Nikon D7000
Nikon users rejoice, Nikon has finally bridged the gap between the D90 and D300s by offering the D7000, an entry-level pro-sumer dSLR. The specs on the Nikon D7000 looks fantastic and so does the price! Let’s look at some of the most titilating features:
- 16.2 MP DX CMOS sensor
- EXPEED 2 processor
- ISO Sensitivity: 100-6400, 25600
- 39-autofocus points with 9 cross-types
- Full 1080p HD video with continuous autofocus
- magnesium alloy build quality (generally seen on pro-sumer cameras and higher)
Certainly a very exciting camera indeed! Read more details and see sample images on Nikon’s site here.
Our Recommendation: If you’re looking to step it up from your current D40, D40s, D3000S, D3100, D5000 but not quite ready to make the jump to a D300s, then this is the dSLR for you! The most exciting things that stand out for us is the higher ISO sensitivity, full HD video with continuous autofocus, pro-build quality, and the 39-autofocus points. And even if you already own a D300s or greater, this is still a great choice for a camera that you can take with you on day trips, vacationing with the family, and more. Read the hands-on review by the folks at DPReview.com and Chase Jarvis (whose had the camera for months). Preorder your D7000 (with kit lens) from B&H today before they run out as we anticipate this dSLR is going to sell like hot cakes!
Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G
Nikon is definitely amping up their prime offerings with the latest release the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.4G professional-grade lens for low-light photography. You might have remembered awhile back Nikon had released the Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX lens for the crop-factor cameras that had many professional photographers wondering whether or not Nikon would release pro-level prime lenses to replace the already aged primes. And with the 24mm f/1.4G and recently released 85mm f/1.4G, it’s safe to say YES! Want more information, check out Nikon’s site here for more official information.
Our Recommendation: We’ve always found the 35mm prime to be a bit of an odd focal length; not quite really wide for group shots and not quite long enough for portraits either, we would recommend skipping this lens and investing in the 24mm f/1.4G for the wide angle. Having a fast prime is certainly important, especially if your type of work involves a lot of low-light photography like wedding photography. Having a 24mm is great for those really large group shots or when you want to do some killer environmental portraits. If you happen to like the 35mm focal length and need fast glass, order your copy from B&H here.
Nikon AF-S 200mm f/2G ED VR II
Perhaps one of my most favorite lenses is the 200mm f/2. The level of sharpness when shot wide-open and the beautiful bokeh this lens produce makes this an absolute great choice for portraiture and low-light photography that requires some reach. What’s also great about a lens like this is that you can use a 1.4x Extender to get an equivalent focal length of 280mm f/2.8. The latest Nikon AF-S 200mm f/2G ED VR II offers a nice 4-stop Vibration Reduction for low light hand-holding. You can read more about the Nikon AF-S 200mm f/2G ED VR II lens on Nikon’s website here.
Our Recommendation: This is one of those specialized lenses that might not see much use depending on your type of photography. For wedding photographers like us, we rarely use it because it’s large and bulky and has limited flexibility compared to the 70-200mm. But if you shoot a lot of theater or concerts and are usually racked out 200mm, then this the perfect lens for you! It’s not cheap, but fast glass rarely is. Order your copy from a trusted reputable dealer such as B&H today.
Nikon SB-700 Speedlight
We are big Strobist and whenever a new flash gun is released, we’re always at the ready to see how it would fit into our gear bag. This new Speedlight, the Nikon SB-700, is the replacement for the aging and tired SB-600. One great new feature of the SB-700 is that, unlike the SB-600, it can be used as a Master Commander unit in Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS) for remote wireless triggering although it’s limited to controlling only two groups (A and B). And like it’s bigger brother, the Nikon SB-900, it features a 3-light distribution spread. It’s flash coverage is 24mm to 120mm which is better than previous generation Speedlights, but not quite as good as the 14mm to 200mm of the SB-900.
Our Recommendation: The price makes this unit certainly attractive, but one key missing feature is the lack of any pc sync ports for using radio triggers like PocketWizards or Elinchrom Skyports meaning your only method of wireless triggering is to use CLS. You could always use the new PocketWizard Flex system that plugs in via the hot-shoe. We would certainly recommend sticking with buying used SB-600s and/or investing in the SB-900. But if the SB-700 is plenty for you, pre-order with B&H here.
B&H Special Deals
Our partners at B&H also have some very nice instant savings and they’ve asked us to share here for our readers:
- Nikon D300s with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II – $250 instant savings
- Nikon D300s with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II & 70-300mm VR – $450 instant savings
- Nikon D300s with 16-35mm f/4G ED VR – $300 instant savings
- Nikon D300s with 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II – $400 instant savings
- Nikon D300s with 24-70mm & 70-200mm – $700 instant savings (RECOMMENDED BUY)
- Nikon D300s SUPER PRO KIT – $1,100 instant savings
- Nikon D700 with 16-35mm f/4G ED VR - $300 instant savings
- Nikon D700 with 24-70mm f/2.8G ED – $300 instant savings (RECOMMENDED BUY)
- Nikon D700 with 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II – $300 instant savings
- Nikon D700 with 24-70mm & 70-200mm – $700 instant savings (RECOMMENDED BUY)
- Nikon D700 SUPER PRO KIT – $1,000 instant savings
