The Nikon D7000 is official. And I do think it’s a category crusher. It’s a 16-megapixel DX-format digital SLR with 1080p HD video and full-time continuous auto focus. It uses Nikon’s latest EXPEED 2 image processing for, “low-light ability never before seen in a DX-format (APS-C) camera.” Adding to the performance, the D7000 also has a brand new 39-point auto focus system, a new 2,016-pixel RGB 3D Matrix Metering System and a 6 frames per second burst rate for up to 100 frames! Nikon obviously means business with this camera. Like the D90, it looks like the D7000 could be the new crop-sensor / prosumer benchmark camera.
The new D7000 is the 4th DSLR in Nikon’s new DXXX lineup. It’s also the first DXXX body that’s not an entry-level camera. The D7000 offers a professional level of performance and a build that can stand up to daily use by working photographers. Nikon has been leading the DSLR image quality competition for a few years now and it looks like the D7000 will keep them in front. They were playing catch-up with Canon’s DSLR video features and performance but the D7000 is going to be very compelling to DSLR filmmakers. Like the recently-announce D3100, the D7000 has full 1080p HD video and full auto focus functionality in the D-Movie mode, something no other camera maker has managed to do in a DSLR. It also has a built-in intervalometer, used for making time-lapse videos and firing the shutter remotely. Good intervalometers cost a few hundred dollars so building one into the camera is a thoughtful touch that will catch the attention of filmmakers.
Nikon D7000 Key Features and Specs:
- New 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor
- EXPEED 2 image processing
- 12-bit or 14-bit RAW capture
- 1080p full-HD video capture
- Video format: MOV, H.264/MPEG-4
- New 39-point auto focus system
- Continuous auto focus in movie mode
- New 2,016-pixel RGB 3D Matrix Metering
- 6 frames per second burst mode
- Sensitivity range ISO 100 to 6400, expandable to ISO 25,600
- Magnesium alloy chassis
- Flash sync: 1/250th second or 1/320th with limited range
- 3-inch 92ik-dot LCD display
- 100% viewfinder
- 150k-rated shutter
- Electronic level
- Built-in intervalometer
No doubt, the D7000 will be a hot seller for Nikon. It looks like an awesome upgrade for D90 owners and in some ways (video and possibly image quality) it’s even better than the D300S. The obvious Canon comparison is the EOS 7D. However, the 7D is built for more for action shooting and the D7000 looks to have an emphasis on image quality. On the other hand, the D7000′s 39-point AF system and full-time video AF definitely offer a serious challenge to the 7D. I feel like I’ve been saying this for a couple of years now, but if I were buying my first digital SLR the Nikon D7000 looks like the best prosumer option at the moment.
The Nikon D7000 should be available in mid-October. Suggested retail for the D7000 body is $1199.95 and it will also sell as a kit with the AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens for $1499.95. Along with the D7000, Nikon also announced two new lenses, the NIKKOR AF-S 35mm f/1.4G and AF-S 200mm f/2G ED VR II; and a new flash, the SB-700 Speedlight.
Official Nikon D7000 Press Release >>
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next page – Official Nikon D7000 Press Release
I’ve seen one complaint about this camera on the Web sofar. That is that it doesn’t have good bracketing specs, which makes it a poor camera for HDR photographers.
The D700 manual has the same misprint the D90 manual has about HDR specs. In reality it will give the same 2EV spread as a D90 making it a good HDR camera.
Edit to the above comment – meant to say the D7000 manual, not D700.
I think the forthcoming Pentax K-5 is going to give all cameras in this category a run for their money
Great review, very informative. This is a very interesting development from Nikon, thanks for sharing.
I made a short review video of this camera from Photokina on behalf of http://www.convergeevents.co.uk.
Keep up the good work!
What, no mention of the Pentax K-5! I think PR is trying to promote the Nikon 7000 without even mentioning its direct competition, the Pentax K-5. PR, you should be ashamed of showing your bias towards Nikon when the Pentax K-5 has better specs than the Nikon 7000! Shameful display of accolades and bias!
Be serious, the Pentax sensor can’t handle High ISO like the Nikon D7000 :O
I can not wait to get my hands on this camera. Although having video has always been useless for me being a photographer, I think I may start to have some fun with it.
As for this being a bias review? I don’t think it is, I read plenty of reviews on this site, and I have never found one to be bias, sure the Pentax K-5 may be a good competitor, but this article is on the Nikon D-7000 and its performance.
Great review.
Dave – A Pentax camera isn’t going to give a Nikon or Canon camera a “run for their money” no matter what camera Pentax produces. It’s all about the “system” behind the camera body. Until Pentax creates glass and strobes that complete a high quality high quality camera body, Pentax will primarily be a consumer camera.
You can say that this is in the advanced amateur category, but it has better features than the Nikon D300s and maybe the D700.
you should be ashamed of not showing the side view of the camera. shameful, shameless, shame shame shame….lol.
Great review. Keep up with your great articles.
What is alll the hype all about. The D3000rovskirk attributesS is still superior…
Harris-
You had me there for a second, buddy
Anthony-
The D3000 or the D300? The D3000 is *not* superior.* The D300s is better in some ways but not all. For people interested in video, the D7000 is most assuredly a better camera. And the image quality should be better for stills and video.
I just noticed Donna’s comment that suggested I have a Nikon bias. This is probably somewhat true, although it would be an unintentional bias based more on the popularity of Nikon than anything else. I’ve actually quite enjoyed my time with Pentax DSLRs and my very first 35mm SLRs were Pentax cameras, back in the 80s. So I don’t have anything against Pentax. They just really aren’t that competitive right now as far as the number of people using their cameras. It’s also been very difficult for me to get review cameras from Pentax and that makes it hard for me to keep them on my radar.
The bottom line with the D7000 is that for a couple of years now Nikon has produced the DSLRs with the best image quality. There’s no way around that. That doesn’t belittle the quality other cameras produce – there are no bad digital SLRs anymore. But I stand by my claim that the D7000 is the “category crusher.” It’s already taken over the top spot as most popular camera on the site, knocking the D90 off the pedestal.
Rick — Pentax produces great professional level glass. Their unique, jewel-like prime lenses are unlike anything Nikon or Canon offer. They don’t have some niche glass covered, but, eh, that doesn’t mean they can’t compete in this category. The flash system isn’t up to Nikon’s, but again, in this category, it’s good enough.
Photo-John: I know it’s hard to keep up with all of the smaller brands, but do yourself a favor and check out the K-5. The D7000 basically plays out like a homage to the Pentax K-7, with some cost-cutting measures (check out an internal diagram of the D7000′s magnesium body) and with a newer, better sensor. The Pentax K-5 uses basically the same sensor as the D7000, but doesn’t go for the cost-cutting (and in fact makes some nice improvements over the K-7).