Nikon Digital SLR cameras

Taking photos is an art which requires great skills. But a photographer, whether an amateur or a professional, can't do without an appropriate tool with the help of which he can create his masterpieces. In this sense a photographer and his camera supplement each other. That is why the camera should be of the highest quality. Nikon Corporation does its utmost to produce the best cameras that can meet everyone's needs, from an inexperienced and undemanding user to a hard-to-please professional.

When it comes to the highest photo quality, digital single lens reflex cameras (or simply DSLR cameras) come to the foreground. A DSLR camera combines the parts of a single-lens reflex camera and a digital camera back that replaces the photographic film. Such devices are notable for unsurpassed quality of photos.

Nikon offers a great variety of DSLR cameras different in size, functions and price. Several levels that depend on the price are available: Entry-Level, Upper-Entry-Level, Midrange, High-End (Prosumer) and High-End (Professional). This gradation reflects price variation: from 700-800 to several thousand dollars (about $6000 for Nikon D4). Each level covers a dozen of various models.

Let's have a close look at two models: Nikon D3200 and Nikon D4 intended for an amateur photographer and a professional one correspondingly. Both devices are relatively new products - the D3200 model was released April 19, 2012 and D4 - January 6, 2012.

Nikon D4 is the latest representative of High-End models now. Being equipped with a high-performance processor EXPEED 3 and a FX-format CMOS sensor with 16 mln. effective pixels, the camera provides the highest photo quality that one can ever imagine. Therefore, D4 can be used for different purposes in different fields: from prints of magazine quality to web publishing.

Standard ISO values range from 100 to 12800. Moreover, this function can be expanded: you can choose between the values from ISO 50 to ISO 204800! It is a common knowledge that there is much noise at high ISO sensitivities. But with Nikon D4 there is nothing to worry about.

A CMOS sensor fitted with an enhanced noise-reduction and 14-bit A/D conversion system easily copes with this task providing excellent photos in poor light conditions. Four image area options are available thanks to a new FX sensor format: FX format , 5:4 crop , 1.2x crop and DX format, which correspond_ to 36.0 x 23.9 mm, 29.9 x 23.9 mm, 29.9 x 19.9 mm and 23.4 x 15.5 mm.

All this is made possible with Nikon brand-name NIKKOR FX and DX lenses. Taking all the information above into account, you can be sure that Nikon D4 produces detailed, sharp and bright photos with no noise in any environmental conditions. The same can be said about movies. A 921k-dot 3.2-inch LCD monitor protected from environmental impacts with reinforced glass allows viewing photo and video masterpieces right here and right now. Program features also deserve approval. Take a perfect High Dynamic Range function alone, which provides a single image with a wider dynamic range by combining several images. Naturally, the list of program functions is quite big. For all this professional pleasure you'll have to pay about $6000.

If you restrict your spending, but want to take photos of high quality at the same time, have a look at Nikon D3200. It is the latest device of Entry-Level. The camera is equipped with a 24.2 effective megapixel CMOS sensor of a Nikon brand-name DX format. Such a high resolution requires very quick processing, and the processor EXPEED 3 perfectly copes with this challenge.

ISO can be adjusted up to 6400, whereas its minimal level is 100. There is also a possibility of increasing ISO to 12800. You will never be disappointed with your photo quality thanks to Scene Recognition System which automatically defines the best focus, brightness and color before you take a photo. Moreover, there is a great variety of Mode Scenes to choose among, but you can also take advantage of Scene Auto Selector that will do all the work for you.

Your photos can be enhanced with different program options like Miniature Effect, Selective Color, Trim, Straighten and many others. It is also possible to send photos and videos with the help of WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter (optional) to any smart device fitted with a Wi-Fi module. Nikon 3200 costs about $700.