Nikon D7100
Announced February 21, 2013
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Nikon D7100 is a robust enthusiast-grade DSLR that delivers sharp, high-resolution imagery and professional-level autofocus performance in a durable, weather-sealed body. While it offers impressive versatility and value, the camera is held back by a limited buffer capacity that hinders rapid burst shooting and some clunky interface design choices.
Weighted from 43 reviewer scores
Pros
- High-resolution sensor with excellent detail and sharpness
- Advanced 51-point autofocus system inherited from pro-level bodies
- Rugged, weather-sealed build quality
- Strong feature set including dual card slots and 100% viewfinder coverage
- Impressive dynamic range and low-light performance
Cons
- Small buffer capacity severely limits continuous RAW burst shooting
- Lack of aperture control and sluggish performance in live view and video modes
- Frustrating button and dial placement
- Fixed LCD screen lacks articulation
- Noticeable noise and detail loss at higher ISO settings
- Launch price $1,199.95 (USD)
- Sensor 24.1MP APS-C CMOS
- Video 1080p 30p
- Stabilization None
- Burst 6 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 43 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 85/100
The D7100 is a well-built enthusiast DSLR that offers impressive image quality and easy access to shooting parameters along with a high degree of customization options.
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The Nikon D7100 is a worthy successor to the D7000 and a sufficiently capable camera to fill the vacancy at the top end of Nikon’s DX range for all but the pro sports photographers or studio strobists out there.
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Whether the D7100 replaces the D300s still remains a question, since it still falls short in some key areas like buffer capacity and ergonomics. But one thing for sure, D7100 is the best DX camera made by Nikon to date.
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The Nikon D7100 is a very powerful imaging tool. We’d expect Canon to update its competing 60D before long.
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Given the build quality and feature set of the Nikon D7100, I would be surprised if the much-rumoured D400 will ever materialise to replace the D300S.
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I believe that we have a new crop-sensor champion for adventure and landscape photography.
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Nikon has made a very nice DSLR with the D7100. It's faults and flaws are few and manageable, with the small buffer being the only one likely to upset any purchaser.
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The fact that the Nikon D7100 can get us this kind of image quality at the price point it's at is a huge, huge win for in a lot of ways.
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The Nikon D7100 is capable of producing images with excellent detail and quality, in a rapid weather sealed body.
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The D7100's 24.1 megapixel sensor makes it the highest-resolution Nikon DX DSLR, and thankfully that hasn't come at the cost of detracting from the image quality, which is excellent.
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So Nikon did a great job there and camera all in all is very, very good for its $1,199.00 price range.
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The Nikon D7100 is a great enthusiast DSLR that’s a worthy upgrade to the D7000.
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If you're in the market for a serious D-SLR, but don't want to go full-frame, the Nikon D7100 is the way to go; it's our Editors' Choice camera in its category.
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There are a few extra things we would have liked to have seen in the D7100, but its performance as a conventional stills camera is still really competitive. If you're interested only in regular stills photography, the cost-saving over the newer D7200 is undeniably tempting.
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It is really second to none in this area.
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With revisions made to the sensor, LCD, AF module and video functionality among other things, the camera certainly appears as a more serious upgrade than some other recent models. But is every change welcome, or are some causes for concern?
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I really think that for the price point and the money on this, you're not going to find much better camera with more features packed into it. It's a very versatile camera.
- Digital Trends 8.5/10
If someone were to ask for a recommendation for an enthusiast DSLR in this price category, we wouldn’t hesitate a moment – the D7100 is it.
- CNET 7.8/10
The D7100 is a great camera for still photography, but doesn’t feel like a must-have upgrade unless you’ve got a significant investment in good Nikon-mount lenses and need speed and durability on a budget — right now.
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Those minor issues aside, the D7100 provided the best overall experience that I have had with any APS-C DSLR to date.
- Photo Review 90%
Features-wise the D7100 has plenty to offer for photo enthusiasts and boasts impressive specifications for its price tag.
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The traditional looking 24.1 megapixel 'DX format' flagship D7100 offers up some pro-like specifications with a handling experience somewhere between consumer model and one costing three or four times the price.
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I think this offers tremendous bang for buck. If you don't have your heart set on going to fullframe and you're in the Nikon system or you're considering coming to it, I think the D7100 is a phenomenal camera for the money.
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The D7100 from Nikon is really a terrific camera.
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The images the Nikon D7100 captures are amazing. The resolution, sharpness, and low noise performance are class leading features at this price point.
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Besides this issue, the Nikon D7100 delivers well. Its images show very low noise with good retention of details, excellent dynamic-range and accurate image colors after tweaking.
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For beginners upgrading from a kit camera and intermediate photographers building an affordable system, the D7100 delivers more performance per dollar than anything else available in 2026.
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The D7100 is Nikon’s third enthusiast-level SLR to feature the 24.1-megapixel sensor, joining the previously released D3200 and D5200. As a result, the sharpness of the shots is fantastic as well.
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The D7100 is awesome for pictures of places and things; here's how it looks for pictures of people:.
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So this will support a great deal of photographic needs and I think this camera is going to do very well.
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Why you would buy the Nikon D7100: an affordable DSLR with many bells and whistles.
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If you don't need that, this is a perfect camera. Last thoughts, the video: I haven't shot a ton of video with it, but I have at different ISOs, very happy.
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I’m very impressed by the Nikon D7100 as it is a very good performer that has great specs, great build quality and performance for an MSRP of $1200.
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[I]f you are looking to level up to a higher level DSLR, definitely give the D7100 consideration. If you already have a high power DSLR, the 7100 is a great camera to consider as a secondary or backup camera to add to your arsenal.
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I was so impressed with the D7100 that I’ve already ordered one as my back-up camera.
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[...] I say that the Nikon D7100 is the best value DSLR on the market. Absolutely love this camera.
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This seems to be the closest thing to that though, so but anyways, if you're looking for a pro-level body, my recommendation is still to start looking towards full frame, although this is not a bad camera as you are just about to find out as we go ahead and take a closer look.
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You can change the settings very fast and you can change the settings of the camera in a very nice and smooth way, but you have to learn, you have to work with the settings and you have to know which dial works with which button, and so it's learning, learning [...]
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Price-wise I think it's great because $1,200 you're getting a lot for your buck.
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The D7100 is not the camera all Nikonians were hoping for. I wanted faster frame rates and a bigger buffer.
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The D7100 is as close to using a top of the line full 35mm frame camera as you can get. It delivers amazing image quality and highly detailed photos with a 24.1-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor.
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I am thoroughly thoroughly extremely happy with the results of the D7100 so far.
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This camera you can pick up used for right around 275 bucks, which is awesome for how great of a camera this is for photography. This thing is an absolute photography workhorse.
