A while back I got call from the Nikon mothership which put the very first HDdSLR–the Nikon D90–into my hands months before the world had seen that technology. I won’t ever forget that experience. That little camera kicked off this whole craze of photo and video convergence that we’re swimming in today.
Well…low and behold, a few months ago I got another one of those calls from Nikon. “Chase-san. We have a new camera…” I love those calls. And so today I’m again excited to share with you another new camera that will get its moment in the spotlight next week at Photokina: the Nikon D7000.
There’s a feature list a mile long after the jump below, but the only data I cared about heading into this can be summed up in 4 lines:
_16.2 Megapixels. (CMOS sensor, DX format, 6fps)
_1080p full HD video. (24fps)
_ISO up to 6400 (pushable to 25,600)
_Magnesium alloy construction (read “pro quality”)
When an automaker rolls a new car off the assembly line, the first thing they do is call in a professional driver to “road test” that car. They’re armed with the basic tech specs, but the drivers aren’t overly saddled with capturing data and providing computer-style analysis. In reality they don’t care about that stuff. The care how the car feels.
In the very same way, I got to “road test” the Nikon D7000. This behind the scenes video (above), this short film Benevolent Mischief I got to make with the new 1080p HD video (below), and the still photos I shot after the jump tell my story of getting to play with this cool new camera.
Sample photos from our shoot, images of the camera from every angle you can imagine, a full feature list, and some other links after the jump (click ‘more’ or ‘continue reading’…)
Beyond what you see herein, there was nothing formal about my road test. In fact, I carried this concept throughout my experience. There was no bloated production, no official script, not even a definitive shot list to be honest. It was absolutely back to basics. Simply making pictures. Nikon gave me several cameras, creative freedom, and a budget to rally my staff and a handful of friends out on the road to make some images for my portfolio, as well as a short film I’ve had in my mind for quite some time.
So that’s what we did. And we had a blast. I hope you dig some of the results.
Click here to see a gallery of sample images I shot with the Nikon D7000.
My “road” test revealed:
1. The camera feels great. I had fun using it. It was effortless to make great pictures.
2. It’s beefier than D90. Faster. Better. Kicks more ass.
3. Will do well for lots of markets. The photojournalist, the wedding shooter, the pro-sumer, the video crowd, backup body for pros. Pretty much everybody wins.
4. It feels great in your hand. Personally I think ergonomics are waaay underrated on cameras in general. Nikon usually does great in this department, and this is on the mark. It feels dreamy in my palm. I used it almost entirely with the optional vertical grip because it feels more pro in my hand and the extra battery life is important for video.
5. Nice Price. = It’s not confirmable yet, but it will be around $1000 USD. [UPDATED: actual price is $1199, pre-order or check it out here at B&H] Given that the top of the line flagship Nikon cameras I use everyday for my commercial work are several times that price, this is a sweet spot.
Reminder, if you’re looking for official specs or 3rd party “testing”, I’m not your guy. I’m an opinionated photographer and a filmmaker, and these are my gut responses. Nikon didn’t review this post and they didn’t tell me what to shoot. They didn’t pay me for a technical analysis. They did pay for me to go out and make pictures and make a short film – and I had a blast doing it. They were cool and generous, and I’m thankful for the opportunity. And the camera rocked.
—- UPDATE ! Tons of folks were asking for some full resolution JPEGs to take a look at. I’ve tossed them up on this page here D7000 Preview Images, for everyone to look at download. These are right off the SD cards. —-
Since I’m the only photog on the planet who’s actually shot this thing for any length of time, I’m guessing there are gonna be questions. I’m happy to answer any that I can. In fact, Scott and Dartanyon and Erik are also around to answer questions too – they’ve spent as much time as I have with the D7000 and even more time with the files. Let’s let the comment section below act as sort of a forum. Collectively we’ll try to keep up with the questions that pour in.
If you dig this sort of stuff and wanna see more behind the scenes photography/video stuff, please subscribe to this blog here. “Like” me on Facebook. Follow @chasejarvis on Twitter. I’ll surely be following up this post with more info–and other similar stuff–regularly. Hope to see you again.
In the mean time, here’s a more complete spec list:
_16.2 megapixels with new Nikon DX-format CMOS sensor (4,928 x 3,264 pixels)
_ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 6400 at normal setting; can be raised to ISO 25600
_Full HD (1080p) D-Movie
_H.264/mpeg-4 video compression
_Makes .mov files at 24fps in 1080 (30fps at 720HD)
_Movie has built in mono, but stereo sound recording capability with optional external mic via stereo mini jack
_20 minute movie recording times
_High durability magnesium alloy body (dust and water resistant)
_6 frames per second still image capture
_9, 21, 39 point AF systems
_Double SD card slots
_12 or 14 bit color depth
_HDMI out display port
_Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) capabilities onboard
and if you really need more info than that, I can’t be of much help, but the Nikon site here might be…
Lastly, the music we use in all our vids is a big part of the fun for us. And we always get a boatload of people who want to check out the bands in greater depth, so here are iTunes links to everyone. All are highly recommended:
The Black Angels
Sera Cahoone
Head Like A Kite
Viva Voce
Victor Shade (RA Scion and MTK)
Joshua Roman
Thanks to everyone who helped out on this fun project. More fun yet to come…
Ahh boy, a new awesome Nikon camera, and yet Nikon still can’t meet the demand for one that came out in ’09.
I love you Nikon, but that fails. Still, I’m looking forward to giving this camera a test run myself.
Excellent work Chase & Team.
I really found these videos disappointing on every level. You never told me anything about the video, never mentioned the thing all us nikon shooters are waiting to hear, does it have manual video control like canon?
The video was just bad. Its all dirty nighttime streetlight unshowered actor bar footage…how does that make me want to buy a new Nikon? I sure don’t want my videos looking green and dirty like that. It was way to long, didn’t make any sense, and just seemed self gratifying. Put that up next to philip blooms “skywalker ranch” or anything anyone with a canon is shooting and its embarrassing.
Its just to much “hip cool dude” talk with bandana and goofy over sized sunglasses, in the desert like hippies, I can’t take it seriously, and it just doesn’t make sense. Talk to me like a huminoid about what you think about the camera, i Mean, thats why Nikons throwing money at you right? And it seems like every video you do someone is drinking, there’s alot of drinking in your work. Its sad, you were like the nikon guru, your stevens pass stuff, the LPGA shoot, your ninja stuff, that was insane, but its more about your persona than anything else, and hey that happens to people, and thats fine.
I just can’t follow you anymore, at all. Its sad really.
People need to stop hating on the video. If you wanted tech specs and all that other numerical garble on the camera, go check out the press release. You’re in the wrong place.
Nice video Chase and Co. Thanks for showing us the some examples of the real world capability of the camera.
What do you expect form a pop artist, Jeremy. Chase does stuff to please the majority and he’s not ashamed of it. If you want a serious photographer, you probably won’t find him blogging about mid-range Nikon camera, cause he has other stuff to do and doesn’t need to go into advertorials.
Chase is a chilled lad who has incredible power to sell himself, despite not being the best photographer in the world. Whether it’s good or not, depends on the personal preferences. All things considered, he’s good in his rookie-niche – the people who just learned what aperture means and what that ‘M’ mode on the dial stands for. There is place for everyone and I’m sure Chase is and will be inspiration for “the now amateurs”. He even had been – look at fstoppers.com
Jeez ‘name’, that’s a pretty damning indictment of Chase Jarvis. I don’t personally have any affiliation with Chase nor do I really follow him, but at least he puts himself and his work out there.
Try to dial back the condescension a bit. After all, at some point every photographer was at the point where they “just learned what aperture means and what that ‘M’ mode on the dial stands for.” Who knows, maybe when I view your portfolio, I’ll see that you’re in a much higher niche of your own and see things from a different perspective. You do have a portfolio, right?
Lastly, I don’t get all of the pop artist ….. serious photographer ….. mid-range camera stuff at the start of your post; it’s a bit of a non-sequitur.
John, let me explain. I was trying to tell Jeremy that Chase is trying to please the lowest common denominator in here (as a “pop culture junkie”) – which is good and I agree on what you say. Everyone’s a beginner in the beginning. And what I specifically meant with my comment was – this Nikon rollout by Chase is meant to please that kind of crowd, inspire them and make them buy that camera and I think it works good enough for that; so there’s no point being negative about this launch.
Also, I suggested Jeremy looking at fstoppers.com, which are the product of Chase’s ideology and living example that Chase can inspire people to do things.
I’m sorry you misunderstood me.
Jeremy – chill bro (that’s hip cool dude talk)
I never understand why people like you go onto other photographer’s blogs and post a negative hate mail. If you don’t like Chase’s work then move on, no one will notice that you’ve stopped checking in.
I just visited your blog and found the movie you did called “Lull” where you essentially promote the D300s and D90 and I have to say that my kid’s high school friends are making more interesting shorts than what you did. I expected to see something so unique and inspiring but found a short clip highlighting focal lengths of different lenses. How many phone calls have you gotten from Nikon?
Chase was hired to do a job that appealed to the pro-sumer market and that is what he delivered on. Read this post all the way through before you give your opinion, Chase says “Reminder, if you’re looking for official specs or 3rd party “testing”, I’m not your guy. I’m an opinionated photographer and a filmmaker, and these are my gut responses. Nikon didn’t review this post and they didn’t tell me what to shoot.”
BTW – I have met Chase several times and hung out with him and his staff at his studio at a social event he hosted and he is the real deal, no ego, no holier than thou persona, just genuine and very approachable (so is his wife…they are good people)
Troy – I am the most “loyal” of chase jarvis fans, I have his books, his app, i even (almost) attended his free seminar in new york last year, but couldn’t because I had my kids that weekend.
I disagree that we should only stop here and comment if we have positive good things to say. and I resent your assertion that my comment was “hate mail”, it was nothing of the sort. It was a direct, honest, personal critique of what i saw in respect to all the other pieces I’ve seen. Chase to my understanding is a very open, thick skinned artist, who welcomes both the positive as well as the negative critiques, becuase through both of these people grow. How bad would it be to have 954 comments that all say “great job, love your stuff”, how does that really help?
So i simply provided my input. I would take a bullet for George Lucas, and guess what, i’ve said some not so nice things about “howard the duck”.
but really, to insult my work, really? i’m a small town food photographer, i’ve never once said anything conceited about my work or skill. Do i need certain financial or professional qualifications to critique someones work? Lull was my third short, it probably was not better than what some high school kids are doing, and Your critique of it is correct. But I enjoyed making it, and I really like it, and I learned making it. So my world is not over because of your critique, and neither is chases. I know who i am and what I am.
SO thank you for your critique of my work and of my critique, and while i do not agree with all of what you said, i respect your freedom to say it. sadly I could not find a link to your work to crituqe it as well.
thank you.
Jeremy – one last post about this for me.
The only reason I chimed in about your initial post is because it was not a serious critique but more of a personal criticism and I did not understand the value it added to this discussion. To give your opinion or critique about a body of work is much different than getting off track by voicing your dislike of the artist’s wardrobe or his persona and I don’t know what “talk to me like a humanoid” really means.
I do agree with you though about not liking too many of the same “your so great” comments. I enjoy reading everyone’s views and find the constructive critiques, especially the ones that disagree, very insightful if they are backed up with more than just someone’s criticism. That way I can learn to look at everyone’s work differently.
Don’t take my comments about your Lull film to heart, I was just trying to criticize your work to make a point. Also I don’t have a link anywhere to my photography because I don’t have a need to share it with everyone, I take pictures for my own satisfaction. But if I do put them up somewhere you’ll be the first to know…well maybe the second to know, I’ll probably tell my wife first.
Hope you don’t stop following Chase, like I’ve heard somewhere before…a rising tide floats all the boats.
Troy – I apologize if my critique did not seem serious. I was approaching this as an advertisement and marketing piece for a new Nikon camera which i have desperately been waiting on, and that is why i shared my thoughts, becuase i found it so disappointing.
but I’ve defiantly learned not to critique chase Jarvis. WOW, what a $%*^ storm of hate mail that will bring. but then again, i don’t have to buy the chase jarvis books, apps, or create online videos anymore either.
I agree with some of what you’re saying. On top of that, I’d rather see the camera companies putting their efforts into making better displays right now as that is the main bottleneck in image quality. Why buy a $10000 stereo if you listen to it through junk earbuds? That’s essentially what’s happening right now with digital photography. LCD monitors are not displaying the richness of our pictures. Let’s get OLED, Nikon. Don’t bother me with a D7000 or D8000 or whatever. It’s really pointless until we get better displays.
Oh yes it’s so sad !!!! (N’importe quoi ! )
Hmm, maybe it’s time to make the switch from Canon.
You’re gonna cost me money to go to the dark side….. :<)
The videos were so cheesy and pretentious that I could not stomach even half of it, but I appreciate the few specification details (even if there’s nothing of technical value in there, like provided on dpreview.com/photographyblog.com etc.) – thanks!
thanks robin. apologies. if that’s your sentiment, then it seems ironically that your comment is caught in the same problem (ie. cheesy, pretentious, and lacking value.) Full refund in the mail.
Robin has a point when you compare your feature to, say, Laforet’s Surfer video (I think it was called Waves).
But in my opinion the BTS video is quite solid considering the market the camera is aimed at. It literally makes you want buy the camera, even though you see that you use that awesome super pricey lenses and you’re in one of the best places in the world.. but still. It works for me.
The feature, on the other hand, made me less excited. It seemed like you were struggling with the film language. It wasn’t terrible, but it lacked some coherence and was misleading. Example: the heli shot was awkward with the camera being pushed forward passing the guy walking down the stairs. That kind of shot means the guy is no longer important and there’s something more interesting happening the the approaching landscape… but NO. You cut to the guy looking at the van. Totally misleading and not “speaking” with the language of film.
Then the ending was really weak and ambiguous. Was the graffiti guy awaiting the reaction of his “friend?”? Was it his friend, in the first place? And how can anyone be happy with such crappy paint job?
Not exciting at all and you know it, Chase, as you state in the video 🙂 But again, good job with the BTS footage and the sample shots. They’re really a good promo to me.
So Robin, please tell me why would you need MORE technical details, if you can find ALL of them on the sites you’ve mentioned? There really isn’t anything more to be said about numbers, tables, specs etc…
But I guess to see what camera CAN do (and probably you can’t use it to as good effect, as there are just few out there who can…) doesn’t matter for you, cause the spec is more important…
I wish we were back in film days, where ppl wouldn’t be buying cameras to shoot fifty thousand pictures without any sesnse just coz they don’t pay for every one of them in film and print costs. I guess what cameras allowed you to do was more important then than few numbers in brochures…
“Just one question.
How does the D7000 autofocus system compare to that of the D300 series. Is it just as fast at tracking etc? I don’t really care about the difference in points 51 to 39 more the speed and accuracy of focus”
I would like to know that as well –