Nikon D7000 versus Nikon D750

The Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D750 are two enthusiast cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2010 and September 2014. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-C (D7000) and a full frame (D750) sensor. The D7000 has a resolution of 16.1 megapixel, whereas the D750 provides 24.2 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D750

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D750 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter. If you prefer, you can also use the toggle button to switch to a comparison in percentage terms (in this case, the camera on the left side – the D7000 – represents the basis for the calculations across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D750 is notably larger (15 percent) than the Nikon D7000. However, the D750 is slightly lighter (4 percent) than the D7000. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor (as in the D750) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (D7000). You can find a comprehensive overview of suitable optics in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Nikon D7000»	132 mm	105 mm	77 mm	780 g	1050	Y	Sep 2010	1,499	-		Nikon D7000
	Nikon D750«	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299			Nikon D750
	Canon 60D« »	145 mm	106 mm	79 mm	755 g	1100	Y	Aug 2010	1,399	-		Canon 60D
	Canon 7D« »	148 mm	111 mm	74 mm	860 g	800	Y	Sep 2009	1,699	-		Canon 7D
	Nikon D7500« »	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299			Nikon D7500
	Nikon D500« »	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	860 g	1240	Y	Jan 2016	1,999			Nikon D500
	Nikon D7200« »	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	1110	Y	Mar 2015	1,199	-		Nikon D7200
	Nikon D7100« »	136 mm	107 mm	76 mm	765 g	950	Y	Feb 2013	1,199	-		Nikon D7100
	Nikon Df« »	144 mm	110 mm	67 mm	760 g	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749			Nikon Df
	Nikon D610« »	141 mm	113 mm	82 mm	850 g	900	Y	Oct 2013	1,999			Nikon D610
	Nikon D600« »	141 mm	113 mm	82 mm	850 g	900	Y	Sep 2012	2,099	-		Nikon D600
	Nikon D300S« »	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	938 g	950	Y	Jul 2009	1,799	-		Nikon D300S
	Nikon D90« »	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	703 g	850	n	Aug 2008	1,299	-		Nikon D90
	Nikon D300« »	147 mm	114 mm	74 mm	925 g	1000	Y	Aug 2007	1,799	-		Nikon D300
Convert to Imperial

The camera’s price is obviously a critical decision-making factor. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D7000 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 35 percent) than the D750, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D750

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D7000 features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon D750 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the D750 is 132 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the D750 uses a more advanced image processing engine (EXPEED 4) than the D7000 (EXPEED 2), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 24.2MP, the D750 offers a higher resolution than the D7000 (16.1MP), but the D750 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.97μm versus 4.80μm for the D7000) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the D750 is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 11 months) than the D7000, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the D750 offers substantially better image quality than the D7000 (overall score 13 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.3 bits higher color depth, 0.6 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.3 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the D750 provides a faster frame rate than the D7000. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the D7000 is limited to 10800/24p.

Feature comparison: Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D750

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D7000 and the D750 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D750 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras. If needed, the dpreview camera hub, for example, contains further detail on the cameras' specs.

Both the D7000 and the D750 write their imaging data to SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.

The D750 is a current model that online retailers, such as amazon, will have in stock. In contrast, the D7000 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the D7000 was succeeded by the Nikon D7100.

Review summary: Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D750

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D750? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Nikon D7000:

• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (8000/sec vs 4000/sec) to freeze action.
• More compact: Is smaller (132x105mm vs 141x113mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (35 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2010).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D750:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24.2 vs 16.1MP), which boosts linear resolution by 22%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (13 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.3 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.6 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.3 stops ISO advantage).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (EXPEED 4 vs EXPEED 2).
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60p versus 10800/24p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (1230 versus 1050) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi build in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 11 months of technical progress since the D7000 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D750 is the clear winner of the contest (14 : 4 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D7000 or the D750 handle or perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). You can find the full text of the reviews by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Nikon D7000»	-	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	1,499	-		Nikon D7000
	Nikon D750«	HiRec	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299			Nikon D750
	Canon 60D« »	Rec	79/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	1,399	-		Canon 60D
	Canon 7D« »	HiRec	84/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2009	1,699	-		Canon 7D
	Nikon D7500« »	HiRec	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299			Nikon D7500
	Nikon D500« »	HiRec	91/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	1,999			Nikon D500
	Nikon D7200« »	HiRec	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2015	1,199	-		Nikon D7200
	Nikon D7100« »	HiRec	85/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2013	1,199	-		Nikon D7100
	Nikon Df« »	-	81/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749			Nikon Df
	Nikon D610« »	HiRec	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,999			Nikon D610
	Nikon D600« »	HiRec	87/100	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099	-		Nikon D600
	Nikon D300S« »	HiRec	82/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	1,799	-		Nikon D300S
	Nikon D90« »	HiRec	HiRec	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2008	1,299	-		Nikon D90
	Nikon D300« »	HiRec	HiRec	5/5	rev	4.5/5	Aug 2007	1,799	-		Nikon D300

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool. If you cannot find the camera you are interested in, kindly get in touch, and I will try to update the database with the necessary infos.

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