• JPEG and noise profile
  • D7100 vs. D5200, ISO 100
  • ISO 100
  • ISO 400
  • ISO 800 raw vs. JPEG
  • ISO 1600, no noise reduction
  • ISO 1600 JPEG
  • ISO 3200, raw vs. JPEG
  • Color
  • Standard vs. neutral Picture Controls
Prev Next
1 of 10

Nikon D7100 photo samples

JPEG and noise profile

JPEGs are clean through ISO 200, good though ISO 1600, and usable to ISO 6400. The extra sharpness delivered by the OLPF-free sensor helps maintain sharpness as ISO sensitivity rises.
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

D7100 vs. D5200, ISO 100

The D7100's images are a hair sharper than the D5200's, but much of that can be compensated for by using a better lens on the D5200 (the D7100 comes with a better kit lens). Once you equalize for that, only pixel peepers will really note a difference at low ISO sensitivities.
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 100

This isn't bad sharpness for a crop into a midrange distance photo.

(1/200 sec, f5.6, spot metering, ISO 100, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 105mm)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 400

The noise reduction is pretty intelligent, only kicking in when there's actually some noise to process.

(1/80 sec, f4.5, spot metering, ISO 400, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 34mm)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 800 raw vs. JPEG

Even as low as ISO 800 I could get better results processing the raw images than using the default JPEG settings. (JPEG top; raw bottom. I didn't attempt to preserve the red tint.)

(1/50 sec, f4.5, spot metering, ISO 800, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 40mm)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 1600, no noise reduction

The color noise remains fairly fine as high as ISO 1600.

(1/40 sec, f3.5, spot metering, ISO 1600, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 18mm)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 1600 JPEG

You can see some of the JPEG processing and noise-reduction artifacts here, but it's okay for printing as large as 13x19.

(1/30 sec, f4.5, matrix metering, ISO 1600, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 30mm)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

ISO 3200, raw vs. JPEG

You can get much better results from the raw files at ISO 3200.

(1/30 sec, f4.5, matrix metering, ISO 3200, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 30mm)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

Color

On its default settings, the camera produces bright, saturated, pleasing colors with high contrast.
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

Standard vs. neutral Picture Controls

Nikon pushes the hues and contrast a little too much with its default Picture Control settings. (You can see the red hue shift here, but this example doesn't show how the contrast boost clips detail.)

(1/100 sec, f5, matrix metering, ISO 100, AWB, 18-105mm lens at 48mm. Images rotated 90 degrees to fit.)
Photo by: Lori Grunin/CNET

BEST LIST

Find the best hybrids on the market!

Hybrid technology can be applied to any type of car, and the best show the most significant fuel economy improvements over a similar gasoline-only car.

Hot Products