Just Posted: Six page Nikon D5200 hands-on preview

If the kit lens that come with the 24MP D3200 is any indicator... um, for that resolution, it IS crappy.

there is an important rule: never buy a camera that has a lens in the package. not only because those lenses could be crap, but most importantly, if they have to give you a lens to a camera body the body itself was made for customers that have no clue about lenses, so they simply wont buy a camera where a part is "missing"

better invest in pro gear and skip two generations than buy consumergear and rebuy the same plastic over and over again

If you look at the 18-55 VR MFT tests, if actually is one of the better kit lenses (see Photozone) But with resolution increases, you can get extreme corner softness.

But Nikon has tons of excellent DX zooms, and many, like the 18-105 VR, are too much more expensive than the 18-55 VR. The 16-85 VR is a bit more, but superb.

Unless you absolutely must have a zoom, I'd be inclined to use a 35 1.8 or 40 2.8 Macro, 50 1.8G, and 85 1.8G. Grab a Tokina 11.16 2.8 for ultra wide and you'll be set.

All what you claim and say is what I know and what I do. But, this is not an excuse to sell those cameras with a high resolution sensor with a kit lens that is not able to follow the resolution needs. So, best is to sell body only and leave people buy a lens to their choice. For sure, you have that option, but, the newbie has the same right to get a lens in the kit that suits the needs of the camera's sensor, and the 18-55VR doesn't. I ow the lens, so I know what's about. And, I ow the sensor as well in my NEX-7. I use all Nikon lenses with adapter and I can tell you that i avoid to publish what the 18-55VR does with it. I use at regular basis the 11-16 and 12-24 Tokina. The 12-24 is up to 98% sharp to all edges in the 4 corners while the 11-16 is a bit softer while sharper in the center as the 12-24. But, the 12-24 remains my favorite lens on the NEX-7.

The body/lens kit vs body only is usually only a $50 difference, so you are essentially getting the 18-55 VR for next to nothing. You can use it at f8 and be happy or pixel-peepers can sell it on Ebay for a profit. Don't see what the big deal is.

Thank you, M. Lammerse, for your comment. At last someone has the correct answer for these continuously whining sticklers/nagers/carpers/cavillers.

@gl2k:
youre wrong

dont type everything down that comes to your mind, especially not in forums, its annoying

@HDF2
I joined this web in order to get info, believing in this hub. So my sensitivities are also questioned. Its more about feedback I suppose.
Websites like this are powerful marketing, so free to me, to you...? We shape our "shopping ideas" based on info and speed of info which comes to us.... That would be somewhere in book of marketing basics.

emtx
Marketing basics: product reviews are indirect marketing that can be good or bad for a product depending on the outcome. DPR is not a marketing company, though some of their activities can translate into marketing for manufacturers (e.g. posting a product launch report).

DPR has to take limited resources (which we didn't pay for) and apply them in a way that allows them to meet their objectives - which I am fairly certain is not marketing for someone else.

DPR must choose how to invest its TIME to review/preview products (a resource limited in supply based on the amount of workers they have, and pay for - Economics 101)

Given scarce resources, where do you think it makes the most sense to spend them? In products with limited market appeal (the reason for the limited market appeal is irrelevant) or those that will appeal to the broadest market bringing in the most views?

It requires a balance, but it is never going to be in favor of some obscure or small market share brands.

There's a whole lot more to it.

In order to get a quick review... three different things need to happen at the same time. Like a "perfect storm."

1. It must be a camera that a lot of readers are interested in
2. A copy must be available for Dpreview to test
3. Dpreview must have the labor available to test it.

The one factor that really doesn't matter is "Amazon sells it" because Amazon will gladly sell you any camera made. And they will make a profit on it, no matter which brand it is.

Dpreview has absolutely no incentive to push one brand over the other, and even if they wanted to do this, it would only destroy their credibility.

If they review a lot of Canons and Nikons... it might be because those companies combine for an 80% market share.

@Marty4650: Market share should have nothing to do with it. I come here for impartial reviews. If I want to know market share, I can look up the sales rank on amazon.

@HDF2: "Free to you." Not really because there's advertising *and* they're owned by amazon, as Marty rightly points out. This would make one naturally sceptical, especially considering that margins will differ between camera models!

@emtx: Right on.

"Market share" means who sells the most units.

Whoever sell the most units has the most customers, and therefore the most Dpreveiew readers. This is why there are six Nikon forums here, five canon forums here and only two for Pentax and Olympus.

Dpreview is a business that wants more more people visiting this site so they can charge more for advertising here. They would be crazy to NOT give some priority to the most popular brands.

Reviews of the popular brands are of value to more readers. All the people (many) who are already considering buying the latest Canikon model come here to see how it rates. If the review is up quickly, more readers benefit, and so does dpr. I guarantee 'Minor Brand Camera Reviews' would not prosper, however educational it might be to a small number of enthusiasts.

@Marty6450 and MarkInSF: It's really sad that neither of you seem to realise you are directly arguing against the purpose of a review site, and making yourselves pawns of the Canikon marketing departments. Keep going just like that, they love you guys. And your carelessly spent money.

A camera with an antiquated AF system with 11 AF points vs Nikons 39 ... or Nikons superior video? .. or a higher resolution sensor?.... or maybe the irrelevancy of Pentax in general? ;)

Naww.. I think DPR got it right.

Nightwings, when i compare the pictures i can achieve with my irrelevant Pentax stuff to your pics made with some amazing Nikon cameras,i am confident about the Pentax quality :)

Thank you for the good laugh anyway !

"is on par with its peers in the enthusiast DSLR bracket of the market."

DPR were comparing K-30 to enthusiast-level cameras like 60D, D7000 and K-5. D5200 is an upper entry-level camera, and is not considered one of K-30's peers.

"So, a camera with two dials , weather sealing and a 100% viewfinder is on par with sub 1000$ cameras, but the D5200 is a signifant step up for this class of DSLR..."

No, it's on par with enthusiast-level cameras. D5200 is entry-level, and represents a step up for that class.

I think the low price of the K-30 confuses many people into thinking it belongs in the same class as D5200 and the Canon Rebels, but feature-wise it really belongs to the enthusiast bracket, which was what DPR meant by its peers.

Amazing, I own Pentax and Canon and Nightwings you are exactly right. No contest. I am hoping Ricoh does a good job. But these guys that comment on the superiority of Pentax is just wrong. To the customer and to Pentax in general.

Price wise, the K30 is almost in the same leagues as the D5200 (D5200 being more expensive).

Thus you cannot compare the K30 to much more expensive cameras like D60, 7D or D7000. The K-5 is meant to compete with those cameras.

Instead, in the K30 you get a large view finder, dual control wheels, weather sealing, in body stabilization and the flexibility of using both lithium proprietary battery and AA batteries.

Regarding AF, dpreview says "Autofocus acquisition is usually extremely fast and positive, with both Pentax' SDM models and conventional lenses.".

@Couscousdelight
I suppose if one is patient.. one can achieve good results... even with a pinhole came. I have no such patience. On the otherhand, when I care what you think of my mostly test shots in my gallery.... OR.... conversly... when I care about your "shots" .. I'll be sure to let you know. Until then.. be careful not to choke on your own laughter.

@ nightwing
If you really wanna shoot quality video, get a real video camera or at least 5d Mark II. Well, are you shooting pro movies, which gets pro display that you need Full HD 50/60fps (and I do not mean Full HD TV or beamer in living room)
I class cameras for what they cost. In other words I look for what I get for money. So 5200 is upper entry, 3200 is lower entry and D 7000 is? So far I had feeling that 3200 is entry, 5100 is mid and D 7000 is advanced. (That would make a common sense.)
If I am correct 5200 has only 9 cross types AF points...exactly like K 30. Antiquated in both case. Wonder what you are shooting that phase detect in 6fps/continuous 9 Raw of Pentax would not be enough. Are you all sport profi photographers?
Look at flexibility Raw files of K 30 and compare shots of KIIs with Canon 5D mark III.....

@garyknrd

It must some sort of inferiority complex with some of these folks.. to trot out everytime a new Nikon is announced. Oh well, not everyone is comfortable in their own skin I guess. :)

There is NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE for good hearted bantering. After all the progress the internet has given us .. we are still relegated to text communications where one can not see inside the writers heart or see his face. I am guilty of provocative posts, but rest assured most are done tongue in cheek and/or dry humor. :) There's no need to apologize, and yes, I am aware that some of my non-test shots (some would argue more) are amateurish ... which is fine by me.. as I am an amateur enthusiast. Most of what I shoot is people/family anyway… which I never post on the internet.

The 100% Pentaprism VF, class leading IQ and high ISO, and dual command alone make the K-30 a better camera than the D3100 or T3i class of camera for photography. Add weather sealing you have a blowout for the K-30. The slightly lower video specs of the K-30 is not enough to keep it from a Gold Award, IMHO.

K-30's lower price is, I think, just a result of Pentax' smaller market share. In this way of thought, Nikon and Canon are, in a way, with more freedom to make whatever they want and sell it at whatever price they decide. So if the same K-30 was Canon or Nikon-branded, it would have been with a way higher price tag, wouldn't it?

My Nikon D40 has only 3 AF points and guess what, I never missed on shot with it, focusing is perfect in all situations, choosing right, left or center. This 50 and more focusing point stuff is all you dream about, the time you need to set the point where you want sharpness, the caravan has passed by and the dogs keep barking.
Seems to me that you all shoot portrait or publicity set-ups for the local supermarket pub folder.

@R.Butler: responded like a sir !

Responded like a gentleman. But I'm not sure why he bothered considering the absurdity of the complaint. DPR is a free website. If people don't like the content they don't have to click, but I'm certain that Nikon users and camera aficionados alike enjoy these previews. Besides, DPR always incorporates Preview content in their Full Reviews. It's beyond me why anyone not paying for the bandwidth would object.

Wow, you sound miserable as a Canon user. Photography can't be fun for you if you spend SO much time worrying about competitors offerings.

As far a trouble free my D800 has zero problems and outperforms my previous Canon 5D2 in every way. With the D800, D4 and D600 Nikon has 3 straight home runs.

Lol! catch up to Canon's sensors indeed. Did you know that a drawing of the Canon 18mp sensor was discovered inside one of the pyramids at Giza?

@ Shunda77
Beste Comment ever! As a Canon Fanboy i consider buying a Nikon next to my Gear.
And im gonna post this comment on Facebook!
"Did you know that a drawing of the Canon 18mp sensor was discovered inside one of the pyramids at Giza?"

".....to be trouble free(leaking oil, soft left eyeball AF, flimsy doors, green LCD, unconfident AF system....etc)"

Sounds like your copy of your chosen Nikon fell off the truck and rolled several times. My recently purchased D5100 and D7000 prior to that work fine. :)

Yeah, true that. The D7000 can be found for US$789.00 (body only) and would be my choice if I needed an upgrade. A lot of people might disagree due to its new sensor. The D5200 looks like a great package anyway, something Canon... Well, nevermind.

You can play this game all day.....Why not get a D90, D80, or maybe even a Film camera with 50 rolls of film for $300 bucks. The D5200 is a new camera and new cameras almost always sell at retail for 4-6 months.

thanks for sharing, bro! cool story!
The D5200 has new features, which is why it cost more!

Let's not get carried away. The 5DIII is still a quality FF still camera, and also a wonderful video camera. I agree about the price, but let's be fair.

I beg to differ. I'm ready and willing to take that challenge - I bet I can produce a real world image from a 5200 and a 5DIII from an idenical scene and no one on here will be able to tell the difference.

That's a pretty foolhardy challenge. the logic is just not there. Fail.

Looks like the possibly-hyperbolic press release is still resolutely where we put it then

I think the Pentax K30 is a more complete package.

We still have to see the performance of the sensor whereas the 16mpx the K30 uses is a well proven one (K-5; D7000).

@nicolaiecostel
My thoughts exactly - 50 gazillion weather seals and 25 dials and buttons on a camera mean nothing to me if the camera can AF and expose consistently.

The touch screen isn't a magic bullet. Keeping the screen on drains battery power, and the touchscreen can't be seen or used with the camera up to your eye. With a heavy lens attached (one that you want to support with your left hand), using the touch screen requires you to leave the shooting position.

Four way controllers and interactive screens are already very intuitive, and well placed buttons allow far faster access to settings. I don't think many people would value a touch screen more than better autofocus and image quality.

You have to consider the target market for this camera. The Rebel is for soccer moms and dads and people stepping up from the camera phone. The touch screen is what they know and keeps them in their comfort zone. It decreases the intimidation factor of the dslr. BTW, let me tell you, it is way faster than buttons and dials. Why navigate to a button and select it when you can just touch it?

I agree that the touch screen can be useful.
However, I don't see the touch screen as a big enough factor to counter the D5100's superior sensor and autofocus.

Also, note that the reception to smartphones and other touch screen devices has not been entirely positive (especially for people with big fingers). And about the intimidation factor...having a touch screen won't help if the user isn't familiar with what the settings on the screen do.