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| Category: | Digital SLRs |
| Product: | Nikon D7100 |
| Price: | £785.99 |
Nikon D7100 DSLR Hands-On Preview - We go hands on with the new Nikon D7100 - the new Digital SLR features a new 24.1 megapixel sensor and no AA filter for high image quality.
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Specification
The Nikon D7100 is the long awaited update to the D7000, although Nikon pointed out that the D7100 doesn't replace the D7000, it simply sits next to it. The Nikon D7100 has a new 24.1 megapixel APS-C DX sized sensor without the optical low pass filter - this should enabled sharp detailed images, and the camera offers 6fps continuous shooting, making it the best DX camera to date, according to Nikon.
Nikon D7100 Features
A new 24.1 megapixel DX sensor enables high speed shooting at 6fps shooting at full resolution, the D7100 offers a quicker 7fps continuous shooting mode at 1.3x crop giving 15.4 megapixel images. The camera sports dual SD card slots that are UHS-I 104 compatible, and on the back is a new 3.2 inch screen with 1,229k dots, featuring a 1000:1 contrast ratio. Virtual electronic horizon is available for shooting in portrait or landscape view.
The camera features an updated 'i' button that gives quick access to settings on the back screen of the camera, and spot white balance has been introduced so that WB can be quickly set without the need of a grey card. The camera body features magnesium alloy and is weather sealed to the same standard as the Nikon D800. The shutter mechanism has also been tested for 150,000 cycles.
Key Features
- 24.1-megapixel DX format CMOS sensor
- APS-C with no OLPF (Optical Low Pass Filter)
- EXPEED 3 image processor
- ISO sensitivity of 100-6400, extendable to 25600
- AF system: 51 focus points, 15 cross-type, up to f/8, -2EV
- 6 fps continuous shooting, 7 fps with 1.3x crop function
- 2,016-pixel RGB metering sensor with Scene Recognition
- Full HD Movie: 1080p up to 60i/50i and 30p/25p/24p, Stereo mics built into body
- Microphone / Headphone sockets
- High performance viewfinder: with approximately 100% frame coverage and 0.94x magnification
- 3.2inch 1229k-dot RGBW screen
- Compact body weighing just 690g
- Durable body with magnesium alloy covers: sealed for dust, weather and drop resistance
- Dual SD memory card slots
- Improved ‘i’ button and Spot White Balance for quick and precise white balance setting in Live View
- Active D-Lighting (ADL): retains details in highlights and shadows for well-balanced images
- High Dynamic Range (HDR): combines two shots within a single shutter release to create detailed images of high contrast scenes
- Effects Mode: allows selected effects to be applied to both stills and movies in Live View
Nikon D7100 Handling
Handling - The improved 'i' button on the back gives quick access to controls on the rear screen of the camera. There is also a new mode dial with lock, as well as drive mode dial surrounding this, also with a locking button that needs to be pressed before the dial can be changed.
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| Pv, Fn buttons. | Flash, Bracket, buttons, Lens release and Focus. |
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| Mode dial. | Top LCD and exposure controls. |
The Nikon D7100 feels comfortable to hold, and surprisingly compact for a top of the range APS-C sensor weather sealed Digital SLR. It is said to have a redesigned front and rear rubberised hand grip, and these feel good in the hand. There are ample buttons on the rear, top and front to give direct access to a number of settings, and there is a front and rear control dial to quickly set or adjust aperture and shutter speeds in manual shooting modes.
Menus - These should be familiar to anyone who has used Nikon menu systems before, with options spread over six main menus, each one colour coded, starting with playback, shooting, custom settings, setup, retouch and recent settings (not shown). The final image below shows the rear screen when you press the i button to adjust settings. A video walkthough of the menus can be found on our YouTube channel.
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| Playback | Shooting | Custom Menus |
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| Setup | Retouch | i settings |
Battery and performance- The D7100 uses the EN-EL15 1900mAh battery, as used in a number of other Nikon cameras, including the Nikon D7000, D800, D800E and Nikon 1 V1. Nikon has measured the shutter response as 0.052 seconds, and we will be testing this when we have the camera in for review.
Nikon D7100 Hands-On Photos of Equipment
Value For Money - The Nikon D7100 is introduced with an RRP of £1099, which is the same introduction RRP price of the D7000 when it was announced in 2010, or alternatively £1299 with the Nikkor 18-105mm VR lens. We will be conducting our full review of the D7100 as soon as the camera is available.
Nikon has published a number of sample photos on the Nikon website.
Nikon D7100 Specifications
| Manufacturer | Nikon | |
| Lens | ||
| Effective Magnification | 1.5x | |
| Image Sensor | ||
| CCD pixels | 24.1Mp (Megapixels) | |
| Pixels (W) | 6000 | |
| Pixels (H) | 4000 | |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | |
| Sensor Size | APS-C | |
| Sensor Size (width) | 23.5mm | |
| Sensor Size (height) | 15.6mm | |
| Aspect Ratio |
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| LCD Monitor | ||
| LCD Monitor | 3.2in | |
| Screen resolution | 1229k dots | |
| Touch Screen | No | |
| Focusing | ||
| Focusing modes |
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| Exposure Control | ||
| Shutter speeds shortest | 1/8000sec | |
| Shutter speeds longest | 30sec | |
| Exp modes |
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| Metering |
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| ISO sensitivity | 100 - 25600 | |
| White balance |
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| Exposure Comp | +/-5 | |
| Shooting Options | ||
| Continuous shooting | 6fps | |
| Video | ||
| Movie mode | Yes | |
| Video Resolution |
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| Video FPS | 30/25/24p | |
| Stereo Sound | Yes | |
| Optical Zoom with Video | Yes | |
| Other Features | ||
| Image Stabilisation | No | |
| Interface | ||
| HDMI | Yes | |
| USB | USB 2 | |
| Storage | ||
| Card Type |
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| Power Source | ||
| Battery Type | Lithium Ion EN-EL15 | |
| CIPA Rating | 950 | |
| Box Contents | ||
| Box Contents | EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-25 Quick Charger, UC-E6 USB Cable, AN-DC1 Strap, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, DK-23 Rubber Eyecup, BF-1B Body Cap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap, NikonView NX2 CD ROM | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 675g | |
| Width | 135.5mm | |
| Height | 106.5mm | |
| Depth | 76mm | |
Buy Now
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D7100 Body | Amazon.com $ |
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Comments
Quote: Interesting that Nikon now don't consider the DX format worthy of a professional level body.
It's supposedly the same build quality/sealing as the D300s and D800. All that has happened is that with the D600, Nikon has introduced what it descries as an 'enthusiast level' FX format camera. It really wouldn't make sense to have a DX format hypothetically sitting above that. I don't however think the D300s was ever pitched as a Pro-level Nikon, good as it was in its time.
I find it all quite dizzying. My D7000, which I spent lots of time weighing up before purchasing, has barely 2000 shutter activations and I'm still getting used to it. Now we have yet another new Nikon. Given that the D7000 has 150,000 activations, at least before it wears out, I've a long way to go with a camera that I find more than adequate. I'll not be bothering with this D7100 at all because it'll be replaced itself several times over before my D7000 gives up the ghost.
Good luck to 'online dealer's delights' and upgraders who'll be reaching into their pockets for this one.
Quote: Interesting that Nikon now don't consider the DX format worthy of a professional level body.
It's supposedly the same build quality/sealing as the D300s and D800. All that has happened is that with the D600, Nikon has introduced what it descries as an 'enthusiast level' FX format camera. It really wouldn't make sense to have a DX format hypothetically sitting above that. I don't however think the D300s was ever pitched as a Pro-level Nikon, good as it was in its time.
A lot of pros and serious amateurs bought the D300s due to the pro build and features. For wildlife it was ideal, albeit rather long in the tooth these days. Is the D7100 as sturdy as a D300s? I would say not due to the plastic front and base, but you'd have to perform destructive testing to find out. And I suppose the pro market users will let us know what they think.
So, now I have to decide between a D7100 and a D600!!!
I think This says a lot!!
ChrisV - Your comment about Nikon D300s, as I have one I would dispute its not a pro camera, suggest you take a look at Malcolm Cook's portfolio on the Leicester Photographic club site.
He came with his prints last night to my club TWPC, he uses a D100 and a D300 the quality speaks for itself when you see his work.
Bryan
I'm sorry, but while this is an upgrade from a D3100, it is not the camera for me. The Sony A77 eats it for dinner. Unless the image quality of this 24 megapixel camera is somehow much better than the image quality of THAT 24 megapixel camera, it just doesn't make much sense to me. Of course, a Nikon enthusiast with a bunch of Nikon lenses will be much more pleased with this thing. The fact that it shoots at only half the speed of the Sony is one of my biggest problems with this "new" camera from Nikon though. And the Sony A77 has been on the market for a year now. This thing is WAY too little and way too late. Sony will be upgrading much sooner than Nikon now, and it already is a better camera in almost every way . . . speed, built-in GPS, better video quality, better viewfinder (size and brightness), a fold-out screen, etc. All I could say about this camera is that it's so cheap . . . except that I don't think it will be. I bet it will be the same price or maybe even more expensive than the Sony A77.
Quote: ChrisV - Your comment about Nikon D300s, as I have one I would dispute its not a pro camera, suggest you take a look at Malcolm Cook's portfolio on the Leicester Photographic club site.
He came with his prints last night to my club TWPC, he uses a D100 and a D300 the quality speaks for itself when you see his work.
Bryan
I used to own a D300 myself and did paid work with it. I think you're getting hung up on terms - all I was saying is that according to Nikon's rating that [and this] aren't 'Pro-level' cameras. Frankly it makes very little difference in practical terms does it? Some customers who 'know a little' may be impressed if you're shooting with a big expensive camera, but it's actually fairly low on the hierarchy of elements that will produce a great shot. A good tool is a useful help to a skilled worker - a complex one can be useless in the hands of a novice.
It seems nikon are now copying a lot of features from the Pentax cameras....K5, K511S and K30!
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