Finally: The D7100, a new DX Camera from Nikon

It was long overdue, but now it's finally there: a new Nikon DX camera. And boy, from the specs, it sure does not disappoint!

While the camera name might suggest otherwise, this new camera definitely is an upgrade to both the D7000 and the D300/D300s cameras (the former top Nikon DX cameras).

The D7100 has a 24.1 Mega Pixel APS-C (1.5x crop) sized sensor. Because the resolution of the sensor is so high (even higher than on the D800!), Nikon has decided to not add an Anti Alias Filter (just as with the D800E). In my opinion a good move as at these resolutions (together with the resolving power of most lenses), moiré isn't likely to be going to be any problem at all. By giving the camera the full 51 AF points as available in the pro bodies, Nikon shows us that they are serious about this camera and also mean it to be used by the semi-pro who wants to shoot with a DX body. It does lack some features for the pro too though, such as a dedicated AF-On button and a buffer that is big enough to hold more than just one second of frames. Is there still room for a D400 then?

The new camera is (naturally) capable of capturing full HD (1080p) video and can take up to 7 frames per second. Truly nice specs. Nikon also added a new type of LCD to the back of the camera, instead of using “just” using Red Green and Blue dots per image pixel, this new LCD uses an additional White dot for even better viewing.

The D7100 body comes at a suggested retail price of $1199/€1179, also available with a kit lens. The D7100 is due to ship from 21 March, so if you want one, make your pre-order soon! 

Full specs (from the Nikon website):

Type	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount	Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
Effective angle of view	Nikon DX format; focal length in 35 mm 135 format equivalent to approx. 1.5x that of lenses with FX format angle of view
Effective pixels	24.1 million
Image sensor	23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor
Total pixels	24.69 million
Dust-reduction System	Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Image size (pixels)	DX (24 x 16) image area 6000 x 4000 (L), 4494 x 3000 (M), 2992 x 2000 (S) 1.3x (18 x 12) image area 4800 x 3200 (L), 3600 x 2400 (M), 2400 x 1600 (S) Photographs with image area of DX (24 x 16) taken in movie live view 6000 x 3368 (L), 4494 x 2528 (M), 2992 x 1860 (S) Photographs with image area of 1.3x (18 x 12) taken in movie live view 4800 x 2696 (L), 3600 x 2024 (M), 2400 x 1344 (S)
File format	NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed or compressed JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression (Size priority); Optimal quality compression available NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
Picture Control System	Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
Media	SD (Secure Digital) and UHS-I compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards
Double slot	Slot 2 can be used for overflow or backup storage or for separate storage of copies created using NEF+JPEG; pictures can be copied between cards.
File system	DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) 2.3, PictBridge
Viewfinder	Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage	Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical
Magnification	Approx. 0.94x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint	19.5 mm (-1.0 m-1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)
Diopter adjustment	-2 - +1 m-1
Focusing screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark II screen with AF area brackets (framing grid can be displayed)
Reflex mirror	Quick return
Depth-of-field preview	Pressing depth-of-field preview button stops lens aperture down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (other modes)
Lens aperture	Instant return, electronically controlled
Compatible lenses	Compatible with AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC lenses) and DX lenses, AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (A and M modes only). IX NIKKOR lenses, lenses for the F3AF, and non-AI lenses can not be used. The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster (the electronic rangefinder supports the center 1 focus point with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/8 or faster).
Shutter Type	Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Speed	1/8000 - 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb, time, X250
Flash sync speed	X=1/250 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/320 s or slower (flash range drops at speeds between 1/250 and 1/320 s)
Release mode	Single frame (S), continuous low speed (CL), continuous high speed (CH), quiet shutter-release (Q), self-timer, mirror up (MUP); interval timer photography supported
Approximate frame advance rate	JPEG and 12-bit NEF (RAW) images recorded with DX (24 x 16) selected for Image area CL: 1 - 6 fps, CH: 6 fps JPEG and 12-bit NEF (RAW) images recorded with 1.3x (18 x 12) selected for Image area CL: 1 - 6 fps, CH: 7 fps 14-bit NEF (RAW) images recorded with DX (24 x 16) selected for Image area CL: 1 - 5 fps, CH: 5 fps 14-bit NEF (RAW) images recorded with 1.3x (18 x 12) selected for Image area CL: 1 - 6 fps, CH: 6 fps
Self-timer	2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1 - 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s
Remote control modes (ML-L3)	Delayed remote, quick-response remote, remote mirror-up
Metering mode	TTL exposure metering using 2016-pixel RGB sensor
Metering method	Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8 mm circle in center of frame. Diameter of circle can be changed to 6, 10, or 13 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (non-CPU lenses use 8-mm circle) Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)	Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 - 20 EV Spot metering: 2 - 20 EV
Exposure meter coupling	Combined CPU and AI
Mode	Auto modes (auto; auto (flash off)); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); scene modes (portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait; night landscape; party/indoor; beach/snow; sunset; dusk/dawn; pet portrait; candlelight; blossom; autumn colors; food); special effects modes (night vision; color sketch; miniature effect; selective color; silhouette; high key; low key); U1 (user settings 1); U2 (user settings 2)
Exposure compensation	Can be adjusted by -5 - +5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV in P, S, A, and M modes
Exposure bracketing	2 - 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV
Flash bracketing	2 - 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV
White balance bracketing	2 - 5 frames in steps of 1, 2, or 3
ADL bracketing	2 frames using selected value for one frame or 3 frames using preset values for all frames
Exposure lock	Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)	ISO 100 - 6400 in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, or 2 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 6400; auto ISO sensitivity control available
Active D-Lighting	Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, Off
Autofocus	Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500DX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, 51 focus points (including 9 cross-type sensors; the center 1 focus point is available at apertures slower than f/5.6 and faster than f/8 or at f/8), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5 - 3m/1 ft 8 in. - 9 ft 10 in.)
Detection range	-2 - +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)
Lens servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (M): Electronic rangefinder can be used
Focus point	Can be selected from 51 or 11 focus points
AF-area mode	Single-point AF; 9-, 21-, or 51-point dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking, auto-area AF
Focus lock	Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Built-in flash	Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait, party/indoor, pet portrait, color sketch: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M, food: Manual pop-up with button release
Guide Number	Approx. 12/39, 12/39 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)
Flash control	TTL: i-TTL flash control using 2016-pixel RGB sensor is available with built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, or SB-400; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
Flash mode	Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off; Auto FP High-Speed Sync supported
Flash compensation	-3 - +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash-ready indicator	Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe	ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)	Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with: - SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash and SB-600 or SB-R200 as remotes, or SU-800 as commander - Built-in flash can serve as master flash in commander mode Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
Sync terminal	AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately)
White balance	Auto (2 types), incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual (up to 6 values can be stored, spot white balance measurement available during live view), choose color temperature (2500 K - 10000 K), all with fine-tuning
Modes	Live view photography (still images), movie live view (movies)
Lens servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (M)
AF-area mode	Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
Autofocus	Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Movie Metering	TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Metering method	Matrix
Frame size (pixels) and frame rate	1920 x 1080; 60i (59.94 fields/s)/ 50i (50 fields/s) * 1920 x 1080; 30 p (progressive), 25p, 24p 1280 x 720; 60p, 50p Actual frame rates for 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p are 59.94, 50, 29.97, 25,xand 23.976 fps respectively; options support both high and normalximage quality * Available only when 1.3x (18 x 12) is selected for Image area. Sensor output is about 60 or 50 fps.
File format	MOV
Video compression	H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Audio recording format	Linear PCM
Audio recording device	Built-in or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable
Monitor	8-cm/3.2-in., approx. 1229 k-dot (VGA; 640 x 4 x 480 = 1,228,800 dots), TFT monitor with approx. 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment
Playback	Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, photo information, GPS data display, and auto image rotation
USB	Hi-Speed USB
HDMI output	HDMI mini connector (Type C)
Accessory terminal	Wireless remote controller: WR-1 and WR-R10 (available separately) Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately) GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
Audio input	Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter; plug-in power supported)
Audio output	Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter)
Supported languages	Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (European and Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
Battery	One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL15 battery
Battery pack	Optional MB-D15 multi-power battery pack with one rechargeable Nikon EN-EL15 Li-ion battery or six AA alkaline, Ni-MH, or lithium batteries
AC adapter	EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5B power connector (available separately)
Tripod socket	1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Approx. 135.5 x 106.5 x 76 mm (5.3 x 4.2 x 3.0 in.)
Weight	Approx. 765 g (1 lb 11.0 oz) with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 675 g (1 lb 7.8 oz; camera body only)
Temperature	0 °C - 40 °C (+32 °F - 104 °F)
Humidity	85% or less (no condensation)
Supplied accessories	EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery (with terminal cover), MH-25 battery charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, AN-DC1 strap, UC-E17 USB cable, BS-1 accessory shoe cover, DK-23 rubber eyecup, BF-1B body cap, ViewNX 2 CD, User's Manual note Unless otherwise stated, all figures are for a camera with a fully-charged battery operating at the temperature specified by the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA): 23 ±3 °C (73.4 ±5.4 °F).