Nikon D7200 APS DSLR Boasts Performance Boosts: First Look

Nikon today announced the D7200, is flagship APS DSLR, with improved performance, a wider ISO range, and built-in Wi-Fi, plus the Coolpix P900, with an 24-2000mm superzoom lens.

The Nikon D7200is the new leader of Nikon’s APS DSLR pack, which also includes the mid-range Nikon D5300 and budget-priced Nikon D3300. The D7200 is feature-packed with several significant upgrades over its predecessor, the enthusiast-oriented D7100. New features include built-in Wi-Fi, improved low-light performance with a native ISO range up to 25,600 that’s boostable up to ISO 102,400, greater low-light sensitivity for its AF sensor, and a new Expeed 4 image processing engine.

Nikon D7200Key Features:

• 24.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor (23.5×15.6mm), no optical low-pass filter
• Expeed 4 sensor
• 2016K 3D Color Matrix Metering system
• ISO 100-25,600
• 51-point AF (15 cross-type sensors; detection down to -3EV)
• 6fps burst rate; 7fps in 1.3x crop mode
• RAW, JPEG image files
• Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC
• 3.2-inch, 1,299k dot LCD
• Brighter optical finder with approx. 100% frame coverage
• Time-lapse up to 9,999 exposures
• Interval timer exposure smoothing

The Nikon D7200: A Closer Look

Picture control, which is typically limited to adjusting the camera’s color capture characteristics, goes beyond the typical Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Portrait and Landscape options to include a Flat Picture Control, which Nikon says is ideal for video capture, a new Clarity Control which adds definition to an image, and the ability to fine-tune the above with a 0.25-step adjustment.

Sports photographers will appreciate the camera’s increased buffer capacity. The D7200 can capture up to 100 consecutive JPEGs at any size or resolution in burst mode (which is 6fps in standard DX format or 7fps when shooting at a 1.3x crop mode). The camera will also capture up to 27 12-bit RAW lossless compress images or 18 14-bit RAW images. This assumes you’re using a 16GB Class 10 SD card.

Autofocus has been upgraded. While the 51-point, 3D tracking and auto area AF are brought over from the D7100, the D7200 adds Group Area AF, and Nikon says AF sensitivity has been improved from -2 to -3 EV so it can basically focus in almost no light. The ISO range got a significant boost, and now ranges from ISO 100-25,600, with two Hi BW settings, ISO 51,200 and 102,400.

Nikon also offered key upgrades to the camera’s time-lapse and interval timer capabilities. The interval timer now has an Exposure Smoothing feature, which evens out shot-to-shot exposure even if there is a variation in light. This will help reduce flicker effect in time-lapse videos. Nikon also increased the number of intervals in a time-lapse or interval sequence, from 999 to 9,999. There’s a new dedicated movie menu, and you can simultaneously display videos on the LCD and an external monitor. Nikon has improved the coatings on the optical glass in the prism housing for what they claim is brighter and more accurate color.

COMPARED! Nikon D7200 vs. D7100

         

Battery life has been improved for still photography, jumping from 950 shots per charge for the D7100 to 1110 shots on the D7200, based on CIPA standards. You can also capture up to 80 minutes of video per charge.

The Nikon D7200will be available in April body only from Adorama for $1,196.95 or with a 18-140mm VR kit lens, for $1,696.95. A wireless microphone, the Nikon ME-W1, was also announced for the camera for $246.95. The Nikon D7200 can be pre-ordered now from Adorama and will be shipped on arrival on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit cards will not be processed until orders are shipped.

World’s Longest Zoom Lens Camera

Also announced today: The Nikon Coolpix P900, a small-sensor compact digital camera with a whopping 83x optical zoom lens and a 35mm equivalent reach of 24-2000mm, the world’s longest-ranging built-in zoom lens. Packed with features, the P900 also offers full 1080p HD video, built-in Wi-FI with NFC and GPS, the ability to operate the camera remotely from a smartphone or tablet, and a 16MP sensor. With its rich feature set and unprecedented zoom range, the P900 should be a very appealing choice for travel photography.

A flip-out, 3-inch 921k resolution monitor lets you shoot low or high angles, and the high-resolution EVF lets you shoot at eye level. A snapback zoom button lets you frame subjects then quickly zoom in, an important feature since it is more challenging to find a subject in the viewfinder if you’re zoomed to the maximum focal length.he camera has an intuitive control layout, with the Fn (function) button providing fast access to frequently used functions, plus the Command Dial and Mode Dial allow users to quickly apply or adjust settings with just one hand. The COOLPIX P900 also features Manual (spot), Manual (normal) and Manual (wide) AF Area Mode options that can be selected in accordance with the size and position of the primary subject.

Nikon says the camera’s lag time is a mere 0.12 seconds at the wide-angle position and 0.75 seconds at full telephoto extension, good news for sports photographers. Nikon claims its otical vibration reduction adds up to 5 stops, a necessity when shooting at long focal lengths.

The camera offers a wide selection of scene modes, filter effects, special effects, and macro options.

TheNikon Coolpix P900will available in April from Adorama for $596.95. It can be pre-ordered now.

Corey Rich & Andrew Hancock take the Nikon D7200 to Argentina and push it to its limits for both stills and video. Video courtesy of Nikon: