US$300 Powerhouse: Why the Nikon D750 is still one of the best DSLR deals in photography

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The Nikon D750 launched as a serious photography machine for both enthusiasts and pros, but can be picked up today for less than many cheap mirrorless lenses

Nikon D750
It’s over a decade old, but the Nikon D750 is still a serious stills photography tool (Image credit: Future)

Dare I call the Nikon D750 the Big N’s first modern full-frame DSLR? Released the same year that Gangnam Style reached two billion views on YouTube and that infamous World Cup bite. Nearly a decade on from its launch in September 2014, the Nikon D750 is still a very capable camera that’ll handle pretty much any photography application you can throw at it.

Nikon launched this much-loved DSLR as the debutant in a range of compact and lightweight full-frame bodies. And while such a statement might garner a wry smile in today’s mirrorless market, stacked up against the Nikon D810 and Nikon D4, the Nikon D750 was notably smaller and lighter. But what was perhaps most interesting was Nikon’s claim of “full-scale specifications that pursue those of professional models”.

That’s because the Nikon D750 brought with it a new FX-format sensor and the then-top-notch Expeed 4 image processor. According to Nikon, this delivered superior image quality to the D810 at high ISO sensitivities. In fact, the Nikon D750’s impressive low-light capabilities still very much hold up today.

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Man holding Nikon D780 in snow-covered landscape

The Nikon D780 succeeded the Nikon D750 (Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)

Add to that a respectable 6.5fps max burst speed, a new AF sensor module, top LCD screen and dual SD card slots, and it’s not surprising that the D750 was adopted by enthusiast and professional photographers alike.

It even presided over a few Nikon firsts; it was the first FX body to sport a tilting rear LCD, feature built-in Wi-Fi and have seven special effects modes (accessed via the mode dial).

In January 2020, the Nikon D750 would be succeeded by the Nikon D780 – and although the latter is arguably an underrated gem, the Nikon D750 had successfully cemented its place in the pantheon of legendary Nikons.

If you’re an enthusiast stills photographer on a budget, you could do a lot worse than a used Nikon D750. And with used examples going for as little as $300 / £300, it’s still an awful lot of camera for the money, even in 2026.

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If you're a Nikon fan like me, check out the best Nikon cameras. For more of my camera retrospectives: The forgotten Fujifilm X-T200 is still a great entry-level choice and is pretty cheap for a retro-themed mirrorless camera. And, why the Nikon Df is the DSLR I'd buy today.

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Mike Harris
Mike Harris
How To Editor

Mike studied photography at college, honing his Adobe Photoshop skills and learning to work in the studio and darkroom. After a few years writing for various publications, he headed to the ‘Big Smoke’ to work on Wex Photo Video’s award-winning content team, before transitioning back to print as Technique Editor (later Deputy Editor) on N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine.

With bylines in Digital Camera, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, Practical Photography, Digital Photographer, iMore, and TechRadar, he’s a fountain of photography and consumer tech knowledge, making him a top tutor for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more. His expertise extends to everything from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and architecture to wildlife and, yes, fast things going around race tracks...

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