Nikon D7000 DSLR (Body Only) (OLD MODEL)

After shooting with the Nikon D7000 for a little over two months now (mine arrived in mid February), I'm at a point where I feel comfortable putting together a brief review for those still considering making a D700 purchase. I won't try to duplicate the level of detail that you can read in some of the excellent reviews that have already been posted (here, and on many other sites), but will try to summarize some of my experiences with the camera, as well as provide some of the most important information regarding the camera. I've been primarily shooting with the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens, but have also used the Nikon f/1.8 50mm prime, as well. So, my review here will be focused on those lenses, but it is useful to have this background as you read my comments.Getting straight to the nitty-gritty, and leaving extended explanations and comments until afterwards, and based on my actual use of this camera:Pros+ Ability to shoot at extremely high ISO levels with little noise (comparatively speaking) makes this a low-light shooter's dream+ Sophisticated 39-point focus system+ Good overall image quality in a wide range of shooting situations+ Good video quality that makes up for many of the deficiencies of previous Nikon models+ Huge feature set, with large number of customizable settings surpassed only by very expensive, professional cameras+ Excellent construction quality, with few, if any, squeaks and/or loose assembly parts+ Large set of "mechanical" controls, including switches, knobs, and assignable buttons which allow you to shoot without being required to dig through menus+ Optical viewfinder amongst the best you will see in the camera's price range+ LCD display at top of camera displaying current settings+ Built-in autofocusing mechanism allows for the widest range of compatibility with past and current Nikon lenses+ Extremely good battery life - I'm getting 400-500 shots on a single battery (no flash)+ Quick turn-on time; it's ready almost as soon as you flip the switch+ Excellent rear display that provides good resolution imaging and also provides an excellent setting display (each when activated)+ Dual-card SDXC memory slots which can be set for either simultaneous (i.e., duplicate) or consecutive (i.e., switches to card 2 when card 1 is full) writing+ Reasonable pricing, when you consider what you getCons- A bit heavy; this thing can wear you out after a few hours- Although many report a comfortable grip, the size of the camera could have been smaller (this is personal taste, however)- No articulated display screen (the lack of which really limits video taking, but for those of us who have for years used an articulated display for photography, it's a real shortcoming, and one that is not easy to work around - again, as it pertains to PHOTOGRAPHY, this is a very personal taste issue; for VIDEO, which this camera shoots quite well, it's a real shortcoming)- LiveView is still too slow to be really feasible (and can in no way match Sony's SLT cameras and some of their traditional SLRs, some of which focus instantaneously in LiveView; if you are looking for LiveView, I suggest you look elsewhere)- Power on/off flip switch feels somewhat mushy, with no clear click position for On" (and its wild just how much this can bother me over time)- Battery charger design is too large, and does not have foldable prongs for the wall outlet (who at Nikon can overlook such simple, but important things as this?)- No built-in GPS (can't believe its not included at this price; it's an optional component)- Pricing is unlikely to come down in the near futureThere is no reason to try and deny it: the Nikon D7000 is, in many respects, an amazing camera. As I mentioned above, one of the areas in which I have been most impressed is the camera's ability to have it set way up to 2,400 ISO and even higher and then just be used to knock off good quality photos in very low light settings at noise levels that were typically associated with cameras shooting at 400 ISO. In a pinch, you can move the ISO way up to 6,400, and although at this point noise is a real factor, you can still get some shots that would have been impossible before. But even at modestly high ISO levels in the 2000's and 3000's level, you can take shots with little noise, and this is, where in my mind, the camera really stands out from many others (the camera uses the same Sony sensor used in Sony's SLT a55 camera, which may largely account for this capability).The camera feels tightly built and well constructed. Whether or not it is 100% magnesium construction underneath (you can read this debate in many online postings), the camera feels much more like a professional camera that a lower cost entry level model. The grip and design of the camera make holding the unit comfortable, although it is a bit on the large side (some people like the large size to help them hold the camera better). In addition, the camera is physically heavier than I would prefer, and I find myself dreading picking it up at times because I know its weight. This is, of course, multiplied when you add a lens like the Nikon VR 18-200mm that I am using, because, by that point, you have a pretty heavy set. But, as I say, this is a personal preference, and many people considering a purchase like this understand ahead of time (and accept) that this type of camera will be somewhat large and somewhat heavy.Image quality is very good. The camera is capable of producing extremely high quality images, given the right lens selection and the right technique. I say that sentence carefully, because it is really a mistake to think that you can purchase a D7000 kit and, based on the rave reviews, just knock off one great picture after the other. Many, many reviewers (both professional and lay) have confirmed that that kit lens sold with the D7000 is not up to a camera of this quality, and simply exposes the shortcomings of the lens in shots. This means that in order to take advantage of the D7000's capabilities, you really need to put a good lens on it. My choice of the Nikon VR II 18-200mm may not be that lens for that absolute best quality, due to compromises such a zoom lens makes to get such wide range coverage. However, putting a prime on the camera can allow the camera's characteristics really shine, and even using the 18-200mm is a huge step up from the kit (and offers you wide versatility). But, in addition, the proper technique must also be used to achieve optimal results. One should use a working knowledge of photographic technique to get good images. Use a tripod - even a mini one - when you can. Always use the lens hood, especially when shooting outside. Use fast shutter speeds to keep images sharp. Increase aperture when shooting indoors to maintain sharpness. The camera tends to overexpose in bright light shooting, so reduce the exposure to -1/3 or even -2/3 for outdoor shooting. And on and on. The D7000 can put out great shots, but you can't overlook technique and expect it to rescue every shot without effort. You also need to experiment with normal/vivid settings, because these greatly affect the overall color and saturation of the images according to taste.One thing I feel needs to be mentioned is the image softness of the D7000. Many other reviewers have mentioned this (both arguing that such softness does, and then, does not, exist) but my own experience does indeed find that the D7000 images tend to be on the soft side. But that does not mean the photos are bad, or that this an unalterable outcome. There is in-camera sharpening that can be applied. Better still, one can shoot in RAW mode, and then use software tools to post process the images (using RAW mode can also address the overexposures that sometimes occur in bright light situations). Even if shooting in standard jpg format, you can use image editing software and bring up thee sharpness quite well. But, in my own experience, the D7000 does tend to be a bit soft, and knowing this ahead of time can allow you to take steps to address this before you even shoot your first photo. Of course, if you have the budget for it, putting high quality prime lenses up front will really move image sharpness upward, but this is often a costly route for the lay photographer.In sum, I have found the Nikon D7000 to be an impressive camera that represents a next step in the evolution of SLR technology. It would have been nicer if it had been a bit smaller and lighter, and infinitely more enjoyable if an articulated screen had been employed, but these things are often in the realm of personal taste, and thus, are not fixed determinates of how one will like the camera. The D7000 can knock out great photos in low light conditions that you have previously given up on, and its slew of features and customizability will keep you busy for months learning it all. It's a shame the price won't be coming down in the near future, but it does not seem likely at this time. Five stars.Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DX-Format Digital SLR CamerasNikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

I have had this product just over a year now.. And it has been a challenge to own this unit... When it works correctly, it is great, but I have been very challenged with it.. Here is the deal, and I think NIKON is the bigger problem than the camera, but that is hard to explain.. I have had a lot of problems with Nikon in recent years, most of them with their customer service and repair, which in my opinion is just the worst of any company I have done business with, except H&R BLOCK.. They really are a horrible company... Stay away from them and their products...As for the D7000, I bought it because my D40 died on me in Utah while I was in Canyonlands doing a photo vacation with a photo buddy.. And, note, he uses Canon and never complains!!! While on the shoot, the shutter release died.. I called NIKON, they said send it back, so in a campground, I wrote a letter explaining the issue, took the camera and the letter to the UPS office in MOAB, and mailed the dead camera back to Nikon.. I finished the photo trip without a camera.. My buddy suggested I might need a more professional camera since I was using the D40 a lot.. Might have worn the D40 out.! While on the trip, I met another photographer who does great work and uses the D7000. You can see her work on the web by searching for Faund Images. Super work!... Back home I ordered the D7000 in October of 2011, I think it was. I was actually gettting the camera to learn how to use it before I left on my trip to Europe in October of 2012. The camera arrived, I did some test shots, and discovered the sensor was really dirty.. Really bad.. I called Amazon and reported it.. They would be happy to exchange it for a new one, but they did not have a new one. I could get my money back, but that would be a big problem because I had also ordered two lens, power grip, filters, extra battery, a flash, etc.. The camera was only a part of the whole order.. Returning it for money was not a good choice.. I called NIKON and explained. A new camera had been delivered dirty.. They said they would check it out if I paid to have it returned, etc.. Could be a month or more to get the camera to them, cleaned and returned.. Not a fast service type thing, plus I had to pay for everything.. So, having the Copper Hill cleaning kit, I cleaned the sensor myself.. Turned out good. And things went well until I was back out west in Colorado doing fall color photos in Sept of 2012. The camera started burning out images. Not often, but two or three times per day, the camera would just decide to make a 1/125 second exposure into a 1/15 second exposure, etc... Burned the images out.. Then, later it stopped doing this on a regular basis.. I would liked to have sent it in for repair, as it was still under warranty at that time, but I was leaving for Europe in October. There would not be enough time to ship the camera to Nikon, get it repaired, because they are very slow, which I know from experience, then be able to take it to Europe with me, which was one of the bigger reasons for buying it and the 18-200 lens. .... It went to Europe with me. I arrived there on Oct 23. The camera worked until the morning of Nov 1. I took some early morning photos, then at 10 AM, just as I was taking a few photos of the tour bus, the camera started the image sensor issue again, and worse.. It did several things that were strange, and in the end it started leaving scan lines on all the images.. That was the end of the photos taking for this camera on this trip.. I still had 17 days of travel left and no camera to take photos with.. This camera was useless. There is another part of this story that I will share soon... I got home from my Europe trip on Nov 18. I mailed the camera to Nikon on November 23... I sent sample photos to show them how the camera had been acting in September in Colorado, and again on Nov 1. Their reply was a letter that stated these issues were caused by water damage. There had been no water or rain on it during the Sept time frame, but on the October 31, while on tour in Rome, it did rain on us.. It rained on us a lot.. I had a rain coat on, and I had a waterproof bag which I used to cover the camera.. I thought I had done a good job of keeping it dry. The people around me were using point and shoot cameras, Big Canon cameras, and even Ipads, to take photos.. None of these ever reported any problems from the rain or the moisture in the air, etc.. And, the advertisements suggests that the D7000 is weather resistant!!!!! Go fugure! What does that mean!!! After several calls and exchanges between Nikon and me, I got the camera back. They would not cover it under warranty, even though the issues started in Sept, long before the one year warranty ended in late October. I agree to pay for the repairs myself as I needed to get the camera back. As it turns out, I had insured all the camera gear before leaving on my trip. I called my insurance people and explained.. Turns out, my insurance would cover my end of the deal, assuming it was water damage.. While I was writing this, the insurance office called to say my money was in the mail.. The camera was mailed to Nikon on November 23, 2012.. I finally got it got it back on January 21, 2013.. The cost to mail it was 17.60, the repair charges were 542.68. There was an unexplained 108.54 discount, there was 18.34 in taxes. The final charge to me was 452.48.. This all adds up to 470.08 dollars to me.. The insurance company is mailing a check to me for this amount.. I got lucky on this part.. Good thing I took out the insurance before going on the trip.... I hope you will consider all this before buying NIKON products... When things work, they are great, when things go bad, you are in for a long hard trip... Think about it.. I am sort of stuck with them because once you start with a company and their equipment, it is hard to get away from them without losing a lot of money, etc....... I have some Canon cameras and have never had issues with them like this.. When I did have a small issue, they covered it fast and they sent letters of apology for me experiencing this issue!!!!!!!!! No apology, ever, from Nikon, plus they are slow and rude, etc... At this rate, I have to wonder how long they can stay in business. There is one other thing to mention about this camera, the buttons and external controls cannot be locked, and are easy to change without you knowing it.. Several times I thought I was shooting in Normal-basic, etc, only to find that I was shooting in RAW, etc.. All the buttons and controls are unprotected. I have learned to not trust anything on this camera.. I have to check it constantly to make sure settings have not been changed, just by bumping into the controls etc.. Everything should be protected against changes unless you want them changed... Something else that is a problem, is that unlike earlier Nikons where the power grip had both batteries in it, and none in the camera, now, there is one in the camera and one in the grip. What a pain... I am constantly having to take the power grip off to get to the battery in the camera to recharge it... In previous models, the grip could stay on the camera all the time, but not with this thing... So, keep that in mind... I have no idea what these people were thinking when they did this... It sure makes it more difficult to use.... I think I have covered most of the material I have to offer at this time.. I will update if something new crops up, but having this camera is like having a problem child or a lemon car, you just cannot relax and use it. There is always the worry of what is going to go wrong next...