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DxOMark investigates lenses for the Nikon D7100

Oct 4, 2013 at 10:39:34 GMT

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Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have recently been looking into how lenses score on specific cameras, and the latest model they've examined is Nikon's 24 MP APS-C flagship, the D7100. The article looks at no fewer than 126 lenses, and gauges the advantage of the D7100's higher pixel count and lack of a low-pass filter compared to the 16MP D7000. As a bonus, there's also an assessment of how the imaging performance of Nikon SLRs has improved over the last decade. Click the link to read more.

DxOMark Review: Best lenses for the 24M-Pix Nikon D7100

Click here for our in-depth review of the Nikon D7100

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Nikon D7100

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Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera, Body Only●	$1,146.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D7100 DSLR Bundle with 18-140mm and 55-300mm DX VR Lenses and Accessories●	$1,726.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera with AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 DX VR ED Lens●	$1,446.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Lens●	$1,446.95	Buy on GearShop

Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)	$1,146.95
Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)	$1,146.95
Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens	$1,446.95
Nikon D7100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-105mm VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Black) with 55-300mm VR Lens + 500mm Tele Lens + 32GB Card + Battery + Backpack + Accessory Kit	$1,799.95
Nikon D7100 Digital SLR Camera Body with 55-200mm Lens + 64GB Card + Battery & Charger + Case + Flash + Filter + Tripod + Accessory Kit	$1,389.95
Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lens	$1,446.95
Nikon 13293 D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera Bundle with 18-140mm and 55-300mm VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)	$1,726.95
Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens	$996.95
Nikon D7100 Digital SLR Camera Body with 18-200mm Lens + 64GB Card + Battery & Charger + Case + Flash + Filter + Tripod + Accessory Kit	$1,799.95
Nikon D7100 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G VR & 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lenses. Includes: 2 High Definition UV Filters, 32GB Memory Card, High Speed Card Reader, Extended Life Replacement Batteries, Full Size Tripod, Monopod, Deluxe Backpack & More	$1,849.00
Nikon D7100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-105mm VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Black) with 70-300mm Lens + 64GB Card + Battery + Case + Flash + Filters + Tripod + Accessory Kit	$1,889.95

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Comments

Total comments: 22

It's Nikon tested by DxG Balls, so expect a 100% score on everything.

0 upvotes

I'm not sure why DPR have used ACR for the RAW comparisons - NX2 is a better RAW processor for Nikon cameras.

1 upvote

They use ACR at default settings for all cameras. It's part of their work flow.

0 upvotes

the question is how the work flow was designed and for what.
it's more important to compare at level ground,
which may not be easy to define sometimes.

0 upvotes

For some Nikon cameras. ACR is better for the D7100/D800e filterless items. Fewer artifacts, better detail. A/B them and you'll see.

0 upvotes

I would like to see how nikkor 18-105 is doing. Not included in tests. I think for that price range is perfect lens.

0 upvotes

Sharpness is out of the picture taking equation with the D7100 and just about any lens at its better settings, corners excepted on many. Now you've got only the subject to worry about.

6 upvotes

The subject is always the most important spec.

0 upvotes

It's unfortunate that they didn't include the *new version* of the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 OS. It's been out since last year and all the reviews I've read say it's an amazing lens, very sharp with few aberrations. I do own this myself, but use it on the D7000.

Plus, with a 75-225mm "full frame equivalent angle of view", and a minimum focus distance half that of a 70-200, the 50-150 OS a really versatile lens too. Sadly, DXOmark is often very slow about getting lenses reviewed, so make sure you take their recommendations with a grain of salt.

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/836-sigmaex5015028dcos

2 upvotes

I bought the new Sigma 50-150, used it for a few months and then sold it. Focus was so far off on my copy that it couldn't be corrected with AF Micro Adjust. If I used live view, it focused accurately but was a little slow. I replaced it with the Nikon 70-200 f4, which has given me no problems.

0 upvotes

Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 OS is one of my sharpest lens in my set with D7100

0 upvotes

Both Tamron and Sigma: 17-50mm F2.8 did very well on DXOmark sharpness scores with D7100 considering the lower price points. Good value for price under $700 USD. Tamrons two lens of this range scored 12 and 13 sharpness and Sigma at 14. Higher than score for Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 at 9 (I guess sharpness depends on which F stop you use on this lens. I do not have this lens though).

Comment edited 11 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

The test says the Nikkor 24-70mm 2,8 is right up there at the top.

It it fair to suppose that my Nikkor 35-70mm 2,8 performs at the same high level? What do you think?

1 upvote

a rule of thumb is that Nikkors after 2007 are good ones.

Comment edited 10 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

The 35-70 f2.8 is one of the best zooms Nikon ever made. Use it with the lightweight and compact 24mm f2.8 (also excellent) if wider angle is needed.

1 upvote

it was only a 2x zoom with unpleasent distortion and needed frequent maintenance. Nikon failed to develop a good 28-70 which was one of reasons why people said their 35-70 were "good" which were really not. it was not until 2007 that Nikon could finally make one that compete with Canon well and Canon's new 24-70/2.8L2 only suppasses the 2007 Nikon a little bit and Nikon users can get better result by using higher resolution cameras.

Comment edited 6 times, last edit 12 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Not really I think.
I had have 35-70/2.8 on D600 and sold it. Simply not up to the 20+ MPix sensor. And CA is excessive.

0 upvotes

This seems to prove there are real benefits in having more megapixels - especially with good lenses, but even fairly ordinary lenses benefit too.

A full frame sensor with the same pixel density would be something like 56mp.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

4 upvotes

think about FX 36mm x 24mm @ 9000px * 6000px :)
Mmmm, 54MP (provided with the same IQ as D800 at the minimum).
Coupled with good Sigma 35/1.4, Nikon85/1.4 Ai-S and 14-24/2.8, I just couldn't stop drolling :p

0 upvotes

there should still be resolution left for squeezing when we have 56.8MP APS-C

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

Yeah, as soon as I got my D7100, I noticed it brought out the worst in some of my lenses. The previously regarded "very sharp" Nikon 50mm F/1.8D turned into mush (the 1.8G is supposedly superior). My Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 moved down to just being very good, but was still lacking. The Nikon 35mm F/1.8 was getting there, though.

The sharpest two lenses I have are the Nikon 17-55mm F/2.8 and 80-200mm F/2.8D ED. Stopped down to F/4-5.6, they're razor sharp, showing each individual hair on a dog's head, or every letter on a car's tire. The 17-55mm is especially impressive at the wide end, and I can't see how DXOMark rates it at only 9MP for either end of the zoom.

Either way, it's nice to know the sensor is as massively sharp as it seems vs the D7000, as opposed to what some other people say. Though, it would've been nice if they had also compared the sharpness between the D7100 and D5200, so we could finally quantify just how effective removing the AA filter actually has.

Comment edited 31 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

D7100 vs D5200 @24MP for DX sensor AA competition?
The judges will have a hard time, let the computer decide the number regardless image quality.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 22

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