10 best Nikon cameras

Nikon is a legendary company that has influenced not only the development of modern technology, but also the improvement of photography in general. Officially, the history of this brand began in 1917, but one of the companies that preceded its appearance was formed back in 1883, so the Japanese manufacturer does not lack experience. Today Nikon products are in demand in various fields, and even NASA uses the company's cameras. Every year the manufacturer develops its devices, thanks to which they become more and more popular. If you also want to get a good model from the famous Japanese, then the rating of the best Nikon cameras in different price categories will help you with this.

Best Nikon digital cameras (compact)

Digital cameras are prized for their compactness and simplicity. They offer only basic settings, but if you wish, you can trust the automatic modes. In terms of ease of use, digital cameras are comparable to modern smartphones. But the quality of their shooting is noticeably higher, and they take up the same amount of space or a little more. Such models are suitable for people who do not plan to study the intricacies of photography, and the need to carry a bulky device with them causes dissatisfaction.

1. Nikon Coolpix A900

Do you want to buy a camera for a quality photo that can fit in your jeans pocket? There are not many really decent models in this category, and one of them is the Coolpix A900 from the Nikon brand. It offers a sensor with a resolution of 20 MP, which has a size of 1 / 2.3 inches and sensitivity from 80 to 3200 ISO. However, for shooting without noise, it will not work to unscrew the sensitivity to the maximum.

The A900 has a 24-840mm focal length, f / 3.4-f / 6.9 aperture and an impressive 35x optical zoom.
The shooting speed of a good compact camera from Nikon is 7fps. A900 can take the same number of photos in one shot. For convenience, the camera has a rotatable 3-inch display with a resolution of 921 thousand dots. The camera also received a USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless modules. The Nikon Coolpix A900 battery is fully charged for 270 images.

Advantages:

• excellent optics;
• convenient control;
• good pictures;
• rotary display;
• compactness and lightness;
• the ability to record video in 4K format;
• impressive zoom.

Disadvantages:

• ISO setting;
• matrix size;
• focusing speed.

2. Nikon Coolpix B500

The B500 is Nikon's inexpensive digital superzoom camera (40x optical). The camera turned out to be quite compact - 114 × 75 × 95 mm. And its weight is not very large (542 grams with batteries). The function buttons are traditionally located on the right, so they can be operated with one thumb. On top of the camera there is a mode dial, of which 8 are provided here.

The manual settings in the B500 include the ability to adjust exposure as well as color gamut and temperature. Nikon's already impressive zoom can be expanded up to 80x with the Dynamic Fine Zoom option. The quality, of course, will decrease somewhat, but it will be as close as possible to what the standard optics can provide. Also Coolpix B500 can boast of the presence of NFC.

Advantages:

• excellent ergonomics;
• weight and dimensions;
• attractive price tag;
• optical zoom;
• battery life;
• tiltable screen;
• low noise level;
• there are Wi-Fi and NFC modules;
• picture quality.

Disadvantages:

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only work through the SnapBridge app;
• periodic problems with the USB connection.

The best Nikon cameras for hobbyists

A good home cam is a trade-off between functionality and intuitive controls. Such a device should offer the user a sufficiently wide range of possibilities to experiment with the frame, but not confuse the person. Advanced DSLRs, in turn, are a purely professional tool that you need to be able to work with. If you trust all the automation or don't worry too much about manual settings, then the result will not be much better than with a simple soap dish, and the buyer will regret the money spent on the camera.

1. Nikon D3400 Kit

D3400 belongs to the "three thousandth" line - the most affordable in the Nikon range. It is popular with amateurs and novices alike looking for a quality DSLR on a small budget. This particular model of the camera will cost the buyer about 322–336 $.

The Nikon D3400 offers SnapBridge technology, which allows camera data to be transferred to a mobile device. Due to the use of Bluetooth Low Energy in the background, this function almost does not consume energy.

The second thing to note is the compact size. This camera for amateur photography weighs only 395 grams (without a lens and batteries, and its length is only slightly more than 12 cm. Its body made of high-quality plastic is perfectly assembled.

The camera is equipped with a 24.2-megapixel DX-format sensor, which is complemented by a proprietary EXPEED 4 processor. NIKKOR 18-55 mm was chosen as a kit lens for the D3400. It is not only suitable for photography, but also optimized for video recording.

Advantages:

• excellent image quality;
• weight and size characteristics;
• good work of the Live View mode;
• convenient control for beginners;
• sending pictures to smartphone.
• there is a tutorial mode Guide.

Disadvantages:

• RAW processing capabilities;
• mono sound when cropping.

2. Nikon D5300 Kit

Soon the D5300 will be 6 years old, and amateurs are buying it almost as actively as in the first months after the presentation. This is a classic DSLR equipped with a 24.2 MP (effective pixels) CMOS sensor and APS-C size. The camera's functions are not limited to taking photos, and it can also record videos. True, the maximum resolution is only Full HD at 60 frames / s.

This good compact camera for beginners has dimensions of 125 × 98 × 76 mm and the weight of the "carcass" is 480 grams without batteries or 530 with them. The device is equipped with a 3.2-inch rotating display with a resolution of over one million dots. Also, this DSLR has Wi-Fi and GPS modules, which are absent in lower models. Nikon D5300 controls are simple, and even a beginner will quickly figure it out.

Advantages:

• automatic mode operation;
• detailed images;
• excellent color rendering;
• thoughtful management;
• autofocus speed;
• availability of GPS and Wi-Fi modules.

Disadvantages:

• buffer size for RAW and JPG shooting.

3. Nikon D3500 Kit

The list continues with the amateur Nikon D3500. This 2018 model is not too different from the D3400 discussed above, released two years earlier. Its body is also made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and has no protection, and uses the familiar Nikon F as a mount.

The dimensions and weight of the camera have increased, but only slightly, so the difference between the two models can be seen primarily due to the design changes. The novelty uses a similar matrix, as well as the same 3-inch display with a resolution of 921 thousand points. The camera can record HD and FHD videos at 50/60 fps for 29 minutes (or 4 GB).

Advantages:

• excellent ergonomics;
• high-quality pictures;
• compact size;
• writes videos well;
• user-friendly interface.

Best Nikon DSLRs

In this category, we will consider the optimal cameras in terms of cost and performance.Such cameras can be purchased both for beginners who are planning to gradually develop in the art of photography, and for amateurs, and even for professionals, who cannot yet allocate more money to purchase a camera at a higher level. All models from this list have a lot of positive reviews from real customers, so we can recommend them to anyone looking for a good camera for shooting.

1. Nikon D7200 Body

Moving on from the "seven thousandth" series of Nikon SLR cameras. Unlike the solutions described above, it is intended not only for amateurs who are well versed in photography, but also for professionals with moderate finances. D7200 Body price starts at 630 $, but you will need to buy a lens additionally.

The declared resource of the camera from one battery charge of 1900 mAh is 1000 shots.

One of the best Nikon DSLR cameras is equipped with a 24.2 million effective pixel sensor with a physical size of 23.6 x 15.6 mm. There is no fog filter here, which provides excellent detail. And even if this increases the risk of moiré, in practice it is quite difficult to catch it.

The D7200's autofocus system includes 51 points (of which 15 are cross-type) with a good sensitivity of -3 EV. Also in the reviews, the camera is praised for the presence of NFC and Wi-Fi. But there was no place for GPS here. But the body of the device is protected from dust and moisture.

Advantages:

• working ISO values ​​up to 6400;
• tenacious tracking autofocus;
• video quality (FHD);
• the presence of Wi-Fi and NFC modules;
• good battery life;
• high shooting speed.

Disadvantages:

• complexity of management (for a beginner);
• OSD is not adjustable.

2. Nikon D7500 Body

Next in line is the top-notch D7500 Body. This SLR camera can please not only amateurs, but also professionals, because it has a matrix with a resolution of 20.9 MP with a sensitivity range from 100 to 51,200 ISO. If you take into account the Extended values, then you can even achieve ISO 1,640,000, which is enough for working in low light conditions. But in this case the noise will also be noticeable.

A modern EXPEED 5 processor is responsible for processing photos and videos in the camera. Its performance allows you to provide an excellent speed of 8 frames / second and a series of 50 RAW images (or 100 in JPEG format). The D7500 also features a 180,000 pixel RGB sensor. There is also in the camera the ability to meter exposure in bright areas, which will be useful at various concerts and performances.

Advantages:

• excellent sensitivity;
• autofocus module like D810;
• touchscreen inclined display;
• video recording in 4K resolution;
• wireless photo transfer.

Disadvantages:

• plastic case;
• no second card slot.

3. Nikon D7200 Kit

If you want to choose a Nikon camera with a lens right away, and not bother with a choice without the appropriate knowledge, then you can take the same D7200, but in a whale version. The device has the same weight of 675 grams without or 765 with batteries. However, the weight of the complete 18-105 mm VR lens is added to this. As for the rest of the characteristics, there are no differences: operating values ​​ISO 100-3200 and expanded to 102 400, the function of cleaning the matrix, a shooting speed of 7 frames / s, a 3.2-inch screen.

Advantages:

• reasoned price tag;
• good video quality;
• excellent pictures;
• ergonomic body;
• good autonomy;
• protection against dust and moisture.

Best professional Nikon cameras

Reading magazines and articles on the Internet, watching reports on YouTube and on television, we are constantly faced with the demonstration of pictures of various objects or events. For this, professional cameras are used that allow you to capture beautiful and juicy shots, as well as adjust all the required parameters for the current conditions and your own shooting style. They are also used by studio professionals, wedding photographers and other people who get paid for their work. If you want to compete successfully in the marketplace, then you need the right camera.

1. Nikon D810 Body

The popular Nikon SLR camera for professional studio photography.The design of the D810 is reminiscent of the predecessors D800 and D800E. The processor has improved, and now the proprietary EXPEED 4 is installed here. Focusing is carried out by means of 51 points, and the minimum shutter speed of the camera is 1/8000 s. The device has enough battery for 1200 shots, which is a very good indicator.

The D810 is not the newest camera, so it can only record videos at Full HD resolution. Frame rate and maximum time - 60 fps and 20 minutes.

The monitored camera received a fairly wide range of ISO values ​​from 64 to 12,800 units. However, the new sensor allows the use of non-standard settings, from 32 to 51,200 ISO. The resolution of the D810 matrix is ​​36.3 MP. For the sake of increased detail, the manufacturer has abandoned the anti-aliasing filter, and an updated mirror lift system paired with an electronic front shutter curtain guarantees excellent sharpness.

Advantages:

• perfect photo detail;
• picture at ISO up to 6400;
• huge buffer for shooting in JPEG;
• excellent ergonomics;
• the ability to customize control;
• works with two flash drives.

Disadvantages:

• rather big cost;
• buffer for shooting RAW and S-RAW.

2. Nikon D850 Body

Nikon D850 closes the catalog of professional camera models and the overall rating. This camera was released in 2017 for the centenary of the brand, so the best practices of the manufacturer were invested in it. Being a logical continuation of the D810, the D850 is noticeably superior in all respects.

If we talk about the advantages of the camera according to reviews, then first of all we can highlight the magnificent BSI CMOS matrix with a resolution of 45.7 MP, as well as an impressive sensitivity from 64 to 25 600 ISO (extended from 32 to 102 400)

The diagonal of the display has not changed and is 3.2 inches. But it has become a folding one and can boast a resolution increased to 2,359,000 pixels. The camera also learned to write 4K video. True, the frame rate in this case is limited to 30 fps, and if you need 60, you will have to switch to HD or Full HD.

Advantages:

• matrix resolution;
• work at high ISO;
• dynamic range;
• touch control;
• viewfinder at 100% of the frame;
• silence and shutter resource;
• burst shooting speed;
• 4K video recording without crop.

Disadvantages:

• focusing speed Live View.

Which camera from Nikon is better to buy

If you need a device that takes up minimal space, then take a closer look at the A900. The dimensions of this camera are only 113 × 67 × 40 mm. The Coolpix B500 is slightly larger, but also more functional. Plus, it can be found cheaper. In the TOP of the best Nikon cameras for amateurs, the "three thousandth" series has shown itself perfectly. If your requirements are higher and your budget is bigger, then you should take the D7200 (with or without lens) or D7500. In the professional segment, the D850 is the undisputed leader. This is a flawless camera, but its cost without a lens starts at 2142 $... However, when a person makes a living by photography, he will give this amount without hesitation.