All Nikon DSLR models at a glance

Level:Advanced
Anwendung:Background knowledge

The family tree of all Nikon DSLR cameras from over 20 years in a compact overview. On the basis of three criteria, it is possible to say for whom each model is suitable and a table shows who follows whom and when, and who has which larger and smaller siblings.

The three ??? to classify all models

Fully automatic mode or not?

Nikon D5200 Betriebsarten-Wähler

A few years ago, Nikon itself divided its range into two segments:

  • Models with fully automatic mode (”consumer“), they got a number of scene modes on top and also had the four advanced camera modes P, S, A, M.
  • Models without fully automatic (”professional“), they only have the four modes P, S, A, M. No ”I-don't-want-to-worry-about-anything“ automatic mode.

What type of camera body and how many buttons on it?

In both groups, the next distinction is according to handling. The image quality is not really suitable, neighbouring smaller and larger models are the same.

  • In the segment with full automatic mode, the number of buttons and knob on the body increases with the larger models, at the same time as the number of setting options via menus.
    • On the one hand, the line of the D3x00. If you want to shoot in good quality, but without a lot of fumbling through camera settings, this is a good choice and the most important settings are still all available.
    • On the other side are the D7x00, which not only offers a much wider range of settings, but – more importantly – has them more quickly accessible via buttons on the body. Even those who only actively use the most important camera settings will prefer to shoot with it, as everything is more easily accessible, the camera simply obeys much better. And, equally important for me: it can be adapted to personal preferences, it becomes a very individual tool.
    • In between, the D5x00, which is between the other two in all the differences I mentioned.
  • In the group without full auto mode, all models have a comparable number of setting options and buttons+switches on the body. There is only the step up from a normal camera body to the larger professional body, which has a second shutter release button to be able to hold the camera upright in the same way as the others in landscape format. This goes hand in hand with more robustness and, on detail level, even higher performance, e.g. in continuous shooting.

DX or FX?

These are Nikon's terms for sensor size,

  • FX for full-frame, with sensors as large as standard 35mm film (24×36 mm sensor size).
  • DX for the smaller format (just under 16×24 mm, as 23 in height and width, less than half the area).

In the group with full auto mode, the smaller DX sensors dominate and there is only one model series D7x0 with a large FX sensor. Oppositely, in the group without full auto mode, the large FX sensors dominate and there is only one series with a smaller DX sensor. Until 2006 it was different, until then Nikon had brought models with smaller DX sensors only onto the market.

The family tree of all Nikon DSLR models

Highlighted are the models still available in 2021, one from each group. You can already see the trend towards mirrorless cameras in the Z-series by the rhythm at which new models were introduced and now no longer will be.


with full auto mode

without full auto mode


simple handling

more menus & buttons

no pro body

professional body

Sensor

DX

DX

DX

FX

DX

FX

DX

FX

2021









2020




D780




D6

2019









2018

D3500








2017



D7500



D850



2016

D3400

D5600



D500



D5

2015


D5500

D7200



D810A



2014

D3300



D750


D810


D4S

2013


D5300

D7100

D610


Df



2012

D3200

D5200


D600


D800, D800E


D4

2011


D5100







2010

D3100

D5000

D7000


D300s




2009

D3000







D3S

2008

D60


D90



D700


D3X

2007

D40x




D300



D3

2006

D40


D80




D2Xs


2005



D50, D70s


D200


D2Hs


2004



D70




D2X


2003





D100


D2H


2001







D1H, D1X


1999







D1



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