Nikon Reviews: Best Nikon DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras
If Nikon is known for anything, it's there DSLRs. The camera giant usually makes pretty big updates every few years or so, the latest big update being the elimination of the anti-alliasing filter on their crop sensor models. While others divert their focus to the mirrorless arena, Nikon continues to offer a wide range of DSLRs. Buying a Nikon DSLR is usually a pretty safe bet.
Nikon DSLRs are designated by the D in their name. Their more basic crop or APS-C sensor cameras in recent years have four digit model names, with the D3000 line suited for beginners and the D5000 and D7000 lines advancing in both price and features from there. Nikon's full frame sensors have three digit names like the D750, but the most advanced pro models have just one number, like the D4. The Nikon Df is a bit of an outlier in both name and style, with a body that pays tribute to film.
A few of Nikon's latest DSLRs have had known issues--but the manufacturer was quick to respond and repair the cameras at no charge, with the D600 experiencing oil buildup on the sensor and the newer D750 being subject to odd lens flares. Cameras purchased after the issue was noted have been repaired already, and consumers who picked up the cameras before then were given a free repair.
Nikon has devoted less attention to their mirrorless models, but they do offer a speed that no other models can really compete with currently. The Nikon 1 V3 hits a whopping 20 fps burst speed. The trade off is that the 1 line uses a 1-inch sensor, smaller than the Micro 4/3 type and APS-C options, but that trade for speed might be worth it for some, like sports photographers that publish their work online and don't need to make big prints.
Here are the Nikon reviews for their top DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
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Nikon 1 AW1
The Nikon 1 AW1 is essentially the well-received 1 J3--except it's wrapped up in a waterproof package. As the first digital interchangeable lens camera to be not just sealed against rain, but approved to take underwater up to 49 feet without e...
Grade: B Price: $800.00

Nikon 1 J3
The Nikon 1 line has always been the more compact of the mirrorless options, but the camera giant is now claiming the smallest interchangeable lens camera on the market with the 2013 introduction of the 1 J3. With a body as tall and wide as a poin...
Grade: B+ Price: $300.00

Nikon 1 J4
Introduced alongside the 1 S2, the Nikon 1 J4 is a small step up from the cheaper S2. The biggest difference to note is the touchscreen, which the S2 doesn't offer. The Nikon 1 J4 also adds a bit better battery life and a few more options for ...
Grade: B Price: $590.00

Nikon 1 J5
After the Nikon 1 J4 fell flat by trading speed for a touchscreen, the J5 puts Nikon's mirrorless line back on track with an excellent 20 fps burst speed. The 2015 model still capitalizes on speed, but it is now wrapped up in a retro-inspired ...
Grade: A- Price: $497.00

Nikon 1 S2
The Nikon 1 line uses smaller sensors then the competitors, but what the camera giant offers that others do not is speed, and lots of it. The Nikon 1 S2 is the more budget-friendly model over the sleeker 1 J4 and faster 1 V3, but it's still go...
Grade: B+ Price: $279.00

Nikon 1 V3
If cameras were cars, the Nikon 1 V3 would be the Hennessey Venom GT. With a whopping 20 fps burst mode and a 1/16,000 maximum shutter speed, it's no wonder that, just a day after it was announced, it was listed as Amazon's #1 seller in th...
Grade: B+ Price: $1,200.00

Nikon D3200
The D3200 is a surprising upgrade to Nikon's entry-level D3100, replacing the latter and effectively outclassing the higher-end D5100 in one fell swoop. The headliner here is the 24.2 megapixel sensor, similar to the one used in Sony's A65...
Grade: A- Price: $400.00

Nikon D3300
Nikon's entry level DSLRs have always been an excellent option for beginners—My first DSLR was actually the D3000, back in 2009. The D3300 is Nikon's latest addition to the line and has proven to be a solid shooter for novices.But al...
Grade: A- Price: $597.00

Nikon D3400
Nikon’s 3300 is a solid beginner’s DSLR and now the manufacturer is expanding on that with the D3400. The latest entry-level DSLR from Nikon wraps up much of the same features as the 3300. So what’s new? Nikon has added Bluetooth...
Grade: A- Price: $399.00
Nikon D4
Nikon's newest top-of-the-line DSLR offers numerous upgrades to 2009's D3s and competes with Canon's 1DX. The processor and autofocus system have received a boost and the full-frame sensor has been upped to 16 megapixels. Nikon is aimi...
Grade: A Price: $5,499.00

Nikon D4S
Nikon has tweaked the excellent D4 with the announcement of the D4S. While the cameras are nearly identical on the outside, the Nikon D4S includes a few important upgrades. Arguably the most notable of the upgrades is a 30 percent faster recording...
Grade: A Price: $5,199.00

Nikon D5
Nikon certainly didn't make big promises but small improvements. The 2016 professional flagship DSLR, the Nikon D5, sees sweeping updates across the board, becoming Nikon's new top-of-the-line option. Frankly, this thing is a monster. An e...
Grade: A+ Price: $6,497.00

Nikon D500
Fast cameras, just like fast cars, are notoriously expensive. But with the Nikon D500, the speed of the most expensive flagship DSLRs are now accessible at a third of the cost. The D500 wraps up many of the features of the best-in-class D5, includ...
Grade: A- Price: $1,499.00

Nikon D5200
Nikon has needed an update to the aging D5100 for most of 2012 after they cannibalized sales with the 24 megapixel D3200. The D5200 handily leapfrogs the D3200 by using the same 24.1 megapixel sensor but gaining the D7000's 39-point autofocus,...
Grade: A- Price: $670.00

Nikon D5300
To be straightforward, if you have $1,000 (give or take) to spend on a camera, there are a lot of options out there. It's no longer just a matter of which manufacturer family you want to join, it's a question of mirrorless or DSLR and if y...
Grade: A- Price: $725.00

Nikon D5500
The Nikon D5500 mixes the company's longstanding DSLR reputation with some new tech, switching to a touchscreen, while continuing to slim down the body. But do all the new smartphone-esque features like the touchscreen and wi-fi ruin what'...
Grade: A Price: $579.00

Nikon D5600
Nikon’s affordable DSLR is getting even more connected — the Nikon D5600 packs in much of the same imaging tech and body style of the D5500, but adds Bluetooth connectivity and built-in time lapses. Sitting towards the low end price-wi...
Grade: B Price: $999.00

Nikon D610
Grade: A Price: $1,099.00

Nikon D7000
The D7000 is Nikon's latest enthusiast dSLR, occupying the spot in their dSLR lineup between the D90 and D300s models. It's packed with a 16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor, a wide ISO range, 6 frames per second burst mode, and an excell...
Grade: B- Price: $493.00

Nikon D7100
The Nikon D7100In an era of “less is more” and an onslaught of new mirrorless cameras with small bodies but hefty price tags, Nikon has continued tweaking their excellent line of DSLRs. The D7100 sits at the very top of their models (b...
Grade: A- Price: $695.00

Nikon D7200
If the ultimate test of a good camera is low light performance, the Nikon D7200 is set up as an easy winner. The D7000 line has always been a solid DSLR, Nikon's 2015 enthusiast camera takes the fully featured D7100 and enhances the sensor eve...
Grade: A Price: $997.00

Nikon D750
Move over, D610 and D810. Nikon's latest full frame DSLR seems to have a lot going for it--so much so that it's going to be competing with the camera giant's other options. With the power of a full frame sensor, the Nikon D750 is the f...
Grade: A Price: $1,349.00

Nikon D7500
There are those speedy, sports-loving cameras. The steady landscape shooters. The video-focused cameras. And then there’s the camera that looks at all of those shots and says, “Sure, I can do that.” With an 8 fps burst mode, snap...
Grade: A- Price: $999.00

Nikon D800
Nikon's answer to the Canon 5D Mark II and now-competitor to the 5d Mark III, the D800 replaces the aging D700 as Nikon's cheapest full-frame camera (half the D4's $6000). Crucially, the D800 adds 1080p video recording and ups the reso...
Grade: A- Price: $2,099.00

Nikon D800E
The Nikon D800E is everything the D800 is but with the anti-aliasing filter removed. The anti-aliasing filter slightly blurs captured images in order to avoid moire, the funky image artifact that arises out of photographing finely patterned textur...
Grade: A- Price: $2,299.00

Nikon D810
Nikon has announced an upgrade to their professional level mid-range DSLR, the D810. With tweaks across the board from the older D800, the Nikon D810 is being hailed as a multi-media camera, with features appealing to both photographers and videog...
Grade: A Price: $2,149.00

Nikon D810A
The Nikon D810A is designed for snapping shots of galaxies, stars and other space elements. The manufacturer warns it's not for general use--so look at the D810 if shooting stars isn't your specialty. The D810A keeps everything we like abo...
Grade: A+ Price: $3,797.00

Nikon D850
The Nikon D850 is a camera that pays attention to details -- both in the photos itself and the feature list. An update to the 2014 D810, the Nikon D850 sports a 45.7 megapixel full frame sensor and 4K, 30 fps video for capturing those details.At t...
Grade: A+ Price: $3,297.00

Nikon Df
When camera giant Nikon finally decided to release a retro-inspired DSLR, they did it in style with the Df, a lightweight full frame DSLR that has a style similar to the old Nikon F film cameras. The sensor and processor are the same one that'...
Grade: A Price: $2,997.00