Photography News 13

Camera review

In sum, the D750 delivered in the key departments of exposure and focusing so a clean bill of health here. The D750 has 24.3 effective megapixels, giving images measuring 6016x4016 pixels or prints measuring 50.9x34cm at 300ppi resolution. Original 14-bit Raws can be saved as Lossless Compressed or Compressed files, the former taking up around 30-32MB per file and the latter 26-28MB. There is no uncompressed Raw option. A mixture of Nikon lenses was used for this review including the new 20mm f/1.8G, 28mm f/1.8G, 50mm f/1.4G, 24-120mm f/4G, 28- 300mm f/3.5-5.6G and 70-300mm f/4-5.6G. I made a selection of prints using an Epson Stylus Pro 3880 printer for critical appraisal. The D750’s sensor has an optical low-pass filter to help avoid any moiré pattern problems. That additional filter does have a potential impact on image quality although by how much is impossible to assess – unless Nikon launches an identical DSLR with the same sensor but without a low-pass filter. You can see from the pictures shown in this test that the D750 produces high-quality files, bothRaws and JPEGs, capable of seriously big prints. With good processing A2 and beyond should be easily possible. The Raws need sharpening during processing and I found a bit more Unsharp Mask added in Photoshop before printing out helped enhance the images further.

For autofocus my default way of working is using the right- thumb operated AF-ON button that Nikon provides on its pro-oriented products. The D750 does not have an AF-ON button but the AE-L/AF-L can be customised to behave as one. Autofocusing is accurate and swift with not much in the way of hesitation or hunting. It’s also very responsive even in very low lighting. The AF system has 51 autofocus points with its 15 cross-type sensors grouped in the marked central area. First seen on the pro D4 s , the D750 has group area AF, offering a set of four closely grouped sensors active, which might be preferable if single area AF is too specific. This group of four can also be moved around the region of AF sensors as you would with the central AF point. This set-up worked well and I used it as much as single point AF. There are extra options of focusing point selection in continuous AF-C mode including nine sensor group area AF, 51 zone dynamic and 3D-tracking. In live view, AF is also pretty good with the usual little bit of hunting back and forth for accurate focus that you get with contrast-detect systems. With live view there are two focus sensor sizes and face detection available, and the active sensor can be moved around the whole image area. The D750’s AF system certainly acquitted itself very well, proving responsive and latching onto the subject quickly and accurately.

ORIGINAL

RAWWITHNO SHARPENING

RAWWITH SHARPENING ADDED

ABOVE The original was shot using the D750 fitted with a Nikon 16-35mm f/4 zoom at 26mm. The exposure settings were 1/320sec at f/11 and ISO 200 with metering handled by the Matrix meter and aperture-priority AE.

TheD750’s AF systemcertainly acquitted itself verywell, proving responsive and latching onto the subject quickly and accurately

The verdict I found much to enjoy on the Nikon D750 starting from the instant I picked the camera up. It’s 250g lighter and significantly smaller than my D800 and while the differences are not massive, in practice every little helps. Moreover I thought the camera combined well with lenses like the Nikon 24-120mm f/4, one of the standard zooms that it will be bundled with. This is a chunky optic but it balances nicely on the D750 without being front-heavy and made for a nice pairing. The majority of my test shots were done in aperture-priority AE and Matrix metering. I did find the metering could be more consistent.

There is no denying the fact that at £1799 body only the Nikon D750 is not exactly an impulsive purchase – but then going full-frame is not an impulse decision especially if you own a bagful of APS-C lenses. That point aside, there is no doubt in my mind that the D750 is a fine, highly capable camera and anyone who makes the investment will not be disappointed. While the D610 is a perfectly good entry- level FX camera, the D750 does have more about it. It’s more robust, sports a superior AF system, boasts a tilting monitor and Wi-Fi, so it is probably worth the extra £400 investment.

NIKOND750

23/25

FEATURES

A promising feature set PERFORMANCE

23/25

Excellent battery life, high picture quality HANDLING

24/25

Handgrip design, articulating monitor, quiet and low vibration shutter VALUE FOR MONEY

23/25

Good value for what you get

For the full version of the Nikon D750 review please see issue 50 of Advanced Photographer magazine, on sale in newsagents now or go to iTunes to get the digital version.

OVERALL

93/100

There is much to enjoy in this good value FX-format DSLR

PROS Handling, battery life, articulating monitor CONS Colour noise at very high ISOs

Photography News | Issue 13