Best Nikon Full Frame Dslr Camera

The best Nikon cameras have given countless beginners their first gustatory modality of ‘proper’ photography, but they are also popular with enthusiasts and professionals. Once you lot detect a camera make you like, it’s only natural that y’all would stay with it as you upgrade your camera – and your photography skills!

We’ve stuck to Nikon’s mirrorless cameras and DSLRs for this guide because these are the cameras that offer the best image quality, features, controls, and versatility for photographers.

We also couldn’t go whatever further without mentioning Nikon’s latest foray into the vlogging globe with the new Nikon Z30
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to find out which i is right for yous.

We haven’t included Nikon CoolPix compact cameras because they are aimed at a slightly unlike audience and nosotros have other guides that can help yous hither, including the all-time indicate-and-shoot cameras
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As for the cameras in this guide, Nikon makes both DSLRs and Nikon Z mirrorless cameras, and while mirrorless cameras are regarded by about as the hereafter, the DSLR blueprint still has a lot going for information technology, especially for beginners who want the most features for the least money, and enthusiasts who want a rugged pattern and a huge lens choice. If you lot want to know more than about the pros and cons, we’ve got a whole commodity on DSLR vs mirrorless cameras
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For this guide, nosotros’ve split what we call back are the best Nikon cameras right now into 3 sections: cameras for beginners, enthusiasts, and professionals. Permit’s meet what cameras make the top list.

The best Nikon cameras in 2022

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Our proficient reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you lot tin choose the best for you. Find out more than about how we examination.

All-time Nikon cameras for beginners

These are platonic cameras to go started with: not too expensive, straightforward to use but with enough power and potential to go on up with you every bit you lot develop your photographic skills.

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While you’re still learning photography and deciding what sort of camera will suit you best, you should pick a camera that’south simple plenty to understand straight away and affordable enough that you can change your mind and swap later if you determine you need something dissimilar. The D3500 is the entry-level model in Nikon’s DSLR range, but it has a 24.2MP sensor as good every bit those in cameras at twice the price, and it offers a very good 5fps continuous shooting speed for a starter camera. The Guide style volition help beginners become started and understand the basic principles, only the D3500 has all the manual controls you need to learn nigh photography as you improve your skills. It’s sometimes sold a piddling cheaper with a not-VR (not-stabilized) kit lens, but it’s definitely worth paying a picayune more to get the VR version.

Read our full

Nikon D3500 review

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This dreamy camera doesn’t just wait cool, it’southward also ane of the best beginners to mid-range cameras around. With an APS-C sensor and a sophisticated processor, the  Nikon Z fc
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is a highly capable photographic camera for paradigm-makers of all stripes, even if information technology misses out on a few features like a built-in flash. Information technology’southward a footling pricier than its stablemate the Nikon Z50, and if you don’t intendance near looks so you may want to consider that camera instead, as it’s basically the same bargain. Nevertheless, we’re utterly charmed by the style and presentation of the Nikon Z fc. Can’t resist the look and feel of the best retro cameras
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Read our full

Nikon Z fc review

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Information technology took Nikon a piffling while to come out with a really solid entry-level full-frame mirrorless photographic camera, but the house smashed it out of the park with the Z5
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Read our total

Nikon Z5 review

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The Nikon Z50 is a much smaller camera than Nikon’s total-frame ‘Z’ models, but it conspicuously shares the aforementioned design DNA. Despite its small size, information technology has a good grip and practiced external controls, and the retracting 16-50mm kit lens is remarkable non just for its pancake lens dimensions but for its overall performance. Nikon may accept come to the APS-C mirrorless market place comparatively late, just information technology’s come in with a camera that has so many good points it’southward hard to know where to start – but nosotros will highlight the 4K video, 11fps shooting… and the fact that its Z mount is identical to that on the larger cameras, so you tin use dedicated Nikkor Z DX lenses, total frame Nikkor Z lenses, and regular Nikon DSLR lenses via the FTZ adapter. Best of all, the Z50 is a terrific value, especially when bought as a twin-lens kit. This is a keen value camera for both beginners and enthusiasts, though we would like to encounter a few more DX lenses coming out.

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Nikon Z50 review

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While Nikon has aimed the Z30 firmly at a vlogger audience, with a focus on ease of use for shooting video, the underlying video specs are very like to Nikon’s existing DX-format Z-serial cameras. Likewise, it remains a very capable stills camera. If y’all’re looking for a dedicated betoken-and-shoot video photographic camera that won’t pause the bank, the Z30 offers arguably the best build quality in its price range. Most of what the Z30 is defective – IBIS, EVF, 4K 60p – tin can be explained abroad due to the photographic camera’southward very affordable cost tag. If yous’re of the generation of shooters happy to forego a viewfinder, the Z30 offers the cheapest route to the best Nikon Z lenses
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or Nikon Z fc
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and their near-identical innards.

Read our total

Nikon Z30 review

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Best Nikon cameras for enthusiasts

These cameras are ideal if y’all’re upgrading from an older Nikon DSLR organization, or y’all’ve been using a more basic camera and yous experience you’ve exhausted its potential.

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The Nikon D780 takes the on-sensor stage detection autofocus of the Nikon Z6, resulting in a DSLR with the live view autofocus speed of mirrorless cameras – brilliant! Essentially, the D780 is similar a modernized, supercharged version of Nikon’s however popular D750 full-frame DSLR. The D780 doesn’t just have advanced live view AF – it also comes with a high-resolution tilting touchscreen display, 4K UHD video, dual UHS-II compatible memory card slots and continuous shooting speeds up to 12fps in alive view mode. Combine that with its solid design and comfortable grip and you’ve got a camera that’s an instant classic.

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Nikon D780 review

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The Nikon Z6 II
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is a light refresh of the original Z6, with a 2d memory card slot and a faster processor bringing a crash-land to burst shooting, now up to 14fps, and the ability to record 4K video at 60fps. information technology’s a terrific all-round photographic camera at a very adept price, and this camera’due south build quality, design, and handling are excellent – as is its in-torso stabilization. The 24MP sensor sounds simply a small step upwardly from Nikon’s 20.9MP APS-C mirrorless models, simply in combination with the much larger full-frame sensor area, it delivers a big spring in epitome quality, especially in low light. If you’re into vlogging and filmmaking, non just stills, this is the Nikon to go.

Read our total

Nikon Z6 II review

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Nikon DSLR fans ready to pace up from a beginner-orientated model like the D3500 should look at the Nikon D7500
(opens in new tab). It’s a larger, more than rugged camera that offers 8fps continuous shooting, Nikon’s highly-regarded 51-point autofocus system, and the ability to capture 4K video. It has a tilting rear screen rather than the fully-articulated design on the Nikon D5600, and so vertical shots are trickier – only it’s fine for video and horizontal shooting. The D7500 has a lower resolution sensor than the D5600 (20MP vs 24MP) merely it’southward a newer design taken from the pro-grade D500 that sacrifices a few megapixels in commutation for better image quality at high ISO settings and faster all-round image capture.

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Nikon D7500 review

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Best Nikon cameras for professionals

Professional person Nikon cameras tin be expensive, as you would expect, and although we start this section with the most expensive of all, nosotros accept two others that are much more approachable in price and could tempt many enthusiasts besides.

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Hither, at long last, is the shot across the bows of Canon and Sony – the Nikon Z9
(opens in new tab), the house’south latest pro mirrorless photographic camera and a startling step frontwards for professional imaging. The Nikon Z9 boasts an intimidating set of features. Information technology’due south capable of burst-shooting at a confront-melting 120fps, for one, and its buffer can record a nominal i,000 images per burst, with Nikon recording it being capable of as many as 5,000 when used with a high-spec CFExpress carte du jour. It also uses deep-learning AF, meaning its focusing ability should get ameliorate over fourth dimension, and the dorsum-side illuminated sensor delivers superior depression-calorie-free operation. However, several of its headline features, like 8K 60p video and the compressed loftier-efficiency Northward-RAW format, are not going to be available at launch but will come in a firmware update expected later on in 2022. Nikon is not the but manufacturer doing this, but it’s notwithstanding a trend we’re non fans of.

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Nikon Z9 review

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Mirrorless camera fans will oftentimes mutter near the size and weight of DSLRs, and they have a signal. The Nikon D850
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is a big bruiser of a camera compared to the Nikon Z models. But this size works in your favor if yous’re shooting with big, heavy lenses, and most pro lenses are big and heavy! This is a handling factor that many mirrorless users don’t accept into account. Being a DSLR, the D850 has a brilliant, clear optical viewfinder that many photographers all the same prefer over a digital display, no affair how good the latter. The D850’s 45.vii-megapixel sensor produces quite a superb image quality, all the same it can however maintain a shooting speed of 7 frames per 2nd or 9 frames per second with the optional battery grip. Even without the grip, the D850 has an amazing bombardment life of 1840 shots – far more than than whatever mirrorless rivals – and information technology comes with two memory card slots; ane for an XQD/CFexpress bill of fare
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and one for regular SD/SDHC/SDXC.

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Nikon D850 review

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The Nikon Z7 II
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was Nikon’s flagship total-frame mirrorless photographic camera until the mighty Z9 came forth. Fifty-fifty then, while the Z7 2 can’t lucifer the Z9’s continuous shooting speed or 8K video, it delivers the same super-high resolution and hands enough sports shooting/video capability for everyday non-specialist use. This Mark Ii version brings dual memory carte slots and faster processing, only retains the first-class design and handling of the original, and Nikon’s equally excellent in-body stabilization arrangement. Nikon has quickly congenital an impressive range of pro-spec Nikkor Z lenses, so the Z7 2 makes an extremely practiced all-round camera for professional use – and Nikon’s pricing is very competitive too. Nosotros really rate the Nikon Z7 II not for whatever flashy, headline-grabbing specs but because it does everything actually well at a practiced price.

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Nikon Z7 II review

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How we examination cameras

We test cameras both in real-world shooting scenarios and in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests mensurate resolution, dynamic range and signal to noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer exam equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for dissonance assay across the camera’s ISO range. Nosotros use both real-world testing and lab results to inform our comments in buying guides. Detect out more well-nigh how we exam and review on Digital Camera Earth
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If you’re passionate about Nikon cameras and then check out the

best Nikon lenses

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and the

best Nikon Z lenses

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. If you’re not loyal to Nikon, then you might also like to see our guide to the

all-time mirrorless cameras

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and

best DSLRs

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.