The lineup of Nikon cameras is indeed overwhelming and especially with the introduction of the mirrorless cameras, the number of choices has increased and you may find it is even more confusing. Despair not – I will give you my overview of the DSLR enthusiast cameras, to help you make an informed decision choosing a camera body.
The two entry level cameras here in 2020 is the D3500 and D5600. I have had the please of owning a D5600 for a few years, but sold it to upgrade my gear. I found the D5600 to be a very good camera, but for me these two cameras have one big drawback: the lack of a built in AF motor. This means that the huge collection of auto focus (AF) Nikon vintage glass out there only works with manual focus. Not that I mind manual focus, but I also like the comfort of AF.
The so called mid-range cameras D7100 and D7200 are probably the cameras where I have seen most posts from people loving and defending these two cameras. Although both APS-C cameras and no longer in production, the fans of these two models seems almost to have an emotional attachment to the cameras that I cannot really explain. This is probably why the follow-up camera, the D7500 is the camera many love to hate. I have never owned a D7100 or D7200, but I did own a D7500 and absolutely loved it. It is a very good all-round camera, and although I cannot prove it, I think some of the explanation stems from the relatively modern EXPEED processor that sits in the camera. Unfortunately I lost that camera in a salt water accident, and that is why I today am one of the strongest advocates for camera straps, so you have 2 hands free to support yourself if you suddenly stumble and – almost – fall!
Like both the D3500, D5600, D7100, D7200 and D7500, the D500 is an APS-C (cropped sensor) camera. It is a little unusual, as the 4 character (Dx00) name is usually reserved full frame cameras. But the D500 probably earned its position amongst the 4-characters because it is a top level camera, targeted at the sports and wildlife photographers. Even today in 2020 and despite it being a DSLR with a mirror flipping and all, the D500 is still considered one of the best enthusiast level cameras for shooting many frames per second with a blazing fast auto focus.
The D600 and D610 are the entry level full frame cameras. Nikon calls full frame for FX and although I have never owned a D610, I have the feeling that Nikon here made a camera where the only premium about it is the sensor size and resolution. So I have stayed clear of the D610 and recommend you do the same, and instead look at the Nikon D750 (they are both 24 MP cameras). To me the Nikon D750 with a superior AF system borrowed from the much more expensive D810 is a gift to anyone (like me) that loves shooting in low light situations. The D750 can literally see in the dark. And the all round features of the D750 has made this the wedding photographers work horse, if not as the prime camera, then as a solid backup. You can read about my reasons for selecting the D750 back in 2018 here: https://frederikboving.com/why-i-chose-the-nikon-d750-dslr-in-2018-for-stills
The D750 has today been replaced by the D780, a camera that probably shows that Nikon has understood that 98% of the Nikon cameras in circulation are DSLRs with F-mount lenses, and if they want to sell new bodies to photographers with Nikon glass, they need to continue to produce and develop DSLRs for some time still.
With the D750 and the D700 we are in the class that Nikon calls the high end. Back in 2008 when the D700 camera was released, it was probably the best enthusiast cameras available. You can read my blog about the D700 here: https://frederikboving.com/the-legendary-nikon-d700-still-relevant-in-2020/ – This camera has an extremely loyal fan base and I count myself one of them. Although “only” a 12MP sensor, the camera has many other features that has established a solid fan base: the build quality of the camera, the low price (no longer in production, can be bought used), the fact that the camera can go on and on far beyond the max promised shutter count by Nikon, that the in camera image processing renders pictures with colors and especially skin tones like no other camera ever since, etc. The down sides of this camera is that it is heavy, bulky, has no video recording capabilities and the resolution puts limits to the cropping you can do. And it is difficult to find a good not-too-beaten-up copy here in 2020. But many enthusiasts love this camera and say that even though they have moved on to other cameras, this one is still something special.
With the D800/D810/D850 we are at the top of the line when we talk Nikon enthusiast DSLRs. If you want more, then we move into the professional line, the D4, D4S, D5 and so on. But as enthusiast the D850 is the dream camera. A monster with a 45MP sensor and the embodiment of all Nikons experience gathered in one camera. Even today with mirrorless entering the scene and Sony making a big push to enter the scene, many photographers still think of the D850 as the best enthusiast camera ever made. It is big and bulky, the sensor is 45MP and many don’t need that resolution at all. But if you do, this camera should definitely be on your short list. The predecessors D800(e) and D810 are also good cameras, although recalls and some criticism of the color rendition from some reviewers, has at least made me stay clear of these cameras and focus my “cameras-I-cannot-afford” attention to the D850.
If you dream about going mirrorless, then Nikon offers for example the full frame Z6 and Z7. It seems to me they are the equivalent of the D750 and D850. The big drawback is that the Z cameras do have a new lens mount, and you need a so called FTZ adapter to allow you to use F-mount glass on your Z series camera. And you will not get the mechanical lenses to work with auto focus, as there is no AF motor built into the camera or the adapter. So you are left with manual focus, unless you have some more modern glass, where the AF motor is built into the lens (like the G series). So for this reason I am still sitting on the fence a bit when it comes to the Z cameras. My collection of vintage glass with seems to drift towards manual focus anyhow, so the lack of an AF motor is less and less of an issue for me, but the size of the issue depends on how important AF is to you.
Thank you for reading this far! Please don’t hesitate to drop a question or comment – I will get back to you as soon as I can.
As an owner or the d7500 I can completely agree everybody hates this camera except me! I think it’s great. I have been considering buying an old beater of a full frame to use some of the old lenses I have recently bought. The thing I keep coming across with the D700, Is that they’re all falling apart with things peeling off and,.. you get the idea. I might have to look into the d750 someday but the d7500 is getting me along really well right now. Thank you for the article!
Hi Don, the D7500 has two fans then: you and me! Thanks for sharing!
I have owned the d5600, d610, d750 and now the d850 and d4s.
My honest recommendation for anyone who wants to enter and stick with DSLR kn 2020 (probably for the next 5 years) rather than mirrorless wiill be:
Dx
1. Cost: d7200 or d5500
2. Future: d7500 or d500
Fx
1. Cost: d610 or d800
2. Future proof: d780 or d850 ( money not an issue)
3. Premium: d5 or d6 ( money not an issue)
Personally, I will recommend any new buyer avoid d750 for the following reasons:
1. There are alot of internally defective d750 out there. Alot on recall and you can be very unlucky to buy a brick which you might not be able to return
2. Fair enough it’s got good eyeballs in the dark but for it’s current running price it’s way worth buying a mirrorless with more advanced features. The d750 is a dinosaur though still selling for almost the same price of used mirrorless like z50, a6400, a7iii, canon eos etc…
3. The image quality in my opinion looks better in the d610 than the d750. The only thing the d750 has over the d610 is lower light capabilities which the d610 is nearly close to. The only lowlight of the d610 is AUTOFOCUSing in anything lower than -2EV.. other than that save your $600 and buy a d610 (that’s the price difference between both)
First and foremost, thank you for your post! I think the D610 and D750 share the same sensor, so I do not subscribe to all what you state above, and I find it difficult to believe the D610 has better image quality than the D750. https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D750-vs-Nikon-D610 – as far as I can tell the D750 has higher LCD resolution, more focus points, tilting LCD and way better battery life. In terms of pricing, there have been some superior black Thursday offers on the D750, and we may not have seen the last of it. Agreed, buying used always introduce a risk and you need to be sure you get a good copy.
Good Evening Frederik ,
Hope you are keeping well and snapping away over there in Denmark .
We’ve spoken before on your D4 review over on Youtube – anyway , here I am again , still undecided on which full frame camera to invest in .
After owning a Nikon D7000 for 10 years [ with 125k on the clock ] – I was undecided which camera to buy next for ages but eventually saw a D7200 which was just too irresistible to pass over in late 2023 – It only had 1000 clicks on it so almost new , bought it for £414 – bargain .
Still got the urge to go FF though –
My shortlist consists of –
D810
D850
D4s
D5
I could go Mirrorless but I have a feeling they’re not for me – don’t know why – batteries needing charging , sensors needing cleaning and they’re not that much lighter than my D7200 , some are decidedly heavier .
I’ve always fancied a D4s , ever since I bought my D7000 new back in 2012 – the D4s came out not long after and I fantasised about owning one ever since but the £6000+ price kind of put me off !
I’m in a position to buy more or less any camera I fancy , even the Z9 if I really wanted one – I wouldn’t be able to afford a lens for it but I could buy the camera [ smiley face ] . I could eventually but…it’s not the point is it ?
The reasoning behind my post is I’d like to be persuaded to buy a Nikon D4s or D5 –
The file size of the D850 put me off – I can fill an SD card quite quickly .
That leaves the D810 of course ……but there’s that voice inside my head saying ‘ Buy a D4s , buy a D4s ..’ .
Thing is , if I did buy a D4s/D5 I’d have to buy XQD cards and an XQD card reader …another £300 or so – I don’t mind that so much of course – another thing that bothers me is just how good would a D4s be for Landscape ?
I’ve started getting an interest in Bird Photography and if someone would sit still long enough I’d love to do more Portrait work too .
I could buy a D4s this year and a D810 next year …then I think ‘ Why not just buy a D850 ? ‘ and round and round I go .
I guess I want someone to tell me exactly which camera to buy !!
Sorry to bother you with all this but you do own a D4 so who better to ask ?
Yours ,
Peter W.
Hi Peter,
I find the D4S to be quite expensive relative to the D4, so I went with the D4.
You get more FPS and a bit better ISO performance, and you may be able to find a D4S that is so young that Nikon will services it for a short while (10 years is the limit approx as I understand it).
But I still think you pay a premium for that little “S” that I cannot justify.
The D810 has been a problematic release.
I seem to remember something about oil on the mirror in early versions.
So I would stay clear of the D810 just to make my decision easier.
If large files is a concern, I would stay clear of the D850.
You can always copy between slots on a Nikon.
So on my Z6ii I sometimes copy from the XQD card to the SD card.
It happens when I forget to insert the SD card and take some pictures, only to learn that the SD is empty.
Then I just copy from one slot to the other.
Reason? Just like you, I have no XQD card reader (I may buy one soon – 30 EUR or thereabout; will not break the bank).
How? Have a look here: https://youtube.com/shorts/gPsqLLYa0DA?feature=share
The D4 is great for landscapes IMHO. The colour rendition is GREAT!
But I let you be the judge:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frederikboving/albums/72157718256303596/with/52819294313
If you want a great camera, small files, full frame and not break the bank, the D700 would be my recommendation.
But it does not have that “feel” of a professional single digit Nikon as the D4 has.
Hope this has confused you even more 🙂
Best
Frederik
Thank you for taking time out to reply , Frederik – I wrote that message out late-ish last night when everyone was vying for the TV so wasn’t sure whether it made any sense – I’m pleased you understood what I was trying to convey .
It didn’t occur to me that I could transfer images from the XQD card to a CF [ the D4s takes XQD and CF doesn’t it , or can I use my Sandisk Extreme Pro SDXC ?? ] – not to worry , I’m sure I’ll sort it all out .
I was looking at Sony XQD Card Readers last night and a popular photographic site were asking £115 for one [ new ] . I believe there are cheaper ones available .
Thank you for taking time out to reply , I’ll let you know what I decide ….when I decide !!
Peter W.
Thanks Peter,
The XQD reader I found is clearly off brand:
https://www.fruugo.dk/usb-c-xqd-kortlaeser-hojhastigheds-usb-30-universal-xqdsd-udvidelsesheadere/p-268961907-595188384
If you want a Sony, then it is much more expensive indeed!
Best
Frederik
p.s. Gorgeous images , Frederik – were they RAW converted to JPEG or JPEG straight out of camera ?
Thanks Peter! 99.9% of the time I shoot RAW, edit raw and then export to JPG as the final step in my workflow. Thanks.