Looking at the new Nikon D7000‘s specs, you might be right to confuse the newest DX DSLR as a replacement for the Nikon D300s at first blush. After all, it features many of the same specs, as well as some new features and flat-out improvements to Nikon’s DX line of cameras.
Let’s take a look at Nikon’s newest – and in my opinion, their current best – DX-format DSLR.
With a 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor
The Nikon D7000 tested in this review was provided by B&H, where I personally buy all my camera gear. If you find this review helpful, please consider buying your next photo gear purchase from B&H,Amazon.com, or any of my other my affiliate links.
To learn how you can help support www.ishootshows.com, visit the page Buy Yourself Something Nice. Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the review.
What’s In The Box
The Nikon D7000 is a good looking camera, if I do say so. To me, this DSLR strikes a very nice balance between not being too big or too small, not too heavy and not too light.
The EN-EL15 battery and its MH-25 charger are just a little different, thanks to the EN-EL15′s short-proof contacts. Unlike most of Nikon’s EL batteries, you can’t simply slap the EL15 onto the MH-25 any which way – you have to slot the battery in from the right side of the charger, which lines up the pack for perfect contact with the charging terminals.
One feature of the D7000′s battery system is that it’s now impossible to accidentally drop a battery from the chamber. In addition to releasing a yellow safety lever, the battery also has to be released from a spring-loaded carrier before you can remove it from the body.
So, what makes the D7000 kit a kit? That would be the Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR. For the DX camera like the Nikon D7000, this translates into a nice 27-157mm zoom range for everything from landscapes to portraits.
It’s probably relatively sharp, contrasty, and all of that good stuff. Maybe. Or maybe it’s not – but to be honest, this is never a lens I would use, so I won’t be reviewing it.
Features & Controls
Lens MountIn regards to the lens mount, what you get with the Nikon D7000 is pretty much the same as with just about any Nikon DSLR, with a few notable exceptions. F-Mount: First, it’s worth noting that this is a DX (APS-C) sensor, but you can mount any Nikon F-mount lens that is AI or later. Or in other words, just about any lens made for Nikon made in the last 40 years. AI-Metering Tab: At about 1 0′clock on the lens mount, you can see a small tab – this is the AI metering tab, so that old AI and AI-S manual focus lenses can communicate aperture info to the body. This is a feature we saw with the Nikon D2x, D200, and D300, and it’s great to see it in the D7000. AF Motor: At 7 o’clock on the lens mount is the AF drive, which will power screw-driven AF-D lenses that don’t have built-in AF motors. Essential if you want to take advantage of older lenses, such as a 50mm f/1.8, which lacks an AF-S motor. |  |
Control DialThe control dial of the Nikon D7000 is an interesting hybrid between the professional and consumer lines of DSLR controls. Exposure Mode: The control dial includes metering options, which is good if you change exposure modes frequently, but bad for professional use, as dials like this are prone to changing themselves in the field (especially if you shoot with two bodies). One nice addition here is the ability to have two preset (U1 & U2) modes so you can save commonly used configurations without having to reset options or dig into the menus. Shooting Mode: Below the exposure mode dial, there’s a separate ring for the shooting mode for single, continuous, quiet, and timer modes, as well as remote and mirror lock-up modes. Unlike the exposure mode dial, this shot selector has a lock. |  |
Dual SD Card SlotsI’ve loved the dual CF slots on my Nikon D3 for years, and I’m very happy to see dual SD slots on the Nikon D7000. While the Nikon D300s features dual card slots, they’re split between CF and SD, so it’s almost useless for photographers who use a single memory format. With two SD slots, the D7000 gives you the ability to effectively double the utility of your cards, write backups, or dedicate specific cards to video/photo – all with the same format. In my opinion, this system of matched formats is a superior implementation of dual slots that we’ve seen on cameras like the Nikon D300s and even the Canon 1D series. |  |
Video/Live View ControlVideo Recording: For the video shooters out there, the dedicated record button on the back of the camera is a great touch. Live View Switch: More universally, I love that Nikon has pulled out the Live View activation out to a lever on the back of the D7000 as well. No more unlocking the command dial, switching shooting modes, and switch back once you’re finished. Now, using Live View is a much more fluid process, and one that smoothly supplements regular use of the viewfinder with a single swipe of your thumb. |  |
AF-SelectorThe AF selector is another area where the D7000 splits ground between the professional Nikon D300s and more prosumer bodies. AF Mode: Unlike the D300s, all of the D7000′s AF modes are not accessible through this toggle – only AF and Manual focus are immediately accessible. Pressing the button on this switch will let you toggle the specific AF mode (AF-A, AF-S, AF-C) via the rear control dial. AF-Pattern: In addition to selecting the AF mode, pressing the AF button and using the front control dial on the camera will cycle through the AF pattern modes (single, dynamic, etc). |  |
AI Lens TabJust like the D300, the Nikon D7000 features an AI metering tab for mechanically linking to the aperture tab of manual focus lenses. This communication allows for proper recording of the aperture in the EXIF, as well as full manual and aperture priority exposure modes. While not a groundbreaking feature, this is one advancement of the D7000 over the Nikon D90, and one that also closes the gap between the D7000 and Nikon’s flagship DX camera, the Nikon D300s. |  |
In-Body AF MotorJust like the D90, the D7000 features a built-in lens motor for driving older screw-driven lenses. This feature allows you to drive the AF of older AF-D lenses like the cheap Nikon 50mm f/1.8D, which lack a built-in AF motor that all AF-S lenses have.This motor is a great feature to have because it opens up the number of lenses you can use on your on this body, especially in the area of fast prime lenses. |  |
Customizable Function ButtonJust like the D90, the D7000 features a customizable function button to the left of the lens mount. This button can be configured to a wide range of functions, but the two I find the most useful are to disable flash and to trigger an alternative metering scheme, such as spot metering. For momentary features like this, I love the ability to very quickly activate the function for one shot and then switch back to the standard setup. While you could easily turn off the flash or switch to spot metering via their own respective switches, the function button allows non-permanent activation, which is a boon while shooting. |  |
ViewfinderWhen I first looked through the viewfinder, I have to admit that I was surprised. This camera’s viewfinder is surprisingly big and bright for a DX camera – a huge improvement over the old Nikon D70. Kudos to Nikon for dropping in a nice pentaprism instead of a cheaper, inferior pentamirror. Aside from the size and brightness of the viewfinder, the best feature about the D7000′s VF is that it offers 100% coverage. In contrast to many DSLRs where a small percentage of the actual frame is hidden in the viewfinder, which makes critical composition impossible, the D7000 shows you absolutely all of the frame. Not even the Nikon D700 has 100% viewfinder coverage, so it’s fantastic to see in the D7000. |  |
Flash Mode & BracketingTo the right of the lens mount, you have the D7000′s buttons for flash control and bracketing. Once nice thing about the D7000′s flash button is that you can only unlock the pop-up flash when the camera is turned on. With even a camera like the Nikon D700, it’s possible to accidentally release the flash when the camera is off, so this is a welcome tweak. |  |
The D7000 is small enough compared to the D700 for the difference to be fairly noticeable, though the size of the D7000 itself is comfortable in use – and I certainly didn’t miss the D700‘s extra weight. Here’s an idea of how the two bodies compare for size.
The D7000 handles well. I shot the camera without the MD-11 vertical grip, which is an accessory which I think would have solved most of my gripes about the handling of this camera. Namely, shooting vertical frames without a vertical grip forces the human wrist into obscene contortions any way you slice it. This includes the D700.
That issue aside, my biggest complaint about the ergonomics of the D7000 are that the AE-L/AF-L button is a little too far in on the body of the camera – about 1cm father in than the D700‘s AF-ON button. This is only an issue since I use the AE-L/AF-L button to activate AF, not the shutter release.
One thing I love about the D7000 is the new Live View switch, which makes accessing this mode absolutely seamless with normal shooting. Unlike the D700 and D3, which hide the LV mode in the shooting mode dial, the thumb switch on the D7000′s back lever is so accessible I found myself shooting with LV much more frequently.
In addition, I have to say how much I appreciate the dual-slot SD design of the D7000. After you go dual slots, you don’t want to go back.
In my shooting with the D7000, I’ve used my trio of f/2.8 zooms – the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR. While the D7000 is petite compared to the D3 or even the D700, these big zooms balanced just fine in normal shooting. The D7000 plays well with primes, too – the 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4, and 85mm f/1.4 I’ve used on the D7000 have all handled perfectly.
It’s also worth mentioning how nice the viewfinder on the D7000 for a DX camera. Between the relatively large size of the VF and the 100% coverage, even manually focusing lenses is a breeze .
Performance: AF Speed & Precision
Overall, I found the new 39-point AF system very good. While it features 12-fewer points than the D300s and D700‘s AF system, it features a massive 28-increase from the D90 that it replaces. Win.
In use, I used the 9 cross-type AF points as well as AF sensors right out to the edge of the viewfinder and found consistent performance across them all. If anything, the aforementioned issue with the position with the AE-L/AF-L button caused me more “AF problems” than the actual performance of this CAM4800 system.
Pro lenses like my go-to Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 snap into focus beautifully – no complaints at all with this system. Even for relatively lowlight (ISO 3200-6400 territory), the D700 never hesitated or hunted for focus.
Image quality as a whole on the D7000 is excellent. The color, contrast, and acuity of this camera is excellent. Using the “camera standard” profile in Adobe Lightroom 3, I found that the color and gradations recorded by the Nikon D7000 came through beautifully.
The above three images were shot with the Nikon 55mm f/1.2 CRT Nikkor, a rare, fixed-focus lens optimized for 1:5 magnification. This exotic prime is one lens that I actually prefer shooting on DX rather than FX, and it works beautifully on the D7000.
In terms of resolution, the D7000 weighs in as Nikon’s second highest resolution DSLR sensor, and I found acuity excellent with sharp glass. Naturally, lessor lenses are going to fare less well due to the pixel pitch of this new sensor, but for most shooting situations, simply stopping down 1/3-stop clarifies any optical issues in most lenses.
Using the D7000 at high ISO for live music photography, I found no I found no issue shooting at f/2.8 no problem at all.
Again, the overall image quality of this new DSLR is excellent. Let’s skip ahead to the high ISO comparison – which is what separates the manly DSLRs from the little-boy DSLRs.
High ISO Comparison – DX vs FX Showdown
For live music photography, wedding photography, photojournalism, and other applications where shooting at high ISO is often a inevitable, image quality at these increased sensitivities is big factor for many photographers.
As a concert photographer myself, I was keenly interested in how the new Nikon D7000 performed above ISO 800. To test, I turned to one of my go-to cameras, the full-frame Nikon D700 to see just how well the new 16.2-million pixels of the D7000 perform.
We’ll look at a test scene and several different crops to get a feel for how the two DSLRs compare.
Crop 1:
Crop 2:
Crop 3:
After shooting a full concert using nothing but the D7000, I came away impressed by the camera’s quality at high ISO. After testing the camera against the Nikon D700, that general assessment still stands.
Overall, to my eye, the Nikon D7000 is only about a stop behind the D700 in terms of high ISO performance. Considering that the D7000 is a DX camera with a much higher pixel pitch than the D700, this is great.
ISO 100-400: In this range, the D7000 features more base noise than the D700, which is just minutely cleaner in areas of solid tone and color.
ISO 800: At ISO 800, the D700 starts to show more prominent luminance noise, but color saturation still looks fantastic. There’s no reason not to shoot at this sensitivity if you need the speed.
ISO 1600: Moving up the scale, the sweet spot for the D7000 appears to be ISO 1600, as the sensor is still giving very good color fidelity and acuity in the image. In the real-world images I shot at ISO 1600, the luminance noise was a non-issue.
ISO 3200: By ISO 3200, the D7000′s saturation takes a hit and increased luminance noise starts to compete with the fine details of the image. All things considered, the files still look great
ISO 6400: At ISO 6400, we’re seeing an inevitable “crumbling” of the image quality, with fine detail starting to lose the battle against luminance noise. I’m impressed by how good the color is at this level though – unlike previous generations, this new 16.2 MP sensor and processing really hold saturation beautifully.
ISO 12800: Here at the HI-1 setting of both cameras, we’ve entered the open waters. In my experience, Nikon’s own designated ISO range for conventional shooting is where the cameras perform at their optimum, it’s here above the safety zone where things get interesting. To my eyes, the D700 starts to widen the performance gap at this sensitivity and we see the D7000′s files start to break down more dramatically.
ISO 25600: Neither camera is delivering exceptional quality here. Unsurprisingly, the D7000 has dropped rather significantly in both contrast and the ability to deliver fine resolution. But is this any worse than shooting Tri-X or Ilford HP5+ and pushing it two stops? Probably not.
The Verdict:
Again, I am impressed. Beyond the D7000, which offers excellent image quality, what strikes me even more is what this kind of performance means for the next generation of DSLRS.
Considering that a 16mp DX (APS-C) sensor is the equivalent of a 34MP FX (full-frame 35mm) sensor in terms of pixel pitch, it’s an exciting notion to think of what the next generation of Nikon’s full-frame cameras may hold in terms of high ISO ridiculousness.
Summary & End Notes
After testing the performance of the new Nikon D7000 and using this camera in my professional work, I have to declare this camera Nikon’s best DX format DSLR currently in production. Even at 16mp, second only to the Nikon D3x in Nikon’s stable, the D7000 delivers very clean files at high ISO.
In testing, the D7000 was only about a stop behind the big-sensored Nikon D700, which is impressive considering the tight pixel pitch of the new DX sensor.
In practice, I felt comfortable shooting at ISO 3200 with the Nikon D7000, and even higher sensitivities posed no problem. I was particularly impressed by how well the sensor and new EXPEED 2 processing held saturation and contrast, while the big 100% coverage viewfinder made the camera fit in side by side with my D3 and D700. Needless to say, the DX format has come a tremendous way since the Nikon D2x that I used to shoot.
Overall, Nikon has included features in the D7000 that trump even the flagship Nikon D300s, with better specs in numerous areas of performance. This is progress, folks. In fact, while the D7000 is a superb performer in its own right, what makes me more excited than anything is seeing the technology Nikon has used here and rolling it out in the next generation of DSLRs. The successors to the D700, D3s, and D300s will all benefit from the image processing and performance of this new sensor.
My advice? If the Nikon D7000 is in your price bracket, you cannot go wrong with this camera. At the time of this review, it’s the best DX DSLR you can buy from Nikon, hands down. From Willie Nelson to Weird Al, this camera is more than up to the task.
The Nikon D7000 tested in this review was provided by B&H in NYC. If this review and other content on www.ishootshows.com was helpful to you, please consider supporting this site and purchasing your photo equipment any of the links in this review, my support page, or elsewhere on my site.
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Questions or comments? Let ‘em rip.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 at 12:05 am and is filed under Photography Gear and tagged with comparison, d700, dslr, dx vs fx, full frame, high iso, nikon d7000, performance, review, reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Review: Nikon D7000 – Nikon’s Best DX Camera http://bit.ly/hNwEcj
Review: Nikon D7000 – Nikon’s Best DX Camera: Looking at the new Nikon D7000?s specs, you might be right to confuse… http://goo.gl/fb/tg8x6
Nikon’s Best DX Camera #nikon D7000 Review http://goo.gl/6K9fj #dslr
Review: Nikon D7000 – Nikon’s Best DX Camera http://j.mp/e85QC3
RT @VinzzniV_photo: Review: Nikon D7000 – Nikon’s Best DX Camera http://j.mp/e85QC3
Very interesting – #Nikon #D7000 #Photo Nikon’s Best DX Camera http://bit.ly/fe6uNs
Dude great review man … really deep and complete … great job sir
Hey Corey, thanks for the kind feedback.
Nikon’s Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
@toddowyoung I shoot the D700 most of the time – was really interesting to read it compared to the D7000.
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon’s Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
@toddowyoung great review and made interesting reading. Do you think there is a lack of lens choice for DX format Nikons?
@NPPhotographer I think the DX options for lenses are fine – no real complaints, though they don’t have as many dedicated prime choices.
@toddowyoung nice review Todd, is it any comparison between D7000 and D90?
@toddowyoung Nice D7000 review. You may already know, but you can change the AELock button on the D700 to activate Live View in other modes.
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon’s Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon’s Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
@toddowyoung sweet stuff! Not surprised at outcome, ditto on what the future holds, but I love a little grain,as I said before RIP my D300s.
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon’s Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon’s Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
Todd
Nice review, I really appreciate it, I ordered mine last week. One feature you didn’t mention and really has no place in concert photography but is a very cool built-in and that is the Interval Timer or valvomter which facilitates time lapse photography, really fun time lapse is now achievable with out buying an external valvometer. Thanks Todd
Hi Lewis,
Thanks for the comment. Good point about the interval timer – that would be excellent for time lapse work indeed.
@gonzague @SimonRobic Cette critique par un pro a l’air plutôt pas mal -> http://cl.ly/3yQ3 #nikon #d7000
totally agree with your review. i took my D7000 to my first concert gig here in vancouver and it was great to use.
http://tumblr.com/xrc12sk5f7
Hi John, thanks for the comment. Your results look good. The D7000 can certainly deliver clean files, no doubt.
Nikon D7000 review: http://j.mp/e85QC3 likely better than any Canon camera ;-P
Can I get a HECK yes!?! RT @justinvl: Nikon D7000 review: http://j.mp/e85QC3 likely better than any Canon camera ;-P
Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r
@yvanpoulin “@toddowyoung: Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r”
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r
I’m not a Nikon guy, so I missed the announcement of this camera, but it must have been really recent. I was talking with a guy at the book store a couple weeks ago, and he was frustrated because there wasn’t a user manual in stock for the D7000 yet. I would have thought they would have the book released at the same time as the camera. Guess not.
You can download the D7000 user manual direct from Nikon for free here:
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17008/~/user's-manual—d7000—guide-to-digital-photography
LCC
Specs got me interested, this review sent my avarice into overdrive: Nikon D7000 Review | ishootshows.com http://j.mp/h0eRLJ via @AddToAny
RT @toddowyoung: Nikon's Best DX DSLR? Nikon D7000 Comparison Review w/ high ISO shootout vs the D700: http://bit.ly/dYZs7r
Excellent review Todd. I’m a proud owner of both the D700 and D7000 and love them both. Still learning the D7000, especially the video capabilities which are phenomenal. Using it primarily for sports.
Just discovered your website and love the great reviews and the concert photos!
keep up the amazing work.
Nikon D7000 Review & Comparison | ishootshows.com http://goo.gl/rwcsq
need help with setting nikon d7000 up i wiil be shooting with a nikon f1.4 50mm prime lens and a tamaron 18-270mm f3.6 lens for a gig this friday the 21st of jan the bands will be lava malo and el chicano all bands are fast movers i have had good returns with my nikon d40 but want to know how to make the jump to the next level any basic set up will be greatly appreciated thanks for your time on this matter
http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review-nikon-d7000-%E2%80%93%C2%A0nikons-best-dx-camera/
Great straight forward review with good examples. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I love your website.
Leo.
Thanks very much, Leo. I appreciate the comment, thanks for reading!
Great review. My wife bought me the D7000 as a Christmas gift and I’m having a ball; it’s been awhile since I had a camera with this capability.
I shot my daughter’s fencing match–not an easy task with bad light, grey/white uniforms offering no contrast and open rooms offering no background. I was surprised how well the camera performed at high ISO rates. I was told by a local newspaper photographer that fencing is the hardest sport to shoot. He was also intrigued by the camera. He may have had a D3.
Any input on an external microphone, such as the Sennheiser MKE400? B&H is my go to store and they carry it. I don’t shoot much video but I found the internal microphone to be brash.
Very nice review. My only addition would be to try CNX2 for your raws, which is much cleaner than anything Adobe for the moment. Might have narrowed the gap even further!
Hi
What do you say about the problem with the continuous shooting at 6fps?
I’ve read, that the D7000 can’t really use this mode for a longer than 10 pictures?
Wich SD-Card do you use?
Alex
I’m sorry for my bad English!
I’m from Germany
Hi Alex,
In my experience, continuous shooting depends very much on which camera settings and which card you use. I did some tests with a Sandisk 30mb 4gb card. In RAW 14 bit uncompressed, it shot about 12 frames before it dropped back to just under frames per second. In RAW, 12 bit compressed, it could go some 16 frames and maintained around 2 frames per second after that. Also, it took some 10 seconds to completely clear the buffer.
Some older cards I tested were considerably worse. I’m going to wait a bit, and probably get at least one card of the new series Sandisk is coming out with. That would be my go-to card for rapid shooting situations. I rarely need this performance though.
If you shoot jpg, you would get considerably more frames before the buffer fills. I didn’t test this since I rarely shoot jpg, and I rarely would need more continuous performance than I can get in RAW.
The camera manual has a chart which isn’t too far from the results that I got for RAW. The results I just quoted are from memory, and my tests weren’t too scientific, but they really showed me the difference in settings and card used.
Thanks for your statement!
So, if i just want to take my photos in jpeg, I could take more than 16 pictures?
And usually I don’t need the 16Mp of the D7000, so I could also reduce the resolution to take more pictures.
Ok, thats it. I think, the D7000 will be my new DSLR:)
Thanks
Alex
I just did a quick test. In jpg fine, it went close to 40 shots before it slowed down. In jpg basic, I think it was around 100. With that, I lifted my finger off and put it back on and I was able to shoot another dozen right away.
In other words, for the vast majority of situations, I assume the buffer on this camera is just fine for jpg shooting.
The only question is whether 6 frames per second is enough for you. In my tests, I turned off autofocus and used manual metering. I wanted to test memory card performance, and didn’t want any variables.
I just checked the manual on page 320. For all jpg modes, but large/fine, the camera shuts down at 100 shots before the buffer is full. With the sample card, they say 31 shots for large/fine. The sample card is a Sandisk Extreme, while I was testing the Extreme III 30mb. That’s why my numbers were slightly better than the book.
Thank you for your information.
I think also, that 6 fps are enough, because i photograph tennis matches.
Usually the 3fps of the D80 were enough.
So i need a fast SDHC-Card.
Could you advise the Sandisk 30mb?
I would take a larger version, maybe 8 or 16 gb.
Alex
??D7000?D700????????????????????????D700????????D7000????????? ? Nikon D7000 Review & Comparison | ishootshows.com http://j.mp/dZ6S1C
Todd,
Love the website. your website is very inspirational for me. I am currently using a Nikon D80 and was looking to upgrade to d7000 for some concert photography. I notice that you did some shows with it. Do you think that, as someone just getting into concert photography, this would be a good upgrade or should I consider the d700 or wait for the the upgrade to the d700.
My lens collection consist of the following:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8
Nikon 50 f/1.4
Nikon 35 f/1.8
Nikon 18-55 Kit lens
Nikon 55-200 Kit lens
any help would be much appreciated.
Hi HD,
The D7000 is capable for concert work, though the D700 is “better” in terms of build quality and the high ISO performance. I guess it depends on what you need right now. If you can wait a year fro the D700 replacement, that’s undoubtedly going to offer the best performance of all.
The D7000 is relatively so cheap (though unavailable in terms of stock) that I don’t think you can go wrong with it, all that said. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the help!
I ended up purchasing the D7000 as well as a couple of sharp lenses i.e. 24-70mm 2.8 & 70-200mm 2.8.
Now it just getting use to shooting at shows. Thanks for all of your help. The website is definitely a treasure chest of information.
Keep the post coming!
@ChristopherDunn @gregpettit P.S. I found the D7000 very impressive http://bit.ly/ebBiPS
Thanks for the review and feedback.
It will probably complete my backpack as a second body.
I’ll wait to see what will be the futur D800, hoping it will be released soon.
Thanks,
Alexis Borel
Nice review Todd. I have been considering adding this one to compliment the D3s.
Nice to see you still using the CRT.
Hey Ed,
Really nice to hear from you, hope you’re doing well. The CRT Nikkor is one lens that I always enjoyed on my D2x, more so than on full-frame. So when I got the D7000 for testing, it had to go on. APS is just a sweet spot for that lens, I think.
Same here, good to hear from you.
Your work just keeps going from great to greater.
Went out and bought one, by the way.
And it is all that.
If you’re looking, the Nikon D7000 is back in stock at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042X9… Solid camera! http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
@toddowyoung I have one and can not recommend it enough. Logical step up from d5000.
@toddowyoung question, I have a nikon d80 and a tamron 18-250 (3.6-6.3) which should I upgrade first lens or camera body?
@The_Fergie I’d look at upgrading the lens – though if you upgraded from the D90, there are economical zooms like the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8.
@toddowyoung I dont even have the D90, I have the older D80, but thanks for the info. I might look into it (when I have the money)
If you’re looking, the Nikon D7000 is back in stock at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042X9… Solid camera! http://ishootshows.com/2011/01/11/review…
@toddowyoung I have one and can not recommend it enough. Logical step up from d5000.
@toddowyoung question, I have a nikon d80 and a tamron 18-250 (3.6-6.3) which should I upgrade first lens or camera body?
@The_Fergie I’d look at upgrading the lens – though if you upgraded from the D90, there are economical zooms like the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8.
@toddowyoung I dont even have the D90, I have the older D80, but thanks for the info. I might look into it (when I have the money)
If you're looking, the Nikon D7000 is back in stock at Amazon http://amzn.to/dOjziQ Solid camera! http://bit.ly/g9HeG0
Shot my first show with mine Monday, love the dual SD slot and no accidental fall out of battery. Plus the processor is super fast, I noticed when reviewing each photo that the zoom in and out and panning is way fast. One word for this camera “killer”
Todd,
Just bought the D7000 for myself. I am loving it! I was wondering, as someone dying to follow in your footsteps and head toward music/concert photography, what lens progression do you suggest?
I am thinking 24-70 f/2.8 and the 70-200 f/2.8. Am I heading in the right or wrong direction. Your guidance would be so very appreciated!!
thanks so much,
Kristi
Hi Kristi,
I think the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 definitely make a practical kit with the D7000. The only thing you’d be missing is wide-angle, so it depends on the types of events you shoot. For festivals and larger shows, the reach of the 70-20mmm f/2.8 on the D7000′s DX sensor will be really nice. However, if you shoot at a lot of smaller venues, the Nikon 14-24mmm f/2.8 is going to give you wide-angle options that might be a better fit. Hope this helps.
Todd,
Once again I am looking for advice from a trusted source. I have purchased the 24-70mm and a 50mm. I still need the 14-24mm, but really need some zoom first! I have been reading and looking and know that there are options for the 70-200mm from Nikon and Sigma and Tamron. I WISH I could get the Nikon, but in my beginners world where I am still investing and now how to get a new computer too, I have to watch the $$. I have one Tamron lens that I really like, but have read that the Tamron 70-200mm has a slide barrel and that there are concerns over the wear and tear of frequent use and it not lasting. What are your thoughts on the Tamron. What about the Sigma as an option?
As always, your thoughts and guidance is super appreciated!
Take care,
Kristi
Hey Kristi,
If you can swing it, I would probably suggest the Sigma 70-200mm because it has an optical stabilizer built in, while the Tamron doesn’t.
In that case, any thoughts on the Nikon 80-200mm F/2.8 as an alternative? I read it suggested in one of your followers posts.
You are so awesome for sharing your time with us!
Thanks for such a great and in-depth review. You really covered all the aspects of this camera thoroughly. I am upgrading from a D60 to D7000 and debating which lens should I go for as an all-around lens. I do landscapes, indoor portraits, and macros. I already have a 50mm 1.8D and 55-200mm VR lens.
Do you think the new 24-120mm F/4G will be a good addition with the D7000 body only? Thanks.
Hi Kanishk,
I think the 24-120mm lens would cover portraits well, and the close-up feature of the lens is surprisingly nice. It’s not true macro range, but I was amazed at how close the lens focuses throughout the range.
For landscapes, the focal range may not be wide enough for you, but it really depends on the type of landscape shots you want to make. As long as you don’t need too much wide-angle coverage, the 24-120mm is a nice walk-around lens for the D7000 with an emphasis on telephoto.
@RavenMortician here is a great review on the camera. http://bit.ly/eEk1zC his reviews are really good.
[...] Image source [...]
[...] the D300s – sadly, the D300s enjoyed a very brief stay atop the Nikon DX sensor heap before the D7000 passed it. The 300s is still a heckuva camera, and I think all Nikon shooters interested in video are looking [...]
You can customize the preview button as well…
Hi Todd
I just bought myself a d7000 along with the 50mm 1.8.. I am just about to get myself a 24-70 2.8g to use as my all round lens (i shoot people and concerts). Many have said it is not a good all round lens for a dx body – how do you find it?
Hi Henrik,
It really depends on what sort of concerts you’ll be shooting. For larger shows where you have a higher stage, the extra “reach” you’ll get shooting the 24-70mm f/2.8 on DX will actually help. Also, for portraits, the tighter field of view will be a benefit as well.
For wider scenes, the 24mm becomes less useful, but again, it depends on what, where, and how you shoot. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the answer.. What would you suggest as the best lens for dx body for concerts if not a 24-70?
Thank you for continuing to provide great information for your readers. I just upgraded from my D40 to the D7000 (I had my heart set on the D700 but my bank account disagreed for now) and I have a Sigma 24-70 2.8. I practiced with it at my first local band show and had SO much fun with it. I look forward to saving for quality lenses to see what I can really do with this camera in the future. I have so much to teach myself so the fact that there are people like you and Jared Polin that take the time to help out people like me is appreciated more than you know. Great luck in all you do, Todd.
Hi Heather,
Thanks for the comment. Glad to hear you enjoyed your first local concert shoot. Best of luck with your shooting!
@DaniGirl @relishing send this one to DH http://t.co/C1EsDn3
Great site and great reviews. Only recently I am interested in shooting in low light. As a result I am moving from a D40 w/ 18-200mm zoom to a just purchased D7000 & 70-200mm VRII 2.8. Shortly I will be adding a 50mm 1.4 af-s (due to your review) & 35mm DX 1.8 for my three low light lenses. I am still learning the D7000 with regards to low light shooting (mainly in polynesian dancing). My main questions are: 1) How do you determine the WB (D7000 Incandescent WB results in soft focus pics)? 2)Which type of exposure modes do you use for your great pictures; matrix, spot etc? 3) and lastly, how do you select your focus point especially in your subject matter that moves so quickly? Again, love your site and I look forward to more of your work and articles. Thank you.
Very glad to hear these reviews have helped.
WB should have no effect on sharpness except in extreme cases (like all red lighting), but this is due to the RGB filters/design of digital color sensors.
Personally, I shoot on Auto WB 99% of the time. It’s just about the only auto setting I use.
I shoot on manual exposure. If you look in the tutorial section, you’ll find a 2-part tutorial on how I meter and expose (or search for (metering & exposure how to” on this site).
I also wrote an AF tutorial/setup guide that you can search for.
Good luck.
@Todd, do you feel like the D7k is too small in your hands vis-a-vis the D700 or D3? I currently have the D3 and am considering this camera as back up. Thanks. Javier
I think the D7000 would make a fine backup. It’s smaller than a D700 or D3, of course, but it’s not “too small.”
Hi todd,
Very nice website Todd!!
Todd, I have my d7000 for couple of months right now and loving it. I have 50mm f/1.4G attach to my d7000 all the time. I’m looking for a wide angle lens right now, as I like landscape photography and also kinda need it for group photo. What do u think with 16-35mm f/4 for my d7000?
Thanks,
D
Yep, that D7000 is looking better and better the more I read. Review: Nikon D7000 – Nikon's Best DX Camera: http://t.co/EUeEKEi
@Ophra_Watson http://bit.ly/ebBiPS
Hey Todd,
Thanks to you I have picked up the D7000. I am coming from a Sony Alpha A100, but find the change easy enough. Now I got an old Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 off of eBay for under $200, so am ready to give some small venue shows a try. I am thing the Tamron well do alright for them.
@ALL_CAPS @gregpettit forget Canon if you want low noise. D7000 is where it's at: http://bit.ly/ebBiPS
Nice review and good samples. Love your concert photography work. I’m really enjoying shooting both the D700 and D7000 for my on-stage events. I have some side-by-sides between these two fine cameras at:
http://imagesbyeduardo.com/main/tag/d700
including this article about concert photography with the D300, D7000 and D700:
http://imagesbyeduardo.com/main/2011/05/11/d7000-does-concert-photography/
Have you noticed any issues in regards to shutter lag? I’ve now shot 2 shows with my d7000 and both times I found myself continuously missing shots, because the shutter just wasn’t responding. It wasn’t as though I had just finished off a burst either- it would happen even after I hadn’t taken a photo for a few seconds.
It’s not a constant thing- it maybe only happened like 15 times each night, but between the two shows I know I definitely missed some solid shots. In the searches I’ve done I can’t seem to figure out if that’s an issue with MY camera, or the d7000 in general.
Hi Ashley,
I haven’t noticed any shutter lag. It may be the way you have the AF and shutter release setup, particularly if you have your shutter set to focus priority.
Looking at the crops, I’m wondering why the objects in the two photos are the same size. The cropped lens objects should be larger with the same lens/zoom.
Did you resize the D7000 images?
@_BoBina I second @indielawyer's recommendation – the Nikon D7000 is a fantastic camera w/ great image quality: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
Updated the Nikon D7000 review with lots of new live music photography. This camera rocks: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
RT @toddowyoung: Updated the Nikon D7000 review with lots of new live music photography. This camera rocks: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
Updated the Nikon D7000 review with lots of new live music photography. This camera rocks: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
Updated the Nikon D7000 review with lots of new live music photography. This camera rocks: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
Updated the Nikon D7000 review with lots of new live music photography. This camera rocks: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
RT @toddowyoung Updated the Nikon D7000 review with lots of new live music photography. This camera rocks: http://bit.ly/mUrhs7
quote @toddowyoung : "D7000 … my professional work … Nikon’s best DX format DSLR currently in production" http://t.co/tBzKPln
Todd, I really enjoy you work and reviews. I am in the process of setting things up myself. Right now I have a D40 and the only low light lens that I have is an old manual Nikon 50mm 1.8. I am about to purchase the D7000 because of the great reviews that I have seen and it is within my budget. My question, with a budget of around $600 and having only the 50mm lens what would you recommend for my next lens? Thanks!
Hi Dustin,
For $600, you might check out the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for Nikon. It’s a great lens for the price, with very good optics, and it’ll give you a good range on your D7000. You’ll just miss out on wide-angle perspectives on the crop sensor, but other than that it would be a good match.
Hi Todd, I saw this review back in January, but I got the money until now. Is it worthy to upgrade a D5000 to this D7000 (now in late september 2011)? Should I wait for a new Nikon release?
Btw, I shoot live music with an old 50f1.4 and a Vivitar28-90 f2.8 on the d5000 in small and midsize (2000 people) venues.
Thanks in advance, I hope you can answer this.
Hey Alex,
I think the Nikon D7000 is a great camera. It’s new enough that I wouldn’t worry so much about a new release if the D7000 is in your price range now.
Thanks for the reply Todd, I just bought it and love it. Much better than the D5000. Any advice for a lens purchase? With the music photo in mid-size venues I´d like the 24-70ish range (right now I´m shooting with the old Vivitar Series1 28-90.
Any thoughts on the Sigma 24-70? Or Tamron?
Thank you very much in advance,
Keep on the good work!
I bought it 2 days ago and shot a small unplugged concert yesterday.
Very very happy with the camera’s performance :)
And I would like to thank you, because I wasn’t very sure if Nikon D7000 would be suitable for concerts until I saw you review. You convinced me :)
Hey Michelle,
Glad to hear the camera is working out for you and that this review was helpful. Cheers.
Excellent review Todd, helped me decide to sell my d2x and get a d7000 to use as a backup body for my D3 on weddings and events.
It will probably become my camera of choice for personal stuff as well holidays and a new website I am working on.
Hi Todd,
I have a D3100 with a 18-55 and 55-300 lenses. I want to buy the D7000 and I need your advice on what lenses to add on. I do portraits, night shots and landscapes.
Thanks!
Great review of a great camera. I have one myself.
Todd, just wanted to point out a few simple errors in case you wanted to fix them since the review is near perfect. Marked with **
“Using the D7000 at high ISO for live music photography, **I found no I found no** issue shooting at f/2.8 no problem at all.”
“Pro lenses like my go-to Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 snap into focus beautifully – no complaints at all with this system. Even for relatively lowlight (ISO 3200-6400 territory), the **D700** never hesitated or hunted for focus.”
“ISO 800: At ISO 800, the **D700** starts to show more prominent luminance noise, but color saturation still looks fantastic. There’s no reason not to shoot at this sensitivity if you need the speed.”
Great review! I have had my D7000 since release and still has not failed me yet! I was wondering though if the 24-70 2.8g will be perfect for the House of Blues Las Vegas venue. This will be my first concert shoot so i just want your input. I know the crop will be 36-105mm and i think that should be wide enough… Also, Would it be necessary to bring my Tamron 70-200 2.8? It is unfortunate that there is no form of stabilization…
The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 would likely be very good for most stage-front shooting on a D7000 – you will miss out on the wide angle of the lens, so it just depends on your shooting style. You’ll be just fine for half-length shots and tighter, though, which should satisfy most people. As a bonus, you’ll get more reach as well.
I would definitely bring the 70-200mm just in case. If you don’t need it, you can always stow it in your camera bag under the barricade in the pit.
Hi! Thanks very much for this great article on Nikon D7000. I’ve just purchased the camera and cant wait to get familiarize with the functions and buttons etc. Your article is really a great help to get me fast-start….
cheers!
Malaysia
Hi Todd,
Great writing (and pictures!) on your site as always. I always come away with inspiration and ideas for my own concert shoots after visiting your site.
I’m thinking of upgrading from my D300. A full-frame Nikon is too expensive so the D7000 looked promising. Your though pics seem to show that the D7000 takes a noise hit from iso 1600 pretty much as my D300 does.
Do you think there is really much of a gap in high iso control between the two cameras? Seems like the difference is small and could be tackled in noise ninja etc. Certainly the step up noise-control wise to the D700 is awesome and makes me wish I had the exrea bucks (or Euros in my case!)
Hi I am interested in how you connected your Nikon Nikkor 55mm f/1.2 CRT with Nikon D7000 body. Nice pictures.
Cheers
Denny Raharjo
Hey Denny,
When I bought the CRT Nikkor, it came with the proper Nikon F-mount to Leica thread mount adapter. That it came with the adapter was the main reason I bought the lens.