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Selecting a Nikon DSLR camera can be a confusing decision. Some of the current entry level Nikon Digital Cameras do have some basic limitations. Below we will consider some of the important consideration in your selection process.

Camera Price

These DSLR cameras listed in price order from low to high, is as follows, D3000, D3100, D5100, D7000, D300s, D700, D3s and D3x. The prices range from under $1,000 to many thousands for the dearer cameras.

Full details of prices of these cameras are available here.

Lens Price

Bear in mind the the prices of DX lenses are much cheaper than FX lenses so depending on your budget this will be an important consideration.

Internal Focusing Motors

The D3000, D3100 and D5100 do not have internal motors in the camera and consequently some of the older lenses, essentially the D designated lenses will not autofocus with the camera. To auto focus with these cameras You will need an AF-S designated lens with the motor built into the lens for these cameras. If you go to our Nikon Lens Review section you will see the lenses that are designated as AF-S.

The D7000,D300s, D700,D3s and D3x cameras have the motor in the camera and consequently, virtually any currently produced lens can be used on these cameras.

Full Frame FX or DX Cameras

The D700, D3s and D3x cameras are full frame FX cameras and have a larger sensor. The sensor in these cameras is 24mm x 36mm. These FX cameras have better image quality with low light photography and there are better lenses available for use in wide angle photography with FX due to the crop factor with DX.

The D3000, D3100, D5100, D7000, D300s are DX cameras with a smaller sensor and with dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm. The  one main advantage with the DX range is that the reduced angle of view with the crop factor on the DX format give an advantage with telephoto lenses.

Movie Mode

The D3000, D700 and D3X cameras do not have a movie mode.

D3100, D5100, D7000, D300s and D3s cameras do have movie modes.

How Many Mega Pixels

The number of Mega Pixels the camera provides should not be the overall consideration as the difference will not be noticeable between a 10 and 14 Mega Pixel camera.

• D3000, 10.2 million pixels,
• D3100, 14.2 million pixels,
• D5100, 16.2 million pixels,
• D7000, 16.2 million pixels,
• D300s, 12.3 million pixels,
• D700, 12.1 million pixels,
• D3s, 12.1 million pixels,
• D3X, 24.5 million pixels.

Nikon DX Cameras

Nikon FX Cameras

Image sensors are the heart of the digital camera, if comparing to a film camera the image sensor is the equivalent to the film.

Sensor Size and MegaPixels

When purchasing a camera the sales person will most likely try to sell a camera based on the number of Megapixels in the cameras sensor, but this is only part of the story. A more important issue is how large is the sensor and how large are the pixels on the sensor.

Digital sensors are manufactured and caregorized in various sizes, summarised as follows:

Because of the many different sensor sizes used, the size of each pixel detecting the light arriving at the sensor will vary.

Some approximate examples of pixel sizes for different sizes of sensors are given as follows:

Basic theory of light detection, determines that the larger the pixel, the better will be the signal to noise ratio, hence better image quality in respect to noise and the smaller the sensor size the poorer the noise performance will be.

The effect of noise on the image is such that a noisy or speckled effect will become more obvious as the ISO of the camera is increased at lower light levels.

An important criteria for the camera purchaser is that the larger the sensor, the more expensive the camera will be.

MegaPixels and Print Size

The number of megapixels in the sensor effectively determine the maximum print size you can get, but still retain sharpness in the final print. For most practical purposes the figures below will vary depending on the sharpness of the image, camera shake and how the image is prepared prior to printing. The maximum size print that can be obtained from various size sensors, assuming an aspect ratio of 1.5 which is the case for most sensors can be assumed to approximate the figures given below.

Here we outline the main aspects to consider in selecting and purchasing a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, to help you make an informed decision on your camera purchase. The range of cameras available in any particular country may vary at any time but we endevour to give you some guidance an what to look for.  DSLR cameras have larger image sensors than the compact range of cameras and will offer a far greater image quality. In addition, the range of DSLR cameras will offer a far better high ISO performance (to perform better in low light conditions) than the compact cameras.

We will concentrate our endeavours on equipment which will meet the highest level of image quality; of course with cameras, as with any product, in general the more you spend on a camera the better the camera will perform.

There are many issues to consider when purchasing any camera and we summarise some of the important considerations as follows:

• Modes of operation, programme, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual mode
• Shutter speed range
• Can the camera do high speed flash synchronization
• Light metering range
• Shooting modes, single, continuous, frames per second
• Auto focussing modes, number of focussing points
• How many MPixels do you need
• ISO range
• Depth of field preview
• Is live view provided
• White balance modes
• LCD monitor size
• Playback functions
• Exposure bracketing
• Flash synchronisation modes
• Battery life
• Self timers
• Mirror up mode to reduce vibration
• Start up time delay
• Weather sealing against moisture and dust
• Do the range of lenses available, focal length, aperture, image stabilisation or vibration reduction, close up (macro, micro), perspective correction and price, meet your needs
• Smaller size sensor APS-C or the larger full frame sensor size for better low light and noise performance
• Built in flash or external flash
• Availability of processing software for post processing of images
• External flash systems available
• Remote control assessories available
• Built in grip or seperate grip
• Voice recording and play back
• Number of memory card slots
• Is viewfinder 100% of image area
• Is sensor self cleaning
• Weight and size of body

As you can see from the above list there are many considerations and we will do our best to guide you in the direction to find the best camera to suit your needs.

For further information on selecting a Camera see our articles on selecting a Nikon DSR camera and selecting a Nikon APS-C DX or full frame FX lens.