Nikon d7000 review

 

Nikon d7000 review

Last update: 27/05/2015

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Nikon D7000 review

Nikon D7000 front view

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Lens mount

The camera has a Nikon F mount. If we mount a lens on the camera, the direction of rotation is opposite as Canons. The white dot for align the lens and the camera together is not at the top but around 2 o’clock direction if we face the lens. The lens mount is from stainless steel material.
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Lens compatibility

The Nikon d7000 camera is compatible with most of Nikon’s F-mount lenses. The camera has a built in focus motor, and in Live view has a magnified view option for manual focusing which can be useful with only Manual focusing lenses.

Buttons

We can assign lots of different tasks for the following buttons: Fn buttom, dof preview button, AF/AE lock button. Otherwise there is many external buttons, which enables to quickly adjust many parameters in the camera.

The left side of the lens mount at bottom is the depth of field review button. This button close the iris for the selected aperture. Normally the iris is open until the point we release the shutter button and make an image.

Above it it is the Fn buttom which can be used for an assigned tasks, which we can set in the menu before. The place where we can do that is the custom setting menu / controls / assign Fn button custom settings. It can be used for many things for example access top menu item in My menu, lock exposure, start video recording, set picture control, access bracketing or flash, access shooting display, switch flash off, AF/AE locks, AE lock only, Bracketing burst, active D-lighting, virtual horizont in the viewfinder, framing grid, adjust spot, matrix or center weighted metering, add Raw images, playback or other tasks. The dof preview button also can be adjusted for the same tasks, but the AE/AF lock button only can be adjusted for less number of tasks mainly combinations of AF / AE lock tasks.

The two command dials also can be customized at a certain level, there are 4 options to adjust here.

nikon d7000 review

Nikon d7000 review
Introduction

The Nikon d7000 is a prosumer/enthusiast level Dx camera. The Nikon D7000 has many additional controls and functions compare to the entry level models. (Nikon d3100, Nikon d3200, Nikon d5100, Nikon d5200). The Nikon d7000 has better grip for people with bigger hands, in built focus motor for wide range of Nikon and third party lenses, top LCD panel, two Sd card slot, bigger, brighter viewfinder for better vision. Compare to Full frame/pro models, the biggest differences are the little lower high ISO performance, and the even bigger viewfinder on the FF camera. The difference compare to Full frame models is not so much as you might think. For example I recently reviewed the Nikon d700 and it is little better regarding high ISO performance, but has less dynamic range, similar colors, and contrast.
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Short summary – Nikon d7000 review

Advantages of the Nikon d7000 camera: Very good picture quality, Wide dynamic range, app 20% bigger viewfinder than entry level models, Metering and autofocus with wide range of Nikon lenses, lots of features and easy adjustment of parameters, 2 SD card slots, two dials, Top LCD panel, lower price in 2014, very good overall value compare to the price

Disadvantages: Seems newest sensors are better in low light (small difference), no in camera HDR, and Flipout screen (Nikon d7100 also doesn’t have, Nikon d5100,Nikon d5200 has).
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Nikon d7000, Nikon 16-85 vr, ISO 2500 1/320s 30mm

Nikon d7000 firmware updates

– August 26, 2014 Support for distortion control data L: 2.000 and later has been added. Camera firmware must be updated before distortion control data can be updated to Ver. L: 2.000 or later.

– April 2012 update is to support the 800mm f/5.6 FL ED lens.

– Nov 10, 2011 several issues corrected
some memory cards may not have detected
using U1 or U2 modes sometimes
1. new folders created
2. the number of exposures many not be displayed as specified
3. role of the cards can change
An issue where Battery info in the setup menu sometimes showed sufficient remaining charge even when the remaining charge for the AA batteries inserted in the MB-D11 battery pack was low has been resolved.

An issue where a saved photo may not have been displayed properly when a movie was displayed in playback mode while saving the photo has been resolved.
An issue where zoom in or zoom out may not have performed properly when the playback zoom in or playback zoom out button was pressed while in Live view has been resolved.

The message displayed when the internal memory of the Wireless Transmitter WT-4 is formatted from the Format transmitter’s memory under Device settings in Wireless transmitter of the camera’s setup menu was changed from Done to Built-in memory formatted.

The message displayed when the internal memory of the Wireless Transmitter WT-4 is formatted from the Format transmitter’s memory under Device settings in Wireless transmitter of the camera’s setup menu was changed from Done to Built-in memory formatted.

Technical specifications – Nikon d7000 review

Camera weight: 780g (1.72 lbs.)
Viewfinder size: 0.62
Viewfinder coverage: app 100%
Battery life: 1050 shots (CIPA)
Focus points/cross type: 39/9
LCD resolution: 920k dots
LCD type: fixed
Touchscreen: No
Dynamic range: 13,9 EV (NEF at ISO 100 setting) it is very good compare to the other cameras
Exposure compensation range: +- 5 EV very useful and usable as well
Flash compensation range: -1 to +3 EV (to make the flash stronger or weaker)
ISO range: 100-25600 (100-6400 is the native range)

sensitivities higher than ISO 6400
(8000 (Hi 0.3), 10000(Hi 0.7), 12,800 (H1), 25,600(H2) not shown in Exif

ISO range

100-25600,100-6400 normal after Hi
steps: 100,125,160,200,250,320,400,500,640,
800,1000,1250,1600,2000,2500,3200,4000,5000,
6400,Hi0.3,Hi0.7,Hi1,Hi2


Build quality – Nikon d7000 review

The camera has a nice build quality overall. Compare to entry level models, the difference is huge. The handgrip is bigger, but thinner than Canon counterparts. For me the Canons are much more comfortable to hold, but I have no big problems with the Nikon d7000 as well. The rear LCD has nice colours, resolution and contrast. The camera has plenty of controls. The one tricky is the af-mf swich at the bottom front left side of the Camera which no have new functions. If we push the butten instead of turning it we can control the autofocus points of the camera. If we push the button and turn the front dial we choose between auto and chosen autofocus points, if we push and turn the rear dial we can set the autofocus points we want to use. Battery life is excellent up to the point you addicted to live view or record many videos, in case the battery much quicker drains out (common problem for mirrorless cameras).

Picture quality – Nikon d7000 review

One of the great thing of the D7000 picture quality is the dynamic range. At the iso 100 setting the camera has 13.9 EV dynamic range.(The value only can be accessed in Raw NEF format, in jpg app 10 EV). The camera has great colours and contrast even in higher iso speeds. The camera has excellent image quality up to 3200 iso, and small sizes the 6400 iso is also quite usable.

Compare to other cameras I would say easily better than any Canon crop camera to date in almost any parameter like noise high iso dynamic range or colours, and dynamic range even better than Full frame Canons. The story is not so easy though. Canon camera pictures looks differently than Nikons. The difference is small and huge as well. How this can be? If you look at the pictures both cameras capable to make excellent images, but if you compare them to each other the difference is huge.

Simply the pictures looks very different to me. Between cameras from the same manufacturer the pictures looks similar no matter Full frame or Aps-C cameras, but any Nikon vs Canon looks very different. If you want them to make the same picture to look similar, it is very hard. Different manufacturers stresses different colors to have their preferred output. In the shadow areas the Nikon is much better, and regarding noise performance of well. On the other hand Canon look more natural to me in terms of colors. First I found that Nikon d7000 jpg files are soft.

This means lacking “punch” or contrast, not lacking resolution or detail. but is not so easy just pictures differently looking than the pictures of Canon cameras. Lenses also makes a huge impact on quality. Cheap lenses produce not so nice colors and lacking contrast. Overall Nikon d7000 quality is excellent.

High ISO performance – Nikon d7000 review

Nikon d7000 review
Nikon d7000 ISO 12,800 1/8s Nikon 16-85 vr handheld, jpg straight from the camera no post processing except resize

Picture formats – Nikon d7000 review

NEF and jpeg. The jpgs has 3 different size options, the smallest is 2464 pixel. Full res files are huge.

Menus – Nikon d7000 review

The menus are well thought-out and simple to use. The my menu/recents settings menu particularly interesting. Between these options only one can be chosen at a time, but it can be switched any time.

My menu option enables to you to choose functions from any other menus for your preferred order. Recent settings manu let you to choose from recent camera settings, without setting them all again.

  • Menus below each other in this order:
  • Playback menu
  • Shooting menu
  • Custom setting menu
  • Setup menu
  • Retouch menu
  • My menu
Functions – Nikon d7000 review
  • Auto iso:can set the maximum iso value, and minimal shutter speed as well.
  • D-lighting
  • Noise reduction: On, Off, Norm, High
  • Silent shutter function: This function can be accessed from the left dial. When we want the minimum noise, we can try this function. If we use this function we hear two small clicks with a little time between them. This function can be used with high shutter speed also like 1/1000s or faster shutter speeds. If we keep the shutter release down we don’t hear the second click until releasing the button.
  • Interval timer shots – we can specify how many shot we make with how many time between them
  • Sensor cleaning: The camera can clean the sensor with ultrasonic system
  • Auto distortion control: on/off the Camera can correct distortion the lens has if we set on
  • Subject magnification in Live view – in Live view it is possible to magnify the view of the camera by pressing the + button, this way precize focusing is easier
Tricky adjustments – Nikon d7000 review

Flash compensations can be set pushing the flash button and turn the front dial simultanously.
Autofocus area/points can be select to push the button left next to the lens AF/MF switch and turn the front dial

This two functions I needed some time to find it.

Autofocus – Nikon d7000 review

Autofocus with Nikkor af-S lenses is very quick and precise. With lenses like the Nikon 16-85 vr to use the camera is real joy, and gives very nice feeling in usage. Almost 100% of my pictures are precisely focused. Autofocus points can be selected in different groups. The selection can be made pressing the button at the left front side of the camera(the button in af-mf switch) while turning one of the dials.
AF – A auto here the camera selects from the below two modes
AF – S single for still subjects
AF – C (servo or continuous focus for moving subjects)

Info screen can be accessed pressing info button at right side at the back of the camera
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Regarding autofocus the following options can be chosen:
-Auto 39/9 crosstype points if we don’t want to bother with points
-1 point
-points around the chosen point
-more points
-all points
– 3D tracking
Between this options we can change by pressing the botton in af-mf switch and turning front dial simultanously.

Sensor

Aps-C:23.6*15.6 DX Cmos

Video – Nikon d7000 review

Entry level Nikon cameras has one big extra feature over the Nikon d7000 the flipout screen which is very useful in video recording. The highest framerate is 24 fps at 1920*1080. Newer cameras like Nikon d5100 or d5200 has better video quality even with higher frame-rates. In any case video function on the D7000 is a huge plus compare to older cameras lacks video functions. The video looks nice but newer cameras has better picture quality. This doesn’t mean that the Nikon d7000 quality is low, but newer cameras are better in this regard. Higher framerate would be nice.
Resolutions:1920*1080/24 High quality, normal
1280×720/24,25 High quality, normal
640×424/25 High quality, normal
See also here
Nikon d7000 video mode

Durability, quality control – Nikon d7000 review

Mine has more than 150,000 actuations with the latest shutter replacement, still works as it needed.

Live view

In Live view it is possible to magnify the objects with the +button, for better manual focusing.

Camera modes

The basic shooting modes are the P, S, A, M modes. In Manual mode there is a possibility to shoot with Auto iso, which results like an automatic mode, don’t need to mess about the light levels. It is possible to adjust exposure compensation as well, which is visible in the viewfinder.

White balance

The camera has many preset white balance modes. It is also possible to set Kelvin white balance, when we can set the camera between 2500 and 10000 Kelvin color temperature. If we want to prepare a custom white balance value with a white or grey card it is also possible. The camera must set to PRE and after we make a photo of the white card. If we succeed we saw ok on the top LCD upper part.

Compare to:

Compare to Nikon d7100:
The Nikon d7000 has an older Sony-made sensor with 16 Megapixel resolution, while the Nikon d7100 has a newest 24 Mpix Toshiba-made sensor. Apart from the resolution difference the newer sensor are a bit better. The difference practically is very little. I have the D7000 and used the Nikon d7100 as well, and I don’t see a reason to upgrade. The Nikon d7100 autofocus system is also better, it is focuses until -2 EV, while the Nikon d7000 until -1 EV. The new Nikon d7100 has a 51/15 cross type autofocus system, while the D7000 has 39/9(cross type) sensor. The most interesting question for me, as a bird photographer was that the new 24Mpix sensor is better than the older 16Mpix unit in terms of resolution, and by how many amount ? Is it sharper or not ? For this reason to check I made some shots with the Nikon 100mm Vr macro lens attached to both cameras. At the sharpest setting at f/4 this lens clearly outresolves the D7000 camera 16 Mpix sensor. First the 24Mpix sensor made only by 21.7 % bigger picture than the 16 Megapixel unit. (6000/4928 pixel). To compare the pictures at screen size I see no significant or even visible difference in resolution. Where the Nikon d7100 is a hair better is high ISO noise performance, because of better sensor or better noise reduction software or both. At ISO 6400 the D7100 is a little better. Lower ISOs are quite similar. The Nikon d7000 has a little wider dynamic range though (13.9 vs 13.6 EV).

Compare to Nikon d5200:

The Nikon d5200 has essentially the same new Toshiba sensor which a Nikon d7100 has. The picture quality is better than the older 16 Mpixel Sony unit according to my opinion. Other than that both cameras has the same 39/9 points excellent autofocus system. In the hand in usage the Nikon d7000 feels much more reassuring.

Compare to Nikon d5100:

The Nikon d7000 basically share the same sensor with the Nikon d5100. Seems a sensor of the Nikon d5100 is a little bit better, but the Nikon d7000 has lot more features, and functions which the d5100 lacks. Bigger viewfinder, top LCD, 2 control dials, lens focus adjustment just to name a few.

Compare to Nikon d90:

The Nikon d7000 is little upgraded compare to the Nikon d90, and a much better camera overall. It has better picture quality and more functions.

Compare to Nikon d300:

The Nikon d300 has a better burst mode with bigger buffer, and better build quality, while the Nikon d7000 makes better pictures in low light.

What is missing, things to improve

-The Nikon d7000 is a fantastic camera the thing are missing for me is the flip-out screen, which is missing from the Nikon d7100 as well, and perhaps higher frame rate videos in newer models. The Nikon D7200 has a fixed screen as well.

-Higher ISO pictures (above 6400) the Actual ISO number cannot be seen at Exif.

-red color easily burn out

Verdict

The Nikon d7000 is an excellent camera from Nikon, highly recommended !



Sample pictures
NIK_2759 NIK_2761 NIK_3357 IMG_5983

Up to now (July 2014) almost all the pictures in Nikon lens reviews made with the Nikon d7000 camera, only few with the Nikon d7100. Usually I note camera settings as well below the picture.

More Nikon D7000 sample photos

 Posted by at 3:28 pm