Let me preface this by saying I enthuse over still photography and am in no position to comment on video capabilities. That said...
I owned an entry level D40x for about 7 years and was very pleased. So, was the D5200 purchase just the need for a new toy, or did I have specific reasons? Both. I consider myself a good amateur photographer with auto racing and landscape as my primary interests. So what does the upgrade mean to me? Speed and creative freedom. I took my time in writing this review because there was so much to explore and learn.
As to creativity, there are more preset scenes and effects, through both the mode dial and an on-screen display. Factory presets are quite good, and you can tweak individual parameters to suit your personal preferences and applications. Full manual control is available if you really want to go outside the box, but a complete list of settings is much too long to get into here. I recommend the Nikon web site to download the specs and a manual for more details. The context sensitive help screens on the camera are useful and explain some functions that may have left you scratching your head after merely reading the book.
Speed means several things to me. I have long been a believer in NIKKOR glass and have 2 (excellent) consumer grade lenses that reach from 18mm to 300mm in DX format. This satisfying combination comes at a very reasonable price but at the expense of the wider apertures available in the more expensive professional series. The ability to shoot at much higher ISOs without significant grain means superior low light performance without resorting to a flash, which is not always practical and can rob you of natural ambience. Second is the ability to shoot handheld at the equivalent of 450mm without blurring from camera shake: higher ISO = faster shutter speed. At a race track, the cars are fast, you don't always have time to stabilize while framing a shot, and I for one have trouble panning flawlessly100% of the time. Speed means the ability to freeze motion in both the photographer and his subject. Also, 5 frames per second is a significant improvement over the D40x and is a big help in shooting action sports of any kind.
Ancillary benefits include:
The articulated screen displays the myriad settings and lets you see your shot in unusual camera positioning away from the eye.
A rear mounted IR receiver means tripod shooting without touching the camera... I don't do selfies so front mounts make no sense to me.
Great debates include aesthetics, politics, and high pixel count. The only benefit to me might be on a very tight crop where information is shed.
More important are the technically advanced focus and exposure sensing in both hardware and software.
I chose a 5200 over the more expensive 5300 because their performance seems essentially equal, and I don't need the GPS or other minutiae.
It feels balanced and handles well, so either it's ergonomically very good or I'm just used to Nikons. Or both.
It fit my existing camera bag. So while not quite as light or compact as the D40x, it is still both.
If it sounds like I love this camera, you are correct. From full auto to creative control, I highly recommend it.
Finally always remember: no matter where you go, there you are... and the best camera is the one you have with you.
Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Body Only (Black)
4.6 | 646 ratings
Price: 589.95
Last update: 01-03-2025
About this item
24MP DX-format CMOS sensor
39-point (9 cross type) dynamic area AF system with 3D tracking
Up to 5 frames per second continuous shooting
1080p 30FPS HD video (1080p, 60i) with full-time contrast-detect AF
ISO 100-6400, expandable to 25,600 equivalent
3 inch vari-angle LCD with 921,000 dots
Wi-Fi (for sharing and remote camera control) and GPS compatible (sold separately)
39-point (9 cross type) dynamic area AF system with 3D tracking
Up to 5 frames per second continuous shooting
1080p 30FPS HD video (1080p, 60i) with full-time contrast-detect AF
ISO 100-6400, expandable to 25,600 equivalent
3 inch vari-angle LCD with 921,000 dots
Wi-Fi (for sharing and remote camera control) and GPS compatible (sold separately)
Product information
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???? Would I be able to pick it up and immediately start using it with all of the settings switched to automatic?
???? Is it easy to learn how to use it without a lot of studying?
???? Is it be considered a good camera by better photographers?
???? Does it shoot video with sound?
???? Are the lenses good for basic but better than average photos?
The answers are:
???? Yes, it takes amazing photos on automatic and still allows me to learn the more advanced features as I go. This camera has the user in mind.
???? My friends who are semi-professional photographers consider this an excellent beginner to advanced camera that is easily capable of taking professional quality photos
???? It does shoot video. With sound. And that video is astounding! It's clear, HD and can be fully automatic if you just want a video without taking classes.
???? The lenses are telephoto and wide angle and can be used with manual or auto focus
We're very, very happy with this camera and feel like we've spent our money well, no buyer's remorse. I honestly can't think of anything I would change or want in a camera. If you're someone like me with no photography experience (beyond point-n-shoot), but want to move into a "grown-up" camera, this is a great choice. I've always been so pleased with Nikon products, this is no exception,
Images in this review
