Yesterday Nikon answered my wishes for a replacement to my Nikon D5000 (and D300 before that) travel camera. My wish was for a small rugged body that offers DSLR video at 1080p, stereo mic input and continuous autofocus while shooting video ain't bad either. I looked at the D3100 was tempted, but once my buddy Jeff Revell pointed out that it lacked bracketed shooting (which makes HDR much much easer), and that was pretty much a deal breaker. It also lacks a mic input. However, the D7000 has everything I want. It's actually more of a replacement to the D90 than the D5000. Although the D5000 was newer, the D90 had a more rugged water resistant body. The D7000 brings Nikons latest technologies to bear.
It offers:
- a 16.2MP DX-format CMOS chip
- HD Video up to 1080p 24fps (20 minute clip limit – up from 5 minutes)
- Full-time Auto Focus while shooting video <- if this works well it will be HUGE!
- a respectable 6fps continuous shooting mode
- ISO range from 100 to 6400 (expandable to 25, 600 in HI2 mode)
- Twin SD (SDHC, SDXC) card slots – great for copying, shooting video to one stills to the other or RAW to one and JPGs to the other.
- Optional MD11 external battery grip
- Built-in HDMI out and stereo mic in
- GPS support (external module required as before)
- Full specs here.
Yep, this is the one I've been waiting for since last year.
The Nikon D7000 lists for $1,195 and you can place your pre-order here.
Here's a sample video clip shot by Chase Jarvis
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbBKukJzBk
Terry: I´ve read in another blog that the D7000 is limited in that Auto Exposure Bracketing only lets you take 3 exposures with only 1EV difference (!) …there is a workaround for that, making use of U1 and U2 custom settings (one for underexposing and the other for overexposing), but, if true, it would make this camera less convenient for HDRI.
Terry
Some confusion regarding the bracketing specs on the D700 with HDR implications. Nikon website indicates 3 shots at max +-1 stop. A Japanese owners manual search shows some indication that bracketing is actually same as D90 +-2 stops which works well for HDR. We need one of the hands-on testers like Chase to confirm which it is.
Auto bracketing allows max 3 pics at +- 2 EV
Seems like a lot of camera for $1,200. A few years ago, for that money, a Cannon Rebel series couldn’t touch these specs. Hmmm. Technology good:)
D7000 is definitely sitting above the D90 in the new Nikon lineup. It is closer to D300s than it is to D90. It is also a solid competitor to both Canon 7D and the Canon 60D.
Tweet from Nikon on D7K HDR
#Nikon #D7000 Updated:Exposure & Flash Bracketing is 2 or 3 stops in 1/3, 1/2, 1 & 2 Stops (not 1) Great for #HDR
Hey Terry,
Your D7000 write up got me to wonder’n: What brand/size/class SD card do you use most often use?
Typically for photography SanDisk 8GB. However, all of my Video SD cards are Transcend 16GB Class 6’s. I’ve used the Transcends for both in my D5000 and will probably continue to use them in my D7000. http://amzn.to/9R18Xa
I’ve been debating a move from Canon to Nikon. I think this is it. The D60 is plastic and more of a Rebel build. The D7000 is going to kill it in the marketplace, IMHO.
Does anyone know if the batteries for the D300 (En-EL3) and the battery grip MD-B10 will be compatible with the new D7000?
NO, the D7000 uses a different battery!
I will be purchasing the D7000 next month as well. Any suggestions on a good DX lens for video?
Anyone watch the Chase Jarvis Short film? that graffiti kid is amazing.
D7000, downloading in camra raw to lightroom 3.3. what’s the problem? slower than a tug boat. Took two hrs for 96 pictures. Have a very fast machine. Cs5 ten times faster. PS great pictures.