For Nikon fans, the D7000 has been an agonising wait. Even those looking to buy their first enthusiast-grade dSLR, or even people upgrading from their D60's and D3000's. A few Canon users would also have been curious. And while Nikon launched the D7000 around three months back, review samples were scarce, or so we had been told. The release was inevitable, given the D90's age. What we were curious to see, is whether the D7000 would be a gentle refresh, or would it be more of an evolution. The pricing was another factor. The D90 debuted at above Rs. 90,000 with kit lens, and now goes for as little as Rs. 50,000.
But calendars and product cycles apart, the Nikon D7000 was more needed by Nikon than desired by us. For while the D90 was toe-to-toe with the Canon EOS 50D, the EOS 7D killed it. While the 7D sells for 80,000 body only, for many, the brand new sensor, excellent ergonomics and focussing system and great high ISO performance was all the justification needed to shell out more dough. Then the veritable 7D sensor spawned the EOS 60D and the EOS 550D - more thorns in Nikons side. Given that Sony just released a 16.2-megapixel sensor with their A55 dSLR, it was only a matter of time before a customised version was delivered to Nikon's doorstep.
Nikon D7000 flash up
Up front, let's make one thing clear as crystal - the D7000 betters the D90 in every way. In fact, a lot of the D7000 is dereived from the veritable D300s, and it has a few features that the D300s misses. Although the body size and heft is similar to the D90, ditto the ergonomics and button placement. But then, the D90 was a tried and applauded design, and we see no reason to tamper with a winning formula. Throughout this review, I've compared the D7000 to the Nikon D90, Nikon D300s and Canon EOS 7D.
Look and feel
Though the dimensions are similar, the Nikon D7000 feels much better. While your fingers can't tell you, but this is actually true for partial magnesium-alloy substitutes, what was totally a polycarbonate shell. The rubber grip on the D7000 is a letdown - it is the same as on the D90 and still feels like too hard. This coming from someone who has handled luxurious, soft and substantial rubber grip son on the Nikon D300s and Canon EOS 7D. Given the price difference between the D90, we feel Nikon could given a better grip. However, the camera feels solid, definitely more so than the D90.
The status LCD is also the same size as the D90, and smaller by a good bit than the ones on the larger Nikon bodies, like the D300s. While the dual SD card bay door opens with a reassuring spring action, the battery door feels limp, unlike the nice spring loaded door on the EOS 7D. The lines on the D7000 are tight, with no gaps. The flaps are rubberised but it's a hard sort of rubber, and would not be weather sealed. Comparatively, the flaps on the D300s are softer and seal better.
But calendars and product cycles apart, the Nikon D7000 was more needed by Nikon than desired by us. For while the D90 was toe-to-toe with the Canon EOS 50D, the EOS 7D killed it. While the 7D sells for 80,000 body only, for many, the brand new sensor, excellent ergonomics and focussing system and great high ISO performance was all the justification needed to shell out more dough. Then the veritable 7D sensor spawned the EOS 60D and the EOS 550D - more thorns in Nikons side. Given that Sony just released a 16.2-megapixel sensor with their A55 dSLR, it was only a matter of time before a customised version was delivered to Nikon's doorstep.
Nikon D7000 flash up
Up front, let's make one thing clear as crystal - the D7000 betters the D90 in every way. In fact, a lot of the D7000 is dereived from the veritable D300s, and it has a few features that the D300s misses. Although the body size and heft is similar to the D90, ditto the ergonomics and button placement. But then, the D90 was a tried and applauded design, and we see no reason to tamper with a winning formula. Throughout this review, I've compared the D7000 to the Nikon D90, Nikon D300s and Canon EOS 7D.
Look and feel
Though the dimensions are similar, the Nikon D7000 feels much better. While your fingers can't tell you, but this is actually true for partial magnesium-alloy substitutes, what was totally a polycarbonate shell. The rubber grip on the D7000 is a letdown - it is the same as on the D90 and still feels like too hard. This coming from someone who has handled luxurious, soft and substantial rubber grip son on the Nikon D300s and Canon EOS 7D. Given the price difference between the D90, we feel Nikon could given a better grip. However, the camera feels solid, definitely more so than the D90.
The status LCD is also the same size as the D90, and smaller by a good bit than the ones on the larger Nikon bodies, like the D300s. While the dual SD card bay door opens with a reassuring spring action, the battery door feels limp, unlike the nice spring loaded door on the EOS 7D. The lines on the D7000 are tight, with no gaps. The flaps are rubberised but it's a hard sort of rubber, and would not be weather sealed. Comparatively, the flaps on the D300s are softer and seal better.
