I preordered the Nikon D7100 the day it was announced. It seemed like a perfect replacement for my trusty D300s and a worthy backup for my D3s and D700 bodies. The features that made me take this leap of faith were the 51-point auto focus system, the added reach of the new 16-megapixel 1.3x crop mode, and the new 24-megapixel DX-format sensor. The D7100’s price and the new remote control options made it look like a great camera for sporting events, too. With Nikon’s new WR-1 transceiver it’s possible to use several D7100s and control all functions remotely – and the price makes using several of them a real possibility. The question is – does the D7100 perform well enough for professional sports photography; and is it a worthy upgrade to the D300s?
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Price: $1199 (body only)
Nikon D7100 Camera Pros
- 24-megapixel sensor with no anti-aliasing filter
- Same 51-point auto focus system as Nikon’s D4 flagship DSLR
- New 1.3x crop mode for increased reach and faster burst
- Light, compact body
- Dual SD card slots
- Menus and controls similar to other Nikon DSLRs
- Weather-sealed construction
- Super clear and accurate 3.2-inch 1.2-million-dot RGBW LCD display
- Quiet shutter
- Pop-up flash
Nikon D7100 Cons
- 24-megapixel resolution requires more memory, more storage, and more processing time
- Feels plasticky compared to D300s and D3s
- Can only shoot bursts of 3 or 4 RAW images before buffer is filled
- Inconsistent auto focus performance – especially in low light
- No CompactFlash card slot
- Not compatible with D300s accessories that have 10-pin connectors
Nikon D7100 Key Features & Specs:
- 24.1-megapixel DX-format (APS-C) CMOS sensor
- EXPEED 3 image processing
- 51-point AF system with 15 cross-type sensors
- 2,016-pixel RGB metering sensor with Scene Recognition System
- Sensitivity: ISO 100 to 6400, expandable to ISO 25,600 (Hi-2)
- New 1.3x Crop Mode
- 6 FPS high-speed burst at full resolution (7 FPS in 1.3x Crop Mode)
- 3.2-inch 1.2-million-dot RGBW LCD display
- New, “i” button provides quick access to key functions in Live View
- 1080p full HD video with built-in stereo microphone and headphone jack
- Full HD video at 60i in 1.3x Crop Mode
- Uncompressed HDMI output video
- Full time auto focus in video mode
- Dual SD card slots – UHS-1 and SDXC compatibility
- New viewfinder with 100% coverage and new OLED info display
- Shutter assembly rated for 150k actuations
- Magnesium alloy top and back plates
- Weatherproofing equivalent to the D300s
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Next – Nikon D7100 Experience >>
cool and nice goods, advanced
Very nice review and informative. I got mine last year, used once or twice so far and still trying to learn more about it. My passion is MTB and I will use the D7100 for outdoors shots. My other concern is the expose monitor screen, it doesn’t have the snap on for the screen protector. What screen protector do you recommend, glass or hard plastic type? Thanks.