D5200 vs D7000

Here are the main differences between the D5200 and the D7000:

They both have:

• ISO 100-6400 expandable to 25,600
• built-in flash
• 2,016 RGB while balance sensor
• 1080p HD video (D5200 can do 30 & 60fps)
• Exposure compensation - ±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
• Exposure bracketing
• White balance bracketing
• 3" 921,000 dot monitor (flips out on D5200)
• Stereo audio input

The D5200 next to the D7000



Different colors for the D5200:



http://nikonites.com/d5200/9382-d5200-vs-d5100.html

The current D7000 is now priced at 896 dollars, the exact same price as the 5200.

Owning now both a D5100 and a D7000,, I personally would have to choose the
7000 over the 5200 even with the sensor.

5200 - more pixels,, but not usable unless printing beyound 13x19.

7000, semipro build, nicer buttons, dedicated front/back dials (easier for manual mode)
top view finder, but its the metering of old glass/and built in motor drive that swings it
for me besides the better weather proofing.

If the 7000 was still at 1200 dollars, maybe... but with the fire sell price of the current 7000, the 7000 is one sweet package.

5200 does have the swivel display, but that is not enough, and I find it slows me down, a bit, because I like to store the display turned around.

For me, this is where the line gets drawn that divides those whose ultimate goal - not current goal, but the end-all - is "I want to take really nice pictures" (the D5200 buyer) and "I want to be a really good photographer" (the D7000 buyer). The ergonomics of the D5200 alone lead me to look at it as "that next step after the point and shoot doesn't cut it any more", where the D7000 is like "the gateway drug to that (semi)pro body you want one day". If I REALLY needed a cropped sensor camera today I might, just might be wanting the extra MP's, particularly after reading about some of the dust and focus issues of the D7000 and not wanting to wait for whatever might replace it. But I also have read of potential, similar focus issues with the D5200, so it just makes more sense to me to make that step across the great divide.

That said, if it was my niece, or my mother in-law, I know that some of the additional complexities of the 7000 would make their head explode, and that all they want is a nice machine to take good pictures in live view mode.

Yes, I agree,, all depends on the target audience, for those that want a camera, 1 or 2 lens, the 5200 would be perfect.

My copy of D7000 was clean, and I would hope by now, any ones in stock would be High QC.

I find I can switch between the D7000/D700/D800 almost seamlessly, the cameras are so similar in features/layout.

I think its simpler than that if you have time to change setting when taking photos then the D5200 is fine and if you you can tolerate 1 SD card BUT if you are in a hurry and need to change settings fast then the D7000 with its U1 U2 A and P gives you 4 instant and different setting ...Now so what we want is a D7200 to lock that dial( like a D600) in one place and give us a bit more crop ability...Then those weddings will be bliss ....

How nice to segregate people like that. D5200 is a mid-range camera and is hardly the "next step" from a P&S. No, it does not have all the manual controls, that is where the D7K comes in. But you have to keep in mind that there are bridge cameras and the 3200 before the 5200, not to mention high-end compact cameras that shoot in RAW. So, perhaps the 3rd/4th step from a P&S if it were to be looked at like this. On the other hand, many people go from P&S to D7ks or D600. It really depends on the person. The 5200 just scored higher than the D7k with the DXO tests.... In the end, and lets go back to the 5100, if you took both cameras and set them up the same way and used the same lens, i highly doubt you would be able to tell the difference between the produced photos. Don't photographers take really nice pictures? Sure, both products are aimed at different markets. But, in the end, it all depends on the user behind it on what kind of pictures it will take, or is that photographs?

My sincere apologies if I offended your photographic sensibilities. :culpability: I believe you've chosen to focus on a couple of my words and not on my point. If someone picks up a camera inspired to take something other than "really nice pictures" then I'd have to ask if they were in therapy. There's a difference between someone who takes pictures and a photographer. We might all draw the line in different places, but I believe we would all agree that there's a line to be drawn. I do not intend to expound on where that should be, I only meant to comment on buyer motivation at the time of purchase - they are free to change their minds down the road, and many likely will.

The D5200, from all reports, seems to be a fantastic camera, and not one that would necessarily be limited to casual photographers only. But when the questions is asked "D5200 or D7000?", and you look at the two from top to bottom, I have to believe that the person choosing the D7000 is doing so strictly because it has more of the features that they're seeing on the higher end cameras, and that is the direction they want to go. My contention is that the D7000 buyer sees it as a "now investment" believing that they will eventually "trade up", while the D5200 buyer is looking for a "great camera" with no thought to where they'll go next. The feature list on the D5200 being what it is, it's a comparatively "better camera" in many ways. And if that's the case then why else would a person go with the D7000 other than with an eye set on more professional equipment down the road?! So if that's the D7000 buyer, then the D5200 buyer is everyone else - those who are just looking for a great camera to take great pictures. And there's nothing wrong with that.

I find it interesting the way Nikon is starting with the entry level 3200 to first test the waters of the 24 Meg DX sensor,

and now has worked it into the next step up with the 5200,,,, delaying the 7200,, almost forcing buyers who are "dying" for the 24 Meg sensor to buy a 5200,,,

and then.. wack.. out will come the 7200,,, what the heck! why delay the 7200 ? who knows, or is it clever marketing?


I am a camera junky,,,, ok,, I admit it,, and so will keep the 5100 I have in my fleet, I have gotten rid of a 50, 70, and 300,, and each has regret,,, darn I wish I
kept the D70 as an infrared red project,, and darn I loved the D300,, even when it was collecting dust.

My largest irrantant is not even that the 5100 can't drive the D lens, that I am ok with since I can understand saving cost/camera size,, but darn,,, I just wish the
light meter worked with the old manual glass...

Then I would be so so happy with Nikon,, because,, using a 5100 or 5200 with the compact super small manual glass would be perfect, it would almost be a pocket camera. OH WELL

Can use the old ED lens in manual mode,, which like using the old manual glass, but frankly the Autofocus lens never match the fine focusing the manual glass..

a few exceptions to that.. for example..

the 105 F2 DC.... awesome manual focus ring...

300 F4 AF ED,,, again,,, bravo,,, awesome focusing ring..

but for almost all of my other Autofocus camera focus rings .. naw,, they work, but nothing to write about.

:disillusionment: I tried to find the popcorn smiley but no luck
Anyways I find this discussion pretty entertaining. you find this exact discussion any time someone brings up the camera vs the photog, Nikon Vs Canon, etc etc..
Plain an simple The D5200 is an entry level camera where as the D7k is aimed toward the enthusiast the same as the D600. Where the D5200 shines is the 24mp sensor and the expeed 3 processor. what kills the D5200 is the lack of motor drive IMO.
I also wanted to touch on the comment about people going from a P&S to a D600 or bigger. While I have also seen this I have seen those same people turn around and sell those cameras with the excuse of "it was to much camera for me" Make no mistake. a PRO camera is a pro camera for a reason and it is not because it has the same capability as an entry level camera.

quote "the D5100 cannot dive the D lens "

Oh yes it can and works just like a modern lens ...all you have to do is focus....

It called a CPU emulator and I have written it up recently in the D7000 section of this site ....go have a look ....I use it with my D3200 on a 35mm lens for exteeme Bokeh.

pistnbroke said:

quote "the D5100 cannot dive the D lens "

Oh yes it can and works just like a modern lens ...all you have to do is focus....

It called a CPU emulator and I have written it up recently in the D7000 section of this site ....go have a look ....I use it with my D3200 on a 35mm lens for exteeme Bokeh.

Click to expand...

Great way to void warranty and camera and lens...

hang on mate we are talking 20-30 year old lenses here being made servicable......void the warantee ..how is that ?? If your camea did go wrong then you dont send the modified lens do you ..and why would it damage the cameara anyway ....works for me ...

pistnbroke said:

quote "the D5100 cannot dive the D lens "

Oh yes it can and works just like a modern lens ...all you have to do is focus....

It called a CPU emulator and I have written it up recently in the D7000 section of this site ....go have a look ....I use it with my D3200 on a 35mm lens for exteeme Bokeh.

Click to expand...

Drive = auto focus, does it not?

In that respect, he's right. You could spend the time and money to chip a lens if you've got a couple, but if you have a large selection I'm not sure it's worth it - just get the better body.

I am making people aware of an option to use old lenses on all bodies ..take it or leave it I dont care .....

pistnbroke said:

quote "the D5100 cannot dive the D lens "

Oh yes it can and works just like a modern lens ...all you have to do is focus....

It called a CPU emulator and I have written it up recently in the D7000 section of this site ....go have a look ....I use it with my D3200 on a 35mm lens for exteeme Bokeh.

Click to expand...

when I mean drive ,,, its the focus I am referring too, sure, can manual focus, but for some that large loss of function.

so you meant AF-D not D

Lens seriel nos and designations can be found here .....

Nikon Lens Serial Nos

100% viewfinder does it for me boys.

Johnathan Aulabaugh said:

Great way to void warranty and camera and lens...

Click to expand...

I use some of my older AF D lenses (from F4 days) on my D3000 (not the 5100 or 5200, I know). So, big deal, one has to focus. According to everything I have read on Nikon's Web site, there is no indication that using one of these older autofocus lenses will void any warranty on any DSLR. Where did that idea come from? ... Just asking.

piperbarb said:

I use some of my older AF D lenses (from F4 days) on my D3000 (not the 5100 or 5200, I know). So, big deal, one has to focus. According to everything I have read on Nikon's Web site, there is no indication that using one of these older autofocus lenses will void any warranty on any DSLR. Where did that idea come from? ... Just asking.

Click to expand...

yeah,, that would not make a lot of sense,,, I mean same contacts as the G,, so,, no way it oculd damage the camera, at least to my knowledge, maybe its a NIKON Myth.

Dang, I just got a D5200 and now I'm wishing I bought the D7k instead. I have noticed something a little strange with the D5200. If I'm taking photo's of planes in the auto or sports mode the quality is very poor, to say the least. The good part is it has pushed me into using the manual mode and I'm learning more about the camera and as a direct result. I can still sell the D5200 and get a D7k... suggestions?