I have had the D7000 for a while now – just a few thoughts here …
All our previous DSLR cameras had been Canon. It’s true that once you buy into a brand and have some expensive lenses you tend to stick with that brand for camera upgrades because the lenses fit. So it was a bit of a break of tradition buying a Nikon as well – especially as it would be limited in lenses compared to the Canons we had.
I bought the camera from WEX and we started with a problem – after such great expectations the pictures had no sharp focus at all so I had to send it back. WEX were, as usual, very good and I got the replacement without any fuss.
The new camera was fine [just a word for newbies – you may not have seen that the pics had no really sharp point, since it take a while to see differences in quality when the quality is very good – I recommend trying any new camera out extensively while you still have a 7 -day cooling off period (for mail purchases) – this makes it a lot easier to change it or get a refund]. Do check the quality- don’t assume an expensive camera is OK just because it is brand new or expensive.
In my case it could have equally been the lens at fault but I had no other Nikon lens to compare it with so both camera and lens had to go back: since one of them was probably perfectly OK thanks again to WEX for changing both and well done me for checking it out early.
Since I had been teaching Nikon cameras for years it was good to get my hands on one of my own. I knew them extremely well having taught a whole range of Nikon DSLR from D40 to D3300 at the entry end and top-of the range as well, so there weren’t any great surprises in the layout of the camera.
The weight feels good and stable – just right with the 18 – 200 mm lens which I bought with it.
The camera is set out the same way as the pro and semi-pro Nikons with the focus mode being chosen through a fairly obscure button on the left front ( this is easy to miss if you don’t’ know it is there already).
You can also set auto or manual focus with this button and since this can also be set on most lenses you should make sure they both say the same !
Two other niggles: first a little bit of plastic at the bottom right where you hold it (near the battery compartment) swings out occasionally and I have seen his with other D7000 that I have taken on courses. Second the focus screen – it is recommended by Nikon that you take it off but if you are not careful you will break it [I had a customer whose Nikon looked as if it had been jemmied in 6 places which had all broken a piece of] and he insisted had fallen off a table! Who am I to question a customer !
The way to do this is to lever it off at the bottom [photofaculty disclaims any responsibility for damage that may happen to your camera so – at your own risk]. Lever is off at the bottom. If you are doing this for the first time it can be very hard to move – thumbs are recommended rather than screwdrivers and it can help to push done a bit at the top while you lever the bottom. Do not try to lever it from the top or the sides. If in doubt and worried, many people to leave it on as a protector anyway.
With the little niggles out of the way the camera functions beautifully – it is a joy to use. I’ve had loads of Canons and they don’t do the same for me as a Nikon – they just feel better. The large brick-like Canon cameras all make you feel more confident (if you can carry them) but Nikons make me feel creative which means a lot to me and the D7000 is smaller but still makes you feel confident..