with a huge range of lens mounts including AF-S, AF-D, AF-I, Nikkor F Mount and Nikkor AI/AIS manuals
Design And Handling
Just looking at the device you can instantly tell that it is a Nikon product. The D7000 has retained a lot of the traditional Nikon styling which is great if you ask me, Nikon’s cameras have always been very comfortable in the hand compared to other DSLR’s I have used.Accessing the controls on the camera is very convenient indeed. There is a dual thumb wheel which gives you excellent control over a range of features including making live tweaks to manual shots. Having fingertip access to this level of control is fantastic and although it takes a while to get used to, you will fall in love with the dual wheel system.
Beautiful Display
Flip the camera over and you will find a stunning 3 inch LCD screen which can display 640×480 pixels at 921,000 dots per inch. This makes it very good for playing back images and video that you have captured allowing you to get a better look at the picture before transferring it over to your computer. You can also zoom in on images to check out the finer levels of detail within images.The display is also protected from the daily knocks and bumps of photography with a strengthened glass coating.
Incredibly Sharp And Detailed Images
The device certainly packs a punch when it comes to the delivery of razor sharp images. The 16.2 megapixel sensor is unbelievably sensitive and is capable of operating at a huge range of ISO100-ISO6400. I wish I had this kind of range available to me on my old Nikon D3100 back in the day.However in order to get the most out of the camera body you need to consider more advanced lenses. We have found that the lens that comes with the standard kit just doesn’t do the body of the D7000 justice.
Full 1080P HD Video
As well as capturing glorious images, the camera is capable of recording full 1080P high definition video. In fact you have a few choices when it comes to shooting video, you can go for 1080P at 24 frames per second, 720P at 24 or 25 frames per second or drop down to 640×424 at 25 frames per second. I have no idea why anyone would want to drop down to 640×424 with the other options on board, bit odd for Nikon to leave that in play if I’m honest!Regardless of which video mode you chose to record in, each clips is restricted to a maximum length of 20 minutes each.
Dual Memory Card Slots
Although this might not sound that important, one of the most attractive features for me personally is the dual SD memory card slot. Many people will use this feature to double up on storage but I have found a much better way to put the additional card slot to use. In the camera settings it is possible to use the secondary slot as a backup device. What this means is that anytime a new picture gets written to one card, it gets written to the other as well.If you have never had a memory card failure in the past and lost a lot of images, then perhaps you won’t appreciate this feature as much as myself.
Nikon D7000 Review Conclusion
There is no doubt that this is a fantastic piece of photographic engineering. It’s has a huge array of features that could even give pro cameras 5 times its price a run of their money. I have been impressed with the camera start to finish and love the new 39 point auto focus system which opens up a whole new world of creativity.One of the features I would have like to have seen though is from the Nikon D5000 which is the variable angle monitor. I’m surprised that this wasn’t included with the D7000 as it’s an incredibly handy feature.
You can see why the camera has been so well received since its release picking up 4 huge awards so far in 2011. The camera does offer exceptional value for money and if you are looking to purchase a new DSLR in the future then I can strongly recommend this as a front runner.
Nikon D7000 Review Video
Nikon D7000 User Manual
If for any reason you would like to have a read of the manual in digital format or before making a purchase then you’re in luck! We have a copy of the manual in PDF format available to download.If you have any questions about the Nikon D7000 then please feel free to get in touch and I will do my best to answer them for you
