First look at the D7100 & 80-400 AF-S VR G f 4.5-5.6 Nikkor Zoom!

This week in Las Vegas at the WPPI Show, I’ve had the chance to play with and get familiar with two new products from Nikon.  You can find all the specs on Nikon USA website and places like DP Review, so I won’t rehash those sites, I hope to share some of the exciting things, I’ve learned.   I will put both products through and extensive testing in St. Maartens Island in the Caribbean next week, but for now here are the exciting details;

The D7100.  While the D7100 is the long awaited update to the wonderful D7000, (one of my favorite cameras of all time), it is more than I had expected!!!  The D7100 has a 24 mp sensor that does not have an Optical Low Pass Filter in place!  The result is exceptional sharpness and resolution.  This is a very exciting development…..   While I have only been able to pop off some hand held shots at our booth, it is obvious, even in those images, that this camera is going to be a force to be reckoned with with in the DX sensor category!!  The other extremely pleasant discovery is that the noise at high ISO is remarkably low, far better than in the 16 mp D7000, which was very good in it’s own right!!

The D7100 feels just a little more substantial than it’s previous little brother, and is definitely built for lots of use.  It maintains the same great ergonomics of the D7000 and most all the features and includes some new ones.  The most important added feature for me, besides the wonderful new sensor design, is the autofocus system has grown up to the 51 point  (15 cross type, and the better processor should provide faster, and more accurate autofocus performance, in addition to working in lower light!  The D7100 feels great in the hands, and makes fantastic images!  (Oh well, maybe changes are in the wind for my Nikon DX body needs!!!)

The Long awaited, and worth the wait, Nikon 80-400 AF-S VR G f 4.5-5.6 Zoom.  This lens is everything I had hoped for and while substantial, not a back breaker!!!  The new lens has a very solid feel, zooms without the excessive lengthening of the older version and has the latest and best VR system!  I am not the most steady shooter and yet standing at the booth, handheld I made several images of people’s faces a about30 feet away at 400mm at a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, and could count the eyelashes!!!!!!  Next week as i photograph jets landing in St. Maarten, at their famous low pass over the beach airport, I hope to post some stunningly sharp images from this lens!  The lens takes 77mm filters (yeah!!!), (and the barrel does not rotate during focusing, yeah again!!!)  it focuses down to only 5.74 feet at 400mm!!!!!! (Can we say close-ups!!!!! and micro lens type results with high quality diopters!  With ED, and Super ED elements, and Nano coatings, this lens is stunningly sharp!

The lens appears to be tack sharp and with a very well designed tripod collar (supplied with the lens), I believe this will find a home in many bags.  At $2.699. it is not cheap,but considering it’s quality and utility, I believe it will be well worth the price!!!  At 56 ounces, it is not light, but certainly manageable, for even an old guy like me!  On our FX cameras (D4, D800/800e, D600. etc) it will be a true 80-400, on the new D7100 an all our DX models it’s a whopping 120-600 f 4.5-5.6   WOW, what a great range for those that own both FX & DX bodies……   As you know I’m never convinced until I try it for myself, and I will report on that next week, but to be honest, I’m expecting to provide a sterling review in the days to come.  Can you tell I’m excited???? I think I’ve used that word forty times in this blog entry!!!!!

Caveat:  Please know that even though I am employed by Nikon, (and have been a life long Nikon user for all my years, I bought my own gear, and still do, Nikon does not give me gear, only consigns it for use in my job).  I would never, and have never, hyped any of our products on this blog site, just for that reason, if I did not genuinely believe my opinions to be accurate, I would say nothing at all!  My mother always taught me, “If you can’t say something good, say nothing at all!!”  Still great advice all these years later.  While on that subject, from time to time I mention products that I have purchased with my own money and love, that is my policy on this website.  I do not accept, free products for the purpose of review.  If I request a product, or are sent a product to review, I return it, after the review or, if I want to own it, I send a check to the manufacturer for the product. Some manufacturers give “professional discounts” which are appreciated, but nothing is accepted free.  The one exception to that is any sponsor of His Light Workshops may give samples of their products for our use, and testing, and this is a standard procedure in the industry.  I and Jim choose our own sponsors and we approach them, because we already use and highly respect their products. Period!!   We have not, and will not review cameras or lens products, other than Nikon’s, while I am employed by them.   

My goal is simple, I want you to know, you can read this blog and all my blogs, and feel assured that I am only passing on what I believe, in my opinion, to be accurate information you can use to consider in your equipment purchases study.  My faith and my stand in life for Him would allow me to do no less.

Blessings,

the pilgrim