We all enjoy taking photos, right? Well, if you really like taking photos and are looking for a camera that is more than just your phone, you can never go wrong with a Nikon. With decades of experience in the optics industry, Nikon’s reputation as one of the few leading manufacturers of cameras and lenses rightfully earned.
What is Nikon known for?
With such a rich heritage, Nikon is well-respected for its wide range of cameras and highly compatible lenses that are designed and built expertly. Nikon cameras offer solid image quality, fast performance and a slew of useful features for all types of photographers at reasonable prices. Besides their iconic DSLRs, they have also had major success with their mirrorless lineup.
What is an AA / Low-Pass Filter?
An anti-aliasing (AA) or low-pass filter prevents interference patterns from high frequency geometric patterns (known as the Moiré effect) from showing up in photos. Ultimately, this means photos will look more correct and stuff like thin striped patterns won’t look weird in photos. However, cameras accomplish this by slightly shifting the image, softening it slightly, although this is usually not noticeable.
If zooming is your thing, then the P900 will surely impress you. The affordable superzoom camera with a 24-2000mm equivalent lens that can go up to 83x optical zoom in case you need to take photos of faraway subjects while maintaining image clarity. This is great for all types of photography, especially wildlife and macro photography.
The Coolpix P900 has 16MP sensor with 7fps burst capability, and autofocus is fast with the right lighting. It has useful features such as pre-shooting cache which synergizes well with shooting distant moving objects, and focus peaking which is great for needle-sharp stationary zoom shots. You’ll always be impressed by the amount of hidden detail revealed through its sizeable zoom.
If you’re looking for an all-rounded camera at an attractive price, the D7500 is a well-balanced device with a little something for everyone. This is a midrange APS-C DSLR with a 20.9MP sensor and 51-point phase detect AF. It even works great for action photography, capable of 8 fps burst-shot, with commendable subject focusing.
It possesses features of higher-end products, such as high RAW file capacity, extremely high max ISO (1,640,000) and 4K video capability, all with a high dynamic range. Besides that, it also has a 3.2” tilt touchscreen and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The specs on this camera are so solid, you could easily get a good picture in any condition.
The D5600 is a solid 24.2MP DSLR which is easily capable of producing quality photos with its EXPEED 4 processor, 100-25.600 ISO and good dynamic range. But it has a handful of features that make a great vlogging camera, not least of which, the large 3.2” vari-angle touch-enable OLED flip screen for filming yourself.
It is worth noting that it shoots up to 1080p 60fps, which is great for vlogging. Other notable features are its extremely light weight (465g), a mic port, 39-point AF system (better and faster subject tracking), time-lapse functionality and comfortable handgrip. Connectivity is also not an issue, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC options for video transfer and remote camera operation.
The Nikon D500 is a 21MP APS-C DLSR which has a high-end professional build quality and enhanced video capabilities that extend its utility beyond snapping beautiful photos. With a 153-point AF module, 180,000 pixel RGB metering sensor, large viewfinder and touchscreen with selectable AF points, composing and focusing on the best shot will not be an issue with the D500.
This D500 can shoot crisp 4K video at 30 fps and offers a flat picture profile for better editing flexibility. Its aperture can also be changed on the fly while filming which makes for great creative control. Of course, professional videos should also be paired with quality audio. Alas, the D500 is also supplied with external mic and headphone ports.
A compact and amazingly light full-frame FX-format DSLR for your adventurous shoots, the Nikon D750 sports an ergonomic and sturdy chassis with carbon-fibre and magnesium alloy components. It is designed to be weatherproof and energy-saving (1,230 shots on a single charge), which is perfect for your longer excursions.
The specs are quite commendable, with a 24.3MP sensor, superior auto-focus, fast 6.5 FPS shooting performance (for keeping up with the action), wide ISO range (for those challenging low light shots). There’s also the tilting 3.2” LCD screen, for better flexibility of shots. Its full frame sensor and dynamic range capability can lead to some mesmerizing outdoor shots.
This full-frame DSLR currently sits atop the throne with a DXOMARK score of 100, so the achievable quality of images needs no further explanation. The golden standard of a camera sports a beefy 45.7MP backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor, 153-point AF system, 1,840-shot battery, dual card slots, 7fps burst-shot and 4K 30 fps video capability.
A wide ISO range and use of BSI sensor means the D850 performs well in low and bright light. For sharper images, it has also done away with having an AA filter, since its MP count is high enough to reduce aliasing effects. Its AF system is also impressively fast and adaptable in different scenarios.
For the budget-conscious, the Nikon D3500 is a great steal without compromising on quality. Featuring a compact and lightweight build, 24.2MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor, EXPEED 4 image processor and user-friendly interface, it also supports Bluetooth connectivity and can shoot 1080p HD video, though it performs better in its main purpose of shooting photographs.
Another plus point is its long battery life, which is expected to last more than 1550 shots, so you can shoot away with less worries. Seasoned photographers may find the D3500 less exciting or not as optimally-performing, but if you are simply looking for a cheap DSLR with a little more than the standard features, this is a worthy choice.
The D5300 is a perfectly good recommendation for budding photographers wishing to enter or level up in the world of photography. At a modest price point, it offers a 24.2MP sensor (with no AA filter), an EXPEED 4 image processor for better image quality, 1080p 60fps video and beginner-friendly guides, modes and settings.
Although similar to the cheaper D3500, the D5300 has the advantage of additional features that encourage the beginner photographer to experiment and try different things, such as an articulating screen (for better shot flexibility), 39-point AF system and AE bracketing. It also has wireless, GPS, mic input and time-lapse recording, which makes it great for bringing along to travels.
Nikon has delivered well in the mirrorless camera space, and the Z6 is no exception. This fully-featured 24.5MP full-frame mirrorless is sure to satisfy sports photographers and videographers alike. Packing a weatherproof body and large grip, it is a solid device for shooting and tracking subjects with a high degree of sharpness and dynamic range.
For sports photography, it has a 217-point AF system and rapid 12fps burst shooting to ensure you get the right shot. For videos, it supports up to 4K 30 fps or a smooth 1080p 120fps, while the full frame is very adept with low-light or low depth-of-field footage. It also touts 5-axis in-body stabilization to help with your perfect shots.
This Nikon D780 is the photography enthusiast’s camera. Although looking like a traditional DSLR, it has inherited much technology from Nikon’s modern mirrorless cameras. Features include a fast 24.5MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor, 51-point AF, 900 - 1/8000 sec shutter range, 7 fps burst rate, 2260-shot battery, dual card slots and touch-sensitive tilt screen.
The beauty of the D780 is that it packs tonnes of respectable features into a traditional DSLR body, making it very satisfying to shoot with this camera. It offers a high degree of control for the user to customize and play around with the camera, buttons and settings, while button placement and UI optimization enhance the intuitiveness of operating it.
For its first foray into full-frame mirrorless cameras, Nikon has succeeded in producing a professional-grade camera worthy of the best photographers. The Z7’s ultra-high 45.7 MP BSI CMOS sensor with 493-point hybrid AF system, great ISO invariance and high dynamic range ensures images are crisp, clean and colour-accurate, even to the most discerning eye.
Scoring 99 on DXOMARK, the Z7 has a EXPEED 6 processor which allows more powerful and complex processing of images, and produces superbly detailed RAWs. The Z7 also offers in-body stabilization, which performs well even when working with longer lenses. Its mirrorless design means a fully silent electronic shutter system is possible, which can prevent shutter shock.
If you’re looking for an interchangeable lens Nikon DSLR mainly to shoot Youtube videos, this affordable option might be right up your alley. With its 24.1MP APS0C sensor, 51-point AF system, dual card slots and weatherproof yet lightweight build, it’s a solid choice for an easy video-shooting setup, capable of shooting Full HD 1080p video.
Content creator-friendly features include full-time autofocus, manual exposure controls, audio recording levels, and external mic and headphone jack. It also provides a 1080p live view for video monitoring via HDMI or even recording uncompressed video onto an external storage device, which is great for retaining video quality for editing.
Snap some great nighttime or long-exposure shots with this DX-format DSLR, featuring a 24MP CMOS sensor without an AA filter, for extremely sharp shots. For a DX sensor, it manages very low noise even at higher ISO settings, with responsive autofocus performance in low light and a good dynamic range in images.
A weather-sealed body, 1110-shot battery and 18 RAW / 100 JPEG buffer and extensive time-lapse capability with exposure smoothing make the D7200 a durable unit for astrophotography when paired with the right lens. It has Wi-Fi with NFC connectivity too, which allows remote camera control so you can snap comfortably. Overall, a great product to shoot for the stars.
The Z50 is a relatively new product from Nikon. It is a 20.9 MP DX mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor which shoots extremely well but also provides seamless connectivity and pairing with other devices. This camera also offers a very clean and minimalist kit, with its fast performance, small and lightweight body (even its kit lens is compact) and connectivity options.
With the agile EXPEED 6 processor, advanced autofocus (209-point hybrid with wide detection range), 11 fps shooting speed and 4K UHD video, its quality is unquestionable. You can easily connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to enable transfers of photos, videos or RAW files especially with Nikon’s SnapBridge app.
As camera resolutions and processors improve, more and more people are opting for cameras without AA filters, for that extra sharpness and authenticity. The D5500 is an economic choice in this respect, doing away with an AA filter at with its decent 24.2 MP sensor. With a max ISO of 25,600, it still produces low noise at medium ISOs.
This compact DSLR is capable of producing high resolution images with a wide dynamic range. Borrowing from higher-end products, it has advanced control over auto-ISO and a 3.2” fully articulating LCD touchscreen. Focus and tracking is also commendable with its RGB metering sensor performance. Thankfully, the lack of an AA filter does not noticeably detract from the image quality.