Words & Photos: Anthony Churchyard. Article from the DO IT NOW Online Magazine.
Entertainment
When I heard about the launch of the new Nikon D750 I was very excited, like driving a Jaguar F-type kind of excited.
I currently use a Nikon D7100, which is a cropped sensor, however I am huge fan of the D700 and have been waiting for the D750 for a long time.
While the D800/D810 was the upgrade and D600/D610 the entry-level full-frame camera, the legendary D700 was never really replaced, until now. The D700 is renowned for being extremely robust (in other words ‘never say die’) and for handling high ISO extremely well. Therefore, the D750 had a rather high standard and legacy to live up to – and Nikon did not disappoint.
While I am a professional photographer, I am going to try not to babble on about things that most people don’t actually care about in this review.
#1 Ergonomics
The first thing you notice about this DLSR is how light it is. At just 755 g, it’s the lightest full-frame camera Nikon offers.
The D750 is drastically better in terms of camera grip when I compare it to my current D7100. It fits comfortably into your hand, almost like one of those really nice grips at the rock climbing wall, you know the one where you think, “Man, this grip is perfect to hold onto.”
It’s lightweight body coupled with its easy-hold grip make this camera a real pleasure to work with.
As for the ergonomics of the buttons and switches, the design follows a similar set-up to the D610 and D7100, which I’ve come to know and enjoy greatly. With its compact design, everything is close together and simple to use. My only dislike is the placement of the ISO button, but I might just be being picky about that one.
However, to fully understand and appreciate any new camera, you need to become intimately familiar with the camera body, so that you can be both efficient and utilise it to its full potential.
#2 ISO Devourer
The D700 handles its ISO range very well, but the D750 just devours ISO in what seems like some hocus-pocus magical way. With a top ISO of 12,500 I was very comfortable to push the ISO up to 8,000 at night, and still got some really impressive images. Yes, there will be a certain amount of noise, but the shots that become possible with these high ISO’s are almost magical.
#3 High-speed focus
The D4s are the ‘top dog’ in terms of frames per second (fps) and AF-C tracking ability, but the D750 is goose-bumps impressive. I thoroughly enjoyed the Group P tracking for nailing those fast-moving subjects. While the D750 may not play on the same level as the D4s, it’s the next fastest for FPS and focus, and being more than half the weight and price of the D4s, to me that’s kind of a
#4 Wi-Fi and tilt screen
While most will write these kind of features off just as cool gimmicks, I like to think of them as essential tools. The tilt screen in no way feels flimsy or takes away from the robust nature of the camera. It is extremely helpful when filming video, which is what I’d primarily use it for. From time to time, I may shoot on live view to see above crowds or really low to the ground.
The built in Wi-Fi is the cherry on top for me. “Why,” you ask? Well, I can now send images to my friends, family and clients instantly. If I’m shooting an event, I can now offer sharp, clear, professional and almost-live content for my clients to share on their social networks, from the event. Similarly, I can share my photos from a night out on the town or a family gathering at the click of the button.
The Wi-Fi is fast, about 21 images in maybe maximum 21 seconds. I didn’t actually time it, but I was happily impressed. For some this feature won’t be anything more than a gimmick, but I get rather excited by this feature because it’s an amazing tool that opens up exciting, new opportunities.
In conclusion
This camera is a big upgrade to its predecessor and fits perfectly into the full-frame market as serious contender. For all the camera nuts out there, this is definitely ‘the one’ to add to your Christmas or birthday must-have list. Whether you are a professional photographer or some who enjoys capturing special moments, this is definitely an upgrade well-worth making. Oh, and don’t forget to get the camera raw software upgrade too, otherwise you’ll have amazing pictures that you wont be able to edit.
Aimee Thompson in action during the city fashion shoot.
Photo of a family I met on holiday.
A young boy enjoying knee boarding.
A lovely wedding shot shared via Wi-Fi onto Instagram.
More information:
For more information about the Nikon D750, http://www.nikon.co.za/en_ZA/product/digital-slr-cameras/d750
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