Nikon D7000: The midrange model to beat?

It's been a long time coming, but Nikon has finally unveiled its new midrange model, the D7000, in one of the most eagerly anticipated announcements of the year. The D7000 doesn't replace the D90; it's launching at a higher price than the D90 did, and the D90 is still widely available. Instead, the D7000 takes on the Canon 60D in the price class up from the D90, with a host of improvements that portend well for the new camera.

What's new? Lots. The D7000 incorporates a new Nikon-designed 16.2-megapixel sensor coupled with its Expeed 2 processor; with this pairing Nikon ups its analog-to-digital conversion to 14-bit processing, which has the potential to produce a noticeably better dynamic range. There's also a new (presumably better) metering sensor, more sophisticated autofocus system that falls somewhere between the D90 and D300s in sensitivity, and a viewfinder with 100 percent scene coverage.

It's also Nikon's first dSLR to rise to 1080p HD video, with the added bonus (for whatever it's worth) of full-time autofocus during video capture. And the body's construction, though not quite as tanklike as the D300s, incorporates an all-metal chassis with magnesium-alloy covers (the rest is polycarbonate), and is sealed against dust and moisture like the D300s.

There are also some changes from the traditional Nikon body design that I think are great. The D7000 has custom settings available via the mode dial (rather than just through a powerful but confusing menu interface) and a dedicated movie record button. It also provides two card slots in a category that generally only offers one, and uses a new battery grip that supports AA batteries.

Here's where it sits in the product line and the competitive field:

Not only does the D7000 look pretty threatening to the 60D, but it looks like both a compelling cheap alternative to the D300s and a significant upgrade over the D90 for not a lot of money. For video shooters, the 60D still has a slight edge; though many indie videographers tend to prefer 24p, at the very least it's nice to have the 30p option, and 30fps with full-time autofocus is more attractive to the mainstream user. (More info about the D7000's audio controls will have to wait till the manual appears online or my hands-on evaluation.) Plus lots of folks, including me, love the articulated LCDs. But it's hard to argue against the better coverage for the viewfinder, ostensibly faster burst shooting with a deeper buffer and potentially better autofocus, and a more durable body construction. I'm really looking forward to trying this one, along with some of the new lenses announced this week. Really, the only disappointment here is Nikon's continuing silence about a full-frame model to replace the D700, which is now going over 2 years old.

I'm also looking forward to using the new flash Nikon has announced as the replacement for the SB-600, the SB-700. It adds SB-900-like features with a similar button layout, but at about the same size as the SB-600. It will include the SB900's light-pattern distribution options--standard, center, and even--FX/DX autosensing, automatic ratio control to balance among multiple flashes, an easier to use gel cover system and firmware upgradability. Nikon claims a faster recycle time (0.5 sec) over the SB-600, and when it overheats it slows down rather than shutting off completely. It has one stop less power than the SB-900, controls only two wireless groups rather than three, and covers a shorter focal range--24-135mm--but for most people (including me), none of that matters as much as the smaller size and cheaper price tag: $329.95. It's slated to ship in November.