Top 10 Best Nikon Cameras Available Today

At CES 2016, alongside the release of the Nikon D5, the Nikon D500 surprised everyone with its features, kept secret until the last moment. While it doesn't drastically differ from the D5, the Nikon D500 is considered the best in Nikon’s crop sensor (APS-C) range. Its compact, portable design and user-friendly nature make it perfect for nature photography, even for beginners. Equipped with a 20.9MP APS-C DX sensor and the high-speed EXPEED 5 image processor, the image quality is exceptional. The photos are sharp and maintain clarity even when zoomed in. The camera automatically processes colors and contrast using EXPEED 5’s smart technology, making every shot feel like a work of art while maintaining realism. Some even say the D500 lays the foundation for a new era of crop sensor cameras. While the D500 might not match the D5 in ISO sensitivity, its ISO range from 100 to 51,200, extendable to ISO 50 to a maximum of 1.640.000, is impressive. In many ways, it rivals professional DSLR cameras.

The Nikon Z50 is the latest addition to the Nikon Z mirrorless series, the third model in the line, and the first to feature an APS-C sensor. Released with two DX zoom kit lenses, the Z50 is essentially a smaller version of the Z6, and is designed to expand the Z-mount system’s potential for beginner and amateur photographers. Compact, lightweight, and highly portable, the Z50 offers the versatility of Nikon’s DX cameras, making it perfect for capturing shots anytime, anywhere. It comes with a 209-point phase detection autofocus system, covering 87% of the horizontal frame and 85% vertically.

The Nikon Z6 is a versatile full-frame mirrorless camera designed for those who seek professional performance without the hefty price tag. It competes directly with rivals like the Sony Alpha A7 Mark III, offering excellent build quality, with a magnesium alloy body that is both dust and weather-resistant, making it ideal for use in harsh environments. The camera features a simple mode dial with various shooting options, including an entirely automatic mode for beginners. It also boasts dual control dials for adjusting aperture and shutter speed, allowing greater flexibility.

The Nikon Z5 is a versatile full-frame camera equipped with a 24.3MP CMOS sensor, delivering excellent performance in both low light and high ISO conditions. Featuring a back-illuminated design, the Z5 provides impressive image quality, low noise, and accurate colors. The camera supports 4K UHD video recording and has a wide ISO range from 100 to 51200, expandable to 102400. With 150 autofocus points covering approximately 90% of the image area, the Z5 offers fast and precise focusing, making it ideal for both stills and video work.

The Nikon D850 marks a significant comeback for Nikon, offering cutting-edge technology in a camera that builds on the legacy of the D810. This DSLR features an innovative 45.7MP Full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, free from low-pass filters, allowing for exceptional detail and sharpness. With ISO sensitivity ranging from 64 to 25,600 (expandable to 32-102,400), it excels in both low-light environments and bright settings. Additionally, the D850 supports 4K UHD video recording and offers continuous shooting at up to 9fps. Its advanced image processing system, EXPEED 5, ensures fast performance and stunning results, even in demanding conditions.

The Nikon D780 is a compact, robust camera that measures 14 x 115.5 x 76 mm and weighs 840g, offering a sleeker design compared to its predecessor, the D750. The camera omits the pop-up flash for a more seamless, dust and moisture-resistant body. Its magnesium alloy body ensures both durability and lightness. Featuring a 3.2" tilting LCD touchscreen, the D780 offers flexible shooting angles and intuitive controls. Additionally, it supports dual UHS-II SD card slots for fast read and write speeds. The 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor and EXPEED 6 processor, similar to the Z6, provide excellent low-light performance and fast processing. The camera offers an ISO range from 100 to 51,200, expandable to 204,800, and supports continuous shooting at 7 fps with the optical viewfinder or up to 12 fps in Live View mode.

The Nikon Z6 II is a modern mirrorless camera packed with features that will surely impress any photographer. Its high-resolution image and video capabilities ensure sharp, lifelike results. Weighing just 615g, this compact camera offers a comfortable grip and secure handling, allowing you to shoot from various angles without worrying about drops. The magnesium alloy body provides excellent durability and resistance to dust and shock, making it ideal for use in challenging environments. The 3.2" LCD screen with 2.1 million pixels delivers clear, sharp images, and the touchscreen functionality allows for easy and fast operation. The screen can tilt, giving you flexibility to shoot from high or low angles. The Z6 II is equipped with a 24.5MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, ensuring excellent low-light performance and vibrant images in a range of conditions.

The Nikon D750 offers DSLR-level performance, combining advanced features with exceptional ease of use. It boasts a 51-point autofocus system, with 15 cross-type sensors, ensuring precise focusing even in challenging lighting conditions. The 3D Color Matrix Metering III system, paired with a 91,000-pixel RGB sensor, enhances both focus accuracy and exposure control. Additionally, the D750 comes with creative modes for time effects and automatic smoothing for exposures. The 24.3MP CMOS sensor, powered by the EXPEED 4 processor, delivers stunning high-resolution images with minimal noise. Its standard ISO range of 100-12,800 can be expanded to 51,200, making it capable of shooting in low-light environments. The camera also offers continuous shooting at 6.5 fps and Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps, making it perfect for both photography and videography. The D750 supports the Multi-CAM 3500FX AF sensor, which enables quick and accurate focusing with 51 points. With 15 cross-type sensors, the system offers enhanced precision, ensuring sharp focus in any situation.

The Nikon COOLPIX P1000 is designed for wildlife photographers, sports enthusiasts, and astronomers. As the successor to the P900, it features a maximum aperture of f/2.8-8, incorporating both ED and Super ED lens elements. The P1000 offers Dynamic Fine Zoom, allowing an extraordinary 250x zoom equivalent to 6000mm. With its 4x digital zoom, the focal length can extend up to 12,000mm. To minimize shake at these extreme distances, Nikon includes Dual Detect Optical VR, providing up to five stops of stabilization. Powered by the latest EXPEED image processor, the P1000 ensures excellent performance.

The camera has a 16MP 1/2.3-inch sensor, similar to its predecessor, with RAW support and an ISO range of 100-6400. It can shoot continuously at 7 frames per second, although there is a brief pause between shots. An OLED viewfinder with 2.3 million dots is available for precise focusing. The 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD screen adds flexibility, though it lacks touch functionality. The P1000’s main selling point is its incredible zoom, but it also supports 4K UHD video at 30fps, making it ideal for capturing high-resolution video from a distance, with the option to crop in post-production.

The Nikon D5600 is a DSLR designed to address the shortcomings of its predecessor, the D5500. With enhanced features and smart connectivity options, this new model fully meets the needs of users while delivering vibrant images for everyday moments. Its compact design makes it ideal for those new to DSLR cameras, offering an elegant yet robust appearance that has largely remained unchanged from its predecessor. The D5600 boasts a 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen display with 1 million pixels and multi-angle rotation for versatile viewing. It also includes a 95% coverage optical viewfinder with a 0.82x magnification. Equipped with a 24 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and the EXPEED 4 image processor, it offers excellent image quality. The camera also features SnapBridge for easy Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity, along with a time-lapse video function, similar to the D7200.