Nikon D7000 16.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm Lens (Black)

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Auto Focus (AF). I want to provide my experience with the camera and my take on the AF situation. 1. Back-focus. Some claim their units have back-focus issue. The camera does have AF fine-tune that can be used to correct the focus. But if amount of back-focus extends outside the fine-tune range, then it will require Nikon service. Im sure there are units that do indeed back-focus and need repair. But I suspect many more users mistakenly and incorrectly attribute any AF issue with back-focus. Anyone who says their unit back-focus sometimes or % of photos, then that is not true back-focus issue. Back-focus means the AF is not calibrated correctly. It will not focus right sometimes and miss focus sometimes. So I suspect the rate of true back-focus (quality control issue) is smaller than people claim. 2. Auto Focus learning curve. There is definitely learning curve on getting the D7000 to focus correctly. D7000 is very sensitive and this learning curve is steeper than expected. It will takes some practice (and possibly changing your shooting method) to get the focus consistently correct. My experience. When I first got the camera, at least 50% of my images are soft for 1 reason or another. There are out of focus images, camera shakes, subject motion (try taking photo of baby and toddler who are constantly on the move), etc. I thought I had "back-focus" issue. After doing AF test, I confirmed there is no back-focus. But there is still AF reliability. After couple months reading web forums (particularly dpreview), I finally learned the tricks on improving the AF reliability. First off, why so many people (including me) had problem with AF? My take: - 16 meg. With 16 meg, you can zoom in to 1:1 and still see quite a bit of details. So any out of focus shots will be very apparent 1:1. This might not be the case with older DSLR with less than 12 meg. - AF sensor. Web forums stated that the AF sensor size is larger than what users see in the viewfinder. This can cause confusion on exactly where the camera focuses. Sometimes the AF sensor focus on more contrasty region outside the AF box, which is not what the photographer intended. Here are the suggestion on focus: - Use 9-point dynamic AF area mode. - Use the center AF point only, rather than the other 11 or 39 AF points. The center 9 AF points are cross type, so they can focus on both vertical and horizontal features. The other AF points are either vertical or horizontal, which are not as sensitive. If using the center AF point with 9-point dynamic AF area mode, then all the center 9 cross-type AF sensors are being actively used. - Use AF-C, not AF-S. With AF-C, the focus is continuously being updated. While focus is activated, move the camera ever so slightly, so the subject (area where you want to focus on) is being moved around the AF box in the viewfinder. As you are doing this, the focus is being updated and improved. When the focus stops changing (you can hear it in the lens) even as camera is being move slightly, then you know you have focus locked. You probably dont have to do this all the time. But for subject that can move (like kids and pets), indoors (lower light), and low contrast subjects, this really helps. - Use 1/250 sec or faster shutter speeds. I was used to using 1/90 sec and sometimes down to 1/60 or 1/45 sec on P&S. There is no way I can use these low shutter speed without camera shake and blur on D7000. I basically use 1/250 sec or faster, even with VR lens. I sometimes push to 1/180 sec when needed, but I notice more blurry photos. Your mileage can vary depending on how steady your hands are. But expect to use faster shutter speeds than you are used to. - Use AF-ON. Personal taste. I just find using AF-ON with AF-C together works better. - If your lens is VR, make sure you hold the shutter button half-press for 1 sec before clicking, because it takes some time for the VR to settle. This is particularly true if you use AF-ON for focusing. Even with the AF learning curve, I still rate D7000 5 Stars. I have being using D7000 for over 1 year now. The image quality, low light performance, dynamic range, and features are just incredible. Luckily, Im able to figure out the AF issue (or non-issue) 2-3 months after I got the camera. Now, I dont even think about the AF while shooting. I can keep my attention on the subject and framing; and enjoy the resulting images. If you dont want to deal with the AF learning curve, then stay away from D7000. Out of focus photos are no fun and there is no way to recover those images.

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I have truly come to love this camera and have been using it since Dec 2010. If youre a beginner, as in, you have no idea about photography and are not willing to learn technical concepts, then skip this camera and just get something you can set on auto and fire away. The D7000 is a very sophisticated tool and it can be very frustrating if you dont know what youre doing. I upgraded from D50 which was excellent but I wanted better low light performance(high ISO) capabilities. On my D50 I had no problems getting images just as I wanted(technically) without much effort. With the D7000 I struggled at first and it took several months of reading and testing out the settings to finally understanding it. Just the focus system alone takes some knowledge to get it working the way you want to when you want to. The high ISO is amazing and there are even better bodies out now, but I can still use ISO 6400 images for web(if I must). The focusing is fast and the body handles really well. Most controls are accessible without having to dig into the menus. If youre a complete newbie, I would skip this and get a D3200, D5200 or a D3100/D5100, all great cameras with great sensors and very user friendly. Keep in mind that the bodies mentioned above dont have motors on the body so it limits you a bit in lens selection. As far as I know, all the lenses Nikon currently makes have built in motors so it shouldnt be an issue. Another thing to remember, cameras dont make great pictures. The person operating the camera makes great pictures. Getting a nice DSLR doesnt guarantee youll be creating some great images. Practice makes perfect.

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I bought this as a second camera to support our D90 when photographing with my wife. While I wouldve liked the 7100, it wasnt out when I purchased this; otherwise this camera works great as a support. This camera has seen a variety of conditions and has endured our hikes through Yellowstone without a blemish. While I attribute that somewhat to our cautious nature, the camera body is well constructed too. Ive paired this with several lenses without issue: Nikkor 16-85 AF-S Nikkor 70-300 AF-S VR Nikkor 35 AF-S Sigma 120-300 2.8 EX (with both 1.5 and 2.0x TC) Currently, Ive swapped the neck strap for a Black Rapid Sport, which I recommend if you plan on walking with carrying the camera. The neck strap put incredible strain on my neck when hiking. Running dual 16gb class 10 cards and have no problems shooting rapid fire, or HD video. I offload pictures pretty regularly (daily, usually) so I dont worry have to worry about storage much (and on the best days Im only shooting a couple hundred pictures, typically). Ive purchased two additional no-name batteries to ensure I have sufficient charge, as well as the RC-2 remote for hands free shooting at distant wildlife. While full frame is in my future, this has been a great purchase to tide me over until that day comes.

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I wanted to move back to a full sized SLR now that the technology is just so fantastic, and after doing a lot of evaluation, chose the Nikon. Given the complexity, it is surprisingly user friendly. And the bottom line is, it takes fantastic pictures! I took a trip out to the Texas Hill Country a couple of weeks ago during the peak of wildflower season, and the pictures I was able to get were just great. Of course, having a minimum of at least 16GB of extra memory is a must. I have not had a need to use the video function, but will be attempting it over the weekend on a guided fishing trip. My Dad, now deceased, was a professional photographer, and I wish he had access to great technology like the D7000.

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Still working on reading all the instructions and getting used to the different kind of settings. Had an D3000 Kit with a 18-55 and 55-200 lens for about 3 years now. So far: Love the improvement for pictures taken in low light environment. Solid case and seems very well manufactured. Appears high quality (as expected). Good grip holding the SLR. Lens covers a good range for shooting wide angle close and in distance, obviously not a telelens but good to go as long as you dont wanna do long distance shots. Motor for AutoFocus works fast. Manual Focus is possible as well and works quiet nice. I wouldnt need the two slots for SD Cards and i dont use my SLRs for taking videos, so no comment on that. I am far away from being a pro and probably just close to call myself an amateur. So some might think i overshot the target by buying a D7000, but i love it. Even with me, not being able to use all the nice functions on that SLR yet, it works so much better than my old Kit. No regrets on spending the money. I also have a TAMRON Tele Lens. 70-300mm USD that works perfect with the Camera. Nice addition to the 18-105 lens. Fast motor as well and so far, gooooood pictures. Hope that helped a little bit.

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As a amateur photography enthusiast, the Nikon D7000 is my first DLSR camera. And i couldnt be less amazed by the power it gives into your hands - yet to subtle and can be used by newbies like me effortlessly. The menu options are simple to understand, and i found them quite intuitive and didnt have to read the manual to know what each does. The pictures come out really well, its 16 MP and amazing clarity - whether you shoot indoors or outdoors. The auto mode is a no brainer - i actually started off with the pre-set "scene" modes which are designed perfectly for different shooting conditions. There are lot of manual settings - a setting for practically everything you can think of. I am actually learning all of them as i use it more - but its a real treat for someone interested in photography. You soon find there is so much to learn, it surprises you everyday. You can take full HD video in amazing movie like clarity. Buy a 32 or 64 GB card if you plan to shoot more videos since video size can easily go up to 800 MB for a 5 min video on 1080 HD. Battery life is also improved from the previous models - i got around 800 shots + a few 5 min videos from a single battery charge. The only sore point i would say is - it is little heavy to carry around especially after you attach the lens. Need strong hands if you are outdoors and want to click pics as you travel. I highly recommend this equally to amateurs and professionals.

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Well, Im still discovering a lot of functions... but here 10 key points. 1) In terms of QUALITY is amazing for its price. Everything is very professional, good materials, looks pro, feels pro. 2) PHOTO, I always loved Nikon and I still prefer Nikon over other brands. They keep on improving. 3) VIDEO, the HD quality is amazing, my only complain is that it has no 30 FPS in 1080p, only in 720p. I use it often in 24 FPS so I dont mind, but its a flaw if you want to shoot content for TV in the highest quality/size. I hope they can upgrade it some day through firmware. 4) Its a little HEAVY with the 18-200 lens, but its ok for its size/functions. Its average. 5) Its one of the few cameras in the market with a built-in INTERVALOMETER. A few days ago I was shooting a time lapse and it came out perfect, very easy to set from the menu. 6) I love the TWO CARDS slot for back up. Very convenient. Or you can also use it for JPG + RAW. 7) The TWO WHEELS system is fantastic and very customizable. For example, you can define that in (A)perture mode, you will use one wheel to set aperture (shutter speed comes automatically), and the second wheel to set ISO, or something else. 8) It has many customizable functions in different buttons (virtual horizon, same use than the bubble in the tripods), a new button: preview the depth-of-field, etc. 9) They compare it with the Canon 60D but Id say its comparable with the 7D. In some things the 7D is a step above, but in others the Nikon is way better. 10) Lots of alternatives for metering and focus, combinations from a single spot to a 3D tracking, from one point of focus to 39 points. Depending on photo/video, what kind of scene, how many subjects and how fast they move, you have a bunch of combinations. Or just do it completely manual. Its a great alternative to Canon 60D/7D/5D for pro level HD movies. I compared it to the 7D for a long time, and I finally chose the D7000 for quality and similar functions, but much cheaper. The rest of the money just save it, buy audio stuff like the Zoom H4n @ $299, or put it in more lenses (like the new 50mm 1.8/G @ $219. I dont regret and Im loving it!

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This is a preliminary review. Im a pro photographer who has been faithfully served by Nikon D200 & D300s for event and nature photography. Just before a trip to the Everglades, my D300s lcd info panel light wouldnt turn off and it kept abnormally seeking the cf card resulting in quick battery drain. Of course the fix was having lots of batteries and turning it off when not shooting. But In panic assuming that the D300 was going to completely fail, I read Ken Rockwells review and noticed the D7000s price. With time running out and not wanting to shell out $7K for the D3x (or D700 for other reasons) I somehow found one D7000 kit, but not body, offered by Amazon and could get it quickly. It was on b/o everywhere else I looked. I didnt want or need the lens, but what can you do sometimes? I havent had time to evaluate image quality in detail, but its impressive at least up to ISO 1600. Without the battery attachment its small and light, but with good ergonomics. Its got most of the feature required for my shoots and tons of goodies if youre just a camera bug. Combined with the 18-200 VR its a dynamite, relatively affordable package. It was easy to use without consulting the unusually well written manual. However, if youre used to the D300, etc., you wont be happy with the organization of the controls. The iso buttons on the back left and the exposure options are set with a dial like on the D70, so you cant change the most important settings as easily. I dont like the new control for setting the focus options. But if youve never used a D200/D300 you probably wont care. The 6 fps is cool, but Im used to 8 fps with the D300s battery pack. Those extra 2 fps sometimes mean getting the shot or not for sports/birds. Random remarks: So far, taking movies is easy and fun. Rockwell states that the quality isnt great, but they look excellent when shown on a large led hd tv. I have had no trouble focussing with my 200-400 or any other lens. I dont like it that you cant display both iso and frame count at the same time. The lcd info display on the top of the body seems fine, in contrast to criticisms by other. What Im really upset about is that neither Nikon or Adobe have updated Camera Raw for phototshop CS4, so you cant use the D7000s NEF files with CS4. Maybe Nikon gets a cut from Adobe for CS4 - CS5 upgrades, which I purchased reluctantly. Nikons ViewNX2 is good software and loads and displays raw files quickly, but I need to use psd files and, of course, photoshops + plug-ins features to do real work. At this point, nothing much to contribute until I can get that camera back from my wife. (My D300 healed itself, I did lots of trouble shooting, but dont know why it started to work again.) My recommendation is that if you can afford to shell out about $1.5 - $2K for the body/kit (this price includes battery attachment, sd cards (too easy to lose!), decent case and camera strap [Nikon should get out of the strap business or contract with Tamrac.] buying the D7000s a no-brainer regardless of your expertise and experience. Update, 7/1/11: OK, upgrading to CS5 was worth it, sorry about the conspiracy theory. This is a great camera except that its destroying my technique because its so easy to use. With the 18-200 VR and the D7000s low noise at hi ISOs (but keep using Define2.0), I can shed 30 lbs of photo gear and my tripod. Its really fun taking videos and as stated above, the qualitys great. And Scott Kelby, notwithstanding, the built-in flash aint so bad either.

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Bought the D7000 in April 2012 and LOVED IT - responsive, beautiful sharp photos and that dual SD card slot allows for a back up when on photoshoots! It was a step up from my D90 (which I STILL LOVE!!). The D7000 was my "go-to" UNTIL last year (after the 1 year Nikon warranty had expired), the "rumored" dreaded oil splatter/spots appeared out of nowhere! (Google it - there are plenty of others who have had the same issue). I tried cleaning the sensor - and it does no good if its oil spots. After contacting Nikon Support I found out: IF you are still in Warranty - youre golden, but if you are OUT of warranty, youre stuck with a camera that gives you an overlay of spots you have to then Photoshop out before giving the final product to a client! GREAT photos before this happened, but the complete lack of customer service on Nikons part - or willingness to own up to and fix a known problem is irresponsible at best. Shame on you, Nikon. If I didnt already have so much invested in lenses, Id switch to Canon in a second. Hoping for SquareTrade to step in (still under their 3 year warranty) and provide a fix for this.

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Please read my review on the Sony HX-20V where I talk about the best point and shoot camera and also talk about saving money for the Nikon D7000 to get a little background. Well, finally bought the D7000 with the 18-105mm lens on Thanksgiving day. It was such a fantastic deal that I had to take the plunge. For a special at $997 including a 16GB Transcend SDHC class 10 and an Amazon Basic camera backpack... it was just too good a deal to pass-on. Ive been using it for about a month now and can report that it is an excellant DSLR. I can even use all my old AI Nikkor lens (only in manual mode since they are all manual lenses) but now I have 28mm, 50mm, 105mm, 43-86mm, 80-200mm, 200mm and a few more. With the VR and Autofocus on the 18-105mm zoom, doubt if I will be using the old lenses. But the 50mm is a F1.4 lens..... for non-flash pictures. Ive been using my Canon EOS Rebel DSLR for about 5 years and the lens gave out (internal ribbon cable in the lens failed) so Ive been itching to replace it. Almost bought a Canon 60D last year but I hesitated, which was good because I ended up with usually a more expensive Nikon D7000 as compared to normally ~ $200 cheaper Canon. Ive setup the D7000 with a 32 GB SD card in slot 1 and a 16GB SD card in slot 2 and setup the camera to take NEF(RAW) into Slot 1 and JPEG Fine in Slot 2 simultaneouly. This is great way to take a picture since if you just want to send or move pictures around, the JPEG is lot smaller file and dont need any processing since all the processing is already done when you take the picture in the camera. For the NEF (Raw) files, they are just very big data file that must be processed in your computer. (The Nikon software included includes the conversion software for NEF (Raw) into JPEG or other formats. The NEF (Raw) allows you to maximize your manipulation of the picture itself in photoshop and other image processing software. So straying away from Nikon and coming back to the fold.....just feels better using a Nikon body. Even though it is a DSLR, compared to my old SLRs, just feels like old times. Just a quick initial comments But one scary note: when the package arrived it was left at the front door without signature....was suppose to require a signature and when I opened the box it was loose in the amazon box with no air in the air filled packing bags. Must have punctured during transit. So the Nikon box was just loose in the box. So far no damage to the camera. Although on the third day, when I turned on the camera----nothing. Had to cycle the power several times before it turned on. Fortunately just this one incident. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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