Nikon Digital SLR Guide

Last year, I invited professional outdoor adventure photographer and longtime Nikon shooter Dan Bailey to give us an overview of the Nikon digital SLR line. He’s a longtime Nikon user and I couldn’t think of a better person to give us a snapshot (heh heh) of the 2011Nikon has introduced a bunch of new digital SLRs since 2011 and Dan did such a good job I invited him back to update this guide for 2012. Nikon DSLR family. I’ve organized the guide into three pages, this intro and then separate pages for full frame and crop sensor cameras. The cameras have been divided into FX (full frame) and DX (APS-C) format and then each camera has been given its own page. We hope this our Nikon DSLR Guide helps you find the right best Nikon digital SLR for your needs and budget. -Photo-John-

Thinking of buying a new Nikon camera? With some brand new models in the lineup, now is a great time to upgrade or get yourself a new body. However, with so many choices, it’s not always easy to decide which camera is right for you. That’s even true for me, a longtime professional shooter who’s been using Nikon cameras my entire career. Since I shoot primarily outdoors, I need a versatile body that’s somewhat compact and lightweight but also rugged enough to handle the toughest conditions. The camera I choose usually ends up being a compromise between size, weight, quality and price.

To help you narrow down your choices and figure out which camera has the best set of features and a price that matches your needs, here’s a quick rundown of current Nikon digital SLRs along with a little analysis of why you might consider one particular camera over another. To get started, just click on one of the cameras below to visit that DSLR page and learn more:

DX Format (APS-C) Cameras

Nikon D300s $1699 Nikon D7000 $1199 Nikon D90 $899 Nikon D5100 $649 Nikon D3200 $699 Nikon D3100 $649

FX Format (Full-Frame) Cameras

Nikon D4 $5999 Nikon D3X $7999 Nikon D3s $5200 Nikon D800 $2999

The author, Dan Bailey, is a professional adventure, outdoor and travel photographer based in Anchorage, Alaska. Check out his photography eBook, Making The Image, follow his blog at danbaileyphoto.com/blog, and see his daily updates at facebook.com/danbaileyphoto.