Nikon D5200 user reviews (with 18-55mm lens, Black)

Pros Stunning picture quality
Video quality is very good
Lots of great features
Easily carried camera, long battery life, light weight

Cons Autofocus is a bit slow in the "live view" mode

Summary I bought the D5200 as soon as it came out because it was rated as having the highest picture quality of any APS-C DSLR camera in the world. Don't take my word for it, check the DxO Mark score yourself. DxO is the most respected independent, scientific picture quality score in the world, and they find the D5200 to have the highest score of any non-full-frame camera in the world ever.

I immediately used it on a pro model shoot. And I reckon it really is stunning picture quality. The shots are stunning high-resolution, high-dynamic-range shots. Staggering really, considering the price. Personally I find the kit lens surprisingly good too.

The D5200 uses the same autofocus as the D7000, which is a really excellent autofocus, one of the best in the world, although the new D7100 has even slightly better autofocus.

Video quality is very good but the autofocus is a bit slow in the "live view" mode used during video.

Overall I can't fault this camera, it is a stunning piece of kit. Just think of this: ten years ago no camera in the world was this good, not at any price. Today you can get better, but only by paying several times more. My only reservation is that if you are a hobbyist the D3200 is almost as good for quite a bit less money. (The D3200 has about 3% lower picture quality according to DxO, and I reckon that's about right - I have both cameras and in 9 shots out of 10 I can't tell the difference, but in 1 shot in 10 the D5200 will have focused better and/or will have fractionally lower noise in darker areas). If you want to photograph sports, the D5200's smarter autofocus is probably worth paying extra for.

But for general use, if the D3200 is significantly cheaper, logically it might be better value for money. One other option if you have more money to spend is the new D7100. It's basically the same picture quality as the D5200 but with some nice extras such as a fractionally larger LCD panel on the back and a weather-sealed magnesium body. In DxO picture quality terms the D7100 is the same as the D5200 (in fact, weirdly, the D7100 scores fractionally worse: it scores 83 points whereas the D5200 scores 84).

Overall, I highly recommend the D5200, it is a stunningly good camera, and there really isn't any competition for it in this price range.

By the way, I am a very experienced photographer and my belief is that picture quality is the most important thing, not gimmicks.

For best deal of the D5200, I suggest you have to check at: camerasbigshot.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/nikon-d5200-deal/

On that criterion the D5200 is an absolute winner.