Nikon nirvana: Which Nikon dSLR?

Lori Grunin
Senior editor September 24, 2009 (updated on: May 24, 2011)

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, your friends are brand-enamored, or you 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 or need a newbie-friendly first dSLR, the D3000 is the cheapest choice and is still widely available. However, it's pretty frill-free--it doesn't even include exposure bracketing, for example. (Sorry, no room in the chart.)

For the cheapest model with video, the D3100 adds that to the D3000 for about $200 over the D3000.

If you can afford more, however, opt for the D5100. It's a significantly better camera than the D3100--generally faster, with better photo quality and a broader feature set that includes exposure bracketing and a flip-down-and-twist LCD. It's also a better deal than the D90, and the D5100 has finally overtaken that model in most ways, although the D90 still has a better viewfinder.

For the best Nikon value, the D7000 delivers the best bang for an admittedly not-inconsiderable amount of bucks. If you're willing to shell out a little over $1,000, though, you get excellent photo quality, D300s-level performance for all but continuous shooting, and Nikon's best dSLR design yet. It doesn't have the build quality of the D300s, but it's pretty well constructed nonetheless.

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 D300s offers a few advantages over the lower-end models. It's better constructed, with a dust-sealed body and provides a more sophisticated 51-point AF system. Its burst performance outpaces the D7000 as well. Nikon has discontinued the still-excellent D300 rather than just dropping the price as I'd hoped, but if you don't need the video support and can find it for less than the D300s, it's a worthwhile option.

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 D300s--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. Its performance is sufficiently close to the D3S in all but the fastest burst modes, and its image quality is very similar, making the less-expensive D700 a compelling alternative to the D3S for a majority of shooters. Though there's no officially announced timeline, the D700 is likely the next Nikon up for replacement.

If you need the best-performing, most rugged body available, you're going to have to shell out for the D3S (sorry, no room in the chart).

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.