Nikon D7100 – Review
There was a time when there was talk of a hypothetical Nikon D400, which would replace the D300S top of the range APS-C. The arrival of the entry-level full-frame DSLR has broken this refreshes cycle for both Canon and Nikon, which have set aside (temporarily perhaps?) Proposed a new APS-C for professionals. In contrast, the Nikon D7100 has grown in quality than the previous D7000 and now stands in a prominent position in the home range of yellow and black, just below the full frame D610.
Nikon D7100 – Key Features, Body and Ergonomics
The heart of it all is a new CMOS sensor APS-C 24 MP without low-pass filter. The EXPEED 3 processors are the same as already seen in the FX models and sensitivity from 100 to 6400, expandable to 25600 in Hi2 mode. Burst 6fps and reaches the AF module is the excellent Multi-CAM 3500DX with 51 AF points, including 15 crosses. The camera is well built for tropical conditions and withstand dust and water splashes.
The Nikon D7100 is similar to Nikon D7000 but there are also important changes. The body is slightly higher due to the higher shoulders and over the top and rear magnesium alloy, there is a net increase in the level of weather sealing, now comparable to that of the FX house.
The handle has been slightly revised to be more comfortable and enveloping home safely and all the fingers of the hand, including the little finger. Stability is perfect and thanks to a very good balance with the objectives of kit you can also use it with one hand. The weight is important 1,150 kg with the 18-105 VR, but it is a compact and effective grip does the rest.
Nikon D7100 – Settings and Control
The area of family is evident in every aspect and the control structure in all respects reminds one of the top models. There are five buttons on the side of the screen, instead of four, the button for the LiveView has been redesigned to include the selector photo / video and the central OK button can now be programmed, as in the old D300s. At the top, on the left, we have the shooting mode dial that includes methods PASM, automatic, no-flash, scenes, effects, and two position customizable by the user.
The tower has a release button to prevent accidental movement and at the base, there is a dial to select the method of advancement, even this with a release lever on the left. The upper-right area is quite rich: besides the shutter button double stroke, which is included in the power switch, there is the small red button for video recording, one to set the exposure metering (metering) and another key for exposure compensation, both activated and modified by the simultaneous use of the parameters of the ring back.
Front, on the left side, you will find the button to preview the depth of field and a user-customizable Fn, right next to the lens barrel. On the right side, on the other hand, we have the release button at the top of the electronic flash, which can also be used for the settings using the two rings of the parameters: compensation front, rear mode.
Further down the button for the row of exposures, also controllable with the two rings, and the base area dedicated to focusing. As with other Nikon models, there is a switch AF / M to set focus automatically or manually and in the center, a button that is used for the settings: front ring area AF, Rear AF method.
As you can easily understand Nikon has now optimized control system very efficient, with dedicated buttons for each function, and the joint use of the two rings of the parameters to set the mode directly without having to access the menu.
Even the back area is very rich in buttons and controls, all well-organized and easy to reach. It starts with play / trash in the top left, useful in playback mode, while to the left of the screen are the menu, white balance, quality, iso and. In the area right there at the top of the AE / AF lock, just to the left of the rear wheel, while the lower is the eight-way directional pad. With this, you can control the movement of the menu or navigate within a zoomed image.
Around the direction, pad is a switch block (L) that allows you to disable certain controls to prevent accidental changes. Further down you will find the button that activates the LiveView, around which there is a switch to switch from photo mode to that video. At the bottom of the Info button, which activates the display to show all the shooting settings.
Nikon D7100 – Display and Viewfinder.
The screen of the Nikon D7100 is a large unit 3.2 ” RGBW with 1.3 million points, very sharp and bright with iridescent colors in relation to ambient brightness, for maximum contrast in all circumstances. In capture mode is activated with info and is divided into two quadrants: the larger one contains all the shooting information, while the lower and smaller contains two lines of editable parameters with the key.
There is also a second smaller display at the top of the camera, which shows the summary of the data step, and you can illuminate the occurrence of a slight green light (to do this you have to move the power switch in the position indicated by the light bulb). Due to the dual display, you can reduce battery consumption because that consumes much less, and at the same time always have an eye on all the major parameters.
The viewfinder is an element of attraction safe: a pentaprism with 100% coverage and a magnification of 0.94x which equates to the Canon EOS 7D. It was also inserted an OLED screen below for the information, which they now so much sharper than the traditional display light green that we see in all other models of SLR cameras. The letters are white and bright, clearly visible even in sunlight.
Nikon – Conclusions
The Nikon D7100 is currently the highest grade in the DX format. It has a well built body, weather sealing and a very complete set of controls. It is a camera that does not put us in front of any waiver with a high number of megapixels, AF serious performer and a good performance at high ISO. The body has undergone the right changes to become more comfortable and ergonomic than the Nikon D7000 and the controls are right where improvement was needed.
Really very good LCD screen 3.2 ” with RGBW pattern and equally satisfying the viewfinder pentaprism with 100% coverage, a large magnification and convenient reading of parameter’s thanks to the OLED display.
In control, nothing is left to chance and Nikon was able to take full advantage of all the buttons and the two rings to provide a comfortable setting of the shooting parameters, always visible thanks to the additional display. It’s a little ‘smaller than the Nikon D300s, but maybe we can say the most convenient, because on the side of the functionality does not lose anything, and indeed marks a new benchmark for the category.
Comfortable and professional double slots for SD, but I regret a little ‘buffer size, which severely limits the possibilities for continuous shooting. Too bad because the AF motor is very very good. The price of Nikon D7100 with the kit lens 18-105VR is about $1,300, certainly in line with the offer.
This lens is poor, but it is a valid handyman to which they may subsequently, add some fixed optics of higher quality. Regarding the video sector, there are peaks of excellence, as the output is not compressed, audio input and output, but the inability to change the opening is a big limit.
Our Opinion
PROS : Images are very rich in detail (thanks to the absence of the low-pass filter)., Good resistance to high ISO and successful development of the JPG., Excellent build quality and good ergonomics., Controls are very rich, fast and effective., Display of generous size and very visible with the light.
CONS : The buffer is too limited, and until you empty blocks the camera., I cannot change the aperture in video mode., Slow AF in LiveView (the one constant is useless).
- Overall
