| Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Full model name: | Nikon D7200 |
| Resolution: | 24.20 Megapixels |
| Sensor size: | APS-C (23.5mm x 15.6mm) |
| Kit Lens: |
7.78x zoom
18-140mm (27-210mm eq.) |
| Viewfinder: | Optical / LCD |
| Native ISO: | 100 - 25,600 |
| Extended ISO: | 100 - 25,600 |
| Shutter: | 1/8000 - 30 sec |
| Max Aperture: | 3.5 (kit lens) |
| Dimensions: |
5.3 x 4.2 x 3.0 in. (136 x 107 x 76 mm) |
| Weight: |
44.3 oz
(1,256 g)
includes batteries, kit lens |
| Availability: | 04/2015 |
| Manufacturer: | Nikon |
| Full specs: | Nikon D7200 specifications |
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24.20
Megapixels |
Nikon F |
APS-C size sensor |
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D7200 Summary
When we reviewed it a couple of years ago, Nikon's D7100 enthusiast DSLR thrilled us in almost every way, but a too-small buffer left us wanting just a little more. Now the followup Nikon D7200 is here, and this all-weather beauty no longer keeps us waiting thanks to a tripling of the buffer memory. And that's not all: There are some handy upgrades in other areas, too. But with the push to mirrorless, can the D7200 still capture our hearts in 2015? Find out now in our in-depth Nikon D7200 review!
ProsRugged, weather-sealed body; Great ergonomics and loads of controls; Accurate optical viewfinder; Excellent image quality; Decent burst speed; Swift autofocus; Generous buffer depths; Superb battery life
ConsMixes plastic and magnesium-alloy panels on exterior; LCD monitor can't be tilted or swiveled; Presents a steep learning curve; No focus peaking in live view; Video mode feels a bit of an afterthought; New Wi-Fi features are rough around the edges
Price and availabilityAvailable since early April 2015, the Nikon D7200 is sold body-only or in a kit with the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens, which was also available in D7100 kits. (Unlike the earlier model, though, there are no official 18-105mm or 18-140mm + 55-300mm lens kits for the D7200.) Pricing is set at US$1,100 or thereabouts body-only, while the 18-140mm lens kit costs US$1,600, some US$100 below the original launch pricing.
Imaging Resource rating4.0 out of 5.0
Nikon D7200 Review
by Mike Tomkins
Preview posted: 03/01/2015
Updates:
04/02/2015: Image Quality Comparison & Print Quality Analysis
07/10/2015: Field Test Part I: It's time to beat the heatwave with one mighty cool camera!
08/28/2015: Field Test Part II: High ISO, long exposure and a smorgasbord of movie goodness!
08/31/2015: Conclusion posted!
Last edited: 02/08/2017
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UPDATE: 02/08/2017:
Want some added proof that the Nikon D7200 belongs in your camera bag? Well you'll certainly want to know that the D7200 was named the Best Enthusiast DSLR Camera in our 2015 Camera of the Year awards, then!
Ready to buy now? Be sure to read our recent article entitled "11 great lenses for your new Nikon DSLR", and we'll give you some handy tips on which lenses you'll want to consider adding to your cart at the same time.
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Since early 2013, if you were a Nikon shooter looking for an enthusiast-grade camera body with an APS-C sized sensor -- DX format in Nikon parlance -- then the camera you'd turn to was the Nikon D7100. Now, with the followup Nikon D7200, that camera has a successor -- and while it looks very similar to the previous model on the outside, there are a fair few worthwhile improvements beneath the skin.
For our money, the most important change in the Nikon D7200 is a significant increase in buffer depths, meaning that it can capture around two to three times as many shots in a continuous burst. That answers perhaps our biggest concern about the earlier model, a camera which we nonetheless loved and awarded a Dave's Pick.
As well as its near-identical dust-and-weather sealed body, the Nikon D7200 retains much the same image sensor as featured in the D7100, although its pixel counts do differ ever so slightly thanks to slight adjustments in sensor masking. But while the sensor is unchanged, the processor isn't -- it's now an EXPEED 4-class chip, rather than the previous-generation EXPEED 3.
Note, though, that EXPEED 4 is, as we just said, a class of processors -- the actual chip used in the D7200 is not identical to that in other EXPEED 4-based Nikon DSLRs to date. Nikon tells us that it has tailored the EXPEED 4 processor in the D7200 to this individual camera model.
And although it's a new processor, performance in terms of frame rate is unchanged from the earlier camera -- a manufacturer-rated six frames per second in the full DX-format, or seven frames per second with a 1.3x focal length crop beyond that already applied in an APS-C camera body. One area in which the next-gen processor looks to have paid dividends, though, is power consumption: CIPA-compliant battery life figures have improved by around 17% since the D7100, for a total of around 1,110 shots on a charge with the exact same battery as used previously.
Another handy change in the Nikon D7200 is a newer Multi-CAM 3500II DX phase-detection autofocus module that now focuses even better in low light. Where Nikon rated the earlier Multi-CAM 3500 DX module in the D7100 as good down to -2EV, it says that the D7200 is capable of focusing all the way down to -3EV. In terms of AF point layout and type, though, the new module is unchanged from its predecessor, with 51 points including 15 cross-types, the centermost being an f/8-compatible point.
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The Nikon D7200 is also the company's first DSLR with both Wi-Fi wireless networking and Near-Field Communications support for easy pairing with Android devices, removing the need to rely on clumsy external solutions or Wi-Fi capable SD cards. And there have been various firmware tweaks, too. No longer do you need to enable ISO expansion to access the highest sensitivities, for example, and the D7200 also sports the flat picture control and clarity options found on other recent Nikon DSLRs.
The company has also improved exposure bracketing with both a larger possible step size and a greater number of shots in a bracketed burst, added exposure smoothing for time-lapses, and shown videographers some love with both zebra-striping support and an Auto ISO function in movie capture mode.
And alongside the D7200, Nikon has also launched a replacement for its earlier View NX software package, now called View NX-i, and available free of charge. With support for .NEF raw, JPEG and TIFF images as well as .MOV movies, it lets Nikon D7200 owners manage their artworks, share them on social networks, and even perform basic movie-editing tasks, all free of charge. There's also a new Bluetooth-based wireless lav mic, the ME-W1, that's compatible with the D7200 and allows you to record mono or stereo audio at a distance of 164 feet from the camera body.
Nikon D7200 Field Test Part I
It's time to beat the heatwave with one mighty cool camera!
On paper at least, the Nikon D7200 is a camera whose design appeals to me. Much like my own daily shooter, Ricoh's Pentax K-3, the D7200 is an enthusiast-grade DSLR that packs features into a relatively compact body, and comes with an affordable price-tag as well. As well as the K-3, the D7200 competes head-on with the Canon 70D.
Although I didn't personally write our Shooter's Reports for the earlier D7000-class cameras, whose heritage the Nikon D7200 builds upon, I've shot with and enjoyed both cameras. And I have to say, I really like the basic body design, which is inherited almost unchanged from the D7200. Sure, it's not quite as compact as my K-3, but it's comfortable in-hand and most controls are very well-placed.
Want to see how the Nikon D7200 performed on my shoot in Lexington, Kentucky?
Find out in Field Test Part I
Nikon D7200 Field Test Part II
High ISO, long exposure and a smorgasbord of movie goodness!
In the first part of my Nikon D7200 Field Test, I found much to love in this rugged, enthusiast-grade DSLR. Its weather-sealed body might come with a bit of a learning curve due to its extremely generous array of controls, but after a while becomes second nature, and helps keep your attention focused on your subject.
And while I found its Wi-Fi wireless networking connectivity a little rough around the edges, and missed the presence of any articulation mechanism for the D7200's monitor, I felt it was otherwise a camera that's a whole lot of fun to shoot with. And the results spoke for themselves: On a spur-of-the-moment trip to Lexington, Kentucky, I got a whole raft of photos that I was very happy with.
Exposure and white balance were accurate, and colors convincing. And there was detail by the boatload, just as you'd expect from its 24-megapixel image sensor. But that was all in the daytime: I still had quite a bit more testing to do before I drew any final conclusions.
How does the Nikon D7200 perform once the sun sets?
Find out in Field Test Part II
Nikon D7200 Walkaround
A tour of the enthusiast DSLR's exterior
Take a look at the Nikon D7100 and D7200 side-by-side, and bar the name badge, they appear near-identical. Body size and weight is unchanged from the earlier camera, and so too is the control layout. There are, however, a few subtle differences. Let's take a look at what's the same, and what's been changed.
Examining the front of the Nikon D7200, there's really nothing to distinguish it from its predecessor beyond the name badge. You can see all the same controls, including lens mount release button, depth-of-field preview (Pv) button, function button and front control dial. Also unchanged are features such as the front infrared remote control receiver snugged into the top left shoulder of the D7200 body (as seen from the rear), and the autofocus assist lamp which sits directly across from the IR receiver on the other side of the lens mount.
Nikon D7200 Technical Insights
Let's see what's under the hood
Sensor. The Nikon D7200 digital SLR is, just as was its predecessor, based around an APS-C sized CMOS image sensor. (That's DX-format in Nikon parlance.) Effective resolution is 24.2-megapixels, and total resolution is 24.72-megapixels. Both figures are just fractionally higher than for the D7100, but we're assured that it's the exact same sensor. It seems that there are just very slight differences to sensor masking that cause these variations on the spec sheet. Note that image dimensions -- a maximum of 6,000 x 4,000 pixels -- are unchanged.
Just as in the earlier camera, the Nikon D7200 forgoes an optical low-pass filter, maximizing resolution at the risk of moiré and false-color artifacts.
To combat the effects of dust on the image sensor, Nikon has included its sensor cleaning function, which uses piezoelectric vibration at four different frequencies to shake dust from the sensor cover glass, just as done in the D7000 and D7100.
Processor. Output from the Nikon D7200's image sensor is handled by a proprietary Nikon EXPEED 4-series image processor, said to be completely unique to this camera.
Nikon D7200 Image Quality Comparison
How's the D7200 stack up against other top-end APS-C cameras?
In our Image Quality Comparison here, we have crops from our laboratory Still Life target comparing the Nikon D7200 vs. the Nikon D7100, Canon 7D Mark II, Pentax K-3, Samsung NX1 and Sony A77 II. All of these models sit at relatively similar price points and/or categories in their respective product lineups.
NOTE: These images are best quality JPEGs straight out of the camera, at default settings including noise reduction and using the camera's actual base ISO (not extended ISO settings). All cameras in this comparison were shot with our very sharp reference lenses. Clicking any crop will take you to a carrier page where you can click once again to access the full resolution image as delivered straight from the camera. For those interested in working with the RAW files involved: click these links to visit each camera's respective sample image thumbnail page:Nikon D7200, Nikon D7100, Canon 7D Mark II, Pentax K-3, Samsung NX1 and Sony A77 II -- links to the RAW files appear beneath those for the JPEG images, wherever we have them. And remember, you can always go to our world-renowned Comparometer to compare the Nikon D7200 to any camera we've ever tested.
Nikon D7200 Print Quality
How does the D7200 look on paper?
Print quality and image quality are similar but not identical, because what you see on a print isn't always the same as what you see on the screen. Our print quality analysis answers the important question: "Just how big can I print my photos at higher ISOs?"
The Nikon D7200 is a clear step up compared to the already very good D7100, besting it at two settings by a size but appearing better in general at all ISOs. It shows less noise all around, and yet somehow loses the target red swatch by about ISO 1600, which is unlike most Nikon bodies. One can only assume that they've tweaked their processing in order to further minimize noise in flatter areas, with the downside of the tweak showing up in the loss of detail in the red swatch. Still, this APS-C body delivers a super-solid 16 x 20 inch print at ISO 1600, and that's a worthwhile achievement. Well done on this one for image quality, Nikon.
Nikon D7200 Conclusion
Nikon's enthusiast-friendly DSLR is now better than ever!
At first glance, the Nikon D7200 might seem to be a very minor upgrade. Visually, it's nearly identical to its predecessor, with the exact same weather-sealed body and control layout. If you're familiar with its rugged enthusiast-grade predecessor, you'll be right at home with the D7200. But that's not to say that there's nothing to separate the two: The Nikon D7200 is going to give you a lot more camera for your money if you're a sports shooter, or even just like to snap family photos of your hyperactive kids and pets.
Finally, the buffer we've been waiting for
The reason for that is simple: When it was creating the D7200, Nikon worked to resolve one of our main complaints with the earlier model. In our D7100 review, posted in the summer of 2013, we called out the limited buffer depth as a key concern. Now, the Nikon D7200 has triple the buffer depth of its predecessor, if not more.
Want our closing thoughts on Nikon's all-weather enthusiast DSLR?
Read our Nikon D7200 Conclusion
In the Box
The Nikon D7200 bundle contains the following items:
- Nikon D7200 camera
- Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens (kit version only)
- Front and rear lens caps (kit version only)
- EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery (7.0V, 1,900mAh)
- Battery terminal cover
- MH-25A Battery charger
- AC wall adapter or power cable (varies by region)
- DK-23 rubber eyecup
- DK-5 eyepiece cap
- UC-E17 USB cable
- BF-1B body cap
- AN-DC1 neck strap
- User's manual
- Warranty card
Recommended Accessories
- Large capacity SDHC/SDXC memory card. Cards with a Class 6 or greater rating are required for movie recording.
- Additional lenses
- Extra EN-EL15 battery pack
- MB-D15 multi-power battery pack (adds portrait grip with duplicate controls)
- Speedlite external flash strobe such as the SB-700 or SB-910
- MC-DC2 remote cord and/or WR-1 or WR-T10/R10 wireless remote
- GP-1A GPS unit
- Camera bag
Buy the Nikon D7200
$1596.98 (31% more)
20.2 MP (20% less)
Also has viewfinder
16% larger
$1846.95 (41% more)
25.73 MP (6% more)
Also has viewfinder
7% smaller
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