Nikon D7200 SLR camera: checking points for creative growth

The camera controls are well thought out and allow you to make the most important settings quickly, which is especially important when shooting reportage, when events are happening fast. The front and back wheels are in the range of your index finger and thumb, respectively. These are traditionally used to control shutter speed and aperture depending on mode . Of course, they are also used in other operations. For example, when viewing one shot in a series, you can zoom in and then use the back wheel to scroll through all the other shots while saving it.

In combination with a certain button, the jog wheels let you quickly enter the exposure compensation, adjust the bracketing, change the white balance setting, record file quality, ISO, exposure metering type, D-Lighting intensity, number and position of AF points, and AF mode.

I should add that some buttons can be reprogrammed to the desired function. Among them are the Fn button and the aperture repeater button in the front , AE-L/AF-L in the back under your thumb and the video button on the top .

These actions are convenient to perform directly while shooting, controlling them through the viewfinder. Located under the mode selector an additional dial is used to quickly change the type of “broach”: single shot, continuous shooting slow and fast , silent shutter, self-timer, mirror lifting.

Multi selector when not locked with the dedicated lever ready for quick change of AF working point or group of points after pressing the OK button, and you can do it without taking your eye off the viewfinder eyepiece.

Ideal for reportage and sports photography

The Nikon D7200 uses an advanced autofocus system. It is based on the Multi-CAM 3500DX II sensor. 51 sensors are used for autofocus, of which 15 3×5 are positioned in the center of the sensor and are cross-type with sensitivity to -3 EV, which significantly improves focusing in low light conditions in a dark room, in the woods, at dusk and at night . Central sensors ensure confident and accurate focusing in both landscape and portrait orientations.

In continuous AF mode AF-C you can use all 51 sensors or just a group of them and you can limit the number of points to 9 or 21. Very convenient that you can select the number and position of points without taking your eyes off the viewfinder by pressing the button to the left of the lens and turning the front wheel. The multi selector can also be used to set a non-standard position in the field of view for these groups within the limits of the 51st sensor position . It’s a great time-saver when you’re shooting.

Another useful function is the ability to memorise the position of the focus point area separately for horizontal and vertical camera orientations. E.g. in horizontal orientation you were shooting a landscape and you used the center point or in a motocross reportage you were originally aiming for the motorcycles on the left side of the frame.

And when shooting portraits you held the camera vertically and used the points coming to the face in horizontal orientation they would be on the right, of course, with the classic way of holding the camera – with the battery protrusion upwards . If you have, at least once, chosen such a non-standard AF point position for each orientation, then changing the orientation of the camera, for example, from horizontal to vertical will instantly switch the position of the AF points to the one used in the previous shooting in vertical orientation.

For more accurate autofocus, the camera offers a 1.3x cropped mode. It has 51 focus sensors covering almost the entire area of the frame. In addition, this mode, at the expense of a smaller frame area in pixels, allows you to increase the speed of shooting and recording on a memory card, as well as to increase the scale of the image by increasing the equivalent focal length of the lenses .

The D7200 gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to continuous shooting. First, there are two modes: low speed CL and high speed CH . While the latter shoots at a fixed speed of 6 fps 7 fps for a 1.3x cropped image , the former can be set to 1 to 6 fps.

Why this is needed? Although the D7200 has a buffer capacity of up to 100 frames when recording in JPG , at maximum continuous shooting speed it will fill up in just 17 seconds. If the action you want to shoot does not require such a high speed – you can either slow it down and thus lengthen the shooting time, or increase the number of episodes shot, which is guaranteed not to “shut up” when the buffer overflow. UHS-I cards supported by the camera can be used for fast release. In addition to 100 JPG, the D7200’s buffer can hold up to 18 non-compressed 14-bit images or up to 27 compressed 12-bit RAW versions.

The high resolution sensor lets you take a snapshot without missing a shot in reportage, and crop it later, so even part of the frame will be effective for prints, not to mention internet sites.

High picture quality

– Wide dynamic range, high D-Lighting performance

– 14-bit RAW NEF

– High-resolution image sensor for greater detail

– Flat picture control – evens out the brightness of picture tones, lowers contrast.

– 1080/60p video shooting

Although the sensor D7200 refers to the cropped-factor DX, the quality of the camera is little inferior to his full-frame relative Nikon D750. The new Exeed 4 processor effectively cuts down on digital noise. Photographers can safely set the ISO setting to auto ISO 6400 if they want to shoot a JPG image and then downscale it, for example, to prepare a 4K image.

If the purpose – to get pictures prepared for full HD screens, or to process in RAW-converter, the working range of ISO can be extended up to 12800.

Auto-ISO 9000, f/3.2, 1/80, 105 mm

This image is from a RAW file after processing. Despite the high ISO settings, even the small print on the calendar page is fully readable.

Overall, the level of digital noise can be considered insignificant, so in most cases the first moderate gradation of the noise reduction function is enough to suppress it, because it has minimal impact on detail.

AutoISO 12800,f/5.6, 1/80, 105 mm

This image is taken from aRAW file after it was processed and converted to 4K resolution.

Signal conversion with the new Exeed 4 processor not only helps to combat digital noise, but also provides a wide dynamic range in stills and movies. D-Lighting function is highly effective for widening the dynamic range, and the “Auto” setting can be used for most typical shooting situations.

Almost always enough to capture all the halftones in a scene.

ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/800, 36mm.

D-lighting function in auto mode as an example. All tones are reproduced with no loss of information, from the lightest on the gable of the house to the deepest shadows.

For shooting in harsh lighting conditions very high brightness and high contrast , or when shooting subjects with a large number of nearby halftones, the camera offers a 14-bit RAW NEF recording format to preserve maximum information from the light-sensitive sensor.

The high resolution of the sensor 24 million pixels combined with a high-quality lens is capable of conveying the fine details of the subject even when it occupies only a portion of the frame.

ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/500, 40 mm

You can count the leaves in the trees in this shot, and the detail is preserved right down to the background, even those that the photographer couldn’t really see with the naked eye.

Wireless control with Wi-fi and NFC

Like many Nikon cameras today, the D7200 is equipped with Wi-Fi to remotely control the camera and transfer images to mobile devices. But unlike many of its brethren, it also has a module NFC, which greatly facilitates docking the camera with smartphones and tablets: just bring their respective sensor to the same on the camera.

Communication between devices is fast, once connected to the camera, smartphones or tablets, thanks to the free Wireless Mobile Utility app, can be turned into a remote control with a screen. This comes in handy, for example, when shooting with a self-timer, when there is no way to securely lock the camera.

Arsenal for taking pictures . Why? And suddenly!

Like any DSLR camera, the Nikon D7200 is a system camera, which means that its capabilities can be expanded with a large number of additional products from the company.

First of all, a huge fleet of interchangeable lenses, both specially designed for cropped-frame DX cameras and those designed for full-frame FX cameras. This allows a photographer who shoots with multiple Nikon DSLRs to use “full-frame” lenses on the D7200.

Nikon D7200 with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm VR lens

Photographers who buy an SLR camera for the first time usually buy it with a kit zoom lens. In the case of the Nikon D7200, there are three such standard kits, all equipped with VR optical stabilization.

The first of these is the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm VR universal zoom lens, the most affordable. It has a range of focal lengths from wide-angle 27mm equivalent to moderate telephoto 157mm equivalent . Scenery options from landscapes to portraits.

Nikon D7200 camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm VR lens

The second standard kit for the Nikon D7200 – with a more powerful universal zoom lens format DX AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm VR. At the wide angle setting it has the same focal length 27mm equivalent , but at the other extreme it becomes a more powerful telephoto lens 210mm equivalent , making it suitable for reportage photography.

Vibration reduction system minimizes blur caused by camera shake and provides a clear viewfinder image. Nikon’s silent ultrasonic motor SWM ensures fast, silent autofocus.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm/f3 lens.5-6.3G ED VR

Third standard kit for the Nikon D7200 – with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm/f3 lens.5-6.3G ED VR with an equivalent focal length range of 27-450 mm.

Powerful super telephoto DX-format lens with 16.7x magnification. This compact travel lens is ideal for those who like to travel light and capture subjects from a variety of distances. The 16.7x zoom allows you to capture both sunset scenes and shy wildlife, but is also good for shooting sports, shows like bullfighting and festivals.

ED glass elements and aspherical lenses provide high resolution and contrast Nikon’s Vibration Reduction System delivers crisp images even when shooting handheld at maximum supertelephoto. Practical zoom lock switch protects the lens during movement.

Nikon D7200 with AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR. Thanks to its 1.5x cropped factor, the D7200 has an equivalent maximum FFR of 105-300mm.

A set for those who shoot in the telephoto range – portraits, genre scenes, reportage in a wide variety of light conditions – and still strive for perfect image quality. This professional telezoom delivers a picture much sharper, contrastier and richer in color than general-purpose zooms the price for quality is the rejection of the medium and wide-angle focal length range.

Constant aperture ratio gives photographers significant latitude to work on images, allowing them to blur the background when necessary and visually emphasize the main subject in the frame. Another sign of premium optics: the image at the far end of the zoom 200mm is almost as good as the image at the near end.

Nikon D7200 with AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens. Thanks to its 1.5x cropped factor, its equivalent focal length on the D7200 is 450mm.

With this FX-format lens at 300mm focal length, distance won’t be an obstacle to shooting. This is the first NIKKOR model with an F bayonet equipped with a Fresnel phase lens, resulting in a combination of compact design, long focal length and high image quality.

The lens is well suited for sports and wildlife photography and can be used for travel reports or detailed close-up portraits.

The combination of f/4 maximum aperture, 300mm focal length, and effective Vibration Reduction VR technology delivers great results even in difficult conditions.

AF-S Nikkor 16-80mm lens

A powerful DX-format zoom lens with a focal range of 16-80 mm and a fast f/2.8-4. This versatile 5x zoom is equivalent in angle of view to a 24-120mm full-frame lens, and the wide aperture provides plenty of shooting opportunity.

Nikon’s reliable Vibration Reduction System ensures consistent image clarity. Electromagnetic diaphragm ensures accurate exposures at high frame rates. Lightweight body balances the camera well.

Nikon D7200 with AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1 lens.8G ED

FX-format fast, fixed focal length lens with f/1.8 aperture and classic 35mm focal length. A proven combination of classic focal lengths and large apertures make this versatile and lightweight lens ideal for street photography, interior portraits, and large landscape work.

The 35mm focal length lets you create beautiful, timeless images, while the large maximum aperture of f/1.8 creates soft bokeh and ensures sharp images in low light. Optics designed for high-resolution sensors and the incredible portability of this lens give you the freedom to capture a variety of subjects in all their beauty.

Nikon D7200 with AF-S 50mm f/1 lens.8 NIKKOR

Full-format AF-S 50mm f/1.8 NIKKOR on the D7200 becomes a moderate portrait lens with an equivalent f-stop of 75 mm. It has a lightweight and compact body with a retro-inspired design.

Its fast f/1.8 aperture makes it ideal for low-light photography and allows for a shallow depth of field when needed. Aspherical lens reduces lens aberrations and allows for high-resolution shots, while Nikon’s exclusive silent ultrasonic motor SWM ensures quiet operation.

Nikon D7200 with WR-1 wireless remote controller

The D7200’s systemability also includes compatibility with Nikon’s external flash units SB-700 and SB-910 models recommended , as well as wireless remote controllers WR-1, WR-T10, WR-R10 , GPS positioning units GP-1A , wired and wireless microphones ME-1 and ME-W1 .

Nikon D7200 with MB-D15 battery pack

The MB-D15 universal battery pack is available for the camera. This, like the camera itself, uses the same EN-EL15 battery as the full-size D750 and D810, as well as earlier. It’s handy when the D7200 is a second camera to a professional photographer or a photographer takes all available batteries with him or her.