Nikon D7000

[amk1977]

lol Chris. Yeah, those RAW recording options are a real PITA. Much better to have the highlights blown out and your picture ruined

I think the current rating system is pretty flawed at best and highly misleading to the novice. Perhaps some kind of ranking table system seperated into catergories such as compacts, APS-C, Full Frame, etc., would give a better indication of a cameras quality/abilities, particularly if its based on a standardized test(s).

[Angela Nicholson]

Hi

If you have any questions about the D7000, please fire away. Incidentally, there will be some more pictures from the camera available soon.

Angela

[amk1977]

Hi Angela,

Would Photo Radar consider doing some kind of ranking table similar to that which I eluded to in my previous post? Currently the rating system seems misleading, especially to newcomers to photography or those unfamiliar with a particular manufacturers models. On the face of it, the D90 would appear to be a better camera than the D7000, purely based on its star rating, when obviously its not the case.

I think it would be a very useful tool for people to be able to have access to information of this nature on the site, which was sectioned into the various camera types mentioned earlier, then sub-divided into entry level, prosumer and professional cameras, with ratings based on a standardized test for more technical data (in layman's terms if needed) on image quality, sensor performance, etc, etc.

This would enable people to compare and consider the cameras in a certain class, with the pros and cons of each model lined up against one another. All of this information would make an excellent compendium and a very useful and attractive feature of this website.

Regards,

Aaron

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

They are a real camera store in a shopping centre in Middlesbrough, Cleveland (north of England) and they only sell UK stock, not imports, so I guess the answer is - yes.

I've never seen them advertise in photo mags but perhaps I don't read the right ones.

That's a very good price for the D7000 - well spotted OldBoy

They do advertise in Practical Photography and in DCM but it's normally only a page, unlike Jessops.

[Angela Nicholson]

Originally Posted by amk1977

Hi Angela,

Would Photo Radar consider doing some kind of ranking table similar to that which I eluded to in my previous post? Currently the rating system seems misleading, especially to newcomers to photography or those unfamiliar with a particular manufacturers models. On the face of it, the D90 would appear to be a better camera than the D7000, purely based on its star rating, when obviously its not the case.

I think it would be a very useful tool for people to be able to have access to information of this nature on the site, which was sectioned into the various camera types mentioned earlier, then sub-divided into entry level, prosumer and professional cameras, with ratings based on a standardized test for more technical data (in layman's terms if needed) on image quality, sensor performance, etc, etc.

This would enable people to compare and consider the cameras in a certain class, with the pros and cons of each model lined up against one another. All of this information would make an excellent compendium and a very useful and attractive feature of this website.

Regards,

Aaron

I'm definitely going to give the idea some thought Aaron, it could be useful and help get over the issue of comparing the scores of cameras from different generations. The D90 and D7000 highlight this problem quite nicely. When the D90 arrived it was groundbreaking being the first DSLR to have HD video recording technology (albeit 720p), it also produced great images from its 12MP sensor and had a very respectable pixel count for the time. The D7000 is also very capable, but things have moved on considerably, the competition is much stronger and 18MP is more likely to impress provided the image quality is high enough (which it is with Canon’s DSLRs). What was a five star feature-set a few years ago would probably only garner a score of 2 or 3 today.

Angela

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by Angela Nicholson

...and 18MP is more likely to impress...

Surely as a tester you should be guiding people past these 'likely to impress' figures. 18 vs 16.2 megapixel is an increase of about 5 or 6 percent in linear dimensions, which hardly anyone will notice in use.

Chris

[HinFrance]

Mmm, let's see. The nearest Canon, the 7D, costs more, has 10% less colour depth, a whole 2 EV less dynamic range, and is about 30% less sensitive (figures DxOMark).

But it's still better. Is it, by any chance, because it has 'Canon' written on the front and Future Publishing also run a Canon dedicated magazine? The first Canon in the DxOMark APS-C table comes in at 19th (41st overall). All the cameras above it are Pentax, Nikon and Sony.

I agree that 3 months ago the 7D was the bees knees, but it's not now.

Can't wait to see the trashing the Pentax K5 gets

[Angela Nicholson]

I think the D7000 is nearer to the EOS 60D than the EOS 7D and our tests don't show quite such a dramatic difference in dynamic range.

The score takes into account many factors including featureset, price, build quality, feel, ease of use, systems performance (AF, metering, white balance etc) and image quality. Image quality cannot be assessed solely by scientific analysis and some photographic experience and understanding has to come into play.

I think there is little to separate the the EOS 60D and D7000 in many respects. While the Nikon camera has a more advanced AF system, the Canon model has a better LCD screen that is articulated - making it very useful for landscape, still life and macro photography. Though the EOS 60D has a plastic construction it feels very solid and gives no indication of being any less durable than the D7000.

The images direct from the EOS 60D are marginally better than those from the D7000 and Canon provides much better software with the camera to ensure that you get just what you want.

The Pentax K-5 is under test as I type. If it's good we will say so, but if its not good we will say so as well.

Angela

[Mr Bump]

I've been away for a week so just catching up on PR Forum posts.

Many thanks HinFrance for the summarised review of the D7000 and K5 in Réponses Photo. That's very useful information.

Originally Posted by HinFrance

Is it, by any chance, because it has 'Canon' written on the front and Future Publishing also run a Canon dedicated magazine? Can't wait to see the trashing the Pentax K5 gets

Despite emphatic denials by all photographic publications I'm afraid it too often looks a little obvious that advertising revenue (and/or reviewers' personal preferences) are a factor in how prominent and how favourable a camera reviews is. I agree that cameras cannot be assessed solely by scientific analysis but at least that provides objective review. Once reviews become subjective (as they must be to some extent) they can be subject to influences that colour their favourability to certain brands/models. It is something we just have to live with, and always keep a pinch of salt handy.

There is no substitute for a thorough hands-on test at your local photographic retailer - which is their big advantage to prospective purchasers over online retailers. Support your local shop!

[Angela Nicholson]

How things may look and how they are can be very different. I'm pretty sure that both Canon and Nikon have an advertising budget, but I have never been and will not be influenced by such things. In the past when I have scored a Nikon camera higher than it's competition I have been accused of having a Nikon bias, this time it is Canon's turn it would seem.

Angela

Angela