NikonD7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)

I had to make a major decision before buying the D7100: FX or DX. I have been dithering for quite a while and have a hodge podge of Nikon lenses. FX lenses include the 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/4.0, and a TC-14E II teleconverter. DX lenses include the 10-24mm and the 85mm VR micro. My belief is that DX was the right way to go for me because 1) good DX cameras produce superb photos, 2) I can buy less expensive lenses because the pretend focal lengths are larger, 3) only the sweetest part of FX lenses (their centers) will be used, 4) DX camera bodies will remain less expensive, and 5) my default print size is only 13"x19". This introductory paragraph is not to convince you that DX is the right way to go but to explain why I bought this camera instead of a D600 or D800.Let me start by saying that I love this camera! Nikon managed to do a few stupid things that I'll mention below but let's talk about the positives first. The shutter release - including focusing, VR, and metering - is so fast that it's hard to press just half way to lock readings. I'm sure there is some shutter lag but I couldn't measure it. Focus is spot on with all my lenses and I have not used the capability to do individual lens adjustments. Other positives as reported by most other reviewers: camera feel (solid); good controls; sensible blend between menus, buttons, and dials; viewfinder setup and image size; etc.I have read some other reviewers that say this camera isn't very sharp. Not so! If you have moved up from a 10-12 megapixel to this one, you can be fooled as I was. I typically pixel peep in photoshop with the image at 100%, i.e., one picture pixel per one monitor pixel. You are looking at a much smaller piece of real estate in this mode when you have twice as many pixels per unit area and that means that you are looking at smaller, less contrasty details. Remember, manufacturer's MTF curves pretty much measure contrast as an approximation to sharpness. Of course the pictures look "oh my god" sharper when you print them since they have twice as many pixels per unit area on paper.I shoot 14-bit raw images with loseless compress and rarely use the 1.3 crop mode though I've mapped crop mode to one of the external buttons. Warning, the full-sized raw files are 25-30 megabytes and that means you can only store about 35 files per gigabyte of hard disk. So make your plans carefully before buying your next large pixel-count camera. Further, photoshop 16-bit psd files from D7100 images take 137MB on disk. I think that I would have bought a less capable camera if I were not shooting raw and running a 16-bit post process. Raw and 16-bit processing are not snobbery, rather they allow me to make up for virtually every type of error at picture-taking time except bad focus, bad subject selection, and excessive camera shake. That for me is the big advantage of digital photography but the D7100 or any other large pixel-count sensor makes you pay in disk storage.Now lets talk briefly about a few snafus. SubjectDistance is a standard Exif parameter and used to be generated in all Nikon DSLR images. ApproximateSubjectDistance is not a standard EXIF parameter but D7100 firmware generates it instead of SubjectDistance! Why is that bad? Three reasons: 1) photoshop will not display the field, 2) ViewNX 2 - Nikon's own software - dosen't display this nonstandard field either, and 3) Nikon support staff will not comment on whether or not either, neither, or both software and firmware will be repaired. The simplest way to recover the information is to load the sidecar file created by photoshop into a text editor and search on "distance" and read a fractional number. I can also convert that distance from metric if I like using a pencil or a calculator. Only a diseased mind could cause such nonsense.Another snafu reported by many in these reviews is the smallish memory buffer that limits rapid shooting. Memory is really cheap - I'd guess that for a two dollar bill, four times as much memory could have been included. I almost never use multiple shot modes or bracketing; rather my problem arises when my shutter finger gets itchy. This is a rarely occurring issue but the symptom of an outrageously dumb parting decision.I have rated this camera 5 stars in spite of these silly design flaws. However, I'd pay money to enter a raffle to paddle Nikon suits who impose these decisions. (The other manufacturers are just as lame.) It's a great camera, impressive in so many ways. Picture quality is great and the camera is capable enough to allow top-notch image capture despite a huge number of tough environmental conditions.

The camera is amazing for the price. The 51 point AF system is a dream. Its accurate and can be navigated quickly. Being able to hit the "OK" button to return back to center AF point is also a plus. When taking photos you can use the "OK" button to very quickly check focus and then the command wheels to scrub through faces. Its speeds up the process so much.As for the files I have not even bothered with jpeg, shooting in RAW the whole time. Thus far the images are crisp and clear. I have no problems with the lack of AA filter. On the contrary the images coming from my lens are sharp as a tack! I shoot with Sigma and Nikon and have had no problems with lens compatibility, back focus or front focus.I have shot a few weddings with it since buying the camera. The battery life is a little shorter but I had back up batteries ready (as you always should) and was able to swap out only one time in the shoot. To resolve the problem I am going to pick up the grip soon. But keep in mind that I was shooting a wedding and was firing off lots of images. If you are a weekend warrior the battery life is more than enough.The back LCD screen is clear and big. It lacks the typical cover that Nikon usually places on them, and there is no real indication of why. Or even if the new screen is gorilla glass or what. So far I have no scratches but its still very new. This is not a deal breaker but an odd break from the traditional.Button layout is typical Nikon. I do like that they have modified from the D7000 and now mirror the D600. Its very easy to have a D600 as a primary shooter and use the D7100 as a wonderful second camera body.1.3 crop is the best thing you never knew you didn't have. i find myself reaching for it all the time. Take my 70-200 lens. While its a bit of a pain to figure out the focal length just bear with me. The normal crop factor for the camera is 1.5 (DX) then you can crop down again to the 1.3. The takes the (200mm) x (1.5) x (1.3) = 390mm. The easy way to remember this is almost double your focal length with in crop mode. So a nifty 50mm becomes a 97.5mm and so on. The cost for this is that you go from 24MP down to 16MP. While you will have to weigh out this cost on your own terms, I can tell you that i could care less. For what I shoot and my clients 16MP is just fine. A D7000 is my second body anyway. :) But the ability to instantly grab a little more zoom pays off in dividends of shots not missed and gear not having to be carried.Speed is enough for me. The larger image size (24MP) means that your burst can suffer. I was shooting a large wedding and as they walked back up toward me I started to fill the buffer. It was not a huge deal and didn't stop me from getting all the shots but coming from my D7000 and D600 I was spoiled being able to rattle off shots. Again after I established my limit I was able to stay in it and didn't have the problem any more. But if you shoot fast then you will want to take that into consideration.The video is good. if you crop down you can shoot in 60 FPS. mehh. I will be honest. this is not something I use a lot. I bought my Nikon to take photos and some times I will shoot short video clips but these are rare and often not good enough to make it into a final presentation for a client. You can't change the f/stop when in live view mode which is kind of weird and people are saying it should be corrected in a future firmware update. So far its been a mehh thing for me.There is a lot more I could go on about with the camera. But this is turning into a book. Overall there are some shortcoming with the file speed and ability to quickly modify your settings in live view but for the cost, you will not find a better deal. If you can take the plunge and get it then you will not be sorry. you will have you a camera that will be relevant and powerful for many many years to come.