Nikon D5200 In-Depth Review: Digital Photography Review

Resolution Chart Comparison (JPEG and Raw)

Images on this page are of our standard resolution chart which provides for measurement of resolution up to 4000 LPH (Lines Per Picture Height). A value of 20 equates to 2000 lines per picture height. For each camera we use the relevant prime lens (the same one we use for all the other tests in a particular review). The chart is shot at a full range of apertures and the sharpest image selected. Studio light, cameras set to aperture priority (optimum aperture selected), image parameters default. Exposure compensation set to deliver approximately 80% luminance in the white areas.

What we want to show here is how well the camera is able to resolve the detail in our standard test chart compared to the theoretical maximum resolution of the sensor, which for the charts we shoot is easy to work out - it's simply the number of vertical pixels (the chart shows the number of single lines per picture height, the theoretical limit is 1 line per pixel). Beyond this limit (which when talking about line pairs is usually referred to as the Nyquist frequency) the sensor cannot faithfully record image detail and aliasing occurs.

This limit is rarely attained, because the majority of sensors are fitted with anti-aliasing filters. Anti-aliasing filters are designed to reduce unpleasant moiré effects, but in doing so, they also reduce resolution (the relative strength and quality of these filters varies from camera to camera). In theory though, a sensor without an AA filter, when coupled with a 'perfect' lens, will deliver resolution equal to its Nyquist limit. Therefore, even though it may be effectively unattainable with normal equipment in normal shooting situations, an understanding of a sensor's theoretical limit provides a useful benchmark for best possible performance.

On this page we're looking at both JPEG and Raw resolution. For a (more) level playing field we convert the latter using Adobe Camera Raw. Because Adobe Camera Raw applies different levels of sharpening to different cameras (this confirmed) we use the following workflow for these conversions:

Load Raw file into Adobe Camera Raw (Auto mode disabled)
Set Sharpness to 0 (all other settings default)
Open file to Photoshop
Apply a Unsharp mask tuned to the camera, usually 100%, Radius 0.6, Threshold 0
Save as a TIFF (for cropping) and as a JPEG quality 11 for download

JPEG (6000 x 4000)	Raw (6000 x 4000)

Vertical resolution

JPEG 100% crop


Raw 100% crop

Horizontal resolution

JPEG 100% crop	Raw 100% crop

With a high quality lens (such as the Nikkor 50mm F1.4 that we use for our studio tests) the D5200's 24MP pixel count results in a lot of detail being captured. As we've seen in other current Nikon DSLRs, the out-of-camera JPEGs are a little soft. With our resolution chart you'd be hard pressed to distinguish detail much beyond approximately 2800 lp/ph. Looking at a Raw file conversion, however, you can see noticeably more detail, resolving up to around 3000 lp/ph, which is about what you'd expect from a Bayer-pattern sensor. Here the trade-off is a bit more prominent color moiré, but in real-world images this is much less of an issue than it might appear from our test-chart. Simply put, if detail resolution is your priority, Raw files provide a much better starting point than out-of-camera camera JPEGs.

GearShop

Nikon D5200 DSLR Camera, Body Only (Black)●	$696.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D5200 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Lens (Black)●	$996.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D5200 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Lens (Black)●	$796.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D5200 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Lens (Bronze)●	$896.95	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D5200 DSLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Lens (Red)●	$896.95	Buy on GearShop

Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)	$996.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Bronze)	$796.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Red)	$796.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)	$796.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Body Only (Black)	$696.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)	$796.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Body Only (Black)	$696.95
Focus Camera Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Black) with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR and 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lenses + EN-EL14 Battery + 10pc Bundle 32GB Deluxe Accessory Kit	$1,029.00
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)	$996.95
Focus Camera Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Black) with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Lens and Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens with built in motor + 10pc Bundle 32GB Deluxe Accessory Kit	$954.00
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Red)	$796.95
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Bronze)	$796.95
Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)	$546.95
Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Black) with 55-300mm VR Lens + 64GB Card + Battery + Case + Tripod + Tele/Wide Lenses + Remote + Accessory Kit	$1,144.95
Nikon D5200 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Black) with 55-200mm VR + 500mm Telephoto Lens + 32GB Card + Backpack + Tele/Wide Lenses + Monopod + Accessory Kit	$1,089.95