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Nikon nirvana: Which Nikon dSLR?

Lori Grunin Lori Grunin, Senior Editor May 12, 2009

Not everyone approaches the dSLR buying decision as a tabula rasa choice. If you've already chosen Nikon--whether it's because you already have some lenses, friends who are brand-enamored, or simply have had good experiences with the company's point-and-shoot models--here's some help selecting the right model. On a general note, if your budget is tight, and unless there's a specific feature or performance level you need from a particular model, it's usually a good idea to save money on the body and spend it on a better lens.

  • If you're on a tight budget, you don't have much of a choice, and the D40 is the least expensive of the lot (sorry, no room left in the chart for this). Oddly, though it shipped after the D40, the higher-resolution D40x has been slipping slowly out of the channel and replaced by the just-OK D60, while the D40 lives on.
  • If you can afford more, opt for the D5000. It's a significantly better camera than the D60--faster, with better photo quality and a broader feature set that includes video capture and a flip-down-and-twist LCD. At this point, it's also a better deal than the D90. They're very similar models, with comparable photo and video quality, and the D5000 is slightly cheaper. The D90 does still have a couple of advantages over the D5000, though, including a better LCD (though it's fixed, not articulated) and viewfinder.
  • If you need a pro-level camera but can't afford the D3, and don't need the lens compatibility or wide-angle flexibility of a full-frame model, the D300 offers a host of advantages over the D90. It's better constructed, with a dust-sealed body, delivers an extra stop (ISO 3,200 versus ISO 1,600) of latitude, and a provides a more sophisticated 51-point AF system. Its performance generally matches or outpaces the D90's as well.
  • If you need a more rugged body, better low-light latitude, or real wide-angle focal lengths below 20mm or so, then it's time to step up to the D700. It delivers a couple stops of exposure over the D300--up to ISO 12,800 is usable on occasion--and because it's full-frame, it lacks the 1.5x magnification factor that narrows wide-angle lenses. Performance matches the D3 in all but the fastest burst mode and image quality is very similar, making the less-expensive D700 a compelling alternative to the D3 for a majority of shooters.
  • If you need the best performing, most rugged body available, you're going to have to shell out for the D3.
  • If you need really high resolution for large prints or deep crops, right now your only Nikon option is the 24.5-megapixel D3X; unfortunately, its price tag puts it out of reach of all but serious professionals. (I'll update this when we've gotten a chance to review it.)

More Resources
Digital SLR buying guide,
Best digital cameras
Product name
Price $546.95 to $599.95 $698.00 to $849.99 $1,149.00 to $1,299.99 $1,599.99 to $2,399.95 $2,099.99 to $2,999.95 $4,699.00
CNET editors' rating
Average user rating
Review date March 24, 2008 May 08, 2009 October 02, 2008 January 28, 2008 November 19, 2008 July 31, 2008
The Bottom Line Despite modest improvements in performance and a couple of new features, Nikon's D60 fails to impress and costs more than some competing models. Though it falls short in its design, the Nikon D5000 delivers a nice feature set, speedy performance, and great photo quality for the money. Like the D80 before it, the Nikon D90 delivers an excellent dSLR for the money. Visibly better photo quality and slightly improved performance make the Nikon D300 a significant upgrade over the D200 and an excellent all-around choice. As long as you don't need seriously high-resolution photos, video capture, or machine-gun-fast sports shooting, the Nikon D700 has everything you need in a pro full-frame camera for a reasonable price. Nikon's flagship dSLR packs a full-frame 12-megapixel sensor and is a highly versatile imaging powerhouse that lets photographers create images previously impossible to capture.
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Features
Light sensitivityISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 200-3200
ISO 100-6400
ISO 200-3200
ISO 100
ISO 12800
ISO 25600
ISO 200-6400
ISO 200-6400
Display (projector) technologyTFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
TFT active matrix
Video input typeDigital camera
Digital camera
Digital camera
Digital camera
Digital camera
Digital camera
Weight17.5 oz
1.2 lbs
1.4 lbs
1.8 lbs
2.2 lbs
2.7 lbs
Effective sensor resolution10,200,000 pixels
12,300,000 pixels
12,300,000 pixels
12,300,000 pixels
12,100,000 pixels
12,100,000 pixels
Still image formatJPEG
NEF (RAW)
RAW + JPEG
JPEG
NEF (RAW)
JPEG
NEF (RAW)
RAW + JPEG
JPEG
TIFF
NEF (RAW)
JPEG
TIFF
NEF (RAW)
RAW + JPEG
JPEG
TIFF
NEF (RAW)
Display (projector) diagonal size2.5 in
2.7 in
3 in
3 in
3 in
3 in
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
Buying choices