Buyer’s guide
Not sure which Nikon body will be the one for you? Here’ s a run down of the current range
Shopping for a new camera body or lens? We’ve got the essential stats and facts for you
A CSC that D-SLR users will love,
the J5 has the highest resolution of any Nikon 1 camera to date (20.8Mp) and a decent sensitivity range. The top dial now also gives access to semi-automatic and manual exposure modes, plus you can shoot in RAW, which is real bonus.
Small in size but big on qual ity,
the svelte Nikon 1 S2 is responsive and speedy. With a 14.2Mp image sensor, and the omission of built-in Wi-Fi or a touchscreen, it’s more basic than the J5, but still a highly capable camera that you can slip into your bag as a lightweight backup.
Very much the ac tion ad venturer,
the Nikon 1 AW1 is shockproof, waterproof to a depth of 15 metres, and even freeze-proof down to -10°C. To keep pace with a truly active lifestyle, it also has a built-in compass, altimeter, depth gauge and GPS.
For comfort and fa miliar ity,
the V2 has a very conventional layout, including a sculpted finger grip, electronic viewfinder and shooting mode dial – users of traditional cameras will feel right at home. It’s been largely superseded by the V3 (below), so look out for it at bargain prices.
The fla gship Nikon 1 ca mera
adds a vari-angle touchscreen to the comfortable ergonomics of the preceding V2, along with key upgrades to the image sensor, processor and autofocus system. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi. The electronic viewfinder is optional.
An instant fa vourite with beginners
when launched back in 2012, the D3200 eases you into creative photography with a built-in Guide mode that serves up interactive tutorials. There’s impressive picture quality to match, thanks to its 24.2Mp image sensor and EXPEED 3 processor.
continues theD3200’ s beginner-friendly tradition
of an interactive Guide shooting mode, and boosts performance with a later-generation EXPEED 4 processor, faster continuous shooting and greater low-light potential. There’s also a new ‘easy panorama’ mode.
THE D5200 has become a very aff orda ble intermediate-level ca mera ,
now that the D5300 and D5500 have hit the market. Originally launched in early 2013, its specifications still look appealing, and the vari-angle LCD makes for easy shooting from tricky angles.
A significant upgrade over the D 5200,
this camera features a newer generation processor, plus built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, wrapped up in a carbon-fibre-reinforced body shell. As with the D3300, the optical low-pass filter is omitted to maximise the potential for image sharpness.
The same pixel count and process or as the preceding D5300,
built into the same style of monocoque (one-piece) body shell. The most notable upgrade in the newer D5500 is that its vari-angle LCD is a touchscreen. However, it loses the D5300’s built-in GPS.
The D7100 gets a notable hike in pixel count
compared with the preceding D7000, along with the removal of the optical low-pass filter to maximise sharpness. Its autofocus system gets a boost too, and a 1.3x crop facility increases the maximum drive rate to 7fps.
Building on theD7100’ s specifications,
the D7200 boasts better low-light autofocus, a bigger memory buffer, an updated processor, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, plus new trick modes for doing light-trail photography and time-lapse movies in-camera.
Full-frame photography starts here,
with the most affordable of Nikon’s FX cameras. It’s no slouch, with a 6fps maximum drive rate and a quiet (but slower) continuous drive option. It also features a weather-sealed body and, compared with the D600, a revised shutter unit.
The D 750 is easily manageable for a semi-pro full-frame body.
A recent addition to the line-up, it includes a tilting LCD screen and built-in Wi-Fi. The pixel count strikes a happy medium between the 16.2Mp Df/D4s and the 36.3Mp D810.
NIKON ’S SEMI -PRO DX-FORMAT D-SLR
is in many respects a dream camera. It boasts a fast, effective AF system, 10fps shooting, a 200-shot RAW buffer and first-rate metering and white balance. For the money, it might just be Nikon’s best D-SLR yet.
Iconic design meets high-tech excellence in this retro beauty.
The Df is amazingly compact for a full-frame body but direct-access dials and buttons ensure that shooting controls are always within easy reach. The lack of a video shooting capability is a surprise omission.
A special edition of the original D800,
this one has a modified optical low-pass filter that omits an anti-aliasing feature. It’s therefore better able to capture extraordinary levels of fine detail, maximising the potential of its ultra-highresolution image sensor.
The king of the resolution stakes,
the D810 boasts 36.3 million pixels and, unlike the older D800e, has no optical low-pass filter. It has a later-generation processor and an extended sensitivity range. A specialised D810a edition for astrophotography is available (£2700, $3795).
Nikon’s FLAGsHIP D-SLR delivers 11fps shooting,
and image quality is immaculate, even at ultra-high ISO settings, making it popular with pro sport and wildlife photographers for years but the D4s has been superseded by Nikon’s newest flagship D-SLR, the D5.
CAPABLE OF SHOTING 12 FRAmes per second,
and with a buffer capacity of 200 RAW files, Nikon’s new flagship D-SLR also boasts 153 AF points – three times more than the D4s. The pixel count has also gone up, to 20.8Mp, as has the maximum ISO, to a staggering 3.3 million.