Starting with a Nikon DSLR...

Intro:

Recently in our country, there is a change of taste going on regarding digital imaging. Point and shoot Digital cameras are losing attraction to stunning images of D-SLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera as it is getting available in reasonable price in recent years. So why not stop fantasizing and get one for yourself! This article will guide you to choose your best Nikon DSLR to start with considering your budget.

When it’s about D-SLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera, Nikon and Canon these two brands come parallel. Both these brands are now market leader in the world as well as in Bangladesh. Also, all the latest models and lenses of these brands are now becoming available in stores in competitive price.

I will go through Nikon Models very briefly with their specifications, price, user types etc. You are maybe wondering why Nikon? Well I will not go into the debate of Nikon vs Canon (legendary debate of all ages! May be another day! ) right now, but my personal favorite is Nikon for greater dynamic range, better color depth (Truer color), noticeably better ISO/Noise performance, better lenses and larger lens compatibility than similar priced model of Canon. Both Brands produced great cameras and it’s really up to user to select one, depending on taste, usage type, budget and lots of other variables.

Choose your dream:

Apart from canon, Nikon provides fewer models in different ranges. Which I think is a benefit for user to choose the right camera considering budget. Just adding few features and increasing megapixels to create a newer model is really silly and confusing for users. So before deciding for a model, do not look only at mega pixel and some fancy stuff ( in camera crap HDR for example). There are lots of other factors which will create huge impact on your image. Remember, a good photograph is not an end result of a good camera body. It’s a combination of camera body, lenses, technique, composition etc. So don’t shout at your poor camera for not producing images you want, it’s your technique what is responsible. A good photographer can produce amazing images with a lowest priced model available. Higher end model will turn your photographic skills into real professionalism and help you to achieve more accuracy, depth, flexibility etc. So let’s quickly go through what Nikon has to offer to its worldwide users.

DSLRs can be classified primarily by the size of its Image sensor. The original 35mm film equivalent sensor size is called Full Frame sensor (for Nikon models/lenses have “FX” on them). But producing such sensor is really costly. Therefore camera manufacturers developed smaller/cropped image sensor cameras (for Nikon it’s called DX) for producing amazing images in lower cost. Both FX and DX have its merits and demerits. I will write about it later on and for now first let’s look at the models below.

Format (Megapixel, continuous frame per second, ISO Range, Video quality)

Professional Models (Full frame/FX models)

D4S (Flag ship Product): 16.2 MP, 11 FPS, ISO 100-25600, 1080P @ 60P

·         Df:                                                          16.2 MP, 5.5 FPS, ISO 100-12800, NO VIDEO!

·         D4:                                                         16.2 MP, 10/11 FPS, ISO 100-12,800, 1080P @ 30P

·         D3X:                                                       24.5 MP, 5fps, ISO 100-1600, NO VIDEO!

·         D800 (Best choice product):                 36.3 MP!, 4 FPS, ISO 100-6400, 1080P @ 30p

·         D800 E(Slightly sharper):                     Same as D800

·         D610:                                                     24.3 MP, 6 FPs, ISO 100-6400, 1080P@ 30p

·         D600 (will be discontinued):                 Almost same as D610!

Semi-Professional Models (Crop frame/ DX models)

·         D7100 (Flagship product):                   24.1 MP, 6 FPS, ISO 100-6400, 1080 @ 60i

·         D7000:                                                  16.2 MP, 6 FPS, ISO 100-6400, 1080p @ 24p

·         D300S (rare now):                                12.3 MP, 7 FPS, ISO 200-3200, 720p @ 24p

·         D90 (still stunning):                              12.3 MP, 4.5 fps, ISO 200-3200, 720p @ 24p

Entry Level Models (Crop frame/ DX models without focus motor):

·         D5300 (Flagship):                                 24.2 MP, 5 fps, ISO 100-12800, 1080p @ 60i,

·         D5200:                                                  24.1 MP, 5 FPS, ISO 100-6400, 1080p @30,

·         D5100:                                                  16.2 MP, 4 FPS, ISO 100-6400, 1080p @ 30p

·         D3300 (newest one):                            24.2 MP, 5 fps, ISO 100-12800, 1080p @60p

·         D3200:                                                  24.2 MP, 4 FPS, ISO 100-6400, 1080p @ 60p

So, quite a few models as you can see. But we are more focused on to DX models for beginning as FX cameras are insanely high priced and not at all recommended for beginners or semi-pro photographers. Nikon recently introduced their 24 megapixel sensors in almost every new model of different price ranges they released. Not a question of Mega pixels anymore!

The Beginner:

The “entry level” group has few models, but mostly they are upgrades of D3100 and D5000. This group is targeted for enthusiastic users who are opted for the supreme quality pictures of Nikon, hence into budget. Nikon provided their top class image sensors in these models, but hey, why should people go for the semi-professional range if they can have an outstanding quality image from THE AMAZING D3300 (priced around BDT 40,000 body only, with 18-55 VR II BDT 48,000)? Of course there are some key things like ISO performance, dynamic range, Color depth etc. will largely affect your image. Semi-pro and pro bodies has a huge advancement of Auto-focusing system. For example, D7100 has 51 Autofocus points, 11 of them are cross types (can focus in extremely difficult situation), whereas D3300 has only 11 and none of them is cross type. Moreover, this group doesn’t have any built-in auto focus motors, which means it cannot Auto-focus lenses that don’t have an internal focusing motor. Therefore, you have to invest more on lenses as lenses with focus motors are expensive. The legendary 50mm prime 1.8/D costs only BDT 8,500 whereas its Twin brother 50mm 1.8 G (with motor) costs about BDT 20,000. The built of semi pro/pro range cameras are tougher (magnesium alloy), weather sealed and most importantly you can almost instantly change hundreds of camera setting by just pressing few buttons and rolling some dials. But in beginner cameras you have to hover inside your stupid menu system to reach your desired settings and hell… the moment is gone.. Big draw back!

Don’t get fooled by ISO numbers of 12800 of D3300 or D5300. These are hardly usable. The new D3300 has an amazing noise performance up to ISO 6400 which is quite remarkable at this price range. Still for ISO performances, it is no way near semi-pro models like D7100, D300s etc. So watch out, if you want to take a lot of pictures in the dark..!

Nikon has started a revolution by omitting the OLPF (Optical Low pass filter) from their image sensors in recent cameras like D5300 & D3300 (first introduced in D7100). This enables you to take super sharp images and to use your sensor’s full capacity. OLPF was included in past cameras for avoiding the Moiré patterns by turning the image little softer. This resulted into an overall softer image. It is a huge benefit when noise is an issue, and you will be able to take super sharp images while High ISO noise is there.

From my opinion D5300 is a complete waste of BDT 15,000 just only to get a rotating LCD! (BDT 55,000 body only). I will suggest getting the amazing D3300 with 18-55 VR II (a super sharp lens in a very cheap price) if you opted to take occasional family, landscape or moment pictures. It will be a life time asset for you and in future you can add few lenses. No internal motor?? Forget that… all the new lenses of Nikon come up with internal motors. And Yess!! There is Full HD video for you there, quite amazing these days! I don’t suggest D3200, D5200 or D5100 as these models are getting obsolete.

For the Dreamer:

Now for more serious users, semi pro range has absolutely amazing cameras for you. I don’t recommend a full frame camera initially unless you want to start with serious sports or underwater photography! Full frame has big advantages in Noise performance (you can see what high ISO really can do) as their image sensors are larger. A 24 MP FX sensor is 1.5 times larger than the cropped one. Therefore pixel size is bigger. So one pixel can capture more light data, thus producing such low noise and high details. But, in most general cases you won’t need ISO more than 3200. Besides, FX bodies and lenses are way pricey. For example, D7100 has almost the same picture quality of D610 (FX) but costs BDT 55,000 more! Go buy good glasses (Lenses) with that extra! All the FX zoom lenses are also really expensive! In DX bodies you can use FX lenses as well as cheap but excellent DX Nikkor lenses. So lens compatibility is also higher for DX Bodies.

In mid range, D7100 is absolutely an outstanding performer. It is presently world’s best DX/Crop sensor camera (see DXOMark or snapsort rating of it). Weather sealed, strongly built and however, lighter than its older brother D7000. With expeed 3 sensor and ground breaking dynamic range, this camera just don’t get wrong. D7100 renders such amazing colors and accurate White balance. Also, without the OLPF and 24 useful megapixels, details and sharpness are insane! It seems Nikon will not going to release anticipated D400 (successor of Legendary D300s) as D7100 took its place already. It is now available at market only at BDT 75,000 taka (only body) and with excellent 18-105 VR Lens it’s about BDT 93,000. There is no point of buying D300s (very rare in market now) with BDT 120,000 (yes you read that right) which is highly overpriced and no match for D7100 in any aspects. Besides D300s has crappy HD super-unusable movie as like D90!

I will go into details about D7100 in my next writings. There is not much of a choice right now for mid range users. D7000 has pretty similar picture quality (but poorer processing, MP, white balance etc.) in BDT 56,000 don’t worth a shot as it has some reported problems with its motherboard. Better you go for all time legend the Great D90 instead. It’s selling at BDT 43,000 body only! Amazing! D90 has such beautiful color tones and noise performance in its cost, you will just love it! So, if you’re real short in budget but want the feel of a pro camera go for D90! It is the most sold and used Nikon models ever worldwide. That’s why Nikon is still producing it. Video is full of crap though!

Conclusion:

You can see now digital imaging is greatly progressed since 2005 and so on. Low range models always were chasing higher megapixels as users of this range are only concerned about the MYTH of High megapixel! But good point is newer models aren’t all about Megapixels only. Image processing, dynamic range, color depth, white balancing is greatly improved as market is getting real competitive. If you want true and live color, high dynamic range and precise white balance control Choose Nikon! Canon produces also great cameras but in same price range, Nikon is ahead with its models (see snapsort and DXOmark web sites). But still it really depends on photographer’s choice and taste.

 In DX range Nikon really developed their arsenal and providing the top most image quality similar to the Giant D4 (BDT 500,000!) and even better! So you will have the feel of what really Nikon can produce from any recent model you buy. Nikon adjusted their budget on Button control, Noise performance, Built quality, Ergonomics, dynamic range, weather sealing etc. but keeping their image quality at the best. This is really a good news for a newbie. From present models, D3300 will be the best camera for starting your DSLR journey and you will just love it! And if you have a bit budget on your hand and want to be more professional in future go for D7100! Do not waste any money in between as it will end up in a real bad decision. So, keep reading with my in depth reviews on these models.

Remember, you need to learn how to use your model’s potential or else it will be like a machine gun which you cannot fire! A great image is an end result of photographic skill, technique, knowing limitation of camera body, lenses and perception of the photographer. So keep capturing and explore the world through your DSLR.