Nikon D7100

Manufacturer: Nikon Type: camera Sensor: DX (APS-C) Resolution: 24.1MP Year introduced: 2013 Key feature: No optical low-pass filter and D800-class 51-point AF in a DX body; seen as the de facto successor to the long-serving D300

Overview

The Nikon D7100, announced in February 2013, was Nikon’s DX flagship and the camera that effectively replaced the legendary D300 — even though many photographers had been waiting for a “D400” that never came. Its 24.1-megapixel DX sensor without an optical low-pass filter delivered exceptional sharpness, and it inherited the 51-point AF system from the D800, giving it autofocus performance that Alex Mustard found indistinguishable from the D800 in back-to-back testing (^[1]).

Mustard’s review for Wetpixel was emphatic about the D7100’s value proposition: at $1,100 USD (body only), it cost roughly one-third of the D800’s price while delivering sensor performance that “out resolves” the Canon 5D Mark III and “out scores it in DXO’s tests.” He tested it in Bali for the inaugural Indonesian World Underwater Photography Competition and noted that judges Burt Jones, Keri Wilk, and Matt Weiss were all shooting the predecessor D7000 in various housings, demonstrating that the D7000/D7100 series was embraced by professionals despite D300 owners looking down their noses at it (^[2]).

The camera’s unique 1.3x crop mode offered macro shooters an additional telephoto boost (2x total with the DX crop), with 15.4-megapixel resolution and wider 51-point AF coverage across the frame (^[3]). Alex Tattersall of Nauticam/Underwater Visions tested an early unit in Sogod Bay, Philippines, and found “improved detail” and “superior AF performance” compared to the D7000 (^[4]).

Housing Availability

• Ikelite — Announced April 2013 (^[5]).
• Nauticam (NA-D7100) — Announced April 2013. Alex Tattersall used an early unit for the Sogod Bay preview (^[6]).
• Sea & Sea (MDX-D7100) — Announced June 2013 (^[7]).
• Aquatica (AD7100) — Reviewed by Tim Rock, who found it well-suited to the camera (^[8]).
• Subal (ND7100) — Used by Alex Mustard for his comprehensive field review. He noted it was “very similar to the company’s D7000 and D600/D610 housings” (^[9]).

Reviews & Discussion

• ^[10] — Alex Mustard’s comprehensive multi-part review from Bali, covering wide-angle, macro, and close-up work. Made the case that the D7100 was the best DX Nikon ever made and a serious alternative to the much more expensive D800 for those who didn’t need 36MP.
• ^[11] — Alex Tattersall’s early field test from Sogod Bay, Philippines, with sample images. Found improved detail and AF but noted buffer limitations and slow RAW review.
• ^[12] — Tim Rock’s review of the Aquatica housing.

Timeline

• 2013-02: Nikon announces the D7100 at $1,199.95 (body), shipping March (^[13])
• 2013-04: Ikelite announces D7100 housing (^[14])
• 2013-04: Alex Tattersall previews the D7100 underwater in Nauticam housing from Sogod Bay (^[15])
• 2013-04: Nauticam announces the NA-D7100 housing (^[16])
• 2013-06: Sea & Sea announces the MDX-D7100 (^[17])
• 2013-11: Tim Rock reviews Aquatica AD7100 housing (^[18])
• 2013-12: Alex Mustard publishes comprehensive field review from Bali in Subal ND7100 (^[19])

References

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