@Andomeda: Spoiled for choice? I don't think so at all. In fact the thing I am hearing from most serious amateurs is "Where in the hell are the DX DSLRs". Having looked very closely at the D600 I chose to pass on that. I would way rather have a revised D7200 with Expeed 3 processor, etc.

i'm looking forward to the D400 being delievered to round off the total ugrade of all the releases in the last 12 months.

we're just spoilt for choice.

Have the US / CAN prices been published for the D5200?

Also looking at the D5200, I chose to wait for Nikon's next DX camera for sure.

@Sato: The Nikon D7XXX SHOULD be out early next year. I have quite a few Nikon cameras from F5 to D100 through D7000. The D7000 is quite a great camera. I have talked to a leading analyst who works with the biggest camera store in the world and the possibility of the D400 having better video did not get his take on it. I THINK with a Expeed 3 processor, etc., the D7XXX and D400 will have better video. Stills to be honest have not seemed to get all that much better even from the D90. The most popular camera at my small business is easily the the D7000. I am hoping the D7XXX does keep pretty close to the D7000 price wise. The D400 will be pretty expensive, My guess.

donalddejose's speculation on the upcoming (hopefully) Nikon DX cameras I think is as good as it gets. I also am at the point bowen seems to be in his post. I have been cautioned that a Nikon 24mp DX sensor will not when put on say a 1080p video on a screen with a program like Apple's Aperture 3 with a combination of stills and video if the virtually 2mp screen limitation (data just has to be omitted) starts to actually suffer (line skipping). Much of our individual choices in cameras and image capture indeed needs to be based on use. If you are making huge prints......a D800 may be the rig. Used in the field the way myself, my son, and 2 grandsons shoot and use imagery, the D7000 is wonderful.

I did that for the D5000/D90.

Got the D7k a year ago for £750, seen it for £650 recently.

afrogeez said:
If I got a 5100 I'd be annoyed knowing that there's a newer/better one out. I'm just that kind of person.

Been there, Done that...

Regretted the heck out of it.
Didn't want a D90 because it was too old, Didn't want a D7000 because I found it too expensive (This was just over a year ago, D7000+18-105mm VR was €900/1000 then.) Settled on the D5100+18-55mm VR for €640.
Should have gone with the D7000 right from the start, But don't want to get one now because the D5100 is worth next to nothing second hand these days.

---

Anyway the D7000 is the best choice right now:

AF and metering same as the new D5200.
Sensor same as D5100. (And its a very good sensor.)

- No swivelscreen.
+ More buttons/direct control.
+ Lots of other features both D5100 and D5200 don't have.

Possibly wait a bit till the D7100/7200 is announced as it might lower the prices on the D7000, But I think those prices won't go down much more then they already are.

€750 body only or €899 Body+18-105mm VR Kitlens here in The Netherlands at the moment,
When the D7000 was released it sold for €1200 Body only and €1400 for Body+18-105mm VR.

I looked this up myself earlier this week in trying to guess at what the D400/D7100 specs would be:

D7000/D3xxx/D4/D3 = pentaprism
D5xxx/D3xxx = pentamirror

I have a D5000 and have been waiting on a D7000 upgrade (several in this thread refer to a D7200, but it would be the D7100 no?) or a D400 release.

Main reasons for me going D7xxx or D400:

1) Weather sealed body (at least for the most part on the D7xxx)
2) Internal Motor for older lenses
3) FPS

As long as they are Expeed 3, 24mp, then I will definitely be going up to one of these.

The difficulty I have is picturing what the difference will be between the D7100 or the D400.

@Andromeda:

"The D5200 along with the previous D5000 and D5100 are all highly regarded models covering a more specialized user and arguments have been presented between the advantages of owning one over the D7000."

What are you referring to when you mention that the D5000 series is covering a more 'specialized user', and what are the advantages? I can't think of a single advantage the D5000 series have over the D7000 aside from the latest D5200 iteration's 24mp & Expeed 3 processor. In all other aspects the D7000 beats out the D5000 series.

I will go out on a limb and speculate that the D7200 will cost about $1,200 to $1,300, have a 24mp sensor, use native ISO from 100 to 6,400, have basically the same build quality and features as the D7000 with the exception of better video. The chief advantage of the D7200 over the D7000 will be better image quality, including cleaner images at high ISO, and better video.

I will speculate that the D400 will cost about $1,700 to $1,800 and will have a 24mp sensor, native ISO from 100 to 12,800, and basically the same build quality and features at the D300s with the exception of better video. Battery grip will not be built in as the D4 but will be an accessory as in the D300s.

The advantage a D400 will offer over a D7200 will be one stop better ISO performance, faster fps and larger buffer, more rugged build, longer shutter life, and the pro-type controls for direct access to ISO, Image Quality, white balance and bracketing found on what used to be the film rewind crank.

One caveat: It would be great if Nikon made a 16mp DX size sensor equal to the 16mp D4 FX size sensor and put that in the D400 so a D400 would have the same clean high ISOs that a D4 has just in DX size. In other words, put the electronic "guts" of a D4 into a D400 just in DX sensor size. That way when dealing with final print sizes up to about 24 by 36 inches a person could see no difference between an image taken with a D4 and one taken with a D400 at any ISO setting. Now that would be a real "bang for the buck" but it may cut into D4 sales too much.

As things stand now and most likely as they will be after the new D7200 and D400 are released the best "bang for the buck" will remain the D7000 line of cameras. Unless you really are going to shoot more than 50,000 exposures a year a D7000 line body will last until a D7200 is out and a D7200 body will last until a D7300 is out, etc.

I am waiting for the D7200 or the D400. Just like MANY serious Nikon photographers are. The D5200 was for the real amateur market and will sell well. I also think the reviews will be favorable. THe lack of two SD cards and a number of other attributes does not get to my purchase criteria. More waiting. Meanwhile I am very impressed with the D7000.

If I got a 5100 I'd be annoyed knowing that there's a newer/better one out. I'm just that kind of person.

It's either 5200 or wait for the 7XXX, speaking of which, any idea how much the 7XXX is expected to cost? If it's a lot more than the 5200 then that settles it and I'll get the 5200.

Gabbb said:
Does the d5200 have a pentaprism viewfinder?

At this price point?

It's all smoke and mirrors. (joke)...

But seriously, I don't think Nikon have used prisms for a while in anything other than pro level gear, have they?

Does the d5200 have a pentaprism viewfinder?

Well, the D5200 just came out, so you're going to be paying full retail for it; not exactly the best bang for the buck.

The 5100 right now is going for ridiculously cheap prices; under 400 for refurbished from major retailers; that IMO is probably where your best deal is. Get that and then see if you really need the 7XXX series when it gets refreshed.

I enjoy everything Nikon. I don't buy anything else. Other competitors have strong points with their products and over recent years Nikon has coped flax from their users to keep up with the mega pixel count.

The company makes a giant leap forward then waits for the other to catch up however I don't understand the logic of continually giving improvements to the consumer range (not there's anything wrong with that) but leave the lingering issue of not upgrading Semi-Pro DX models in competitive timelines.

The D300 and D300s are highly regarded cameras and held their ground for quite a while however the D300s is quite an "Elder Statesman" in today’s climate of technology.

Upgrades on the DX 24 mega pixel count on the Consumer models makes me wonder what "game changer" Nikon might have in mind to separate these excellent models from the Semi-pro model that will replace the magnificent D300s.

The D5200 along with the previous D5000 and D5100 are all highly regarded models covering a more specialized user and arguments have been presented between the advantages of owning one over the D7000.

I hope Nikon deliverer a D300s replace before they release the next D5300

In that case the D5200 might be a good upgrade. With the new metering and AF upgrade it makes the D5XXX line a bit more advanced. Still don't have the pro features, but if you have and want AF-S lenses, don't need commander flash stuff, and don't mind using the menus to change stuff then it is probably a great buy.

I find myself frustrated at times when I have to change settings on my D5000 as it is cumbersome. That is the biggest reason I am looking for a D7000 or D400 to upgrade to. I wouldn't mind the in body AF motor or commander flash stuff either.

I've got the D5000 at the moment and I feel like a need/want a better body.
While the D7XXX might be overkill for my ability/needs, I do like to futureproof myself to an extent. I don't like buying something and knowing that there's something better for not much more.

I just want the best I can get for around £1000, and the best low light performance (I've got 35mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8)

spraynpray said:
LOL!

I think best 'bang for the buck' around right now is probably the D3200 so why not get that? IQ is going to be really close.

Imo the d5100 is still a winner in terms of price/performance. It's cheaper than the d3200 and the image quality with most lenses doesn't fall short. (the dynamic range of the d5100 is still quite a bit better)

Do you know why you need the D7XXX line camera? If you are thinking about a D5200 then I think you maybe don't know...there are a few features separating the body lines now. Build and weather sealing, in body AF motor, possibly flash controls and advanced controls by buttons and stuff are about it.

I think the D5200 will be a great camera and probably a great bang for the buck...I think it will produce excellent pictures and have great performance with the upgraded metering, sensor and AF. If you aren't sure why you would need more then it is probably the perfect camera.

I think it very much depends on your budget and what you have now

I know I am alone on this, but I think the replacement for the D7000 was the D600

as you say, on paper, the 5200 looks pretty good

do you need the extras you might get on a D7200

as for bangs for bucks the D7000 is still very good

adamz said:
wait for d400s and d7300 they gonna be even better

LOL!

I think best 'bang for the buck' around right now is probably the D3200 so why not get that? IQ is going to be really close.

wait for d400s and d7300 they gonna be even better

Wait until the D7200 and D400 are announced next year if you can. The D7200 should be the best bang for the buck in DX format.

That's assuming the D7xxx is still on the cards to be refreshed soon.

Bang for buck which is the better camera? I was waiting for the new D7000 but seeing as this is now announced should I get this instead? On paper the D5200 looks pretty good but is there something worth while that I'd miss out on?

Thanks,