Preview of the new Nikon D7200

Preview of the new Nikon D7200 - how much better than the Nikon D7100?

The Nikon D7200 was announced 1st March 2015. 

If you believe Nikon Australia's website, the Nikon D7200 is "the most advanced DSLR in Nikon’s DX range". Enough said?

With any upgrade to a previous model, the obvious questions include, 'How many features are above and beyond the outgoing model?' and 'Should I ditch my D7100 and upgrade to the D7200?'

With most new DSLR models, the older model will likely be sold alongside it for a period of time. The outgoing model usually being discounted to clear stocks. So the other thing you may be wondering is whether this a chance to pick up a D7100 at a bargain price? Or is it better to lay out a bit extra for the new model?

US retailer B&H Photo is indicating on their website that the brand new Nikon D7200 will be available 19th March 2015, although the US website is officially saying "The Nikon D7200 will be available in early April 2015". 

The D7200 will be offered either as body only, or in kit form with the NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. Suggested retail prices are US $1,199.95 for the body and US $1,699.95 for the kit.

Whenever it actually lands, Australian retailers shouldn't be too far behind.  

Trying to judge image quality of the new D7200 will be difficult until someone gets their hands it. For this preview we'll look at a comparison of some key specs that differentiate the Nikon D7200 over the outgoing Nikon D7100. In terms of image quality, only a handful of full resolution samples currently exist on the web, we'll take a look at a couple of these as well.

Key Specifications

• 24.2MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor
• EXPEED 4 Image Processor
• No Optical Low-Pass Filter
• 3.2" 1,229k-Dot LCD Monitor
• Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
• Multi-CAM 3500 II DX 51-Point AF Sensor
• Native ISO 25600, B&W to ISO 102400
• 6 fps Shooting for Up to 100 Frames
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
• In-Camera Time Lapse, Up to 9,999 Frames

ISO Range

Nikon D7100: 100 - 25,600
Nikon D7200: 100 - 25,600 (expanded 51,200 and 102,400 in black & white mode)

So there is an extra 2 stops available, but note this expanded ISO range is only available for Black & White (51,200 for BW1 and 102,400 for BW2).

As way of comparison, the maximum ISO range for the Canon 5D Mark III is 25,600, and the recently announced Canon 5DS 6,400.

So what does an image with the Nikon D7200 at ISO 102,400 look like? Unfortunately of the 4 full resolution samples available on the Nikon Japanese website, all of them were shot at ISO 100, so we'll have to wait and see.

Wi-Fi

Nikon D7100: No
Nikon D7200: Yes

Nikon describes the D7200 as their first DSLR with built in Wi-Fi and NFC.

What this allows you to do is share your D7200 photos via a compatible smartphone or tablet with NFC. Once connected, you can use your smart device to browse photos and share by text message, email or posting online to social media. You can also use your smart device as a remote control for the D7200.

For more information check out:

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Nikon-Snapbridge.page

Buffer Depth

Nikon D7100: 6 Raw, 50 JPEG
Nikon D7200: 18 Raw, 100 JPEG

Nikon's press release describes this as being able to capture up to "100 shots with a single burst of continuous shooting". 

The caveat for doing so is "When a 16-GB SanDisk SDHC UHS-I memory card (SDSDXPA-016G-J35) is used, and an ISO sensitivity setting of ISO 100 is applied".

I'm not sure I've ever had a need to shoot at this rate, but obviously depending on your photography this may be important to you.

Samples

The only full resolution samples currently available are from the Nikon Japan website - four in total.

Manufacture samples are always heavily biased so not too much should be read into them.

Here is one of the samples from the Nikon Japan website:

Source: Nikon Japan website, 1.3 seconds, f/11, ISO 100, Jpeg Fine (8-bit), NIKKOR 18-140mm ED VR at 18mm. Original Image 6000 x 4000

And another:

Source: Nikon Japan website, 1/100 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100, Jpeg Fine (8-bit), NIKKOR 18-140mm ED VR at 100mm. Original Image 6000 x 4000.

2 x 100% crops of original image:

The ability to resolve detail would appear excellent.

Full resolution versions of the above, plus 2 additional full resolution samples can be found at:

http://www.nikon-image.com/products/slr/lineup/d7200/sample.html

Conclusion

Based on current pricing at B&H Photo, the Nikon D7200 body is being listed at US $1,196. In comparison to the model it replaces, the D7100 is listed as US $996. So unless the D7100 gets discounted heavily there seems no point to even look at the D7100, the D7200 is shaping up as a much better camera at roughly the same price point.


Thanks for reading.

Tom.