Nikon D7000

 

 

The D7000 of Nikon breaks right with several traditions: gut 16 Megapixel their image sensor resolves – as high as no other APS-C camera of the long-established manufacturer. And for the first time in the history of Nikon’s sensor in-house is produced. Different than the four-digit model number I may suggest, is the D7000 by the way no entry-level DSLR, but joins a between the D90 and the D300S. Our test clarifies meaning for the image quality of the break with tradition and how it is ordered to facilities and ergonomics of the D7000.

Ergonomics and processing at the first glance it seems, as Nikon have simply planted a new interior in the Cabinet of the D90, and the D7000 was finished. So simply has not given itself however Nikon. The body of the D7000 (just only the front shell) consists of a magnesium aluminum chassis, such as in the APS-C flagship D300S. And so the D7000 makes a very robust impression by their ordinary weight of about 780 grams (body ready for use, without lens) nor is reinforced. Consequently, Nikon have also contributed to splash-proof keys and switches. So ultimately only the slim housing form is reminiscent of the Nikon D90, which is not always an advantage in the D7000: the handle bead has been rather narrow for large photographer hands the handle seems like somewhat more pronounced. Also the thumb pad is only very subtly sculpted, as a whole the D7000 can be but also with a hand keep just yet safe. The main switch as a ring around the shutter release is arranged like on Nikon usual. The front command dial is deep among them, a confusion of command dial and main switch is impossible (other than as in the current DSLR from Sony). However index or middle finger at the Nikon solution must be bent uncomfortably far, to reach the front command dial.

In the style of a professional camera, the Nikon D7000 is richly equipped with dedicated buttons and switches. Their arrangement has little thought out – at first sight as “bracketing” button at the front of the unit. But soon shows up: Nikon has distributed the keys probably thinking about the housing, that they are “blind” to achieve even when looking through the viewfinder. It works well after a short training period. Only the fn key is placed in the gap between handle bead and bayonet unhappy: too easily, it is accidentally thrown of the middle finger of the hand of the handle. Negative, the smooth-running triggers fell also on so it always came to mistakenly triggered recordings. The pressure of the trigger will be happy to even more clearly defined.

The Nikon D7000 shows very informative. First of all, there is a large display on the top of the camera, which displays the most important camera settings. Who can capture the information on this status display not as good, brings itself by ‘ info ‘ button on the rear of the main screen. Its display is very open, a further pressure on the “info” button also allows, directly addressing many not via the buttons and switches parameter. Also when looking through the viewfinder, one lets the Nikon D7000 always in the aware of the current selected settings. In LiveView mode, the camera on request shows a an artificial horizon or Gitternetlinien, in the viewfinder, the exposure bar takes over this function. The quality of the viewfinder is above criticism: with 0,94-facher magnification and 100% coverage of the bright viewfinder is one of the best that currently have on an APS-C camera! The image quality of the rear display is also on the amount of time: when a diagonal measurement of three inches, it solves 920,000 pixels (full VGA resolution). Since even the finest image details directly in the camera can be assessed.

In the everyday practice of recording is unfortunately an obstacle, the display is rigidly mounted and cannot lift or swing can be. Unusual perspectives, such as when shooting ground, are made more difficult the Nikon D7000 despite the good LiveView function. Somewhat confusing presents the main menu of the camera itself – what is located but also to the immense wealth of setting possibilities. It is only to be welcomed that Nikon on the main dial of the D7000 has kept free two positions for user-defined settings. The tripod made of stainless steel offers no grounds for criticism – he sits in the optical axis and far enough from the battery compartment, that its flap in planned removable mass storage device can be opened. A single by the way provides energy for good 1,000 recordings unless LiveView is waived.

The Nikon D7000 is so richly equipped the camera to leaves hardly a photographers dream. Only, novices in DSLR photography will perhaps miss the occasional assistance function. After all the camera shows after pressing the “?”Key to many (unfortunately not all) menu commands insightful statement texts. In addition the Nikon D7000 provides everything he needs to get quickly to convincing photos the ingenuous photographers. These include 19 scene modes, including specialities such as “Interior” or “Silhouette”. In addition a classic snapshot program slimming each decision the photographer with the “iAuto” function. Almost every decision in any case – the ISO sensitivity can be set in the fully automatic what could prove to sometimes a point of failure.

Who likes it comfortably and still from case to case quickly to the values specified by the automatic wants to intervene, is the ideal function in automatic program. How it should be for a semi professional camera, the Nikon D7000 provides a Programmshift function – the time given by the automatic / aperture combination can be overridden so at any time. In addition are time and shutter priority on board, and of course, the exposure in the mode of “M” can be completely manually control. For the creative exposure control, the D7000 provides pretty much all ways who know current DSLRs. These include about recording series with different exposure (“bracketing”), a data storage regardless of AF store, and the overriding of the default values (“exposure compensation”). A newly developed sensor that double resolves with 2016 pixels as its counterpart in the Nikon D300S takes over the exposure metering in the Nikon D7000.

The ISO sensitivity, white balance, and the Flash function be extremely willing to configuration. As can be about the ISO automatic of D7000 – such as in the professional car D3S – so set, that the camera only increases the sensitivity falls below an exposure time given by the photographer. But what is missing is a setting “Auto”, which aligns the longest exposure time on the focal length of the lens. On the other hand can be predefined of course, within what limits, the camera may vary the ISO values.

The internal Flash 12.5 powerful class typically has a guide number and far enough work on to focal lengths up to 16 mm (24 mm entspr.) (Kleinbild) illuminate vignetting-free. On Flash functions, the camera knows everything that will bear the technology today: synchronization on about the second curtain, slow sync (with the longest exposure time is freely selectable), red eye flash to reduce of red eye and as a special candy the internal Flash can remotely also unleashed operated system flashes. Only a PC socket for connecting a Studio Flash is lacking in the Nikon D7000. The variety of equipment is continued under the hood of the D7000. So the camera has two card slots for SD memory cards. This the second card can not simply extend the storage capacity, you can, Alternatively, create a backup of all recordings on it. Or on a map while the second show same shots in RAW format JPEG files record stores.

Because the D7000 can record videos, Nikon has powered consequently a 3, 5 mm jack connector for an external stereo microphone you. This is also necessary, for the internal microphone is video sound only in mono. In addition, there is a jack for the external GPS unit GP-1, allowing the position data directly in the EXIFs of the image files are written. The list of professional features could continue a special “quietly” mode with extremely subdued mirror impact etc. almost endlessly, as with the control button, the real mirror lock, pp. the D7000 can also record videos. The camera records full HD resolution (1080p) and saves the pictures in contemporary H. h.264 compression. In the video recording can be completely manually control the camera, but also auto exposure and auto focus are available on request. Videos can be cut in the playback mode directly in the camera.In the photograph, the D7000 with up to six images is in the second quite fix to the point. However, it holds through this speed only for ten recordings. Then the cache is full, new photos can be included only in the speed with which the D7000 empties the buffer and writes the files to the memory card. This means: for JPEG files the host series of approximately 2.5 images per second is processed continued, RAW pictures the D7000 only with lame 0.5 photos in the second.

Objectively how ever, we have tested the Nikon D7000 with a lens, with which the camera as a set is available. In this case, it is the AF-S NIKKOR 18-105 mm 1: 3-1: 5.5 VR. Thus the lens cover relative to the small screen format a focal length range from 27 to about 160 mm. The abbreviation “VR” in the lens name refers to the built-in image stabilizer, on Nikon, the Verwacklungsschutz traditionally is up to the lens. Advantage: even the viewfinder image is stabilized, with long telephoto lenses, the quiet view facilitates the image composition. With its weight of approximately 420 grams Nikon’s performs very robust, even though the lens mount is made of schnödem plastic and not set lens massive metal. Thanks to built-in voice coil motor, the auto focus is whisper-quiet, although not inaudible. Nikon has placed unfortunately somewhat unhappy the microphone on the D7000, so focal length changes perpetuate as vocal scraping noise on the soundtrack of a video recording.

The AF module of the Nikon D7000 is completely new. It is in three times as many measurement points with 39 sensors such as that of the D90. On request you can individually control each AF point, also you can disable the points in the periphery. To groups not to the points however. The auto focus of Nikon D7000 has inherited the “3D-tracking” function of professional models by the way, the camera can keep perfect focus including objects, moving across through the image. If the available light for precise focus measurement is not sufficient, the D7000 illuminated the scene with a grellweißen LED, which is sometimes perceived as something intrusive.

The auto focus speed gives rise to criticism of the D7000 with the set lens: 0.8 seconds has measured our test lab in the media, as long as the camera to the focusing and raising needs – the auto focus is thus quite leisurely. In practice in enough light, the D7000 focuses on but quicker and above all very accurately. A Sony put forward to the comparison was however significantly faster hot in Twilight Alpha 55. So properly alive the auto focus of the D7000 is ED VR II. only with bright lenses, such as the AF-S 70-200/2.8 G Once focused, raises the D7000 practically without delay. The contrast AF in LiveView mode works only in sufficient light sufficiently quickly. In the twilight of evening room lighting, the LiveView AF then reach his limits, goes around sekundenlang helplessly, to finally give up or to record a blurred image.

The set lens has not quite the promises, which promised its appearance in the picture services. So the Randabdunklung at open aperture already visible high fails 1.5 EV, in addition, a significantly distinctive barrel distortion in wide angle. The Defense be but said that the D7000 is a set of lenses, including the AF-S NIKKOR 18-105, digital can correct, say: the aberration be ironed out by image editing directly in the camera. This digital correction in the D7000 is turned on, the shots with the set lens know quite please. To contribute also the rounded aperture blades which provide a surprisingly soft and thus appealing rendering of uncertain areas of the image. Also, the lens shows little tendency to color fringing at hard contrast edges, and its susceptibility to aperture spots at dot light source is within acceptable limits.

Image quality up to now was known to take a very conservative position in the megapixel race Nikon. With the D7000, Nikon now envelops a new way: good 16 million pixels have packed the engineers on the APS-C sensor of camera. This makes it the DSLR with the highest pixel density in the portfolio of Nikon, only the full-format Bolide D3X provides an even higher resolution. The sensor of the D7000 breaks with a further tradition: so far has Nikon for its DSLRs based sensors from Sony or to own specifications finished leave, such as Renesas. According to Nikon Germany is the sensor of the D7000 the first Nikon has developed not only themselves, but also produces in-house. Whether this image sensor can meet the expectations of the image quality, we have tested in the renowned DCTau test lab. How can always retrieves the detailed, annotated test protocol for a small fee (further see links).

Fears that the high pixel density could negatively affect the noise level, are quickly scattered. Although the D7000 from ISO 800 rustles somewhat stronger than the D300S with its 12-megapixel sensor. Auflösungsbereinigt is the difference but negligibly small. Especially Nikon on the D7000 voted new noise reduction. The camera suppresses noise pixels in flat areas of the image, image areas with lots of details, however, be spared. Thus, it creates Nikon that the D7000 of all 16 Megapixel DSLR high ISO numbers preserves the most image detail – without that the recordings are more noisy than those of competitors. This noise up to high ISO 3,200 has a pleasant character: it is very fine, color errors do not occur practically. Only at ISO 12,800 is the noise uncomfortable spotty, and it is cheating visible graffiti in the image.

Straight professional is the tone reproduction of the Nikon D7000. The curve is almost linear, only the shadows are rendered slightly soft. The JPEG files of the Nikon are so very easy to image processing. On the other hand, this waiver of grandstanding but also means that the images with the Nikon D7000 before the expression “should be up”. Alternatively to the restrained standard voting the “picture control” target “Brilliant” can choose, with which the camera for printing delivers optimized photos with rich colors and crisper contrasts.

In terms of “Input dynamic” is the Nikon D7000 also on the amount of time. Up up to high ISO 6,400, it processed at least eight f-stops of dynamic range. The picture with the expenditure is not quite as nice: how so many cameras also the Nikon D7000 reflects more black as a very dark grey – where does the error still within limits. The camera is quite exemplary, however, when the sharpening: typical Nikon sharpens the D7000 very reserved. This will prevent a rather soft image impression effectively any Schärfearteffakte on hard edges of the contrast generated but on the other hand. Not entirely convincing, however, can the set lens in terms of “Resolution”: the 18-105/3.5-5.6 provides at the short end in the center of the image with about 80 percent of theoretically possible still an acceptable resolution performance. In the telephoto position it comes but hardly beyond 60 percent. Also is there a significant decrease the resolution to the edges, which hardly minimize by stopping down. What the requirements are, the a 16-Megapixel sensor in APS-C size is to the optics, a NIKKOR herangezogenes comparison shows 85 mm 1.4 g also this top lens AF-S has his love trouble, at the edges the same resolution to deliver although it calculated one for “full frame” image circle is as in the Centre. The full potential of the D7000 can exploit only with high-quality, optimized for digital camera lenses.

The metrological weaknesses are fortunately in photographic practice not as strong in the weight. That a camera reliably exposed and can adjust the white balance on the dominant color temperature is much more important in daily use, for example. The latter handles the D7000 with flying colours. In particular under artificial light delivers yellow or orange stitch-shots not like many other cameras, but leaves it in a moderately warm basic colour. Total is the D7000 in the color reproduction nicely restrained, saturated photos in no way and perfectly preserved including colored details. In exposure, the camera is, however, sometimes slightly bitchy. She exposed especially bright motives without strong contrast, such as a snow scene on a dull day, somewhat too plentiful. Overall, this tendency to the “exposure to the right” is a good idea. But if as in the case of the Nikon D7000 this is a risk of ausbrennender lights, you should always consult the histogram critical subjects and may make a second recording with corrected exposure data. Or even better RAW files record – that offer significantly more dynamic reserves in case of doubt.

Conclusion with the D7000 remains true in many respects of his more conservative attitude Nikon without that the camera is old-fashioned. On the contrary, your 16-Megapixel sensor is without ifs and buts on the amount of time, perhaps even the best APS C sensor, which currently exist in this resolution class. So, the D7000 always provides a first-class image quality, the shots do this without any sensationalism. However, the set lens not exploit the excellence of the image sensor is capable, Prime lenses are almost obligatory to the D7000. In line with the tradition of Nikon’s, the D7000 offers an excellent optical viewfinder. The scope of the equipment of the camera can be – apart from the somewhat limited cache – left nothing to be desired. This is unfortunately not for the ergonomics: the rigidly mounted display unnecessarily complicated use LiveView, the camera body should be still slightly more comfortable and above all more secure in the hand. Thus remains the bottom line, that is the D7000 price precisely between the D90 and D300S, but not by her performance. Here it is the D300S part on the fur, surpassed it in some respects at all. Thus, the D7000 currently seems the offer with the best price / performance ratio of Nikon.

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