Nikon Digital SLR System

a photo.net guide by Philip Greenspun

The Nikon system of digital single-lens reflex (SLR) bodies and lenses is a popular choice among serious photographers worldwide. This page makes it easy to shop for Nikon digital bodies and Nikkor lenses. Every component manufactured by Nikon is covered, plus a few exceptionally good third-party components. If you are new to photography, you might want to start with my article "Building a Digital SLR System".

This article goes through every section of the Nikon system and concludes with some starter system recommendations.

Nikon Camera Bodies

Most Nikon digital SLR bodies incorporate a "small sensor" or "APS-C" sized sensor. This is smaller than the standard 35mm film frame and effectively multiplies the magnification of any lens attached to the body. A small sensor is good for telephoto work, such as wildlife photography, where a 300mm lens that is too short for bird photography on a film camera becomes a 450mm (effective) lens. In November 2007, Nikon added the D3, their first full-frame sensor DSLR professional camera to their arsenal of DSLR bodies. The full-frame sensor bodies are good for wide angle photography, low light photography, and optimum image quality.

• Nikon D40, 18-55mm kit, $423 (review), 6 MP and good enough for most family photography; best user interface of any digital SLR, with example photos displayed on the rear LCD to show appropriate situations for different settings. Note that the D40 requires SD memory cards rather than the standard CF cards used by other Nikon bodies
• Nikon D40x, $590 (review), same idea, but 10 MP; if you care about image quality, pair with Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC for Nikon, $439
• Nikon D60, $561 (review), 10 MP, Nikon's latest addition to the line of small-body DSLRs, an upgrade to the D40/D40x
• Nikon D80 (review), 10 MP, Nikon's answer to the Canon Digital Rebel XTi; the kit zooms are reasonably good, but too slow for indoor usage
• Nikon D90, $949 (review), 12 MP, Nikon's latest prosumer model, includes GPS and a movie mode capable of capturing 1280x720 pixel images at 24 fps HD with sound.
• Nikon D200 (review), 10 MP, the camera for most advanced amateurs
• Nikon D300, $1570 (review), 12 MP, released at the same time as the D3, a fast camera with 51 AF points
• Nikon D2HS, $5987 (review), only 4 Megapixels but tremendously fast; intended for sports photojournalists
• Nikon D2Xs (review), 12 MP, before the full-frame sensor cameras came along, this was Nikon's top-of-the-line camera
• Nikon D700, $2350 (review), 12 MP, D3 image quality at about half the price
• Nikon D3, $4600 (review), 12 MP, Nikon's first full frame sensor DSLR
• Nikon D3X, $7299 (review), 24.5 MP, D3 image quality with about double the resolution

For nostalgia buffs and collectors, Nikon still makes film bodies: