The Complete Nikon D7000 Review

The Nikon D7000, a DSLR falling between the Nikon D90 and the D300S on Nikon’s charts, is a fantastic camera. Commercially available around $1200 USD since last fall, the Nikon D7000 is a great bang for your buck. It produces great images with its 16.2 MP CMOS sensor, 2,016-segment RGB meter and 39 points of auto-focus. The dual memory card slots can take SD, SDHC or SDXC. The D7000 also continues Nikon’s tradition of great low light performance with high ISO capabilities. The camera shows that Nikon is working very hard to make better DSLRs.

Testing

Day 1: Our initial impressions

Day 2: High ISOs

ISO Torture Test: Pentax K-5 vs. Nikon D7000, which is better?

Day 3: Tested for product photography

Day 4: Tourist time

Day 5: Leisurely walking around

What I Did Not Like

The only thing I did not like about the Nikon D7000 was I could not justify upgrading from a D90 However, if I wanted/needed a second crop sensor body I would get it. The cameras are different, but not enough to for me to warrant an upgrade.

About the D7000

The build quality of the camera is superb with its partial magnesium alloy body and sealing against dust and moisture. The Nikon D7000 weighs about the same as Nikon D90; there is literally a 70 gram difference. The ergonomics of the camera are top notch. All the controls are nicely arranged and easy to manage. The U1 and U2 Selections of the top dial for custom settings are great improvements. It is almost as functional as or more functional than the D300S having 39 point autofocus (with nine cross points) where the D300s had 51. The D7000 has 16MP, whereas the D300S has 12mp. The Nikon D7000 has 2 SD slots while the D300s has 1 CF slot and 1 SD slot. You can shoot a wedding, film, portraits and anything else you can think of with this camera.

Ergonomics

Like the Nikon D90 the D7000 is very comfortable in the hand. The weight is balanced and it does not fatigue the hand. The buttons and scroll wheels are well placed allowing for fast adjustments. The screen is easy on the eyes and the D7000 has a great viewfinder. In essence, the Nikon D7000 is a great camera to shoot with for an entire day. You can take it out on a landscape with a Tamrac Evolutions 8 shoot and hike with the D7000 for hours or just photo walk through a city for 8 hours or so.

Image Quality

The Nikon D7000 has fantastic image quality. The improvement in the sensor is evident. The camera’s ISO range is impeccable also. The images are sharp and precise. The camera has fantastic metering. The D7000 can shoot in any light situation. The camera has fantastic white balance out the box.

Who is the D7000 for?

Camera Nikon D7000 Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500) Aperture f/5.6 Focal Length 18 mm ISO Speed 5000

The D7000 is for any photographer looking for a serious photography experience. This camera is for photographers new and old. From landscape to portrait, this camera will work extremely well. The Nikon D7000 is a fantastic camera to upgrade to, especially if you have a lower end Nikon DSLR like the D70, D80, D5000. The D7000 is not considered a pro camera like the D300S, D700 or the D3S buts its great image quality says otherwise. You can shoot a wedding, film, portraits and anything else you can think of with this camera. The camera is ultra-versatile and perfect for events. If you are looking for a full frame camera, wait, there should be one in the pipeline from Nikon.

Overall

Camera Nikon D7000 Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500) Aperture f/5.6 Focal Length 34 mm ISO Speed 5000

For the price point, quality and innovation of the D7000, Nikon did an amazing job. This camera is going to have a long life for many photographers, and it will produce a wide array of amazing images and video.

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Tagged as: camera, Cameras, d7000, nikon, Photography, review

Spoorthy Vemula

Now that the Pentax k-5 is almost the same price as the d7000 ($1250 on ebay) what do you think is the better buy?
- http://www.gservo.com G Servo
  
  me
  - G Servo
    
    I would go with the D7000, but i am rather biased. I think Nikon, over all has more to offer
- Anonymous
  
  Hey Spoorthy;
  
  This is a tricky one. The D7000 has access to better lenses, flashes, and the ultimate eventual upgrade to a full frame body.
  
  On the other hand, the Pentax K-5 is an absolute beast of a camera. Pentax primes are nice and relatively affordable. Pentax’s universal support in terms of lenses and accessories isn’t as great as Nikon’s though.
  
  So it really depends on what you’re going for. I’d have to know more about your shooting style and what you shoot first.
- Larry Colen
  
  Spoorthy,
  I’ve got a Pentax k-5 but if I was shopping for a digital body for my AIS lenses, I’d be seriously interested in the D7000. Each system has its advantages and drawbacks. If you do a lot of work with speedlights, then go Nikon. If you need an image stabilized f/1.4 lens, go Pentax.
  My feeling is that you can’t go wrong with either camera, and which one is the better deal depends entirely on how you’ll be using it, and whether you have a relative that can give you a bag full of old Nikon or Pentax lenses.
- Anonymous
  
  I think that if you want a small package and/or rugged package then the d7k cant touch the K-5. But for portrait pentax kinda sucks. And the k-5 is $200 cheaper than the d7k now
  - Anonymous
    
    Very true. But what about the rumored K3?
    
    -Chris Gampat
    Editor in Chief
    The Phoblographer
    - Anonymous
      
      cant wait I really hope it keeps the same major design as the k-5 though and that isnt deisigned my marc newson
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Rainer

Excellent Camera. The only gripe I have is the rubber cover where the Batterie is housed. It is annoying as it tends to move out of it’s place every so often. Batterie life is excellent too. I use this Camera professionaly. No full frame Camera required for greta performance. The full frame issue is pushed way too much where as this DX Camera does just as good.