Review: Nikon D7200

Introduction and features

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Roughly two years have elapsed between the introduction of the D7100 and the arrival of its successor, and on the surface the new D7200 seems more like an incremental update than a major overhaul.

• Nikon D7100 review

The D7200 is built around a sensor with a resolution of 24.2 million pixels, a tiny increase on the D7100’s 24.1 million pixels, and the body is identical, with the same weight and dimensions, and the same viewfinder.

In common with its predecessor, the D7200 has no anti-aliasing filter in front of the sensor, an innovation designed to produce sharper images and better rendering of fine detail. Anti-aliasing filters are used to prevent moiré, or interference effects, when photographing fine textures or patterns, but at the time of the D7100’s launch, Nikon claimed that the high pixel density of its sensor would make it unlikely to suffer from any moire patterning and we’ve not seen any reports from users suggesting it’s a problem.

• Low pass filters explained

There are some significant improvements over the D7100, however, the first of which is the upgrading of the camera’s internal processor from the Expeed 3 to the newer and more powerful Expeed 4. The frame rate remains the same as the D7100 – 6fps at full resolution, or 7fps when using the 1.3x crop mode – but the faster processor delivers improved buffering capacity, which was one of the biggest let-downs in the previous model.

Nikon claims the D7200 is capable of capturing 100 JPEGs in a burst or 27 RAW files, although it should be noted that these figure relate to smaller 12-bit NEF files, and not the 14-bit files favoured by those looking for maximum image quality.

Aside from increasing the frame rate, the 1.3x crop mode has a couple of other useful applications. It extends the reach of your lenses if you need to get closer to a subject, such as when shooting sports or wildlife, and with 24 million pixels of resolution, there’s plenty of scope for cropping in on subjects while still being able to produce large, high quality prints. Secondly, it means that the 51 autofocus points cover the whole of the frame, rather than being grouped around the centre.

Speaking of autofocus, in what is a first for a DX format (APS-C) camera, the D7200 is capable of focusing at down to -3EV, thanks to the improved Multi-CAM 3500-II 51-point autofocusing system inherited from full-frame models higher up the Nikon range.

The autofocus module has 15 cross-type sensors, and one central sensor which is sensitive down to f/8. This makes the autofocus system usable with telephoto lenses and teleconverter combinations where the maximum available aperture is f/8 – the lens’s maximum aperture falls when you use a teleconverter.

Another improvement is in the camera’s sensitivity range. The D7200 has a native range of ISO 100-25600, up from the D7100’s native top end of ISO 6400. There are also Hi BW1 and Hi BW2 expansion settings, which take you up to a whopping ISO 102400 (equivalent); however, these two options are only available in JPEG mode and produce monochrome images.

The D7200 comes with Picture Control 2.0, which we’ve already seen in other Nikon cameras such as the D750 and the D5500. That means that there are seven different Picture Controls, including the new Flat mode, which produces images with reduced contrast and maximum dynamic range – videographers are more likely to use this than photographers, as it makes grading and enhancing footage easier.

• Nikon D5500 review
• Nikon D750 review

Speaking of video, the D7200 shoots full HD 1080p footage at 30/25p, and you can also shoot at 60p/50p when using the 1.3x crop mode. The camera is also compatible with a new Nikon ME-W1 wireless mic, which it is claimed can capture sound up to 50 metres away. Video footage can be saved to one of the D7200’s dual SD card slots, or you can transfer it via HDMI to an external recorder.

The D7200 introduces both Wi-Fi and NFC (Near Field Communication) connectivity within the body itself, both of which are becoming more prevalent on D-SLRs. While it’s not the first Nikon to feature Wi-Fi (the D5500 and D750 also have it), it is the first to include NFC, which should make connecting to an Android phone or device even quicker (though more on this later).

Nikon has also managed to improve the already impressive battery life, which is increased from 950 shots (CIPA standard) to 1,100 shots – or 80 minutes of video recording.

Another thing that stays the same is the 3.2-inch, 1229k-dot LCD screen, which is fixed and not touch-sensitive, and they eye-level pentaprism optical viewfinder, which offers 100% coverage.

As it stands, the D7200 competes most closely with the Canon EOS 70D. Higher still in the Canon APS-C range is the EOS 7D Mark II, but to date Nikon has yet to replace the D300S, which once sat at the top of its own APS-C format line-up.

Build Quality and handling

Nikon has worked hard to make the D7200 look and feel like a high-quality piece of kit, and it shows – the camera feels and handles like a more expensive model, such as the D610 or the D750.

Both the front and rear grip have soft textured coatings to make the camera feel secure and comfortable in your hand. Your middle finger fits neatly underneath the protrusion for the shutter release button and your forefinger and thumb sit naturally on the shutter release and rear scrolling dial respectively – all in all it feels a good camera to hold.

Like the D7100, the D7200 is weatherproofed, enabling you to use it with confidence in a variety of less-than-ideal weather conditions. The weatherproofing adds to the camera’s air of high quality and ruggedness, even if it’s not quite up to the standard of pro camera like the Nikon D810.

The mode dial is on the top left of the camera and has just nine different options, including two useful slots for custom settings. Before you can move the dial you need to hold down a lock button in its centre, which is useful for avoiding accidental settings changes. Just underneath the mode dial is a second dial for selecting the drive mode. There’s a lock button for this to – it’s slightly fiddlier than the one on the mode dial, but it’s unlikely you’ll be needing to use it as often.

The D7200 is the type of camera that needs to be used with both hands, but all of the buttons are close to the edges and within easy reach of your thumbs. While the majority of the buttons are on the back of the camera, there are some useful ones elsewhere. As on the D7100 and D7000, the AF selection button and AF/M switch are just behind the lens mount, and easily reached with your thumb without you having to move your eye away from the viewfinder.

Below the lens mount is a customisable function button which can be assigned to one of 18 different functions. One which I found particularly useful is the Virtual Horizon Display in the viewfinder function – if you switch this on, bars will appear in the viewfinder to help you accurately level the camera.

If you’ve used a Nikon D-SLR before you should be familiar with the rest of the controls, and also with the menu system, which is sensibly arranged on the whole.

In the bottom left-hand corner on the back of the camera is a button marked with an “i”, which acts as a quick menu button. Press this and you’ll be able to change settings such as Image Area (you can choose between DX and 1.3x crop mode), Picture Control and the ability to assign certain functions to certain buttons. I would normally expect to find more functions in this menu, but most of the settings you’re likely to want to change frequently (such as ISO, metering, or white balance) have their own separate buttons anyway.

The optical viewfinder is bright and clear and it’s excellent to see a camera at this level offering 100% coverage, so you can be confident that nothing will have crept into the edges of the frame when you check your images later. On the downside, using an optical finder means you can’t see the effect that changing a particular setting will have, but that’s a characteristic of DSLR cameras, and one advantage of the electronic viewfinders in compact system cameras.

Despite the clarity of the viewfinder, it’s still advisable to use Live View when shooting subjects that require precise focusing, such as a still life or macro. Live view focusing is slower because it relies on contrast AF, but because it uses the image formed on the sensor to check the sharpness, it’s always accurate. An articulating, or even just a tilting screen would have been nice to see, but Nikon has decided on a fixed monitor in keeping with the rest of the D7000-series cameras so far.

As with the D7100, the Live View button is found on the right hand side of the back of the camera, and around it there’s a switch for moving between stills and video shooting.

Connecting the camera to your smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi is easy once you know how. The control is hidden away a little inside the menu settings, though – I’d prefer to see a dedicated button, or at least to have the option included in the “i” menu. Instead, you need to scroll to the third page of the Setup Menu in the Main Menu, then choose Enable under the Wi-Fi option. There are disappointingly few controls available from within the remote app – you can only move the focus point and trip the shutter release – but it’s handy for group shots, tripod use (to avoid jogging the camera) and shooting hazardous or timid subjects remotely. Perhaps more useful is the facility to transfer images from the camera to your phone, enabling you to share them quickly via email and social media.

The D7200 is the first Nikon D-SLR to feature inbuilt NFC. However, at the time of writing, I could find no way of making the camera connect to a compatible Android device, despite several attempts – I’m hopeful this is due to the app being not quite being ready yet.

Performance

We’ve seen the 24.2-million pixel sensor and Expeed 4 processor combination before in the D5500, and know it to be a great partnership. So I was expecting pretty good things from the D7200 – and I wasn’t disappointed.

Like the D7100 before it, this camera is aimed at enthusiast photographers who are likely to want to shoot all manner of different subjects, so it needs to be an all-rounder capable of dealing with different handling demands and shooting conditions.

Looking at JPEG images directly from the camera, colours have a nice level of vibrancy, with a bright but natural appearance. In good light the colours are vivid and bold, but even under less than optimal lighting conditions they still exhibit attractive warmth and saturation.

Click here for a full size version.

Click here for a full size version.

Detail is also very well resolved, with virtually no smoothing visible in images shot at lower sensitivities (such as ISO 100 or 200) when viewed at 100 per cent magnification

Detail continues to be resolved well throughout the sensitivity range, and even at ISO 12800 or 25600 you can still see a reasonable amount of detail (again, looking at JPEG images). Even the monochrome only, JPEG-only setting of Hi1 is usable, and the grain which is present arguably adds to the “feel” of a black-and-white shot.

To process the D7200’s RAW images you’ll need to use the software supplied with the camera or download Nikon’s free Capture NX-D software from its website – at the time of writing Adobe Camera Raw hasn’t been updated to be compatible with the camera. Looking at the RAW images it’s obvious a fair amount of noise reduction is being applied to JPEGs in-camera, and you have plenty of scope to apply tailored noise reduction to your RAWs, balancing out noise removal and detail retention.

In our labs tests, the D7200 gives a very similar performance to the D5500, and while rival cameras the Canon EOS 70D and Fuji X-T1 outperform it for some aspects, such as RAW signal to noise ratio, the D7200 appears to favour detail over noise reduction and making the most of the lack of an anti-aliasing filter. The Fuji X-T1 also lacks an AA filter and delivers superior signal to noise results, but this camera has 16 million pixels rather than the 24 million pixels in the D7200.

Click here for a full size version.

Click here for a full size version.

The matrix (all-purpose) metering system delivers well-exposed images in the majority of conditions, and it even copes well with some high contrast scenes.

The automatic white balance system copes well with different lighting conditions too, and is pretty much faultless in daylight or cloudy conditions. Under artificial lighting, it delivers slightly warm results, so for maximum accuracy we’d recommend switching to a more appropriate WB setting (such as Tungsten), or taking a custom white balance setting.

Autofocusing with the D7200 is a breeze. Thanks to the new AF system the camera has little trouble locking onto subjects, even in lower light conditions, and even if they’re moving. The 15 cross-type AF points are more sensitive in low light, while the central point is the most sensitive of all.

Click here for a full size version.

Click here for a full size version.

As already mentioned, the camera’s burst depth is much improved over the D7100. Whereas its predecessor was only capable of capturing a couple of seconds’ worth of JPEGs before the buffer became full, the D7200’s EXPEED 4 processor facilitates much better performance. Shooting in Fine JPEG-only quality mode, you can capture around 50 shots before the buffer fills, which equals to around 9 seconds of shooting time, giving you plenty of opportunities to catch the action. If you need more flexible RAW images, shooting at 14-bit quality gives you roughly 2-3 seconds shooting time, or 4-5 seconds at the lower quality 12-bit setting.

Lab tests: resolution

We’ve carried out lab tests on the Nikon D7200 across its full ISO range for resolution, noise (including signal to noise ratio) and dynamic range. We test the JPEGs shot by the camera, but we also check the performance with raw files. Most enthusiasts and pros prefer to shoot raw, and the results can often be quite different.

We’ve also picked out three of its chief rivals so that you can compare their performance directly.

The rivals we’ve chosen are:

• Canon EOS 70D: The nearest equivalent to the Nikon D7200 in the Canon range. Its outright resolution is lower but it has the advantage of an articulating screen.

• Fuji X-T1: An old-school compact system camera that looks like 35mm film cameras used to, but still boasts the latest tech – including Fuji’s excellent X-Trans sensor.

• Olympus OM-D E-M5 II: The Olympus uses a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor, but boasts 5-axis image stabilization, a 40MP High Res mode and 10fps continuous shooting.

Resolution

We test camera resolution using an industry-standard ISO test chart that allows precise visual comparisons. For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our camera resolution test process.

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

Analysis: The Nikon D7200 is a clear step above its rivals for resolution. The combination of a high 24MP native resolution and the removal of the anti-aliasing effect looks unbeatable. Its nearest rival is the Fuji X-T1, also with no anti-aliasing effect, but the Fuji sensor has a lower 16MP native resolution.

Analysis: The pattern is repeated with the raw results, though here the Fuji X-T1 matches the Nikon D7200 at all but the highest ISO settings. The Olympus, with its smaller sensor, lags a little way behind, as does the Canon 70D, which you might have expected to do a little better.

Lab tests: dynamic range

Dynamic range is the range of tones the sensor can capture. Cameras with low dynamic range will often show ‘blown’ highlights or blocked-in shadows. This test is carried out in controlled conditions using DxO hardware and analysis tools.

Dynamic range is measured in exposure values (EV). The higher the number the wider the range of brightness levels the camera can capture. This falls off with increasing ISO settings because the camera is having to amplify a weaker signal. Raw files capture a higher dynamic range because the image data is unprocessed.

Analysis: The Nikon D7200 has no clear advantage in dynamic range. Surprisingly, perhaps, the Olympus E-M5 II, despite its smaller sensor, is the best of the bunch once you get to ISO 800 and above. The D7200 delivers almost identical results to the Canon 70D, and while the Fuji X-T1 lags behind, in our experience this is down to Fuji’s image processing styles, which emphasis midtone contrast.

Analysis: The pattern is repeated for raw files. Again, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 II appears to outstrip the rest by some margin, especially from ISO 400 and above. This time, though, the Nikon D7200, Canon 70D and Fuji X-T1 are so close together as to be almost inseparable. If anything, the D7200 has a slight advantage at low ISOs.

Lab test: Signal to noise ratio (noise)

This is a test of the camera’s noise levels. The higher the signal to noise ratio, the greater the difference in strength between the real image data and random background noise, so the ‘cleaner’ the image will look. The higher the signal to noise ratio, the better.

Analysis: This is where the D7200 is at a disadvantage compared to its rivals. It favors high definition over low noise, so this is the price to be paid for that resolution. The noise levels are not bad by any means, but its rivals will shoot slightly ‘cleaner’ JPEGs.

Analysis: This pattern is even more obvious when the raw files are compared. The Nikon D7200 may deliver the sharpest images by some margin, but they’re also the noisiest. Again, these comparisons are relative, and the D7200’s noise levels are by no means bad at all. The advantage of raw files, too, is that you can choose your own compromise between noise and detail rendition at the processing stage.

Verdict

The D7200 may not be a complete overhaul when compared to the D7100, but Nikon has tweaked an already great camera to produce something which is clearly better than its predecessor. The individual changes may seem fairly small, but taken together they have made a real difference.

It makes for a good all-rounder camera which should appeal to enthusiasts, and produces images that are sharp, detailed, saturated and vibrant.

If you already own the D7100, whether there’s enough here to tempt you to upgrade may depend on the kind of photographs you like taking. While the overall image quality is similar, if you’re a sports or wildlife photographer the increase in burst depth may be enough to justify upgrading; alternatively, if you often shoot in low light conditions, the greater native ISO range may do the trick.

If, on the other hand, you currently own something lower down in Nikon’s line-up, such as the D3200 or D5300, the D7200 represents an excellent next-step camera to help you improve your photography.

And while it would have been nice to see an articulating, or even touch-sensitive screen, as on the D5500, it’s great to have a 100% viewfinder.

The built-in Wi-Fi is also welcome, even if the companion app is rather limited in its capabilities. And it’s frustrating that I wasn’t able to get the NFC working with the D7200, especially as this feature is a first for a Nikon D-SLR – hopefully it’s just a teething problem.

As with the D7100, the D7200’s build quality is reassuringly solid, and the camera handles well – it’s got a high-quality feel that you would normally expect from a model near the top of Nikon’s range, rather than in the middle.

We liked

With a great range of features, there’s a lot for the enthusiast photographer to like about the D7200. The autofocusing system, having been inherited from cameras further up the line, is fantastic, and copes well with different conditions, including low light. If you’re a sports or wildlife photographer, the speedier autofocus and improved burst depth make this camera an attractive proposition.

We disliked

The D7200’s closest competitor is the Canon 70D, and that camera has a touch-sensitive, fully articulated screen. Nikon, however, appears resolute in persevering with a fixed, non-touch screen in its mid-range D-SLRs. Perhaps it helps to keep the cost down, but the D5500 has an articulated touchscreen, and the D7200 would be a more useful device if it were equipped with something similar. Perhaps for the next iteration…

Final Verdict

A comprehensive feature set and great quality images make the D7200 the ideal camera for enthusiasts – especially if you already own some Nikon lenses, or have experience of using Nikon cameras. It would also make a good backup camera for those who have a camera further up the Nikon range. As it stands, the Canon 70D offers slightly more in the way of features (that screen again), and it’s also available at a fractionally cheaper price (for now) – so if you have no brand loyalty, it’s worth giving the Canon a look.

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