surprise. Although a D90 successor had been on the horizon for some time, what
wasn't expected was how close in specification terms the new camera would turn out
to be to the D300S. In some respects, in fact, the Nikon D7000 actually outguns its
(supposedly) semi-pro cousin, and offers a compelling upgrade option to both D90 and
D300S owners, whilst nominally sitting between the two in Nikon's current lineup.
Although ergonomically, the Nikon D7000 is a very close match for the D90, its overall
'feel' is considerably more serious, thanks to a magnesium alloy body shell and slightly
thicker rubber coating on the hand grip and rear of the camera. At 16.2Mp the Nikon
D7000 offers the second highest resolution of any Nikon Dslrs, behind only the 24Mp
D3X. All of these pixels are packed onto a newly developed CMOS sensor, which is
almost certainly the same or very similar to that in the Sony Alpha SLT-A55. As well as
extra resolution, the new sensor also offers a higher 'standard' ISO span of 100-6400,
expandable up to the equivalent of ISO 25,600.
The Nikon D7000's AF and metering systems are also new, and represent a significant
upgrade to those used in the D90. The new camera boasts a 39-point AF array with 9
cross-type AF points and works in collaboration with a new 2016-pixel RGB metering
sensor to allow 3D AF tracking (essentially tracking by subject color, explained here).
Other changes include the same combined live view/movie switch control as the 3100,
and a significantly upgraded movie specification, up to 'full HD' - 1920x1080 resolution
at 24fps. Unlike the D90, the Nikon D7000 can also maintain AF during live view and
movie shooting, thanks to its AF-F ('full time') AF mode.
D90 owners have been waiting for a replacement camera for a while, and although the
D90 isn't set for retirement quite yet, the Nikon D7000 certainly represents a compelling
upgrade. It took longer than we'd hoped for a production Nikon D7000 to be supplied to
us, but now that we've had one for a a few weeks we've been able to produce an in-
depth review. Read on to find out what we think of Nikon's newest DSLR...
Nikon D7000 Key Features
16.2MP CMOS sensor
1080p HD video recording with mic jack for external microphone
ISO 100-6400 (plus H1 and H2 equivalent to ISO 12,800/25,600)
39-point AF system with 3D tracking
New 2016 pixel metering sensor
Scene Recognition System (see 2016 pixel sensor, above) aids WB/metering + focus
accuracy
Twin SD card slots
3.0 inch 921k dot LCD screen
New Live View/movie shooting switch
Full-time AF in Live View/movie modes
Up to 6fps continuous shooting
Lockable drive mode dial
Built-in intervalometer
Electronic virtual horizon
Shutter tested to 150K actuations
Positioned alongside the D90 and D300S, the Nikon D7000 is clearly a lot closer to the
former than the latter in terms of its size and control layout. The similarities between
the D90 and Nikon D7000 don't run much deeper than the surface level though - where
specifications are concerned, on paper, the Nikon D7000 at least matches and
frequently surpasses the abilities of the D300S in several key areas.
Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90: Key differences
The Nikon D7000 sits above the D90 in Nikon's current lineup, and as befits its new
position in the range, the Nikon D7000 combines elements of the D90 with elements of
the D300S - Nikon's current APS-C flagship. The most obvious physical clue to its new
position is a magnesium alloy body shell, which up to now has been reserved for
Nikon's top-end APS-C and full frame cameras.
'Under the hood' though the differences are legion - a new 16.2MP CMOS sensor, dual
card slots, a new 39-point AF array, 'true' HD movie mode with full-time AF and more
customization options, some of which are inherited from Nikon's professional DSLRs.
Like the D90, the Nikon D7000 supports AF with Nikon's older AF and AF-D lenses
(lower-end models are limited to compatibility with AF-S and AF-I optics only) but
additionally, because the Nikon D7000 has an Ai indexing tab on its lens mount, up to 9
'non-CPU' lenses can also be registered with the camera.
This allows the use of virtually any Ai specification or later lens to be used in aperture
priority or manual mode with the Nikon D7000, with almost no loss of functionality
(apart from AF). Novice DSLR users might never look beyond the horizons offered by
their kit lenses, but for the enthusiast, legacy support like this could well be a deal-
clincher.
The overall dimensions of the Nikon D7000 are very similar to the older D90, but the
heavier, magnesium alloy body shell and thicker rubber on the hand grip lend it a
noticeably more 'serious' feel.
Higher resolution sensor (16.2MP vs. 12.3MP)
Choice of 12-bit or 14-bit NEF (RAW)
1080p HD movie mode
Limited movie editing functionality
AF possible during video shooting
Live View switch (basically the same as D3100)
Faster AF in live view mode.
Twin SD card slots
Non-CPU lens data function (allows registration of up to 9 non-G lenses with manual
apertures)
Magnesium alloy body shell
Wider ISO span (100-25,600 including 'H1' and 'H2')
Newly developed 39-point AF system
'Quiet' single frame advance mode
'Proper' mirror lock-up (as distinct from 'exposure delay mode')
Lockable drive mode dial
Higher maximum frame rate (6fps) with a Continuous Lo shooting option (1-5fps)
100% viewfinder
Choice of 12-bit or 14-bit NEF (RAW) recording in compressed or lossless compressed
formats
Up to 9 'non-CPU' lenses can be registered (same as D300s/D3s/D3X)
New EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery
New MB-D11 battery pack (magnesium alloy construction)
Ergonomically, the Nikon D7000 and D90 are quite similar, and as you can see from this
view of the back of the two cameras, in terms of its control layout, the Nikon D7000 is
very close to the D90. Some controls have changed slightly (the D90's 'Lv' button
becomes a spring-loaded switch for example) but the number of control points is the
same and everything is basically in the same place.
Compared to the D90 and D300S: core feature and specification differences
Nikon D7000
Nikon D90
Nikon D300S
Construction Magnesium alloy body Polycarbonate Magnesium alloy
body
Sensor • 23.6 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor
• RGB color filter array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit)
• 16.2 million effective pixels
• RGB Color Filter Array
• 14-bit A/D converter • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
• RGB color filter array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit)
• 12.3 million effective pixels
• RGB Color Filter Array
• 12-bit A/D converter • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
• RGB color filter array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit)
• 12.3 million effective pixels
• RGB Color Filter Array
• 14-bit A/D converter
ISO range • Auto ISO (100-Hi2)
• ISO 100-6400 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments
• H1 and H2 (ISO 12800 and 25600) expansion
• Adjustable Auto ISO limit • Auto ISO (400-H1)
• ISO 200 -3200 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments
• L1 (ISO 100) and H1 (ISO 6400) expansion
• Adjustable Auto ISO limit • Auto ISO (400-H1)
• ISO 200 -3200 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments
• L1 (ISO 100) and H1 (ISO 6400) expansion
• Adjustable Auto ISO limit
Movie resolution* • 1920 x 1080p (24fps)
• 1280 x 720p (30, 25, 24fps)
• 640 x 424p (30, 25fps) • 1280 x 720p (24 fps)
• 640 x 424p (24 fps)
• 320 x 216p (24 fps) • 1280 x 720p (24 fps)
• 640 x 424p (24 fps)
• 320 x 216p (24 fps)
AF sensor • 39 AF points
• 9 cross-type sensors
• 11 AF points
• 1 cross-type sensor • 51 focus points
• 15 cross-type sensors
Metering sensor • TTL exposure metering using 2016-pixel RGB sensor
• Metering range: EV 0 - 20 EV • TTL exposure metering using 403-pixel RGB
sensor
• Metering range: EV 0 - 20 EV • TTL exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB
sensor
• Metering range: EV 0 - 20 EV
Viewfinder • Eye-level pentaprism
• 100% frame coverage
• Magnification: 0.94x
• Eyepoint: 19.5 mm
• Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with AF area brackets
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1.0m-1) • Eye-level pentaprism
• 96% (horizontal and vertical) frame coverage
• Magnification: 0.94x
• Eyepoint: 19.5 mm
• B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II with AF area brackets
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-2 to +1m-1) • Eye-level pentaprism
• 100% frame coverage
• Magnification: 0.94x
• Eyepoint: 19.5 mm
• B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II with AF area brackets
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-2 to +1m-1)
Continuous shooting rate • Approx 6 fps max
• Approx 4.5 fps max
• Up to approx 8fps with AC adapter or MB-D10 pack and batteries other than EN-EL3e
Memory format • SD/SDHC/SDXC (dual slots) • SD/SDHC •
Compact Flash (type I and UDMA) (dual SD/CF slots)
Dimensions Approx 132 x 105 x 77mm
(5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0in) Approx 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.) Approx 147 x 114
x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in)
Weight (inc battery) 780 g (1.7 lb.) 704 g (1.5 lb.) 918 g (2.2 lb.)
*In movie mode, 30fps is actually 29.97fps, 24 is actually 23.976fps.
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography
Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms
used).
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you
should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.
Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the
bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically
VGA) image in a new window.
To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a
particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the
navigation bar at the top.
DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well
accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out
the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We
recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference
(at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C
From the Manufacturer
Meet the new Nikon D7000, a camera ready to go wherever your photography or cinematography takes you. Experience stunning images with sharp resolution and smooth tonal gradation, thanks to the 16-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor and a powerful EXPEED 2 image processing engine. Take advantage of its wide ISO range of 100 to 6400 (expandable to 25,600) and its incredibly low levels of noise. Expect your images tack-sharp and accurately exposed, thanks to the camera’s 39-point AF and Scene Recognition System using a 2,016-pixel RGB matrix metering sensor. And with an approx. 0.052-second release time lag and approx. 6 frames-per-second shooting, you won’t miss a moment.You’ll see exactly what you’re capturing with the approx. 100% frame coverage viewfinder, and for those who want to shoot both stills and movies, the D7000’s D-Movie capabilities now include Full HD 1080p capture with full-time autofocus and manual exposure. All of this advanced imaging technology is kept safe beneath the magnesium alloy covering the top and rear chassis of a compact body, whose sealing has been severely tested against moisture and dust. The D7000 is ready to shoot indoors and out, and at 150,000 cycles tested, the camera’s durable shutter unit helps you keep shooting. Combine all this with the unmatched NIKKOR lens lineup and Creative Lighting System and you have everything you need to explore your imagination to its fullest. Where can creative freedom like this take you? Find out, with the D7000.
D7000 Highlights
Stunning image details: 16.2 effective megapixels
Whether you want to make large prints or crop tightly in an image, the D7000 delivers the resolution you need. At its heart is a DX-format CMOS image sensor with 16.2 effective megapixels, optimally engineered to gather more quality light through sharp NIKKOR lenses. Coupled with 14-bit A/D conversion (12-bit selectable), the D7000 produces stunning images that are richer in tone and detail than previously possible in DX format. The A/D conversion happens within the sensor, thereby maintaining exceptional image integrity without sacrificing shooting speed or energy efficiency. Combine these with the agile DX format and its signature 1.5x focal length telephoto potential and you can begin to see where this kind of shooting power can take you.
Improved image quality and speed: EXPEED 2 image processing engine
Sometimes you want to capture the subtle tones of a sunset. Other times you want to freeze the action. The D7000 delivers both, thanks to the newest generation of image processing engine, EXPEED 2, which performs multiple tasks with more speed and power. Expect smoother tonal gradations, even in difficult shadows and highlights, for a greater sense of depth in your images. Shoot continuously at 6 frames per second so you can capture the action you’ve been missing. Focusing performance such as face recognition in Live View mode is also further improved, letting you concentrate on your composition.
Standard ISO 100 to 6400, expandable to ISO 25600 equivalent
With improved pixel quality of the image sensor comes a wider ISO range from the DX-format — ISO 100 to 6400 has now become standard with the D7000, enabling you to handle a wider range of lighting situations: from the bright and sunny outdoors to low-lit evenings and interiors. Nikon’s renowned noise reduction technology has been upgraded even further. Throughout the range, the D7000 delivers sharp images with minimized color noise. And thanks to the higher processing speed, even when High ISO noise reduction is activated, you can keep shooting continuously without stress. Quality high-ISO performance can also enhance a lot for movie shooting, allowing you to capture the mood of a scene using only available light.
Capture Full HD 1080p D-Movie with full-time autofocus and manual exposure
The D7000 welcomes in a new era of movie capture: Full HD 1080p and movie editing functions for exceptional cinematic reproduction and quality. In addition to smooth-moving images, the camera can compensate for distortion and other image-degrading problems. Besides auto exposure mode, the D7000 offers manual exposure mode, which locks in the exposure value when shooting scenes with varying contrast levels, such as when panning from a bright window to a dark interior. Aside from a built-in monaural microphone, the D7000 incorporates an external microphone jack for high-quality stereo sound recording options.
Improved quality in highlight and shadow: Active D-Lighting
Nikon’s exclusive Active D-Lighting offers the ability to preserve details in the highlights and shadowy areas of images shot in high-contrast scenes.
Whether you’re dealing with bright skies and a dark foreground or deep shadows where you can’t use a flash, the EXPEED 2 image processing engine renders those scenes with smoother tones — even at its highest settings. Simply select Auto in Active D-Lighting mode and the camera can adjust to the scene’s contrast levels or bracket them into three frames of varying strength levels. Even when Active D-Lighting is activated, you can still maintain the continuous shooting rate.
Now even more precise: The Scene Recognition System
The D7000 incorporates a built-in exposure-metering sensor with a far larger pixel count than any other D-SLR camera before it. The 2,016-pixel RGB sensor reads the scene’s brightness and colors more accurately, and then applies this reading to optimize not only exposure, but also autofocus, white balance and i-TTL flash calculations — all in mere milliseconds prior to the actual exposure. With more pixels, the D7000 can recognize even smaller subjects — both moving and stationary. The newly improved Scene Recognition System delivers better photographs in every way.
Wide-area coverage, powerful 39-point AF
The D7000’s strategically positioned 39 AF points cover a significantly wide area of the frame, giving you flexible compositional possibilities. The nine AF points in the center utilize powerful cross-type sensors — especially useful when you need tack-sharp focus such as with portraits and macro work. And unlike other manufacturers’ systems, the D7000’s nine cross-type sensors work with all AF NIKKOR lenses f/5.6 or faster. The D7000 offers a variety of AF area modes, including dynamic-area AF using 9, 21, 39 points. Switch between the three, depending on the predictability of your subjects’ movement, and the selected AF point and surrounding points will track your intended subject automatically.
There is also 3D tracking, which continuously follows moving subjects within the 39 AF points, indicating the activated AF point in the viewfinder. Utilizing Nikon’s Scene Recognition System, Auto-area AF properly judges the main subject within 39 AF points and focuses on it. Therefore, no matter what the situation or composition calls for, the D7000’s autofocus system will be ready to meet your focus needs.
39-point AF & 2,016-pixel RGB sensor
Stay focused on what matters most.
Sophisticated AE with highlight analysis
After the incredibly accurate 2016-pixel RGB sensor reads a scene’s lighting information such as brightness and colors, the D7000 cross-references what it sees with imaging data from 30,000 real-world shooting situations. This way, the renowned 3D Color Matrix Metering II delivers exposure results that are faithful to how you see light and shadow interplay, even in difficult lighting situations. This intelligent metering technique also delivers exceptionally accurate i-TTL flash exposures, and it all happens within milliseconds for both speed and precision.
Informed auto white balance (AWB)
Based on its massive collection of shooting data compiled from various light sources, the D7000’s intelligent AWB algorithm renders white as truly white — even when shot under a wide range of light sources, including the difficult mercury vapor lighting. The D7000 also carries another AWB mode that maintains incandescent warmth in your images.
Contrast AF for live view and D-Movie
Live View and D-Movie users can rejoice, because with the D7000, face-priority AF is now faster and more powerful than ever. Up to 35 people can be. For moving subjects such as pets, subject-tracking AF keeps them in focus. Normal-area AF is recommended for pinpoint focus and wide-area AF for handheld shooting. All are effective both for Live View shooting and movie recording.
6 Frames Per Second Shooting up to 100 Images
Say farewell to missed opportunities. The D7000 incorporates a new driving mechanism to conduct its remarkably fast and precise mirror movements, giving you an approx. 0.052 second release time lag and an approx. 0.13 second start-up time. What’s more, you can continuously shoot at approx. 6 frames per second at both 14-bit and 12-bit A/D conversion for RAW shooting.
 | Rugged and protected: compact magnesium alloy body and sealing against dust and moisture With a top and rear cover of durable magnesium alloy, the D7000 is ready for the outdoors. Nikon engineers paid meticulous attention to where exterior parts join by employing durable sealing against moisture and dust. The compact body has also undergone severe environmental tests to prove its rugged reliability. |
 | Approx. 100% frame coverage viewfinder With approximately 100% frame coverage in the viewfinder, what you see is what you exactly capture. The specially coated glass pentagonal prism and precision-crafted finder screen offer not only a bright viewfinder image, but also enable you to easily confirm when a subject is in focus. |
 | Precision and durability: 150,000 cycles tested shutter unit The D7000 has a shutter speed range of 1/8000 to 30 seconds, with a top flash synchronization speed of 1/250 second. And just like with professional models, the shutter unit is tested for 150,000 cycles in severe conditions, proving precision and durability. |
 | Intuitive operation: strategically located dials, buttons and switches Each and every control on the D7000 has been strategically placed for streamlined operation. The exposure mode dial and release mode dial are stacked on the same axis for easier access. Two new user settings can be assigned to the exposure mode dial. The release mode dial now offers a quiet shutter release mode for near-silent operation and one-touch Live View and movie recording are now possible, thanks to a newly designed switch and button structure. |
