This is our Nikon D7000 DSLR Review. If dual card slots and a lot of autofocus points is something you're looking for, then you are in the right place.
If you are looking for a vari-angle LCD and 30 FPS HD video, then checkout the Nikon D5100 Review.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Review: ISO & Autofocus
This camera has a 16.2 Megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor and is coupled with Nikon's EXPEED 2 image processing engine. Nikon has long been known for cameras that function well in low-light and we don't expect this camera to behave any differently with an ISO range of 100 to 6400 (extendable to 25,600 with "boost").
The D7000 has 9, 21, and 39 autofocus points, a "Scene Recognition System," and Nikon's 3D-tracking to help you keep your subject in sharp focus whether they are moving or standing still.
Of course, one of the main differences between a professional and an amateur is the use of a tripod, so check out our free guide if you are looking for the best tripod for DSLR video or photography.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Review: LCD
The 3 inch, 921,000 dot fixed LCD monitor doesn't rotate like the LCD monitor on the Nikon D5100, but this DSLR has other features the D5100 lacks (39 autofocus points, more images per battery, dual card slots and more bracketing options).
The Nikon D3100 LCD is fixed in place and only has 230,000 dots on the same size screen, which means lower resolution when you are comparing the same image on the two different LCD screens. Higher resolution LCD screens are a plus because they help you figure out if your images are in sharp focus or not.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Review: Dual Card Slots & GPS
If you are wedding photographer, if you just flat-out need redundancy, or if you want to either keep on shooting after the first card fills up or put your jpeg photos on one card and your raw (NEF) photos on the other card, the D7000 has dual card slots that accept SD, SDHC and SDXC cards.
The D7000 accepts the GP-1 GPS unit which is sold separately.
Who Needs Photoshop? Get Creative With Built-In Special Effects
If you like to add a little artistic flare to your photographs or your movies, Nikon has built in seven special effects features that you can for your photos or your HD movies.
"Night Vision" allows you to capture details that are too dark for your eyes to pick up on their own. Selective Color recognizes and isolates a particular color. Low Key allows you to give a moody effect. High Key makes it easy to give a bright, glowing feel to your photos and videos.
Miniature makes it look like your subject is a miniature model and Color Sketch makes your subject look more like a color drawing.
HDR Helps You Capture More Realistic High Contrast Images
HDR or High Dynamic Range is a feature that tackles one of the big challenges with digital photography - capturing both very light and very dark aspects of your subject as accurately as possible.
If you haven't read through your free copy of our Best Digital SLR Buyer's Guide, download it now - we cover Dynamic Range in more detail with several great examples.
You can shoot 14-bit Raw images with the D7000.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Review: Bracketing
The D7000 offers exposure bracketing in 2 to 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV.
The D7000 also offers flash bracketing in 2 to 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
As part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS), the D7000 has Built-in flash Commander Mode, unlike the D5100.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Review: Images Per Charged Battery
The Nikon D7000 gets approximately 1,050 images per charge using the EN-EL15 battery. By comparison, the D5100 uses the EN-EL14 battery and gets approximately 660 images per charge.
Full-Time AutoFocus + Improved Sound = Better 1080p HD Movies
This DSLR has two features we really like - full-time autofocus in both Live View and D-Movie mode and the option to get better sound quality.
The ability to have the camera autofocus is a big plus if you or your subject are going to be moving while you are filming in the two different 1080p modes (24 frames per second), 720p or WVGA.
Unless you plan on replacing the sound in your videos with music, great sound is really a must if you want people to watch your videos. Until now, that's meant expensive microphones and a lot of "post-production" work to clean up the audio.
Nikon's done something pretty innovative here by offering an optional hot-shoe mounted SLR microphone. The ME-1 Stereo Microphone sits on a rubber mount to reduce vibrations.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Review: Who Is the D7000 Designed For?
The D7000 is aimed at digital SLR photographers who are intermediate or upper-entry level. This SLR will shoot at about 6 frames per second, which you should find fast enough unless you are shooting very fast action and the 39 autofocus points give you a lot more control than the Nikon D5100 which has 11 autofocus points and is more of a DSLR for beginners.
Summary
If you are a mid-level SLR photographer we think you'll enjoy the D7000 with it's dual card slots, 39 autofocus points, and high number of images per battery.
Key Points
- 16.2 Megapixel
- 1080p 24 FPS HD video
- Fixed LCD
- Autofocus Video
- Entry-Mid Level
