Nikon D5200 DSLR test

The camera’s advantages include fast autofocus, compactness, design and price. Nikon D5200 is more functional than its predecessor Nikon D3200, but it is just as compact and easy to operate, and is only slightly ahead of the younger model in terms of price.

Weaknesses: Dark viewfinder and lack of support for lenses without a built-in autofocus motor. Instead of button controls, some of the functionality has been moved to menus and a quick access screen, making it a bit less responsive. However, this is more of a nag, which is difficult to call a disadvantage – just a minor inconvenience that will not stop a true fan of photography.

Specifications

Sensor	24.1 megapixel CMOS development Nikon, format DX 23,5 × 15,6 mm , the cropped factor of 1.5, ISO sensitivity 100-6400, expandable to 25 600, image size up to 6000×4000 pixels, with dust cleaning function
The lens	Nikon F mount with AF contacts
Viewfinder	Optical penta-mirror, 95% horizontal and vertical coverage, 0.78 magnification, diopter correction
LCD screen	3.2″ diagonal matt rotary, with the ability to focus in contrast mode on any point on the entire screen area
Autofocus	39-point phase module with 39/11 point selection, 3D-tracking, auto zone selection and three operation modes
Shutter Speed Range	1/8000 – 30 sec, manual
Shooting modes	P, A, S, M, scene “Portrait”, “Landscape”, “Child”, “Sports”, “Macro”, “Night Portrait”, “Night Landscape”, “Holiday Indoor”, “Beach Snow”, “Sunset”, “Twilight Dawn”, “Pet Portrait”, “Candlelight”, “Bloom”, “Colors of Fall”, “Food” , special effects night vision color sketch miniature effect selective color silhouette high key low key
Exposure metering	2016-pixel RGB sensor, modes: matrix, center-weighted, spot, within 0-20 EV
Built-in flash	Guide number 12, up to 13 in manual mode, no matched external flash control, light pulse sync capability in manual mode
external flash	TTL auto, TTL-BL, manual and semi-automatic modes
Shutter modes	Single, burst up to 5 fps, 2, 10 or 20 sec. timer, 1 to 9 fps, interval timer, bracketing
File Formats	photo: NEF 14/12 bit , JPEG 3 steps compression video: MOV up to 1920×1080 30p
SD cards	SD XC
Outputs and ports	USB, HDMI mini, 3.5mm microphone, GPS, IR, external power
Power	EN-EL14 lithium-ion battery
Dimensions	129×98×78 mm, weight 555 g with battery and memory card 505 g without them
Approximate price	25 000 Dollars. body , 28 000 Dollars. kit 18-55mm

In its time its predecessor Nikon D5200, a model with the index D5000, was the first SLR camera with a tilting screen among the market leaders in photographic equipment. At the time, this solution was far from perfect and got a fair share of criticism. However, time puts everything in its place: the camera eventually not only took a worthy place in the lineup, but even strengthened as an independent direction, which means that it has definitely found its buyer.

Introduction

Nikon D5200 is the third generation of Nikon’s flip-up screen camera, announced in November 2012. The new model has been waiting its turn since its predecessor the Nikon D5100 was released exactly two years ago . The new device outdoes its predecessor by a whole head: a third more megapixels, and the sensor itself is higher in picture quality.

And if we can still argue about the need for so many megapixels, then someone is unlikely to have questions about the increased sensitivity and bit rate. It turns out that the camera has risen to the level of the older models, while maintaining a lower price and compact body.

In addition to the higher resolution sensor, the Nikon D5200 has also received a new autofocus sensor. We could go on and on about its benefits, but the point is that the camera can now focus on more objects, more flexibly and more accurately.

The viewfinder, meanwhile, remains the same – a dark penta-mirror, with not much magnification, but this is only important for time-hardened photographers used to looking only through the eyepiece, that is, those who have somehow encountered larger cameras, and therefore are willing to overpay for a lighter, larger viewfinder. For a beginner photographer a “dark” viewfinder in most cases is not so important. After all the camera has a big tilt-and-turn screen.

Camera features design, controls

The design of the camera has not undergone major changes: a little smoother roughness, a little more accentuated curves of the body lines. The only noticeable change is the Info button on the top panel, everything else, even the LiveView lever and the main buttons are the same. The screen is larger – 3.2 inches.

If we abstract from the design and dive into the controls, you will notice a lot: first of all it is a single wheel to control the camera, as well as a number of buttons, familiar to enthusiasts, which are hidden here in the menu. No dedicated buttons to control white balance, sensitivity – they were once the victims of “natural selection”, as there was less space on the body because of the increased screen from some of the buttons had to be abandoned .

For this reason, a photographer who wants quick access to all functions is likely to lose out on speed. However, if it is not critical for the photographer, then you don’t have to worry. In the end, control of sensitivity, as well as white balance, can be trusted to automatics, thanks to today’s technology allows it.

A bit of a nuisance is that no Nikon amateur camera has an autofocus drive for older lenses. “Screwdriver” was very relevant in the old days, because there were legendary lenses for it, which, by the way, were successfully produced until recently. Nowadays these lenses are plentiful on the second-hand market and in the stores which haven’t had time to empty their warehouses in time. The new offerings consist almost entirely of AF-S lenses with a built-in autofocus drive.

The Nikon D5200 has one little thing that the keen photographer will love – it’s that flip-down screen, whose secret function is on its back side. If you turn the screen “facing” the camera, your eyes will only see the Nikon inscription on the back of it, and the sensor on the latch will turn it off, allowing you to save battery power significantly.

The camera’s battery is smaller in size and capacity than the older Nikon D7000. Since most of the battery power is consumed by the backlight of the large color display, many people simply turn it off through the menu to save money. But what if you want to see what you have taken all day?? With any other camera, you have to enter the menu and change the settings again, while with the Nikon D5200 you just have to turn the screen towards yourself.

Keep in mind though that the tilting screen is a compromise solution here as well: when sighting through it the camera focuses in another mode – contrast mode, which has not yet reached its perfection, so the focusing process itself takes somewhat longer than usual than when you sight through the viewfinder . The fact is that phase sensors began to be produced back in the film days, and it is the SLRs that have benefited from them the most.

Focusing with an individual sensor does not put extra load on the already stressed out CPU, unlike Contrast mode which works through a slow coupling of the main sensor and CPU. Therefore, for shooting scenes that require exactly the screen, it is better to choose those that do not require instant focus. It’s obviously not children or fast running animals, but rather a leisurely staged shot or a shot of not the fastest subjects like a landscape. But the Nikon D5200 has the ability to focus completely on the entire screen, while the conventional phase sensor only covers a cross in the central part of the frame, albeit a very large.

Video shooting

As for the alien to the true photographer video mode, it’s a full-fledged feature. The camera’s screen focusing is slow but precise and assured, though sometimes it has some very interesting effects: when the camera can’t focus on the subject the first time, it can roam forward and backward with the lens, which is not the best option for video.

In such cases we can recommend to focus manually. The flip-down screen allows you to shoot from both low and high points. So you can look at your subjects from a slightly different angle.

The video format is up to modern DSLR standards: 1080p max at 30 or 24 frames per second is pretty much the rule today. While amateur camcorders use a miniature sensor to take pictures, a still camera can offer the full power of its large sensor, which is only half the size of a film frame. And if the video functionality is not great like in any other camera, it can be compensated by artistic background blur.

Test photography

I remember a time when taking pictures against the sun gave practically a black and white picture: the lightest spots were white and the darkest were black with minimal in-between transitions. Similarly, there was a loss of light following the tones. Now I see a huge difference in the quality of the midtones. For example, at its default setting, the Nikon D5200 produces fairly bright images, showing shadows as if inside out, while at the same time not overexposed.

So the photographer gets a very flexible tool for working with contrast note the test photos: they were all originally shot in RAW format, except for the first one, and converted with “null” settings, which means neutral contrast, brightness and saturation. I just added some shuffling to estimate the lens behavior, and made a very light S-curve, so that the images don’t look too dull, but still the histogram is not stretched to the edges . For a beginner who doesn’t know how to work with RAW, it’s enough to sit around for five minutes with the image styles to get the look you want and get a permanent setting for all your photos.

When it comes to convenience, the Nikon D5200’s ergonomics are top notch: the camera lies comfortably in your hand, including a fairly large one, and it doesn’t slip out. Nikon D5200 allows you to not think about the speed of focusing when shooting through the viewfinder, makes available quite deep settings for individual taste and has a very accurate exposure sensor and sensor, which never overexposure the picture and captures quality of any object. In addition to all this flexibility due to the 14-bit data processing and the large resolution sensor.

The color is also transmitted correctly, and if you use the camera profiles, produced by the manufacturer, then you will have no problems with either light or color, and all photographic errors can only be blamed on yourself. Let’s not forget that with the advent of RAW file converters and with their perfection, such a concept as color rendering has long been the domain of their own hands, not the fault or merit of the camera they hold..

Reportage and art photography

When shooting reportage or street photography, you’ll notice the finer details of the camera, like the great auto focus sensor inherited from the older D7000, which made the Nikon D5200 shoot a little faster and focus more accurately. The device is quite suitable for professional shooting a variety of genres, including those related to reporting.

So, children’s matinees, weddings, corporate parties may well be the lot of a photographer with a camera like this. Fast, tenacious and accurate autofocus will allow you to quickly navigate in low light conditions, while the sensitive sensor with a wide range of sensitivity will be a faithful helper in a dark room.

The camera works well with Nikon’s original flash units tested with the SB-800 and SB-700 . It uses the highly acclaimed i-TTL system and its modes to illuminate a scene in a balanced way, not as a blur of light. The camera does not know how to control external flashes for studio photography, but synchronizes with them manually very easily.

So the solution is either to buy a TTL control flash or IR transmitter, or just a set of Chinese brands, which will also save a lot of money on creating your own studio and lighting system. So if money is tight, don’t think of it as a disadvantage – on the contrary, saving money on the purchase of the camera, you can spend on its accessories.

Day & Night Photography

In the daytime any camera shows its maximum in color rendering. The detail in good light is very good, although sometimes, especially with good lenses, it seems to be clipped by a smoothing filter, which only the older model, the Nikon D7100, doesn’t have. But there’s also the issue of choosing wisely: how often do you print large format cards??

I mean really big, because today no one can be surprised by a photo of A3 size. But on pictures from 60×90 cm, printed chemically, such little things will already be more noticeable. If you don’t do this and pixel peeping is not your hobby, this filter is unlikely to ever become a serious obstacle for you. Nikon D5200 frames are fine for any size print – unless, of course, you’re going to look at 2×3 meter prints at point-blank range. There is a theory that when viewed from a normal viewing distance which varies depending on the size of the print , 21MP resolution is enough, t.e. The boundary that this camera has crossed.

Auto white balance works quite well when shooting in natural light. Night photography can be challenging with white balance in light of today’s so popular fluorescent lights. Night shots can turn yellow or green depending on the nuances of lighting. In such cases, you can set the white balance to white sheet or choose from a group of presets. You can get a more correct version later, when converting files.

Low light does not impair detail thanks to a large low-noise sensor, which manages perfectly well at sensitivities up to the maximum standard value of ISO 6400, at which the noise level is noticeable, but even without its suppression, the detail is almost unaffected. Noise is unnoticeable when viewing a photo in a not-so-large format.

Conclusions

The new Nikon D5200 evoked only the warmest feelings: it has almost all the functionality an amateur photographer needs. Controls and mode settings require no deep diving into menus. Only the interval shooting setting and the number of frames per burst when the timer is triggered are buried deep, but such exotic features are very rarely used.

Advantages of the camera include fast autofocus, compactness, design and price. The Nikon D5200 is more functional than the younger Nikon D3200 model, while being just as compact and easy to operate and only slightly ahead of the younger model in price.

Weaknesses: The drawbacks include a dark viewfinder and lack of support for lenses without a built-in autofocus motor. Instead of the button controls, some of the functionality has been moved to menus and the quick access screen, which makes the controls a little less responsive. However, this is more of a nag, which is difficult to call a drawback – just a minor inconvenience that will not stop a true fan of photography.

Tests in pictures

Nikon D5200-ISO 200 -28.0 mm f-1.8-28 mm-1-3200 sec at f – 2.2-002

Nikkor 28/1.8 holds back light perfectly and prevents flare thanks to its coating of nano-crystals.

Nikkor 28/1.8, ISO 200, 1/3200 s, f/2.2.

Nikon D5200-ISO 400-28.0 mm f-1.8-28 mm-1-3 sec at f – 2,8-010

Remarkable gray-scale reproduction and consistent contrast retention, even on reflective surfaces.

Nikkor 28/1.8 lens, ISO 400, 1/3 c, f/2.8.

Nikon D5200-ISO 400-28.0 mm f-1.8-28 mm-1-80 sec at f – 2.0-011

Shooting high-contrast scenes demonstrates the wide dynamic range of the camera.

Nikkor 28/1.8 lens, ISO 400, 1/80 c, f/2.

Nikon D5200-ISO 400-28.0 mm f-1.8-28 mm-1-4000 sec at f – 2.8-009

Shooting high-contrast scenes demonstrates the camera’s wide dynamic range.

Nikkor 28/1.8 lens, ISO 400, 1/4000 c, f/2.8.

Nikon D5200-ISO 640-35.0 mm f-1.8-35 mm-1-1250 sec at f – 4.0-020

Excellent detail and contrast.

Nikkor 35/1.8 lens, ISO 640, 1/1250 c, f/4.

NIKON D5200-ISO 640-35.0 mm f-1.8-35 mm-1-4000 sec at f – 4,0-023.jpg

Soft tonal transitions.

Nikkor 35/1.8 lens, ISO 640, 1/4000 c, f/4.

7- NIKON D5200-ISO 800-35.0 mm f-2.0-35 mm-1-160 sec at f – 2.0-001.jpg

Soft tonal transitions from a hard light source in a semi-dark room.

Nikkor 35/2 lens, ISO 800, 1/160 c, f/2.

8- NIKON D5200-ISO 1600-28.0 mm f-1.8-28 mm-1-4000 sec at f – 1.8-006.jpg

The Nikkor 28/1,8 exhibits noticeable chromatic aberrations in contrasting scenes at an open aperture, which disappear when the aperture is closed.

Nikkor 28/1.8 lens, ISO 1600, 1/4000 c, f/1.8.

NIKON D5200-ISO 100-18 noise test.0-55.0 mm f-3.5-5.6-24 mm-1.0 sec at f – 5.6-018.jpg

Test image to evaluate sensor noise.

Nikkor 18-55/3.5-5.6 lens, ISO 100-25,600, f/5.