Отзывы о Фотоаппарат Nikon D7100 Body

After eight years of shooting with the D-80 it was becoming evident that I needed an upgrade. When I realized an entry level Nikon DSLR with a kit lens was producing better images than my D-80 with prime lenses I knew it was time to wish my old workhorse a fond farewell. I will be honest, when the box arrived I was actually a little nervous. I am nothing more than a hobbyist who dabbles in some portraiture and the odd project, however I do spend a lot of time behind my camera and take considerable pride in my photos. I was nervous because frankly bells and whistles do not excite me nearly as much as being able to produce a sharp image without much fuss - until the D-80 I was still using my old Contax 139 Quartz and have always been afraid of the technology. Let me just say - the transition from the D-80 to the D-7100 was a breeze. No I haven't figured out half of the features on the D-7100 and no I am not interested in half of the features of the D-7100. What I AM interested in is being able to take photos and adjust shutter speeds, apertures ISO etc without too much trouble. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that not much has changed - I can still toggle my focal points - now I have 51....yay....I can still compensate exposure values with camera on my face - I can still scroll through shutter speeds and apertures - everything is pretty much the same in those regards - five minutes after the charger said the battery was ready I had my 50mm lens on and was snapping shots of the dog - the exposure meter is twice as accurate as the D-80 and when lighting is tricky the 1/3 step bracketing is a breeze - the real shocker came when I took a look at the images on the big bright screen - tack sharp and noise free - and with the iso set to auto in dim incandescent lighting I was actually realllllly shocked to see that these images were shot in 6400... wow - anything over 800 in the D-80 was almost unusable - this is a treat! And the white balance was as close to perfect as I have seen - makes me tempted to shoot jpeg for a while and save some fiddling in post. Obviously 6400 is higher than the norm and for photos that find themselves anywhere other than FB or Instagram or in prints will be treated with lighting and lower ISO's - however even at 6400 I have very usable - very sharp images that are more than acceptable for sharing family photos with friends etc.No back focus issues at all - even on the two Tokina lenses I like to use - an 11-16 2.8 and an old 28-80 Pro ATX 2.6 (Angelieux) . I took the 50mm off and put the 80-200 2.8 on and wow - just wow - I haven't seen images this sharp since the old contax had a CZ parked on the front with custom film processing. I am actually blown away.I cannot speak for someone who has upgraded every two years when the latest and greatest arrived on the scene - there are likely some nit picky annoyances for folks who have the time to fiddle with every feature. I can however say that if you hate to let go of an old reliable and have the chance to get the D-7100 body with some decent to high quality glass, you will NOT be disappointed - at all.So, the D-80 got relegated to warming the bench, a great back up for sure, but likely will see very little action... the fact that I parked a crappy old kit lens on the front and stuck it in my storage box should tell the story quite well enough.

Just to start off with, this camera is fantastic! I had been using the Canon 1100D since Christmas 2011, and bought this in July 2013 after I had come to the conclusion I had pushed the limitations of the 1100D too far, and wanted an upgrade.At first I was looking at the Canon 6D, then D600 and then came onto this new D7100 whilst doing my research. I was at the time just documentating my Year with photos and videos, however, I found that the 1100D, no matter how trusty that thing was, couldn't keep up with the parties, low-light concerts, sports, however, it did do the job. So these were the things I was looking for in the camera.One of the grabbing selling points of the camera was the 51 Auto-Focus points and the "1.3x Crop Mode" along with the potential of 7fps (in crop mode). However, when I finally got the camera, I realised I only really used the center focus point. But coming from the sub-par low light 1100D, this focus point is all that is needed. I am able to focus in near pitch black with the kit lens (18-105mm f/3.5-5.6) and it would be in focus. This is even without the focus assist light, which for me is now redundant (but I do keep it in my own menu, in case I do actually need it). No more missing shots, because people think that the "focus-assist flash" on the 1100D was actually the photo.I am more than comfortable in pushing ISO up around the 3200 mark without needing to worry about heavy noise reduction as well, especially if you can't use a flash, however I would highly recommend good glass (even if I don't have any yet, I'm planning on it). If you are thinking about extreme low-light videography (since VR, VC, OS won't do much to reduce shutter speed for video), the new "Sigma 18-35mm 1.8" and this camera would be one amazing wide-angle zoom combination on a budget, especially if you can't 'quite' afford a D4 with 24mm f/1.4.For sports, which is something I like photographing, and now want to get into wildlife, this is where the 51 AF points come into their own. I always use the crop factor for sports, and though other reviewers "chop" off body parts or miss bits because of it, it's mostly because it does take some time getting used to it. In the crop mode, the 51 AF points literally cover the whole frame, apart from the top and bottom, which would only be able to fit another line of AF points in anyway. I'm not too familiar with the Dynamic 51 points and so I'm still getting used to it, but in the meantime the 3D Tracking mode seems to do the job pretty nicely.This camera has astounded me in many ways, however there are a couple of things I would like to point out.1. There seems to be more noise than there should be even at low ISO's (400, 800) - not too much of a problem, noise reduction + good glass.2. Can't change aperture in Live-View, especially a pain if you changing apertures whilst switching between photo and video modes.I can easily turn a blind eye when you look at the camera holistically. You get an amazing package for the prize, and have already taken close to 20,000 photos in about 4 months.Though I highly recommend getting this camera, do be realistic when considering what camera to buy. The D5200 will do pretty much everything this will do, albeit just not quite as good, or have the controls, but image quality (the big thing at the end of the day) is basically the same. And then you can spend that money saved either on better glass or even a little holiday somewhere. On a slightly more exaggerated level, though you may be able to take some very nice shots in your backyard, the person that went to France who got a slightly lesser camera and gear, will still have nicer pictures and memories.

I've progressively upgraded to this body via the D3200 and D5200. The jump from the D5200 to the D7100 isn't as dramatic as from the D3200 to the D5200, and possibly the new D5300 is the sweet-spot for value right now, but I am happy with the D7100.It is refreshing to have a lot more settings close at hand, courtesy of the many more physical buttons dedicated to them and the additional control dial.The viewfinder is quite a bit nicer - the image is bigger and brighter. It wasn't immediately obvious to me that it would really make that much difference, but after some time shooting with it, it grows on you. I suspect if I went back to the D3200 or D5200 now, I'd be pretty put off. It's still not very useful for precise manual focus, though - you need either a real focusing screen added after-market, or to use live-view. I hope one day Nikon gets with the program and adds focus peaking.Low-light performance does seem slightly but noticeably poorer than the D5200, though still good in absolute terms. In particular, the D5200 just has a way of hiding high-ISO noise to the eye, which the D3200 (with its large blotchy noise patterns) and the D7100 (with a sharper, more high-contrast high-frequency noise pattern) seem less adept at. Shooting RAW, at least. There does seem to be a quite visible improvement in sharpness, courtesy primarily of the missing low-pass filter, though you likely won't see the difference with kit lenses. I haven't yet decided if the increased sharpness outweighs the more noticeable noise (particularly in terms of whether you can be more aggressive with noise reduction and get a better final result - in theory this should be true).It's too early to tell how different the AF system is compared to the other models. It'd be awesome if it were as big an improvement as from the D3200 to the D5200 - the latter has a *much* better AF system (in terms of speed, accuracy and reliability) - but so far at least it hasn't wowed me. It certainly seems no worse than the D5200's, of course. I do occasionally use f/8-max-aperture lenses (usually because of a teleconverter), which the D7100 officially supports, but then the D5200 also supports them in practice in my experience, so I'm not expecting any difference there.It is heavy. The weight gain over the D3200/D5200 is quite a bit greater in perception than the spec sheet numbers would indicate. I do get tired using this body for an extended period, in a way I never had problems with on the lighter models. Even with a three pound lens on it, which by all reason should wash out the difference in body weights. I had hoped it would be a bit more comfortable with larger or heavy lenses because of a better balance, but alas I haven't actually noticed that in practice.I also find it a little more awkward to use than the D3200 or D5200, though possibly I just need more time to get used to it. In particular, I have a hard time using the front control dial for some reason. It's just somehow difficult to reach. I have fairly large hands, so you'd think the substantially larger grip of the D7100 would help for ergonomics - and indeed it's one of the reasons I upgraded to it - but so far, that's been a disappointment. Thankfully it's a lot more configurable than the lower models, so you can readily assign all important functions to the back control dial instead.In a nutshell, I think for most people you either know that you really want the D7100, and should get it, or you don't, in which case you'd be better off with the D5300.

This is my 4th DSLR. Before this, I had a Kodak DCS-460c, a D70, and a D80. The latter two are still very capable cameras as long as you're not too obsessed about pixel peeking. When it comes to actual images, I had a hard time finding fault with either. I just used the D70 to shoot some downhill longboarding this past summer, and the high flash sync helped me grab some pretty great shots in poor lighting conditions. In fact, I'd probably still be using it primarily if I hadn't dropped it about a year after buying it. I replaced it immediately (out of necessity) with a D80, which has been a workhorse of a camera (a year and a half ago, I figured out the problem with my D70 and fixed it myself, that's how I was able to use it again more recently).Anyway! All of this is to explain that I had a hard time finding a reason to upgrade to a newer body. I would love to have an FX body, because I built the bulk of my lens collection while shooting film and having my wide lenses actually be wide again would be great. I just couldn't justify the cost, though! However, once the D7100 hit, it was in a sweet spot in price and had 4x the resolution of my D70 and about 2.5x that of my D80 making it a significant upgrade. Put that together with its ability to meter with AIS lenses and it's purported high-ISO performance and it was just a matter of getting the money together.I had a lot of time to take some shots with it over the last half week or so and I have been very, very impressed with its fast focus and the quality of high-ISO images. With my previous bodies and their Gen-1 sensors, quality started to drop off rapidly after an ISO of 800. At 1600 the images weren't just undersaturated and grainy, they were obviously digital with streaks and strangely colored pixels. The D80 could be pushed to 3200, but why? It was mostly useless.On the D7100, though, I shot several images at ISOs over 3200 and often at 6400. One thing I noticed is that while "grain" does begin to become apparent at high ISOs, it looks a lot more like film grain than digital noise. Some of the monochrome shots I took at 6400 look more like 4-800 speed film. It's classy-looking noise, I suppose. It's definitely nicer looking than any 1600 or 3200 speed film I've ever shot on 35mm.Autofocus is also very fast and more accurate than it was with my older bodies. I was surprised at how quickly it focused and locked onto subjects with my 80-200 2.8 AF-S lens, and I never complained about it being slow on my older bodies. It's very snappy and accurate. With my D80 I'd often be frustrated with the low-light performance of my fast lenses (50mm 1.4 and 35 1.8) and actually wondered if my 35mm lens was actually defective. The focal plane was always a little bit off from where I'd wanted it. This hasn't completely vanished with the 7100, but I think there were only 2 or 3 images out of the several hundred I've shot so far that show evidence of the camera being a little confused about where to focus. That alone has made shooting far less stressful!Physically, the body is smaller than the D70 but larger than the D80. I don't have enormous hands, but I'm a bigger than average person (statistically). The D70 fits my hand perfectly. I had to get the grip for the D80 or else I felt like the camera was going to slip from my hand. My little finger just sort of flapped in the breeze while I was holding onto the gripless D80. The D7100 is in the middle of the two. I wish it were closer in size to the D70, but I do feel like I can grasp it solidly. I'll probably eventually get the MB-D15, but it feels slightly less crucial (though I already miss the vertical shutter release and controls).Over all, this is a very significant upgrade over my older DSLRs. Maybe if I had a newer one it would feel incremental, but this was definitely the body I didn't know I was waiting for for all of these years. The low-light performance alone is incredible for those of us who like to use available light; maybe high-iso images are grainier than they'd be with a D600, but I'd prefer to have the 51-point AF system from the D4 than worry about a little high-iso noise that actually looks fairly filmic. Some might disagree with me on that point and I might evolve in my opinion about the D7100's noise when speeds get over 2400 or so, but I'll worry about that later.

My first D7100 came to me with two defects you will see mentioned with some regularity in web forums. When focusing on distant objects, autofocus, in any mode would indicate correct focus when in fact it was "front focused". The other defect was "oil on sensor". If I hadn't already been scrutinizing my images due to the focus problem, I may have missed this second issue. A series of translucent artifacts could be seen in each image. These will only be noticed in untextured, brightly lit areas of the image (like a cloudless sky). Unlike most dust seen on sensors, this is a permanent mark.* The dust removal feature, which normally works very well, does not remove these marks. Further, from reading forums it would appear home sensor cleaning also fails to remove them.Nikon support was disappointing. It seemed while discussing the issue with the technicians that they were unfamiliar with the camera. The most basic question left me on hold while they "researched" subjects that should have been part of their daily lexicon. Even discussing my issues with a technical supervisor I found he knew little respecting autofocus fine tuning as one example. In the end they would do nothing for me. It was clear the camera wasn't focusing and that there was spotting on the sensor. Days were wasted while they quizzed me on my knowledge of basic camera operation, suggested I was at fault, sent links to tutorials on basic usage, and sending me into the field to perform pointless tests. It was clear from first contact with them, the camera would only have to go back for repair anyhow.Nikon has no satisfaction assurance program and provides little more than an answering service for support purposes.Now the good news! Amazon was fantastic! After ten days of frustration with Nikon, one chat session with Amazon (Hazel H.) and I had the option of a full refund or replacement. I was very excited about the D7100 and most certainly wanted another! Amazon had a brand new camera cross shipped overnight air. I called late Friday and had a new camera the next afternoon! WOW, Nikon could learn a thing or two about customer service from Amazon!The new D7100 works very well, I am very pleased with camera. What you can take from this review is there is some chance you may get a lemon. But, after a week in the field with the new camera I feel it would be worth it (even if you have to get another sent to you). Just do yourself a favor, order it here on Amazon, and deal with them if needs to be returned. There's no one home at Nikon!*New information since originally reviewed -It is a small point, but after exhaustive research I have been convinced by experts in the field that "Nikon oil spots" can be removed with home cleaning methods. I stated earlier in this review that these spots were permanent and the problem could only remedied by Nikon themselves. This is simply not the case and I apologize for any inconvenience that this inaccuracy may have caused. However, I still feel that your "out of the box" experience should be better. Nikon could be more responsive (and sympathetic) to their customers and there should not be any oil flying around inside this camera! It is frustrating enough to have sensor cleaning issues due to dust that migrates onto the sensor during lens changes. But to have a built in filth dispenser mucking it up is unforgivable. I have, given Nikon's poor customer service, and the fact that my new D7100 already has a number of oily spots on the sensor, decided to lower my rating to three stars. Nikon has known about this problem for a long time and the D600 got many bad reviews for this same problem.

I own a Nikon D5000 with a couple of Nikkor lenses and an older Nikon Coolpix, both of which are phenoms. I bought the D7100 body because I wanted more MPs or bigger enlargement capability for wall art. My first impressions: It's way heavier and bulkier than the D5000, The dual card slots idea is a great improvement. Turn it on and snap a few times..., YIKES!! On Large picture size, this camera is a light hog and I can't stop aperture past F 11 except outdoors in bright daylight. The White Balance will not get me a white color, on ANY standard setting, based on the LCD monitor... white is either very blue, gray, or brown. I fiddle with ISO, white balance, and picture control for hours (days, actually) before I realize that most all photos do best set to Neutral picture control, otherwise the colors are blown out, mostly to the over-warm side. (The best part of this may be that the camera will turn silver to gold in High Key setting.) The one exceptional thing about Nikon for me has been the gorgeous flesh tones, this camera must be set to Neutral or Portrait modes otherwise faces look bubble gum pink. BUT...I have learned that the LCD monitor is not a good representation of actual color when displayed elsewhere, both a relief as well as an annoyance. I found most of the effects to be gimmicky, and many settings to be unnecessary if one edits in Photoshop anyway. It is cool to be able to shoot both in RAW and JPG on separate cards. Then, I tried video...OMG. The faster phase detection autofocus is disabled, making slow focus, and the thing sounds like the mechanical owl in the original Clash of the Titans. I did want to do HD SLR video, now am I going to be stuck doing static tripod mounted talking heads? We'll see. So far, the camera takes great pics but the white balance and light hogginess of it I can't quite get past yet...I hope to write a better review after more experience someday.UPDATE:I have to continue to state that this camera has issues, most of which are also mentioned in author written help guides, but I have learned to live with and work around most of them. I am now shooting only 100% manual in RAW only. I have given up on white balance, after using a white card and still not getting white, so I set the camera for "cloudy" for all outdoor shots and "flash" for any shots under incandescent, whether or not I use flash, and then try to adjust in Camera Raw / Photoshop. I have mostly given up on video, after I made an experiment during a bright noon-day snowstorm in which I could only get visible snowflakes at 1/250 shutter speed at aperture F4 at 55 mm. (At smnaller apertures the snowflakes looked like After Effects special effect rain with a slower shutter speed.) I have learned to "override" the camera's internal software, I want what I want, not what the camera thinks I want. It also became fatiguing carrying it around steep mountains at 8000 ft all day, as I found out yesterday. My advice is, try one out before you buy it, and put it through its paces to see if you like the way it thinks!

The camera is amazing for the price. The 51 point AF system is a dream. Its accurate and can be navigated quickly. Being able to hit the "OK" button to return back to center AF point is also a plus. When taking photos you can use the "OK" button to very quickly check focus and then the command wheels to scrub through faces. Its speeds up the process so much.As for the files I have not even bothered with jpeg, shooting in RAW the whole time. Thus far the images are crisp and clear. I have no problems with the lack of AA filter. On the contrary the images coming from my lens are sharp as a tack! I shoot with Sigma and Nikon and have had no problems with lens compatibility, back focus or front focus.I have shot a few weddings with it since buying the camera. The battery life is a little shorter but I had back up batteries ready (as you always should) and was able to swap out only one time in the shoot. To resolve the problem I am going to pick up the grip soon. But keep in mind that I was shooting a wedding and was firing off lots of images. If you are a weekend warrior the battery life is more than enough.The back LCD screen is clear and big. It lacks the typical cover that Nikon usually places on them, and there is no real indication of why. Or even if the new screen is gorilla glass or what. So far I have no scratches but its still very new. This is not a deal breaker but an odd break from the traditional.Button layout is typical Nikon. I do like that they have modified from the D7000 and now mirror the D600. Its very easy to have a D600 as a primary shooter and use the D7100 as a wonderful second camera body.1.3 crop is the best thing you never knew you didn't have. i find myself reaching for it all the time. Take my 70-200 lens. While its a bit of a pain to figure out the focal length just bear with me. The normal crop factor for the camera is 1.5 (DX) then you can crop down again to the 1.3. The takes the (200mm) x (1.5) x (1.3) = 390mm. The easy way to remember this is almost double your focal length with in crop mode. So a nifty 50mm becomes a 97.5mm and so on. The cost for this is that you go from 24MP down to 16MP. While you will have to weigh out this cost on your own terms, I can tell you that i could care less. For what I shoot and my clients 16MP is just fine. A D7000 is my second body anyway. :) But the ability to instantly grab a little more zoom pays off in dividends of shots not missed and gear not having to be carried.Speed is enough for me. The larger image size (24MP) means that your burst can suffer. I was shooting a large wedding and as they walked back up toward me I started to fill the buffer. It was not a huge deal and didn't stop me from getting all the shots but coming from my D7000 and D600 I was spoiled being able to rattle off shots. Again after I established my limit I was able to stay in it and didn't have the problem any more. But if you shoot fast then you will want to take that into consideration.The video is good. if you crop down you can shoot in 60 FPS. mehh. I will be honest. this is not something I use a lot. I bought my Nikon to take photos and some times I will shoot short video clips but these are rare and often not good enough to make it into a final presentation for a client. You can't change the f/stop when in live view mode which is kind of weird and people are saying it should be corrected in a future firmware update. So far its been a mehh thing for me.There is a lot more I could go on about with the camera. But this is turning into a book. Overall there are some shortcoming with the file speed and ability to quickly modify your settings in live view but for the cost, you will not find a better deal. If you can take the plunge and get it then you will not be sorry. you will have you a camera that will be relevant and powerful for many many years to come.

While I'm hoping Nikon will release a D400, I couldn't resist trying out the new D7100. As a working pro who uses both FX and DX format cameras, my first impressions of the D7100 are very positive.My simple summary is that this camera is a bargain and that those already inclined to own the best the DX camera Nikon sells should get one.Having worked for years with the D300 and the D7000 bodies, my perspective on this one is influenced by what I think is good about those two popular cameras. I hoped that the D7100 would really improve in the areas of autofocus, shadow noise, and overall resolution/acuity. This camera has not disappointed me, and has even a few minor improvements I wasn't expecting.Of first importance, shooters of the D7000 will appreciate the big improvements in AF (you probably know how sketchy that camera is to focus, especially compared to the 51-point standard set by most older/current pro bodies). It's fast, accurate, and doesn't get fooled into moving if you recompose. On single focus mode, it simply acquires and holds where you want. And the tracking AF is on par with Nikon's pro standard. This is huge for me, since I love the quality of images the D7000 gives but hate the unreliability of its AF. Acquiring focus in low light seems a bit snappier and more accurate than even the D300.The resolving power of this sensor is unlike any DX camera before it. Because the D7100 doesn't have an anti-aliasing/low-pass filter on its 24 megapixel sensor, I knew it would be able to show a perceptible increase in resolving detail over the older D7000, and again I am glad to report it does - IF you use good glass, stopped down a bit, and process from the RAW files. My test shots captured with the Tokina 11-16 and Nikon 70-200 have blown me away. The acuity when zoomed in is night/day compared to the D7000. However, if you use mediocre glass then the only differences you'll notice are larger files and slightly better dynamic range.In DX images, shadow noise has generally appeared too stippled even at lower ISO values, rendering a texture that the FX sensors don't have at the same ISO's. The D7100 has definitely improved this. The texture gradient is more uniform and it reminds me of the D600 in this way. Although I haven't done tests above ISO 1600, the shadow textures are more uniform and pleasant (natural?) on skin than the previous DX cameras.Shooters familiar with Nikon's pro camera ergonomics will appreciate that the D7100 has added the quick magnification/zoom feature to the `OK' button on the rear thumbpad. It's great for snappy, quick inspections at defined zoom ratios to check for focus accuracy. This feature is nonexistent on the D7000 and the D600. I find it very handy and preferable to the +/- buttons.Speaking of the +/- buttons to the left of the LCD, I have no idea why Nikon reversed their positions on this camera. It's a small thing but still annoying.I'm still getting used to the new viewfinder display, so the jury is out.The two-shot HDR feature isn't what it should be since it doesn't align the images. I'd use the bracketing feature on a tripod and be done with it.I like that there's finally a lock button in the center of the program mode dial to avoid accidental switching, which happens too often on the D7000.The rear LDC screen is slightly larger and also a bit crisper to my eyes.The overall fit/finish is solid and secure. I have big hands so I only wish it was the same form factor as the D800 (hey Nikon, give us a D400 already), but at this price I'm not complaining.I wish Nikon could squeeze out better battery performance from their cameras, frankly, and the D7100 hasn't improved upon what has become normal for the past couple years.Sorry, but I don't mess with video so I cannot speak to this.As a still image camera (in the DX format) the D7100 has really set a new standard. Even though I'd buy a D400 if it came out tomorrow, there's nothing stopping me from enjoying the D7100 today as the best you can get. I feel that the price is low for what it is and can create. Highly recommended...

Since I had a Canon w. the speed-lite 430 II external flash, why switch brands, when moving to a DSLR? User Interface. G12 minimized the need to dig through menus will all of its dials & buttons. Canon goofed when they didn't do that with their APS-C sensor cameras. Want buttons & dials? D7100 or some of the Pentax DSLRs, but the later is weak on lens selection. (Want the Tamron 150-600 long telephoto lens. Too bad if you have a Pentax camera.)Any DSLR, just by having a larger sensor, will have better image quality than an advanced P&S (also have the Olympus XZ-1), so why else should you select the D7100 over another DSLR? Full-size optical view finder: See all of your composition, aperture, shutter time, exposure, focus point(s), and if in-focus indicator if you are focusing manually. Plus much less power consumption vs. the Live View on the LCD. Amazing how few DSLRs have a full-size OVF. And you can use it to compose w. the camera turned off.Other pros: Weather-resistant & great Live View on a large LCD display. D7100 has a fantastic auto focus system, and works better in Live View, compared to the OVF for static objects such as macro work & landscapes. OVF rocks for that snowy owl taking off, because its fast response time.Pictures are @ ISO 6400; even ISO 25,400 is not bad. Dynamic range is also excellent, because where I used to used to bracket with the Canon G12, don't have the need to take multiple exposure shots w. the D7100.Lenses & use: Nikon 70-200 f4, which was my first before I wised up & bought a walk-around lens; Nikon 17-55 f2.8. Both were intended for outdoors, but the later does well indoors without the flash. Landscapes are my favorite topic, but have used to the 70-200 to photograph birds. 96%+ shots are with either the monopod or tripod. Always shoot in PASM to create raw files (never .JPGs) processed by DXO Optics Pro; 'A' & 'M' over 98% of the time. (Never tested the scene modes or auto, so don't know if they work.)Cons: Internal flash should be off to the side, not directly over the lens. OVF has an optimum MF indicator; would be nice if Live View had the same. BIG ONE is the tiny buffer, which fills fast ... shooting smaller formats such as .JPGs helps, as does 1.3 crop mode, as well as a fast memory card (e.g. Sandisk Extreme Pro).Not for everyone: Shines would you take the time & getting the settings right, but a lower resolution P&S can do better in a pinch.Recommended accessories: Sandisk Extreme Pro memory cards, extra battery, Lenspen, microfiber cloths, rocket blower, good how-to book (Mastering the Nikon D7100, and great lens. Regarding lenses, rent 1st to see it's right for you & be prepared to return bad copies when purchasing.Bottom Line: No longer satisfied w. taking snapshots & want to do photography? Great camera to grow into.

I shoot semi-pro (i.e. about 10-12 events a year) and have used the D90 very successfully since literally the first day is was available as body only. I am a big Nikon fan, ever since my N70.I finally upgraded to the 7100 after reading so many amazing reviews and the feeling that my D90 was aging and I was getting afraid to take responsibility. My back-up is a D70s, so now I use the 7100 with my D90 as backup.1. Yes, the image quality is great. But, I do not see a huge improvement over the D90. And I have some very good glass. Chromatic aberration is bad. Also 24MP is more than 99% of what your images need. I like the idea that the D4s is only 16mp. Far smarter. (Wish I can afford that)2. I love having dual cards. But this is more for peace of mind, than any real improvement in my images.3. Like the U settings, the S C ring and their locks. But again this is not something that directly affects images.However, there are some things, that really bug me as a working photographer.1. The 2 stage shutter button stinks. The D90's is better, even after almost 50k actuations. The 7100's first stage is mushy and not crisp. I keep missing the focus when I need critical focus with f1.4 lenses, because the mushiness makes it harder to feel. So when I think I am in focus lock, and recompose, I am actually NOT in focus lock resulting in the lens continuing to hunt. And so I miss the shot. Fooi. So yes, with practice I am getting better at feeling the exact spot, but seriously? This is a HUGE flaw. Huge.2. Button placement of Live is bad and far worse than the D90. (I use it to compose when "holding the camera up high over my head"). YMMV.3. The red flaring is useless hard cheap plastic, not the slightly rubbery feel of the D90. Which gives the D90 a slightly better grip. <-- nit pick, I know.4. They moved the + button up 2 spaces. Why, oh why? The first thing you do when you critically examine a photo is to zoom in. So why move the button to a place you need to look at the buttons every time, instead of being to feel the lowest button?5. Ditto regarding the View/Play button. Why recess it and move it from the top spot?6. The focus spot lock button is not firm enough either.In summary, of course the 7100 is a much more advanced camera. But honestly, I am beginning to regret this purchase. The D90 is still a very very good camera, and if you don't pixel peep,or need 51 focus points it is hard to see the difference with 90% of your photos. Wait till the 7200 or something.

I have been a Nikon user for many years and I shoot semi pro here and there when needed. I don't need too many features to take a shot and I don't need to spend a fortune either just for bragging rights but would like a good all around camera. I have known many great photographers from the past that can best anything with simple old school devices so the "features" in these newer cameras are questionable.The D90 was my previous DSLR and worked well with a very good low light sensor. I found myself using the video feature more than I expected and without a continuous auto focus in video, the D90 was not cutting it. In sunlight you can not see the LCD well enough to manually focus video so it had to go. The D7100 was the closest replacement (Nikon) but with an auto focus video mode so I opted for it.Once received, I immediately generated a set of indoor test images between the D90 and the D7100 using controlled lighting, same lenses, settings, etc. In a blind test with a fellow photographer, he was barely able to choose the D7100 over the D90 in 2/3's of the hundreds of images -- I could hardly tell the difference either. There are some features with the shutter speed that is better with the D7100 but overall it is a minor upgrade at best in image quality.The D7100, even with the 51-point focus, still suffers from poor logic in any and all modes for focus. Like all other Nikon's I have had, I end up using point focus or just go manual when it counts as the software does not know what to focus on for the most part. Even simple tests I have made it is a hit or miss what it does for auto focus. It would be nice to leave that aspect alone when shooting sometimes but I can't it seems. The focus gets much worse as the light trails off which you may expect given the contrast detection I assume it uses in the algorithm since the only time it gets it right is in bright light. My friend's D800 seems to be very similar in our tests for auto focus logic (or lack thereof).I still find myself just going near full manual to get a shot I really care about all in all. I would like to simply use an auto mode and hand the camera off to a friend to take some images I would be in, but I can never trust these Nikons to do the right thing. I often just bring a point and shoot for those times to make sure I at least get a shot of some kind. Would be nice to rely on one camera though.The video mode works well enough but also has odd focus problems, but at least it has something to help when you can not see the LCD well enough in bright outdoor light. If it was not for the lenses I have for it I may just use an HD point and shoot for video as it usually handles focus better for some reason -- lacks image quality of course.\Overall it has been so-so. The battery does not last as long as in the D90 either.I may consider other makes next time as this price range for Nikon is seemingly just upped megapixel rehashes of the past with mostly more bells and whistles.

Being the previous owner of a d5100, I bought this camera with high expectations.51 focus points 'improved' focus system? 24 Mpixel? No anti-aliasing filter? 'sharpest and best DX Nikon camera ever'? I'm sold!Unfortunately, the reality of this camera does not live up to this at all. I received this camera and popped my 50 mm 1.4D on it, and started taking some shots inside. The first thing i noticed is the graininess of the photos. Checked ISO, 600 - 800 and this much grain? hmm, red flag number 1. My d5100's 16 Mpixel sensor was quieter than this.The next thing i noticed; many of the photos weren't properly focused. Uh oh. Red flag number 2.How could this be? Does nikon really not know how to make cameras that focus? They've been making cameras for 100 years. I took many more (approx. 1000) test shots in various lighting conditions and on various targets over the next few days, mostly at F 2 - 2.8 with the 50 and my 35 mm 1.8. If i did a rain dance to the gods, stood on one foot, patted my head and rubbed my stomach first, I could MAYBE get 50% of the shots to be in focus. So let me get this straight, I pay 1200 dollars for a camera, and it is in focus half the time? Nice try, Nikon.I tried all sorts of camera settings including the spiffy AF fine tune, and that didn't seem to help at all. Sometimes at would be front focus, sometimes it was back focus, sometimes spot on. Changing the focus point didn't seem to help much.What good are 51 focus points if the thing is never in focus? Ol' trusty d40 had less than a tenth of the focus points and that thing was 90% spot on.Some other things of note:1. I'm convinced that the 1.3 crop mode is a marketing ploy to get uninformed consumers to think they are getting 'extra length' from their lenses. All it is is a crop mode. The only thing you get is maybe a frame per second extra speed.2. The locking buttons for the mode dials are actually VERY useful. However, the awkward lower shutter mode dial is, well, awkward to use. Maybe if it had a textured finish it would be better.3. I put on my external Nikon SB-600 flash and was not getting consistent results. A lot of the time the photos were overexposed. This worked flawlessly on both D5100 and D60.4. After having it for a week, I was starting to see dust spots on the sensor at small apertures (high f numbers). If this happens to you, do the sensor cleaning function, it seems to help a lot.5. The LCD is fixed, which is a good thing. One of my main complaints about the d5100 was the lcd getting dust inside it since the edges weren't encased in the camera due to the gimmicky swivel feature.6. A great feature of the D5100 was that you could half-way press the shutter button and the viewfinder would light up the ISO that it will be shooting at. This was a great feature. Nikon for some reason removed this feature with the D7000, and kept it removed with the d7100. WHY? No one knows. Nice job Nikon. They have it on the D600.Another comment is probably too many megapixels goin' on here. The only people who would use 24 megapixels are professionals who are printing at large sizes, and need the massive resolution - which i would wager is a small segment of who uses this camera. Not amateurs that are posting pictures on facebook.It would have been nice if they kept the same amount of focus points and made them better, rather than trying to put ZOMG 51 focus points OMG!Rather than deal with Nikon (lack of) service, i opted to just return the camera. RETURNed, not replaced. Need I say more?UPDATE 8-24-13Forgot to post here, I returned this second copy of D7100, just too many quality control issues. I went with the D600, whose Image quality blows this thing out of the water. It's funny how night and day the two cameras DX anf FX are. Nikon clearly does more quality control on the higher end models. Couldn't be happier!

To give some background, I started out with a D40 (entry level DSLR) back in 2008. Had that for a couple of years and felt it was time to upgrade. I went a step up in class to a D5100 in 2011. Really enjoyed this camera, it's abilities, and it's additional (manual) controls. Towards the end of this year, I decided it was time to upgrade to the next class and step into the D7xxx class. I decided on the D7100 because the D7000 was similar (in many ways) to my D5100, which shared the same sensor. As a side note, I don't feel that getting the newer version of a camera in the same class is an upgrade. Maybe if you waiting a 2-3 versions, but not the next one. There isn't typically that many features that would persuade me to go from a D7000 to a D7100 based off of my friends (2 of them own the D7000) and what I've read about the D7100. But, for me, the D7100 was the next logical choice.I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been written in previous reviews, so let me try from a different angle. I'll discuss some of the items that are not typically listed on a spec sheet or a comparison list:Larger camera (body) size isn't always a negative. We live in a world were small (and faster, of course) is typically better when technology is involved. But with cameras, especially for me and my larger hands, bigger is better. The mid-size D7100 just feels more comfortable in my hands compared to the Compact size of the D40, D3xxx/Dxxx classes of Nikons. The D7100 also has the ability to add on a (Nikon) battery grip for increased battery life and better ergonomics when it comes to taking portraits. The D7100 also has weather sealing, so if you like to continue some level of photography after the rain or snow begins to fall, this is a better option than the entry level classes. Another nice option is that the D7100 has the ability to mount a teleconverter to extend the range of the telephoto lenses.My recommendation is if you are new to photography or new to DSLR photography, the D7100 is probably not the best economical choice. It's relatively complex and many manual controls. Opting for a D3xxx or D5xxx series camera is probably a better buy. They are replaced with a new version just about on a yearly basis, so you can find last year's model pretty cheap.If you already have a D3xxx or D5xxx and feel like you are starting to hit it's potential and/or would like more manual control of the settings (instead of diving into the menus to changes settings), the D7xxx series is probably your best choice. Unless you are coming from a D5100 or D5200, the D7000 is a great economical purchase. It has great abilities.If you are coming from a D5100 (like me) or D5200/D5300, the D7100 is the better choice in this price range. The D600/D610 and D800 are somewhat of a different animal, are more expensive (although the D600 oil issue is driving the price down), and may cause you to spend more money to get rid of your DX lenses and opt for the FX lenses.I hope you found this review useful.

This is a great camera to grow into if you are new to photography or just making the switch from a point and shoot or even upgrading to your first DSLR from a manual camera.I am making the switch from a manual camera (Nikon F2) to a DSLR after many years away from Photography. While the options this camera provides are a little overwhelming at first, i find great comfort in the ability to take the camera to a fully manual mode for everyday shooting while I adjust. It's funny, because while this is my first DSLR, I feel like I have had this camera much longer than I actually have thanks to the simple and consistent way Nikon lays out their controls, if you have owned a Nikon in the past, you will find the D7100 immediately familiar in many ways.There are plenty of places to review and compare the specs of this camera, so I wont go into them here, but I will tell you what I think is great about this camera.While it may be more camera than some people need, I am a fan of buying the best I can afford and simply grow into it, this saves money over the long term. I don't imagine I will ever need more than the 24 megapixels the D7100 provides.The camera is light but solid with a very well balanced feel, I never feel as though it will slip from my hand and the grip is comfortable, although it may be a bit of a stretch for someone with smaller hands (I am six feet tall with larger hands).The camera is quiet and responsive, the buttons provide solid tactile feedback, you can easily operate the D7100 in the dark. The LCD screen on the back is crisp and bright, it reminds me of the clarity of the retina display on Apple products.Coming from a 35mm film camera (full frame) to a DX (crop sensor) takes a bit of getting used to because the angle of view is much tighter. Even though I educated myself about the differences between full frame and crop, seeing it with your own eyes really drives home how different they really are. For example, I also purchased the AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1.4 G with the body instead of opting for the kit lense and what you see with the 50 mm with a crop sensor on Nikon is equal to a 75 mm lense since nikon uses a crop factor of 1.5 (50 x 1.5= 75). This makes for a tighter frame, definitely not a deal breaker by any means, but it is something you should be keenly aware of since it will affect which lenses you purchase and how you take your photographs.There are so many in camera options for the D7100, I highly recommend you RTFM and keep it with you as it will save you much frustration as you learn the equipment.Here are some of my favorite options:* single frame multiple exposure* exposure bracketing* intervalometer* dual card slotThe only complaint I have is regarding battery life, it's a little too short for me. For example, I went on a photo walk recently and ended up taking about 200 shots, by the time I was done the battery was 3/4 depleted. Admittedly I have no basis for comparison, but it felt as though I was being limited by the battery life instead of my own will. Do yourself a favor and purchase a second battery to carry with you. They are relatively cheap but are infinitely valuable.I have only owned the D7100 for a month now so I have not been able to fully explore all it has to offer like the video capabilities.As I stated before, this will be a great camera to grow into.

We had been researching cameras for the last couple of years, saving up for just the right one. And I am so not disappointed! This camera has and does it all!...and it has every potential to grow with your abilities...There are two memory slots so you have back up or can use one for recording and one for pics to keep them separate. There is an attachment available to have a back up battery as well, but it is a separate purchase. The crisp, clear pictures are beyond anything I have had from an essentially point and shoot camera. This is great for beginners as well as those more experienced...and anyone in between. You can make this as automatic or as manual as you would like...completely personalized for the best experience. There is a menu knob on top as well as menus for each setting. They are all pretty easy to utilize and customize. The manual gives step by step directions on much of it to make it even easier. The battery lasts quite long, depending on the mode you use it in and what settings you are using. Recording and using the option to see on the screen as apposed to in the viewer will definitely decrease the battery life. Even then, it lasts a few hours.It does not come with a lens, but I honestly love that. You can save the money from buying the standard "kit" type packages and buy what you really want. Also, if upgrading, the lenses on other Nikons work the same on this one. I already had two lenses, so I use them on this and they are fabulous. There are two different types of lens though...I have the regular, run of the mill, out of the box lenses... and it works with them as easily as the more professional AFs.The ONLY downsides I have found are the bulk, manual (sort of), and price. This camera is a bit heavier than my previous D3200. With the added battery back up, it is even larger and heavier. This is definitely not a little pocket camera for you to pull out quickly and shoot. The price is definitely on the expensive side as well...but buying it on black Friday saved me a ton! I am not sure I would have bought it for the normal price...not that it isn't completely worth it, but I am not a professional and that kind of money is a lot to me. The manual is HUGE! There are so many functions and options, it has to be. However, it is beautifully arranged to find what you need quickly...and it makes it much easier to go from point and shoot to knowing what you are doing by adjusting settings and picking schemes.I know people personally that use this camera for their photography businesses and absolutely love it as well...one of the reasons I was leaning toward it.

I received my D7100 yesterday afternoon and shot some pictures that are posted here, "a picture is worth a thousand words." I had the Nikkor 28-300 mounted so I was getting a 35 mm equivalent of 42-600 mm with the 1.3 crop factor feature. Note this is an FX lens. I have never encountered this before, but Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom have not caught up with being able to process the D7100 RAW files, so all my images posted here were converted in Nikon NX2. Using NX2, you can do some crude editing (adequate for some, perhaps) and can convert to jpegs or 8/16 bit tiffs. All were shot handheld at f/8, ISO 200 (except for the tulips, ISO 1600) at shutter speeds ranging from 1/500 to 1/1000 (sunset was shot at 1/60, tripod mounted). Original raw files are 24 megapixels and were quickly transferred via USB 3.0 reader from Kensington. Operation of the D7100 is essentially identical to the D7000, which I gave to my daughter. A few minor differences, but nothing significant. Using the "i" button on the back of the camera makes switching between DX and 1.3 crop mode VERY simple; this would be great for bird stalking if you need a little more reach or sports where the 51 focus points would essentially cover the FOV. In DX mode, you get 24mp, in 1.3 crop mode, something less than 16mp. I think the best aspect of this is the way the focus points cover the entire width of the image area.After shooting the quick "one offs" posted here, I would have to pronounce this camera "sweet." I like the DX format and the 1.3 crop factor. Expeed 3 processor seems comparable to my 800E. IQ seems terrific. Dynamic range is superb, but hard to completely tell at this point without proper software. Bottom line, while some may scoff at this model as merely evolutionary, to me, it continues the very strong reputation of the D7000, and "son of D7000" is not too shabby a moniker ;) I have encountered no QC issues with the images, sensor, or other bits, but I have only had the camera for less than a day. I will update this if things change. I loved my D7000; I can tell I am going to love the D7100 as well. I will use this camera primarily for bird and animal stalking, but may also take it when I don't want to risk my D800E (the D7100 IQ is terrific enough and the camera is weather sealed as well).PS A note about moire. The D7100 doesn't have an anti-aliasing filter, the 800E neutralizes the AA filter's effects. With my 800E, I have NEVER seen problems with moire (after a few thousand images) and I don't see why the D7100 would be a concern in this regard. Yes, I am aware of all the technical caveats. You can see more of my work at on my website if you want to see more (just click on "drdvde" above to see the link.)UPDATE 4/3/13: Just returned from a trip to Arches National Park. D7100 performed terrifically. Using the 1.3x crop factor, I can get an effective 600 mm from my Nikkor 28-300 mm zoom FX lens. Pictures were sharp, but two issues are important until Adobe provides compatible software. It is possible to "hack" the exiv data of the raw camera files using the exiftool program (google it!) so that ACR and Lightroom and Photoshop thing their dealing with a D5200 file. This works reasonably well with DX mode images (program works flawlessly, but the process is convoluted). In 1.3x crop mode, however, things come to a halt. You can view your images in Bridge, but you can't ge them to load into ACR and they cannot be converted to DNG format by Adobe DNG Converter. You'd be limited to converting to jpeg or tiff using Nikon ViewNX2, as shown in some of my images above.UPDATE later 4/3/13: Adobe DNG Converter v7.4 and Lightroom v4.4 now support the D7100

Note: This is not a full review - this review only addresses the auto-focus issue.I own 5 Nikon bodies: D5000, D7000, D700, D600, and now the D7100. With the exception of the D7000 (I have not 'tested' my D600 yet), EACH camera has had an AF issue; that issue being a front-focus problem. The D5000 has no internal AF fine-tune, so I sent that in for calibration. The D700 I have set on +16, and now the D7100 set on +12. As I mentioned, I haven't 'tested' the D600 yet, but it appears from general shooting the AF is ok. My D7000 has been the only body that is spot-on AF so far.Let me ask you, what is the single most important element needed for taking good, sharp photos? That's right - the focus. It doesn't matter how good your equipment or your technique is if you can't nail exact focus - your photos will be sub-par. With that said, why doesn't Nikon pay extra special attention to this? If I'm paying $1,000-2,000 for a piece of equipment - I want the most important element dead-on.There are many sophisticated items available to check your AF, but here's a simple quick-check that I do:--------------------------------------------------------------**Set your camera up on a tripod**Get out a tape ruler and place it on the floor in front of the camera (I use a Stanley 25 foot)**Set your camera/lens to it's lowest number f-stop (test with different lenses - some may be in the lens only)**Set your AF to single-point and set your focus to AF-S mode**Focus in on the nearest foot mark to the camera - take a photo**Repeat on next, farther foot mark - work your way out a few feet (5-10 photos or so)**Check the photos on your computer - zoom in.--------------------------------------------------------------As you review the photos, if your AF is dead-on, the numbers and marks in front of and in back of your reference point (foot mark you were focused on) should be equally in focus and gradually equally blurring in proportion to the distance from your AF point. If they aren't - you need adjustment. Now I know this isn't a dead-accurate focus test, but it will give you a general idea.And note, I didn't begin this testing because I was looking for focus problems. After I noticed numerous photos were not "perfect", in certain cameras, I decided to do some testing - this is why I haven't tested the D600 yet - all appears to be OK with that one. Also note, I have tested the bodies with multiple lenses - the problem is in the bodies of the camera.Anyhow, I hope this information helps you create better images.*********The 3 stars is based on the AF issue only***********, otherwise the D7100 seems like a very nice camera so far.

Back in 1997 I began with the Nikon Coolpix 900 followed by the Nikon 4500 (which I still have and love).In 2005 I got my first Nikon DSLR the D70 followed by a D90, D200, D7000, D7100 and currently the D600.All have been wonderful cameras but I am now seriously considering downgrading back to the D7100.I shoot lots of photos of all kinds of subjects, just for the joy of it!The D7100 with it's APS-C sensor gets the 1.5x crop factor boost on my lenses ...They start with the 10-24 DX Nikon followed by the 24-85 VR Nikon, the 70-300 VR Nikon and 50mm f/1.8D lenses.That crop factor boost turns my 70-300 into a quite effective 105-450 lens which I really miss with my FX full frame D600.BTW Both my D600 and the D7100 produce amazing 24 megapixel images!But getting a lens for my full frame D600 that equals the quality I get with the 70-300 VR Nikon lens on my D7100 at the equivalent of 450mm is a real problem!Not only are those lenses expensive but they also are big and very heavy and I like to handhold when I'm shooting fast moving birds.I've tried cropping the images from the D600 but the image quality after the cropping suffers.The D600 also has a "DX crop mode" but that only produces images that are 10.5 megapixels and these suffer even more when printed big.The D7100 had a very useful feature they called the "4/3rds Crop" which turns on a frame line inside of the optical viewfinder showing the cropped area and the images it produces are 15 megapixels with an even, 2x lens crop factor which for shooting smaller birds was perfect ... turning my 70-300 effectively into a 140-600 mm equivalent lens and the 15 megapixel images print wonderfully, showing every feather crystal clear, even in large 13" x 19" prints!My only quandary is that the low light performance of the much larger pixel sites on the FX full frame sensor on my D600 is unbelievably great! And, other than when shooting birds, the images I get with the D600 make beautiful large prints, too!My suggestion is that you carefully consider what your photographic subjects are and let that be your guide as to which camera you buy. Good luck!

I decided to replace my 6-year-old D300 with the D7100 after comparing images and reviews for the D300, D7100, and D610. The price, focal point coverage across the sensor, number of focal points, and size and weight of the D610 were always on my negatives list.I'm not a fan of megapixel wars, and would give up pixels for better noise performance or better over-all image quality. Comparing high and normal ISO images, I could see the D7100 beat my D300 and came very close to the D610. I tested actual raw/NEF images from each camera and found that the D7100 images cleaned up very nicely with my current work flow (I'm now using Adobe Creative Cloud). So, image quality to me was better than what I currently had and very close to the more expensive D610.The inclusion of the 18-140 lens for a fraction of it's typical $600 was very pleasing. I used the Nikon 18-135 as my general use lens and loved it, this version with VR is promising to be even better. The only downside I saw was the FramesPerSecond that couldn't keep up with my old D300 when used with my battery grip.In general, the machine-gun approach isn't practical for me for more than a second anyway. But it is handy. Believe it or not, one trick I used to set people at ease is to shout out "Work with me!" and blast out rapid shots. They realizing I'm having fun with them, smile, and I get that one good candid shot.I decided that I like the 1.3x crop feature for the speed benefits and shooting 7fps in JPG cropped mode will probably do me well enough.I doubt I will ever use the scenes, effects, or even video, because it's just not what I do. But, it takes great images and I have used ISO upto 6400 without problems (in my D300 I would never go above 3200). Combined with the 18-140, I am very pleased and expect many years of service from the camera.UPDATE:I wanted to add one note regarding the Frames Per Second burst rate: I had a Sony 40ms 16G SDHC card, a SanDisk Extreme 16G card, and purchased a SanDisk Extreme Pro 32G. I did a test to see how many RAW/NEF images I could shoot in 5 seconds (that seemed like more than my typical burst length). Each card shot about 6FPS until the buffer filled up, then you could hear the lag as the buffer was written. In the end, the Sony averaged 12 shots in 5 seconds, the SanDisk Extreme averaged 17, and the SanDisk Extreme Pro averaged 25 shots. Getting about 5fps on average works fine for me. So with a really fast ExtemePro card I can see a difference and I'm pleased. That negates my last negative concern about this camera.

Background:I have been shooting Nikon and Other Brands DSLRS for Several Years.I own several Prime and Zoom Lens of both High End and Lower End, and I never leave my home without a camera in my hand. Now that we have established that I know how to use a Camera we can move on.Since I was looking to upgrade from a D7000 to a D7100, this will be mainly D7000 VS D7100. I won't get into comparing them with the D600 FX.Having a D7000 I have been a big fan of Nikon for years and I was looking forward having a D7100. I spent about 2 weeks looking at reviews all over the internet, comparing, and comparing, until I decided to finally purchase the D7100.Out of the BoxFirst thing I noticed was that it feels of cheaper build than the D7000, and that the shutter release also didn't feel or sounded as smooth as I had hoped. I just didn't get the feeling that I was using a better version of my D7000.Also there were Oil Marks on the camera out of the box. :( (If you are not comfortable doing wet cleaning, this might be a big issue for you)Shooting /Image Quality I had to shoot JPG for two main reasons, 1) No RAW support at the time 2) In-Camera HDR only works with JPG.Out of the box photos taken with the D7100 look sharper but also grainer in comparison with the D7000 Even at Low ISOs. YES even at Low ISO. (I didn't want to believe this, since I really wanted to like the D7100)I liked the HDR feature, since I could have an OK HDR picture in seconds to share it on the Internet. However, I wanted to get natural looking pictures, but I usually ended up with pictures looking like a Beginner's Photoshop Homework, but I really hope this was just me, since I want this feature to work properly on this or future Nikon cameras.Focusing/PointsThe 51 Focusing points were very nice to use, especially at the 1.5 X Cropped modes, but nothing really worth the update from a D7000. (This doesn't give your lens extra reach precisely, it just means the picture is cropped, allowing you to use only the juicy part of your lens and to shoot faster)I must say that I did not get any back or front focusing, but also didn't get that great improvement that I was hoping for in the D7100, in fact a few times while shooting, the camera wouldn't focus fast enough.Pros D710051 Focusing PointsIn-Camera HDRMore Mega PixelsSharper ImagesCons D7100Grainer PhotosBuild Quality could be an Issue. (Oil Marks, Cheaper Feel, etc.)(I hope I just had a Bad Apple)ConclusionI will probably be repeating what I have read many times before, but I had to experience it myself first hand to really get it.If you have a D7000, you already have a great camera, use the money to get better lens, probably even go FX. (I hate to say this since I really wanted to keep the D7100)If you are coming from anything lower than a D7000 and you have the extra few dollars to burn, the D7100 is a good option, although probably getting the D7000 and maybe a 50mm 1.8G and/or a 35mm 1.8G would be a better choice.Note:I have returned my D7100, and decided to wait for maybe a newer version of the D600 FX.I believe that if you are looking for something above the d7000 you will have to go Full Frame to really see a huge difference on your everyday shooting.

Nikon has finally done it! I tried the D7000 and made numerous comparisons with other camera brands, but for the money and name, you can't go wrong with the D7100. The added "reach" of the additional crop factor (1:3), and the huge new (3.2 in.) display screen give this entry an extra boost above the competition. Added to this the 14 bit RAW file at 24.1 MP and you've got a winner for DX shooting that really deserves to be called "Nikon's DX Flagship" in this format; a post-processing Lightroom dream to work with.Right out of the box, Nikon presents itself with distinction; this thing exudes quality and comfort. Factory defaults were right on and presented great pictures instantly. The fast 51 point auto-focusing system with the 15 cross-types really do the job and I was amazed at the speed, even when using a slow and heavy Nikkor 55-300mm lens- see flower shots in customer images.I have been waiting for this model even before it was announced; almost three years now and I'm not disappointed. It would seem that the earlier problems with front/back focusing in some D7000's have been addressed and corrected with this one, as I see very few problems of this sort. I find it amusing that some users forget to adjust the diopter in the viewfinder to their own specific eye needs; each person is slightly different. That should be emphasized in the opening instructions in capital and bold letters, so that everyone gets it "right." Without that, manual focusing will be to all practical purposes impossible.When you get your new camera delivered, there are some important steps to take to insure everything goes the way it should.Carefully unpack your shipment box, taking care to hang onto the original packaging materials in case you are returning it.Charge battery to full charge. Don't fall for the temptation to fiddle with the settings on the camera with a partially charged battery.CHECK VIEWFINDER DIOPTER with lens attached to correct for your shooting eye. Then double check its accuracy.When SD cards are inserted, format them in the camera to acclimate them to the file system. Never format any camera card in your computer. In fact, when copying from card, don't cut and paste any image from the card, just copy and paste. Don't let the computer treat the card as an external hard drive and modify it, use importing software or simply copy and paste files into your picture directory.Start at factory (out-of the box) settings and take some shots. Remember any modifications can be undone by simple formatting the camera back to factory default by pressing and holding the two green buttons on the outside of the camera for two seconds.And lastly, remember that this is a virtual visual computer with a huge array of functions and capabilities that will take some time to understand and learn. Don't get frustrated if your pictures aren't what you would like. Take your time and ask questions. A great site on the web is The Ugly Hedgehog.comHave fun and enjoy this great hobby called photography.

I have only had this camera or a week now, but I have to put in a review because it is just that good!Nikon did an excellent job with this camera. I have shot about 500 pictures and different events over the last week and the image clarity and detail is superior to the D3100 and D5100 that I have had in the past. Outside photography is really easy with any camera, so I wanted to do a real comparison to indoor image quality with limited lighting so, I snapped on my 1.8G lens and went inside to shoot an event and I got outstanding results. The depth of color is amazing and the detail in the images were just amazing. Removing the low pass filter helps this camera excel in the low light environment excellent move on Nikon's part. The grain is smaller at identical ISO's compared to the D5100.The camera body is laid out well. They squared things off in comparison to the D5200 thats out now, and changed the LiveView switch over to a button which I like. Everything seems to be just in the right place for my hands. I don't have really large hands so it just works.I did get this camera with the kit lens, since it was immediately available versus the body alone. I must say that I'm impressed with the kit lens. it only goes down to 3.5G at 18mm which isn't bad but if you want to reach out and grab a shot at 105mm your aperture moves up to 5.5 which requires a shutter speed adjustment or ISO boost to get the shot. Fortunately adjustments in manual mode are quick and easy since you have 2 quick adjustment dials, and ISO adjustment is right there at your left finger. I didn't like that the default setting is to see the shot count on the viewfinder versus ISO, but its a quick change in the menu system to make the ISO your default display option.Another awesome feature that was added is the white balance adjustment. Now you can frame up your reference shot, shoot a gray card in that scene, select the gray card in live view and make the WB adjustment right there and save that as one of the presets for the shoot. No more batch editing in Lightroom. Totally awesome!!The only gripe I have on the camera right now, and its not on the camera itself is that Adobe Lightroom hasn't been updated yet to read the RAW files from this camera. I can read them in photoshop but thats a 1 by 1 process and I need to get them into Lightroom so I can do some batch processing. Knowing that shortcoming, I shot RAW+JPEG all week so I could still get them into LR and get the photos out to clients.If you are looking for an excellent camera for DSLR photography and don't want to make the plunge in FX format. This hands down is the best DX format camera on the market PERIOD. Don't look anywhere else.UPDATE: Used the camera to shoot some 1080P video. In manual mode you have full control over the ISO, fStop, and Shutter Speed. Having full control over your exposure for video is awesome. Haven't used a DSLR for video work before, but now I can see why its so popular. You have easier access and control over everything. Its even better than my pro HD camcorder that I own. Can't wait to get outside this spring and see the quality of video with lower ISO's. Had to shoot between 2000-4000 ISO to get good exposure at 4.5g inside with contrasting light and dark areas in the room I was shooting in.

I never thought I could get this kind of performance with a DX crop sensored camera ! I shot with the D300s for 2years and was pleased how I learned to get more out of that camera than most people thought possible . I own many DX lenses and 2 FX lenses . I don't shoot video so this review may not be for you ? I was contemplating switching to a full frame body like a D700 or an D 800e. I knew it was going to be pricey if I did go full frame because of the glass I would have to buy to accompany the camera . I was getting ready to sell all my DX equipment on eBay when a friend recommend I shoot with his 7100 for an afternoon before I abandoned my superior collection of DX lenses ! Boy am I happy I took him up on that offer ! I was stunned at the quality of the photos I took with his D7100. The dynamic range and sharpness of the photos I took were absolutly fantastic ! I wasted no time ordering one of my own and since I received it I've been stunned at how big of a difference there is between my D300s and the D7100 ! I thought I could only achieve this kind of result with a full frame sensor . I'll never sell my DX set up now that I've achieved results like this. Sure I'll still buy a D800e down the road but I'm in no hurry now. I've been envious of friends who have full frame camera's because of the obvious difference in dynamic range and sharpness they were realizing compared to myself. Not anymore ! I realize all the practice I had getting the most out of my D300s made me a great photographer and my composition skills were actually better than most of my friends who own full frame camera's. With photoshop I can stitch together panoramic wide shots that blow away most anything I've seen ! The low light performance is great and the focus system on the D7100 is second to none ! With the price of FX lenses being so insanely over priced ,I'm thrilled I bought this wonderful DX camera ! I know I'll go to a car show and see people with their pro body camera's thinking they have the advantage when taking the same shots I am. But I'll be thinking I could have bought 3 or 4 more of my complete setups for what they paid for a full frame camera and a couple of lenses while achieving little to no better result than I get with my D7100. Don't anyone think that a crop sensor camera can't compete with a full frame sensor again. Thanks Nikon , you created a game changer !

4 months later (Update the review: 9/18/2013):1. Using best glass (Nikon 35-70 F2.8, Nikon 80-200 F2.8D), I see more improvement of this camera (compared to anything else). You really need a better glass to see the resolving power of this sensor.2. I would say, the combination of the new sensor (Toshiba) and the removal of Anti-aliasing Filter, make this beast a really good performer in terms of image quality.3. The 1.3 crop factor is really a handy nice to have feature, because I am now only use 3X F2.8 zoom lens (for the sake of maximum Image Quality). And it really helps when I need more reach/close up and don't bother to change lens.4. I noticed that the performance of AF sensor is much improved over D7000. I am getting more success ratio using the non cross type AF spot than I use to have with D7000 (For this reason, I only use the center AF spot and recompose technique in D7000 to avoid Focus error).5. The AF performance in low-light is also improved over D7000, not significantly, but enough to be noticed.6. With the 1.3 crop factor, my favorite portrait lens now is the old (but still very good) 35-70 mm F2.8 D. It even give much better result than the new 50mm F1.4 G.===========================Original Review start here:===========================I use D7000, and jump to D7100 when it is available, for one reason: Video Shooting! It has (that D7000 doesn't): Audio Meter, Headphone Jack, Stereo Mic, 50i/60i at full HD (1920X1080).But after use it for several weeks, this is additional things that I found useful:1. 1.3 crop. This is amazing feature that I use more and more often now. Especially when using my Nikon 50mm F.14G, and Tokina 11-16mm F2.8. I program the Image Area (1.3X 18Mp or DX 24mp), into Fn button, so I can switch them without leaving my eye from viewfinder. Why I need this? To make my 50mm lens become 65mm lens. Or making my 11-16mm become 14-20mm. Fantastic...! Now my Tokina 11-16mm becoming more 'portrait' friendly.2. Auto-focus. No surprise, the auto-focus is much better than D7000. It is more consistent, and little bit faster. And also perform slightly better in low light.3. 24Mpix. This is actually has a mixed result. On 24Mpix (DX Image Area, see point 1), it becomes noticeably slower (I always shoot RAW uncompressed + Jpeg Fine). On the other hand, at 18Mpix (1.3 Crop) it is snappier and comparable to D7000 in terms of speed/response.4. Image quality: I find it a little bit better than D7000, but not really impressing like jumping from D100 to D200, or D200 to D300, or D300 to D3S.The cons:At 24Mpix (DX mode), it becomes slower. And when I need to preview the Image, it take some times to response (not like D7000 which is snap). I don't have a chance to test it with fastest SD card (90MB/s). I only use SanDisk Extreme 45MB/s. Probably, when I use a 90MB/s SD card, and split NEF in slot 1 and JPG in slot 2, the response will be much faster.Conclusion:For me, it is a really worth the upgrade, but probably not applicable to any other person with different requirement.

This is my second DSLR. And this is a good second DSLR. Best purchase I've made in many many years. Almost everything I couldn't do (and wanted to do) with my old camera, I can with this one. And just about everything they both could do is easier on this one. It is quite a big step up from the entry level cameras of a few years ago.So while I love this camera there are a few downsides, But these don't matter enough to stop recommending this camera.Minor complaints...1. No aperture change in video live-view. I believe the newer, lower-end Nikon D5300 allows this. Disappointing they didn't add this feature to the D7100.2. Manual mode camera live-view exposure doesn't update with aperture/ISO/shutter speed changes. I think there is a workaround with the OK button, but this is a little annoying.3. Zoom buttons... coming from a camera where the main dial could be rotated to zoom in and out, using a button just seems awkward by comparison. This is an issue in photo playback only.4. ISO change. It seems awkward to press a button on the back and then use the screen at the top to see the ISO selected. Why couldn't they display the ISO on the screen that is on the same face as the button?My favorite features of the camera:1. Compatibility. There are seriously hundreds of lenses and other accessories around for it.2. Bracketing. With one button and a dial turn or two, I can turn bracketing on and off, or change the number of frames and the number of stops between them.3. Frames per second. When shooting movement, 7 FPS is a big deal.4. Auto focus performance. The focus points almost completely cover the frame. And it is so fast and accurate.5. Sharpness... the lack of AA filter really shows. and with 24MP, I'm loving the ability to crop generously after using a prime lens.I started with the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and recently added a Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. I think in the future I will buy 3rd party macro and a 3rd party wide angle lens. Tokina seems to be doing better for the money than Nikon is in those categories.I recommend this type of kit as opposed to buying this camera with a kit lens. This camera is so sharp, using a kit lens is like giving it a handicap.

If your moving up from point and shoots or even super entry level dslrs like the d3100 or d3200 or even the d5100 and d5200 then this is going to seem like Iron man to you. Im pretty new to photography so this is more a review for the newbs who really don't know all the high tech mumbo that the pro reviewers throw into their reviews. along with comparisons to cameras that are WAY beyond the average joe's budget (cough) D800e (cough) even D4(cough cough).Any way its has its own focus motor, so that means pretty much all Nikkor lenses or off brand nikon mount lenses will work with it (although some of the cheaper off brand stuff will have odd but not problematic glitches from time to time, again not a big deal unless you shoot for money and need things done right or else).The buttons give you quick and easy access to the more advanced features we have been getting used to in the beginner dslrs like the d3100 but without going through a menu just to change them. Its friggin awesome. If you need a camera to encourage you to push your photography to new heights, this is it.Build quality is the best I have owned so far. again Im the average guy so im not gonna compare this to a 5000 dollar camera and say the build quality could be better than it is because thats stupid. When I held it for the first time my first thought was "whoa....I could beat someone over the head with this until they die....and it would still work!" This feels like as solid as a brick with about a 3rd of the weight. better start hitting the gym though if you're used to carrying a point and shoot around all day and taking pictures. this is not your parents vacation camera... as much as I think it should be, and wish it was.anyway Amazing camera I looooooove it, and its really pushing me to do something with my photography.Its like i know the equipment doesnt REALLY matter when it comes to good pictures but you know that feeling when you show someone (who expects you to be professional) an entry level DSLR and they look at you like you're covered in dog piss? yeah I dont like that so i want to have the confidence to show my pictures AND my equipment and get at least a little respect for it.

Goods and bads. You've got enough of the goods, so let me tell you what you need to know that others won't tell you. This camera needs some serous programming upgrades. It's all in the firmware, and Nikon claims they listen, so we'll see. The problems, again, are not with the camera, but you've got to wonder if the lads in Japan ever actually use these things. For instance, custom settings is a good idea, until you find out that much of the setting up does not have anything to do with the actual mechanics of shooting. Big problem? They offer a remote release (an absolutely essential item) but every time the camera is turned off, for any reason (like removing the memory card for a download and view on a monitor), you must completely set up the remote release function again. And again, and again, and again. So if you are a studio guy (we are), you'll wear out the menu buttons setting this thing up every time you shoot! Oh, you can get a cabled release, but what studio (or other ) photographer likes the wires hanging off the camera and interfering with the pod? And remote controls? Try starting at over $600, and you've got to have two of them to talk to each other! Talk about gouging...There are many things you don't have control of in the custom settings; so many things that we just shoot with aperture control.It's a good camera, and works well with Nikon lenses, but just needs some serious firmware upgrades. Hey, Nikon, how about variable firmware upgrades for photogs that aren't outside shooting kids running around a soccer field?Do some research before you buy, and hope that firmware upgrades are on the way.

The packaging that this order of the Nikon D7100 camera body, plus the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens, was truly abysmal.As soon as I lifted the large box that was delivered to my door, it was obvious to feel smaller boxes moving around inside quite loosely, and able to be easily knocked around in transit.Even as I just held the large exterior shipping carton slightly at an angle, the inner boxes could be felt sliding around and into each other.The box was marked with correct side up arrows, but was delivered upside down by UPS Ground.The box itself looked rather flimsy, with the cardboard not being thick and sturdy considering the precision optical instrument purchases inside, but thin and worn looking.The corners and areas closer to the corners of this outside shipping carton all showed mild signs of pressure or impact inflicted.On opening the box I was startled to see that the two boxes containing the camera, and the lens, only occupied about half the interior space of the shipping carton.The unfilled space had been very partially stuffed with two plastic wraps that have large air pockets. These wraps only occupied about less than half the empty carton space, and were mainly arranged at the top of the items, leaving a great deal of space for the two inside boxes to slide around very freely.Also about half the plastic air pockets were deflated, providing even less protection.Clearly the two inside boxes had slid around significantly, as each showed a very obvious dent on a corner of each box.I have not yet used the camera and lens, but am very concerned that at the very least, optimum optical tolerances have been compromised, and that focus and longevity may be compromised as well.I am most concerned that Amazon would see fit to utilize such inferior packaging , especially for optical equipment.I am interested to see if any response from Amazon is forthcoming.It certainly makes a case for purchasing from a local vendor, where even if prices may be higher, you can see the quality of the unopened boxes in advance.

I needed a DX format body for my aerial photography work. I shoot a lot of telephoto, and for my specific purposes, an FX body would have been wasteful. I believe in the theory "the right tool for the right job." Well this camera body fills the bill, precisely. I f***ing love this thing. I shoot from a plane that is often getting rocked by Florida turbulence. Being bounced around the cockpit like a fat kid in an inflatable bouncy castle, I required a camera with a formidable internal vibration control. This thing works like a f***ing charm. It's fast as s*** too; 6 frames per second f***ing fast! In between my projectile vomiting, I can capture a crystal clear, ice-crisp image of that commercial terra-cotta roof that I'm shooting. The camera is bulky in a good way. It doesn't feel like a Coolpix point and shoot; rather, it feels like a well built body, hardened by combat. It's not too big, and feels just right. I feel like a boss when I use it. A boss that laughs at your Canon 5D or Nikon 3100!It's got 2 SD slots! Dual SD-cards mean that I can shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot... and never need another SD card. 2 64GB SD cards loaded? This might indicate why I have a mild drinking problem. Have you ever sat through post processing on 3,479 f***ing photos??? I'm sure you have, yes, and that's why you're here, reading this review. Well 90% of those 3,479 photos were awesome, thanks to a camera that makes quality picture taking child's play. You can train a monkey to capture brilliant photos using the D7100.

I would recommend this camera for any level of photographer. Easy enough for a beginner with the two auto modes (flash or no flash), plus 18 scene modes. More than enough camera to make a hobbyist or amateur happy with lots of bells and whistles for some creative photography. This would even make a good backup camera for a professional photographer.For people like me who just do this for fun and shoot JPEG, there is a lot of retouching that can be done in the retouch menu such as trim, color balance, resize, straighten. You can also adjust sharpening, contrast, brightness, and saturation in the camera under Picture Control on the Shooting Menu. Good for people that don't have post processing software like Lightroom or Photoshop. At the time of this review Lightroom and Photoshop are unable to import RAW NEF files. If you want to work on these files you have to install the View NX software that comes with the camera. Then you can import into that program and save as a TIF file. You can then import TIF files into Lightroom or Photoshop. Hopefully Adobe will release an upgrade soon to offer support for the Nikon D7100.I mostly take snapshots of my dogs or when traveling to post on Facebook so retouching in the camera is what works for me. I purchased the WU-1a wireless mobile adapter to streamline getting the pictures from my camera to Facebook. It wirelessly transfers pictures from the camera to my smartphone or tablet. Once the pictures are on the smartphone or tablet they can be uploaded to Facebook or emailed etc. Super easy way to get pictures from the camera to your cell phone or tablet.I like that it uses SD cards (my previous camera used CF cards) and there are 2 slots for 2 cards. There are 3 different options on how to use the 2 cards. 1) first card for RAW and second for JPEG, 2) second card is used as a duplicate of the first, 3) second card is used for overflow if the first card gets filled up. My laptop has a built-in SD card reader so I don't have to use an external USB card reader to transfer my pictures.Several people have mentioned how the camera searches for focus. I had this same problem and figured out how to change the setting so that didn't happen. Look for the little switch on the front of the camera to switch from AF / M. Leave it on AF, push the button on the switch then turn the command dial to AF-S and then turn the sub-command dial to S. When it's in Auto is when it constantly hunts for focus.The main reason I upgraded to this camera is because the technology is 6 years newer than my old camera and I wanted more megapixels, sharper pictures, better color and less noise. This camera delivers on all counts.I love this camera and can't wait to learn what all its capable of. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because no camera is perfect for all things. I do wish this one had built-in wi-fi and that HDR mode worked in RAW too and not just JPEG.

Ok, there are photographers, and there are equipment collectors. Sadly, a lot of folks think they're photographers, but in reality, they just like to collect equipment. I'm an amateur photographer and a gadget man to boot. So no, I don't know as much about photography as a pro, but I do have enough experience with enough equipment to form an objective opinion. I started with Nikon's D70. Since then I've shot the D200, D5100, D5200, and now the D7100. If you're using your DSLR in full program most of the time as a point and shoot, don't spend the extra money on this camera. Get a D3200 or D5200. If you are constantly changing your settings in the middle of shooting, this is the most bang for the buck you're going to get from Nikon. You see, with the D3XXX line or D5XXX line you have to go into the menu on the back of the camera and hold at arm's length to change your shooting settings. Not a good thing to have to do in the middle of a photo op. The D7100, and the other upper end Nikon's have controls on the outside of the camera to let you change settings without ever having to move the camera from your eye. There are much more expensive Nikon's out there, especially when you get into full frame, and knowing Nikon they will come out with something "newer" than the D7100 in a year or so. But I think it will be mostly fluff, that Nikon had plateaued with this one. Not sure they can make one that's really better any time soon. Easy to use, reliable, and takes great shots, and utilizes many of the same features of Nikon's that cost twice as much, or more. Unless you have to have full frame, this should be the last Nikon you'll buy for a very long time.

This is the first digital camera that I've felt comfortable and happy with since film cameras lost their dominance on photography. This camera has got me interested in shooting again.I've owned a D100 and a D200. If you have either one of those - the longer you wait to replace them, the sillier your going to feel when you do. Have also owned F90 and F5 film cameras. Never mind a handful of digital and film point-and shooters. (I've been here for a "few days.")- Auto exposure modes get it right (or at least not WRONG) MOST of the time. (Cursed the D200...almost NEVER got it right).- Image quality is RAZOR SHARP; I can easily get way more detail than I can see with my eyeballs (I used a 50mm fixed to look at a model I was building...the model didn't look as good when the image showed me the imperfections I couldn't see).- Auto focus modes are amazing - focus TRACKING?! Will focus track a subject as it moves. Its not "perfect", but it works. When I say "not perfect" I was shooting motorcycles at speeds between 60 and 200mph with shutter speeds from 1/2000 down to 1/30...and some of them had focus fuzz most didn't. Almost all where usable though (most viewers wouldn't even notice).- easy access and control of settings through menus, buttons and programable buttons you can choose functions for (sadly you cant apply ANY function but you have a choice of some). Nikon has always done well here.- SD card memory 2 SLOTS!? SO LONG compact flash...I disliked you for such a long time! And now I've got 2ea 32GB cards...its like carrying a whole film store's worth of film. You DO remember what film is don't you!? How about 64 of those "really AWESOME" (when they came out) 1gb cards?! I can't even get my head around putting 2ea 64GB cards in there...but I COULD - but thats just nuts...even if 2ea 32GB isn't? Do we have 128GB SD's yet...NVM...I don't wanna know.Anyway...I don't like giving $1200 to ANYBODY - but this camera makes it not so painful; but I think Nikon should have "comped" it to me as compensation for the D200. Almost went to Canon over that one.Good camera. I Like it. This, as you can see...is the line...at the bottom...hint...hint...

Hands down, I am so happy that I upgraded to the D7100. After shooting landscapes, portraits, macro, wildlife, sports, etc. for a while with the D5100, I knew it was time for an upgrade - and the D7100 fit exactly what I wanted. It features several upgrades from Nikon's entry-level line, from weather-sealing to the dual SD slots. Its button layout is so much more convenient and faster than having to go through menus to adjust settings. Also, even though my hands are small, I greatly enjoy the bigger, sturdier D7100, even with a grip attached (in fact, I have yet to attach the neck strap to it - it feels so good in my hands that I never worry about dropping it).The one downside I've found to this camera is that I had to invest in a few more 16GB memory cards. ;) But on the other hand, I actually prefer it that way - it's nice to have some wiggle room to crop in post in case I didn't frame the subject perfectly.I went back and forth for a while about whether to get the D7100 or the D600, but I could not convince myself to go full-frame just yet. However, I greatly enjoy using my 55-300mm with the cropped-sensor for a little extra "reach."If you find yourself debating on upgrading to the D7100 from the D3xxx or the D5xxx line, I say go for it. This is Nikon's newest flagship DX body, upgraded from the insanely popular D7000, and they did an amazing job!

I absolutely love this camera. Let me start by letting you know what I was shooting with prior to this purchase. I went from the D3200 which I thought was awesome until I picked up the D7000, and finally ended up with this beautiful piece of machinery here. The user interface was very different on this camera. It is not designed for beginners like the D3200. You will have to read the manual to learn everything that the camera does and so that your not fumbling through settings like a lost child. First and fore most stepping up to the pentaprism from the penta-mirror was the most obvious change that was noticed. Second the auto focus just has been snappy great and responsive. In reference from jumping up from the D7000. I really got to be able to appreciate the sharpness that I just wasn't seeing in the D7000. I guess removing that filter actually made things a little bit sharper. The OLED screen in the back is clearer and just shows you a better representation of what your trying to see.The 7100 has subtle updates that just make a lot of things easier. The updated pixels add just a little more detail. The use of HDR is very nice to try out by setting the amount of exposures you would like. The 7100 does video better as well. With the addition of the stereo inputs and also the use of the updated wireless adapter it makes using this camera a breeze. All in all this camera is great to use and very fun to see the images that can be shot so effortlessly. The ISO performance is also about the same. Thank you for your time. You will not be disappointed with this camera.

The D7100 is better than my D300s in almost all respects and it cost $800 less and have double the resolution. This is a camera that can be used by an advanced amateur or someone starting out with photography. I like the internal commander flash so I can fire a remote SB700 flash. The dual SDHC card slots are a good feature as one can fill up and the camera will automatically switch to the one in the other slot or one can be used for photos and the other for video.The new f8 autofocus is great for slower lenses. This camera focuses much faster in low light with my two f5.6 zoom lenses than would the D300s with these lenses. Photographing birds in flight is easy with this camera. There is also a function to show if the camera is tilted either vertically or horizontally and I use this a lot. I have the camera set so the preview button turns this on and off.The body is somewhat on the small side and with large/normal mens hands the controls are more awkward than with the D300s or full size cameras. The optional battery pack would be good for this but it is over $260 and not something I plan to buy at that price.Picture quality is outstanding and I can make 20x30 prints from the files. There are special picture controls so an image can be adjusted in the camera and saved or sent to a printer. A friend shoots with a D800 and the two cameras are more alike that I had realized. The D7100 is a lot like having a D800 crop camera at a third the price of the full frame camera.Exposure accuracy, white balance accuracy, and fill flash accuracy are amazing. It is almost idiot proof. I gave up waiting for a D400 to appear and I am not at all disappointed with having the D7100 to use in its place.

To summarize: the image quality is great, screen is large (3.2") and bright, the battery lasts a long time, and the camera has a lot of features to make shooting easier. The only downsides are that it's a bit heavier than entry level DSLRs and the buffer is small (and, obviously, it's not FX).The custom settings C1 and C2 are really useful for rapidly changing between settings. When I'm shooting birds or other fast wildlife I'll use the smaller 12-bit lossy RAW files so it's nice to use these to rapidly change between 14-bit lossless and 12-bit lossy. The customizable menu is great for things you regularly want to be able to change without navigating the gigantic number of options.The continuous burst mode is great for short periods but because the buffer is relatively small, if you do this regularly it's going to be worth getting a couple of SD cards that can write at at least 60MBps. Note that the camera cannot write to the two SD slots at the same time, so if you set it to backup mode then the effective write speed will be halved.Nikon significantly upgraded it's Auto ISO feature so now it factors in the focal length when determining the appropriate minimum shutter speed for each shot, so if you haven't used Auto ISO before, it's worth checking out again.The battery lasts nearly twice as long (950 shots) as those than smaller DSLRs (typically 550 shots) and over three times as long as compacts (typically 300 shots). Obviously, I find these numbers vary depending on how much I have the screen on, etc.If you're comparing this to a more modern camera, this paragraph might not mean much to you, but compared to my old D40, the self-cleaning system is amazing and having a built-in intervalometer and an additional port to connect to my smartphone running TriggerTrap opens the door to lots of time-lapse possibilities. The mirror-up and delayed shutter options really help with stabilizing the camera for longer exposures.

The new D7100 is NOT a replacement for a D7000 - it's a whole new beast! I'm glad I waited until this new camera was available. It is in good company with my D300s. I bought this as my backup body but in the short time I have used it, I am really impressed. If you have read any of my other reviews, you'd know I am a huge Nikon fan and have been shooting with their cameras for over 40 years. I am also a huge fan of the DX format.The D7100 has a couple of features not available on the D300s. At first I thought it was a dumbed down D300s, but after shooting a couple hundred images with every lens that I own, I'm finding that some of the features are very useful. In particular, it has the ability of cropping the image area to a 1.3X factor. Simply put, a 300mm DX lens becomes a 390mm lens. I have been using my Nikkor 80mm to 400mm AF ED lens and since it is an FX format lens it becomes a 120mm to 600mm and when you use the 1.3X crop function it maxes out at 780mm!The new features are many, but the ones I like the best include the display of the virtual horizon thru the viewfinder, auto focus in live view mode, the 1.3X crop function and the ability to shoot 6-fps! The fast frame rate is only possible when using an extreme SDHC card. The D7100 has 2 SDHC card slots, so you can record RAW on the first card and JPEG on the second. OR, you can create backup copies (as you shoot) on the second card. Nice!Now for the down side - it only shoots RAW and JPEG - unlike the D300s which will also shoot TIF's. The second "gotcha" is the RAW processing, version 7.4, isn't out yet! Yes, Adobe has a BETA you can download, but I haven't been able to make it work. I'm sure they will get it together before long. The other thing that surprised me was a long list of "Program" modes - 18 of them! That's where the dumbed down aspects come in. I guess if you are looking for simplicity...it's there! OK, now back to the really good features...The LCD screen is the brightest and sharpest I have seen on any camera! Nikon came up with a new way to display things - RGB+W. That's right, Red, Green, Blue and White. Also they have added 2 user defined settings to the mode dial. Let's say you want to shoot B&W, you can program that for "U1" and maybe HDR, "U2". Very handy! There is one additional item on the menu which is really great - "Recent Settings" - finally, you can have a look at your latest set of changes! Very useful addition.I'll be adding to this review as I use the camera more. This is clearly a versitile addition to the Nikon lineup...it can be set to "easy" or worked like a pro.

Each of my upgrades from the D40x to D90 to D7000 resulted in major improvements in speed/handling and low light performance.A little less so from the D7000 to D7100, but still worth pursuing if the following reasons matter to you. Otherwise, the D7000 remains a fantastic camera and a great bargain.* The low light focusing is significantly improved. Where the D7000 would just cycle back and forth, the D7100 usually locks on reliably. 51 vs 39 focus points doesn't get me too excited.* Haven't run the tests yet, but no back-focusing so far.* The resolution of the 24mp sensor without the OLPF is simply fantastic at low ISOs.* Some better channel separation on the stereo mic would have been nice, but performance is adequate overall. At least I don't have to lug around that separate mic anymore. The cabling on the outside of the camera is a PITA.* I would reckon the low light performance is better by around a half stop in absolute terms. But the grain is finer and smoother, so where I would stop at 3200 if possible on the D7000, I am going to 6400 on the D7100 without feeling too dirty. Family pics, not pro stuff. Things deteriorate pretty rapidly after that.GRIPES* My first copy had a bad left mic channel. There seem to be some other QA issues reported here, so I would STRONGLY recommend checking out all the camera functions ASAP after receiving your unit. 2nd copy has been fine so far *knocks wood*.* Still haven't figured out how to do Auto ISO on the movie setting. Adjusting manually for now. Guess I should read the manual.Otherwise, I feel right at home with D7100, having used the D7000 since shortly after its release.I was considering the D600 heavily as well, but decided to stick with DX because I LIKE the 1.5x crop factor -- it gives a little extra reach and you're using only the sweet spot of FX lenses. I also wanted the stereo mic and did not like the whole D600 oil spot issue. Will see how the D7100 sensor holds up.I was going to wait for the D400, but wanted to have the best possible pics for a major family vacation. Pretty happy with the purchase so far.The 24-70/2.8 stays on my camera 95% of the time. Man I love that lens.I use the 70-200/2.8 sometimes for sports. CRAZY sharp lens, but a beast to handle.On a side note, the way Nikon handled the whole comfort women uproar was disappointing and infuriating. They totally caved to the imperialist pigs. Really made me want to jump to Canon, but they did eventually hold the exhibition after a court order. I also really dislike the Canon ergonomics.[...]

Bought this on a lightning deal as an upgrade to my D90. Have been extremely pleased so far. Some improvements over the D90 which I've been pleased with:* The controls are easier to operate. In particular, I like the two user modes that allow you to save common settings. Each mode saves the shooting mode (P, M, S, or A) as well as most of the shooting menu configuration, and settings are restored each time you return to the mode unless you save and overwrite the values.* It shoots faster in continuous high speed mode.* There's two memory card slots.* Dynamic range is improved. This has been particularly noticeable in the amount of shadow detail I'm able to pull out from RAW photos.* Higher ISO settings are handled well, with less visible noise. The noise is also finer grained, so there's less loss of detail, and it cleans up quite well in DxO.* The display is nicer.* Auto-focus is significantly improved with many additional auto-focus points, a button to allow you to control AF behavior with the command dials (instead of having to dive into menus), more control over the dynamic auto-focus modes (such as selecting the number of points to use), and the center auto-focus point functions down to f/8.* There's no low pass filter, which provides for finer detail in photos. While this makes it more susceptible to moire, I have not noticed any in the photos I've shot with it.* It's at least partially weather sealed - though I haven't put that to the test yet.* Movie mode now allows for continuous auto-focusing.

Owning the D7000 I was loving this great rig but moaning the focus issues. I was ruining more shots than I was keeping. Positioning myself to capture great sports action only to be thoroughly disappointed with focus points everywhere but where I wanted. I researched and experimented with every setting and lens combo I could muster to correct my issues. Constant disappointment every time. Controlled situations were fine on my D7000. Love the color, handling and creativity. And I have good results with good light, stills, general shooting. I will send it to Nikon for a checkup. But - I was done with our love affair and considered another body to snuggle with. Then I bought a Nikon D7100. Things changed overnight. I felt younger. I looked better. I was happy. The sun shined everyday. My pictures look great. No, change that to fantastic. I am constantly shooting events in crappy light and not by choice. It is where the work is. But now, I fear no evil for I am shooting clear, sharp, pure color saturated, great skin toned images of Nikon awesomeness. I am now on the sidelines running from 20 yard line to 40 and back to goal. Howling with glee knowing I am getting every damn shot crisp. I can now crop a huddle shot with breathtaking closeup detail. Nailing it shot after shot. Halftime break ? Not me. I am capturing the best color shots of marching bands, sharp colorful uniforms, flutes, tubas, you name it, I ain't missing nothing. Now the problem is; when do I get a bathroom break.Got a grand and a few Nikon lenses already, do yourself a favor and get a Nikon D7100. Now go out and shoot all those weird events you never thought you could cover. You will see great results and know exactly what I am talking about. Go get um.

I have owned the Pentax K5, the Nikon D3100, and the Nikon D700. I still have my D700 (love that camera), and after selling my Pentax K5 (loved that one too but needed better auto-focus for sports) I wanted a crop-sensor body for kids' sports which I could use my Nikon lenses with.I tried the d7000 out for about 2 weeks. It severely back-focused. With that camera, about 1 out of 10 photos were "keepers" so I sent it back and decided to wait and see what the next Nikon release would be.When the D7100 came out I knew I would be buying it - aside from the small buffer size it looked like it had all the right specs for my needs. I purchased a copy locally about 3 weeks ago and gave it a try. I used a Nikon 80 - 200mm 2.8D lens for indoor sports and found that in the artificial lighting of the indoor sports arena the focus was frequently "off", and my resulting photos were very noisy and "soft". I tried my Nikon 85mm 1.4D, a Nikon 35mm 1.8, as well as a few other lenses in a variety of lighting conditions and found that the camera had very inconsistent metering. I felt like I was fiddling constantly to try to get the correct exposure even in more than adequate light. I sent the D7100 back too...Last week I decided to give the camera one more try and purchased a second body from an online retailer. So far it looks like this second body has none of the obvious issues of the first, and I am very happy with the images I am getting from it. The low light performance is not as good as expected (still a lot of noise and some banding from ISO 1600 and above), and the higher resolution of the sensor does not necessarily translate to better photos except under certain conditions - but ultimately it offers a nice complement to my lower resolution full-frame camera. The focus is fast and accurate, and when used in adequate lighting it does most of what it sets out to do and is capable of producing exceptional images. I will still use my D700 for portraits, low light (and indoor) sports, but will likely use the D7100 for family snapshots, walks with kids, landscape shooting and outdoor sporting events.That being said, if Nikon would offer a full frame camera just like the d700 with the added U1 & U2 settings, 20 - 24mp resolution and a DX mode for sports (and no oily sensor problems) I would ditch both of my current cameras and buy that one instead!

This camera is nothing short of amazing. First off, you almost double sensor resolution. Unless you have a very pointed reason too - the heck with JPEGs. Shoot RAW. Second, I put two 64 GB SD cards from Amazon in the camera and they worked flawlessly. Here's the exact name of it:SanDisk Extreme Pro 64 GB SDXC Class 10 UHS-1 Flash Memory Card 95MB/s SDSDXPA-064G-AFFPTo see the data and not just listen to people ramble, goto Nikon's own web site and compare the D7000 to the D7100. Go to this link:[...]Then navigate to Nikon Products --> Digital SLR Cameras and compare the two models.By the way - that D7000 is a nice piece of gear. So nice, I gave to my son rather than sell it used at some super low price.Here's three tips for you:1) When you buy a lens, buy a Nikon FX lens that just so happens to work on this camera too. That way when you do eventually upgrade to full frame someday, you'll have your cake and eat it too. But do your homework. Amazon makes it very easy to see if that trick works. All I buy are FX lenses for my D7100. No regrets. But make sure they work on your new D7100 first, of course.2) Four fantastic learning materials also sold on Amazon areNikon D7100 Instructional DVD by QuickPro Camera Guides (2013)Nikon D7100 Beyond the Basics DVD by QuickPro Camera Guides (2013)Blue Crane Digital Nikon D7100 inBrief Laminated Reference Card (zBC553)Mastering the Nikon D71003) Consider joining this user group if you get the camera:[...]and no - I get nothing for saying that!Finally - if you're sitting on the fence - get this camera. It's wonderful. Frankly, Nikon should have named it the D7900 or something like that. It's a big upgrade in my opinion.Joe

I bought a 80-400, G Series lens and a D7100 body for taking bird pictures. This combination gives me 120-600 35mm equivalent. It replaced a Canon SX50HS (~$500) once I knew my recent interest in birding would continue. The pictures aren't as good as the Canon (24-1200 35mm equivalent). I contacted Nikon, sent them some pictures, and got a response that "I should increase my depth of field". I don't think they really looked at the pictures. The selected birds on gravel or grass so they could see everything was out of focus. Also, I should be able to focus on the bird with the f5.6. I thought I might not be holding it steady even though I could hold the Canon steady with greater zoom. I increased the shutter to 1/4000 of a second, no change.This can only be serviced by Nikon, in desperation, I went to a local camera repair that specializes in Nikon. I currently have the battery out, waiting a few weeks for the camera to go back to factory settings. Then I'll take some test pictures requested by the repair shop. He will look at the pictures, test different lenses on the body and different bodies on the lens. If it is determined that there is a problem, he'll send it to Nikon. I will have to pay for his services to get Nikon to fix this under warrantee.If I can't get it working right, I have no choice but to put it into the back of a closet and swallow my $4000 loss. I am retired on a fixed income. This was my only chance to own a really good camera.

Having purchased the D7000 last year I really debated that expense of a new body after only having that one less than one year. Glad I did. While it has some issues, focus is not as quick as I had hoped (may be lens-based), overall the camera produces excellent images that lend themselves well to cropping for composition and subject enhancement. The 24MP sensor is the key that this body is built around and it is very crisp, so crisp that I have to be very careful to hold the camera steady even with image stabilization. Shake will be very evident if you are a grab shot type of shooter. Give your self time to steady down and focus and you will get quality images that you will be proud to show others. The additional 1:3 crop mode is great for sports as it puts the image area almost entirely under the 51 point focusing system. The buffer is more than adequate if you are shooting JPEG's as I do, especially for sports. I have ripped off 8-10 shots with no sign of slowdown do to buffer capacity filling. As I don't usually shoot RAW, I can't speak to the buffer issue when shooting that way.Check out my uploaded images for some samples from this body.Handling is excellent for my small hands. Everything falls to hand with ease and is so similar to the D7000 that the small differences are easily overcome. I like the lock button on the mode dial. I have unintentionally changed modes on the D7k and been frustrated that shots didn't turn out the way I had planned, not with this. I would have liked a protector over the rear screen but as it is supposed to be made of 'gorilla glass' ( Used on tablets and smart phones) it seems, so far, to be impervious to marks or scratches. Having had the body for a month, (Apr 17-May 15th 3k+ images) I can say I am more than pleased with image quality and overall handling. A 50% increase in sensor resolution doesn't hurt either. Wish I could rate it at 4 1/2 stars for the minor issues I have had. If you are a DX format shooter looking to upgrade your body, you could scarcely do better. For an excellent review on technical aspects of this camera check out DPReview for their review of this body. They give it an 85% score.Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)

After experimenting with many cameras, from M4/3s to DSLRs (see my review of D5200), and looking around quite a bit, I decided to make the jump and go for this big boy. I never thought I would buy such a camera but I made the jump.My main criteria for the purchase was the praised AF system for moving subjects and the easy access to camera controls. I come from the EPL1 and had been fiddling quite a bit with aperture, ISO, etc. and ultimately wanted more direct control. The D7100 requires you to know what you are doing so I have spent some time learning about proper techniques by reading a few books, blogs and magazines (and taking quite a few pictures).Ultimately I would have preferred something smaller and less heavy because I follow a kid around quite a bit...but I decided to go for it in order to get the best tracking-AF possible for a camera under $1500.I also would have preferred a better liveview AF but I am becoming acquainted with taking pictures mostly with the viewfinder (which is better anyway). Liveview shooting is, however still relevant is some tricky situations.So if you put the effort do you get better pictures and a lower rate a missed pictures? Yes you do.Pros- Fast and (mostly) accurate AF in good-to-ok light when shooting through the viewfinder- Excellent picture quality- Easy access to basic controlsCons- Some noise comes up quite early in the picture (IS0 640)- slow liveview AF compared to viewfinder AF (sometimes it would come handy when taking pictures on the fly or in tricky positions)- Taking a video requires pushing three buttons in default settings and camera output is merely ok (this a picture-oriented camera).An annoyance but not too bad: if you shoot raw the camera buffer fills up after taking 5 pictures. Too few for burst shooting. Just shoot JPEG for better performance.Unlike the D5200 I won't complain about the lack of touchscreen because this camera provides easy access to controls. In addition, one rarely uses the screen with this camera because most of the info you need is in the viewfinder and the top LCD panel.

After spending few thousands dollars on body and various lenses (35MM 1.8, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8G, 135mm f2.0 and 18-200mm), I must say that am very disappointed.I have nearly 4000 shots in various modes(indoor/outdoor/w flash/wo flash/low key) and only handful of them are truly sharp. I changed focused points to 9-points/single point and tried all other focus servo modes and result has not changed. I mostly take pictures of my toddler which is in motion so I thought the issue is action. But I have taken more than 300 image recently from stationary object/subjects like my daughter on the high chair and the result is not any different. To compare, my 8MP Olympus can produce sharper images from a stationary objects under same conditions than this camera. One last thing is AF-fine tuning which I have not tried yet, but I believe a high-end consumer camera like this should be able to perform out of the box with no need of fiddling with AF. Overall I am very disappointed and advise against this model.Edit: To clarify further, I have used tripod to take pictures of stationary objects as was recommended by some friends in this forum with similar results. The images of high contrast or textured objects gain more focus than the centered smooth and neutral colored objects. This is very big issue since camera is set to center focus with single AF point.

I got the camera despite reading about the banding issue (horizontal lines in pictures). I felt that banding is only one factor and with all the improvements, I will still like the D7100. Also I have read that the banding only comes out if RAW pictures are pushed +3 EV or more, which I would obviously would not be doing.Wrong.Banding comes out randomly, even on JPEGs, if the Automatic D-Lighting is on (I always had this on on all the NIKONs I owned). I just don't like it as it is SOOO digital. Why should we have horizontal lines on the pic? Can not this be fixed? There are some ways to fix it in RAW (using Raw Therapee) but very complicated and does not work perfectly (and takes a lot of time)Otherwise, the camera is very good, but unfortunately, I don't want the banding so I moved to the D7000 (downgrade). Unfortunately, the D7000 focus is not very reliable (issue also widely reported). My D5100 focus much more reliably!!! (a note: this is not the AF fine tune on the D7000 - I did try and fine tuning does not help. To me it seems the focus is randomly off, not a clear back or front focus)Maybe I am just unlucky, but I feel I can not get the Nikon I love. I also have a D5100 and I think I like that camera a LOT - focus well and the pics are very nice - but that one unfortunately does not have the the customization options and other benefits of the enthusiast lineup such as the D7000 and D7100... And it does not allow me to develop as much as I wanted.I would love the D7100 either with the sensor of the D3200 or the D5100. This would be my dream camera.I was considering the D600, but the cost is much higher (and also the weight...). But maybe one day.I was also considering changing to Canon completely, but the sensor unfortunately is not at par with Nikon (it really isn't).The quest continues...

I have been a Nikon user since the 1960's, going back to the Nikormat EL 35mm. I jumped into the digital world and worked my way back to Nikon with a 995, then a D70 and most currently the D90 until I purchased this D7100. I am by far not a pro, or even a semi-pro, but just an enthusiast that enjoys taking photos and I like going out of the box and getting away from the Auto or point and shoot modes.After many weeks of swaying back and forth, reading all kinds of user and professional reviews, I finally made the decision to buy the D7100. I could not justify going full frame as the cost of the camera and investing all new lenses, was just not realistic. I don't do large prints that often. Mostly I do Meetups and just look for one day fun shoots. So the DX format is more than adequate for me. Yes, if you are a pro, or advanced semi-pro, you probably should be looking at a full frame model. But that is overkill for someone like me. Oh if I had more money than I needed, LOL, maybe then I would have gone full frame!!But this DX D7100 and the Nikon glass I have, I believe will do as much as I need to do with photography, at least for quite some time. There may be additional glass options I will add to my arsenal but I believe I have the basic body I will be able to use.I have to say, for someone moving up to the D7100 or first time users, I solidly recommend David Busch's full version of the D7100. I am about 1/4 through it but it is making the transition from the D90 much smoother and helping me utilize all the features available to me with this model. I want to avoid the Auto settings where I can and this books is super in my mind.Is the D7100 perfect? No, by no means. But this it isn't a D4 either, nor the cost of the D4!! For the money, is it worth the price? So far I have to say an emphatic YES!!!!