Nikon D5200 - useful around the corner

The Nikon D5200 is the third edition of Nikon's APS-C format SLR with folding screen. The screen can hinge but also rotate. The advantages of such a screen are obvious, especially when you are working from "difficult spots:" on the floor, over your head or even around corners. You can even rotate it all the way forward, to the subject. The disadvantage is that the body is slightly thicker; it is obviously a more fragile construction, and the body is inevitably more expensive. The D5200 differs from predecessor D5100 because of an improved focusing system with more fields, but especially because of the sensor: it now has no less than 24 megapixels!

The Nikon D5200 has as many pixels as the Nikon D3200, yet the sensor is not the same. That of the D3200 comes from Sony, that of the D5200 from Toshiba. The image quality of these two sensors, which we later come back to, is almost equal. There are a few more differences between these two models: the D5200 has two continuous positions and is faster, has more pixels in the metering system, more AF areas, and it has bracketing options.

At the press conference, Nikon gave a very apt description for the this camera: a camera with the body of the Nikon D7000, the sensor of the Nikon D3X and the video of the Nikon D800. The target group for this camera includes advanced amateur photographers who demand a compact, lightweight, affordable camera with, thanks to the large FX sensor, professional (image-) quality. But this camera is also a good choice for videographers who appreciate the advanced Full HD video features of Nikon D800, but for which the investment in a Pro body is too high.

In the past year Nikon's first compact system camera, the Nikon J1, has become in Europe the most popular camera of its kind. In particular, the speed of the camera and the easy applicable creative shooting features of the Nikon 1 series attributed to its success. It's successor, the Nikon J2 is available in the Netherlands since September 2012 in six colors (silver, black, white, pink, red and orange) and also with a brushed metal texture finish. When you purchase a lens in combination with the Nikon J2, the lens is available in the color of the camera. The Nikon 1 series offers several high quality interchangeable lenses. The retail price of the Nikon J2 + Nikon 10-30 VR kit is € 539, - and the kit with the NIKKOR 11-27.5mm is € 519. Since January 2013 there is a Nikon J3 for sale, and that is relatively soon after the introduction of the Nikon J2. Thus it might become possible to find a Nikon J2 at an even lower price.

The target customers of the Nikon D7000 consist of amateur photographers who demand a decent and good camera. The Nikon D7000 offers a solid finish, including additional sealing against dust and water, and a larger, bright viewfinder with 100% coverage. That is better than the smaller seekers of the cheaper Nikon models offer you. However, the Nikon D7000 will definitely feel the hot breath of the cheaper Nikon D5100 and Nikon D3200 on its neck.