Hello, everyone!
I know I've been teasing about this entry for quite some time now and I finally got it written.
Before I get into the review, I'd like to admit something first:
When Nikon first announced the D750, I was confused and somewhat disappointed.
I kept asking myself,
And now, after my perusal of the D750, I think I can safely say that I do have the answer to those questions.
Read on and discover them with me.
As always, I will furnish you with a brief description of the D750's specs and improvements.
It has everything all new Nikon high-end DSLRs have, such as the group area AF, 1080 60p video, EXPEED 4 and also 51 AF points.
Up till now, it kind of seems like it's the cheap version of the D810, doesn't it?
Maybe it is.
I'm sure, if you're someone who's dabbled in the world of photography for quite some time or are a Nikon enthusiast, you would think that the D750 is indeed the successor to the legendary D700.
For me, naturally, I would say it is an upgrade but not necessarily the descendent of the D700.
Anyway, it really doesn't matter.
What matters is how it performs.
Design, Operation & Feel
The overall design is your typical Nikon DSLR body design, which I like.
I appreciate the uniformity of all Nikon DSLRs and how they're like one whole collective of clones.
However, the D750 handles supremely different from any other DSLR I had used before.
And yes, it is attributed by the fact that it has a much lighter weight and a much deeper grip.
You will come across the words "lighter" and "deeper" in most (if not all) reviews and advertisements of this camera, because it's true.
But it is annoyingly overused.
Just you see.
"The adoption of a newly developed monocoque structure using a new carbon fiber composite material and magnesium alloy for a compact, durable frame and an improved grip with added depth that delivers steady and secure handling" is Nikon's way of saying "We used plastic this time instead of the regular magnesium alloy frame".
Why go through all the fuss of trying to cleverly come up with all that jargon?
Because they added WiFi!
As with Canon's EOS 6D, they had to use another material other than metal so that the WiFi signals actually transmitted.
They won't tell you that, and expect you not to question why they couldn't have just incorporated WiFi into all the other pro bodies.
It's simply because they can't.
That's why you don't see WiFi in the D4s/4, D800/800E/810. D610/600 or even the D7100.
Now, at this point, the fact that you cannot install built-in WiFi to magnesium frames still holds true.
But maybe down the line, in two or three years, camera makers will find a way around this and start building metal-solid bodies with WiFi capability.
Even so, the plastic on the D750 does NOT feel plasticky at all.
It is a dream to hold and to fondle.
And with its light weight and deep grip (see), it was just brilliant to shoot around with.
I tested the D750 with a whole lot of lenses, ranging from primes like the 85/1.4G and 58/1.4G to the zooms like the 70-200/2.8G VRII and 24-70/2.8G to the massive telephoto 200/2.0G; and from what I experienced, the camera did not feel cheap or fragile at any instance.
The body is slightly larger than the D610 so it balances beautifully with the whole array of lenses that Nikon provide.
Operation-wise, it is exactly the same as any other Nikon DSLR, which I also keep telling you.
However, there is one point worth mentioning here.
Refer to the photo below and look at the mode dial on the top of the DSLR body (top right of the photo).
Notice that the dial isn't the same as seen on the D700 (or D810 & D4s on the new ones).
In fact, it is the same as the one seen on the D610 and D7100!
I don't know if they forgot to use the other /more pro/ one or they decided that this camera should use this one instead.
It's alright, though, because I personally prefer this one.
To me, it makes much more sense and is an easier transition going from the D7100.
The dial is great and I commend Nikon for making it lock in place.
Overall, I really loved the handling and feel of this camera.
I wouldn't say I like it more than the D810's sturdiness, but the D750 definitely is a pleasure to work with.
I would even say that it's more suited for long hours of work due to its light weight and deep grip (see).
Auto Focus, Tracking & Burst
I cannot iterate enough how much I love the group area AF on these new bodies.
It works like a charm and I am definitely excited to see it implemented in DX bodies later.
The AF, tracking and burst go hand in hand whenever I do reviews because the things I normally shoot require them to work in sync with each other; like singers in a concert or people running around having fun.
I would have to say that the D750 only excels in two out of three (2/3) categories: AF and tracking.
It has fast and accurate auto focus, even in low light.
I tested it out with the same lighting conditions and same lens as when I did with the D810 (review here) and I found that the D750 did way better.
It tracked the subject (in this case it was the dude on the far right of the group) in every frame and didn't lose track of him even when someone was walking in front of the frame!
That is great and all the images came out sharp and in focus.
Alas, the problem with this camera is that the buffer fills up too quick.
You get 6.5 fps burst, which is half a frame faster than the D610 and D7100 but you don't get as much buffer size as the D810 (let alone the D4s).
After the 1 second of shooting, the buffer slows down substantially to about 2-3 fps and then shoots at 1 fps after the tenth frame.
Comparing it to the D610, the only difference there was was that the D750 shot faster but only in the first second.
The upside is that the D750 clears up the buffer slightly faster, so you get to continue shooting faster.
Some would argue or ask why anyone would want to shoot more than 6 or 7 frames at a time.
I would wonder the same thing.
It may not be necessary for daily usage or typical field work, but sometimes to get that money shot, you need more depth in the buffer to accommodate the files that are coming in.
Image Quality
The D750 has basically the same sensor as the D610, albeit a new processor in the EXPEED 4.
We have seen outstanding quality from the 24.3 MP sensor in Nikon's previous full frame bodies and the crop sensor on the D7100 is also amazing.
This camera is just as good, if not better.
Time and again, I have always been impressed by how good the photos are with Nikon cameras.
Although the D750 does have an OLPF, the images you get are sharp and full of detail.
The colors rendered perfectly and the combination with marvellous Nikon glass gives you undoubted quality.
Here's a photo that wasn't processed with a preset, in case you're throwing a hissy fit because I used some.
High ISO
Yes, it works great right up till ISO-12,800.
In-camera noise reduction was turned off and no noise reduction was done in post processing.
All that detail and tone retained in the darkest areas with no noise whatsoever is certainly a selling point in my book.
AF Area Coverage
A bit strange of a topic to talk about but I think it is necessary to address.
Although the D750 has the same number of AF points as the D810 (51, if you forgot), the AF area coverage is actually smaller!
In fact, it is actually more similar to the D610's area coverage.
Below is the viewfinder display of the AF area coverage of the D750 overlayed onto the D810's.
I don't know why the coverage isn't consistent and it was apparent while I was using the D750.
As I had tested out the D810 before, I noticed that the coverage was smaller.
I always hated the compactness of the coverage in the D600/610 and Df so this pretty much irked me, as well.
One theory that explains this compactness of the 51 AF points is that Nikon actually used the same AF layout as in the D7100, which has a DX sensor.
Now, in the D7100, the 51 AF points are just hands down perfect, but when they used it in the D750, it just made it awful (and certainly put things into perspective).
Don't get me wrong.
I'm not saying that the compact coverage isn't at all unusable, but I would have really appreciated a much wider spread of points to make composing much better and much more versatile.
I welcome all 51 of the points; the more the merrier!
I just wished they could improve on the spread, as well.
Tilting Screen & WiFi
These are actually the two main changes introduced in the D750, which were also the two things I didn't even use while doing the review.
Ironic.
The D750 has a tilting LCD screen which is okay, I suppose.
I, personally, don't see myself ever using it for my photography because I don't trust live view.
Of course, shooting concerts and events, I would benefit from the aerial shots of crowds or groups but I don't think DSLRs have the capability to quickly capture the photo in live view.
I concede that mirrorless cameras have the upper hand in this sense.
The tilting screen is very useful for video shooting, though.
You get the flexibility of the screen which enables you to shoot comfortably from unconventional angles.
You can also tilt the screen to avoid reflections from the Sun or even just for the sake of having something different than other people.
Aside from the tilting screen, there are abundant options and features that are very useful for video shooters and filmmakers, much like the ones seen in the D810.
However, as I've stated in my other reviews, I don't shoot a lot (not any, frankly) of videos so I won't speak too much about it.
On the other hand, I think the built-in WiFi is a very useful addition.
The thing is, I usually only look at all my photos only after I've gone back from my shoot and importing them into Lightroom.
It escaped my mind completely the other day while I was doing the review that I could actually do real time updates from my phone but I guess that's because I never had to do any instant sharing of photos from my DSLR.
Much like the Canon EOS 6D, WiFi usage may drain your battery faster but it's a fun addition to an already very practical camera.
It would have been cool to try out the feature but it just goes to show that it isn't really necessary.
Is This Camera For You?
I don't know.
I will say that it would be a great upgrade from my D7100 for a person that does shoots like I do.
I mainly do concert, event and also portrait photography so the practicality and overall performance of the camera is certainly necessary.
I would love to have the great focusing and brilliant tracking.
(Oh, what I'd give to have that group area AF at my disposal)
The light weight and deep grip (see) of the camera would certainly be the best choice for long hours of shooting.
The tilting screen might come in handy occasionally and maybe the WiFi function could come into play on days where I have a lot of intervals in between shoots.
The 6.5 fps isn't a huge jump from the 6 fps I already shoot with so not much different there, although I would definitely benefit from the terrific low light capability.
The trade-off from upgrading to FX from DX is that I lose reach, where my 70-200mm will actually give me 70-200mm focal range instead of the cropped 105-300mm.
But then again, I'll just need to get more lenses, right?
But for those of you who may not be shooting concerts or events like I do, you would still benefit from all that this camera has to offer.
Whether you shoot weddings, commercial photography, extreme photography or even daily shooting, this camera will suit your situation just nice.
As with any investment, you really need to consult your needs first and then your budget.
Now to answer this question,
Otherwise, it really isn't that much different from the D610.
Considering the close difference in price, I figure that it really is up to you whether you need (and I stress NEED) the extra features the D750 offers over the D610.
In Malaysia, the D610 body is marketed at RM6,188 and the D750 body is RM6,998, which is a RM810 difference (coincidence?).
Honestly, I would pick up the D750 just because of the comfortable grip, even though I might have to wait just a little longer to make that RM810 difference.
In the end, my first impression of the D750 (where I was confused and disappointed) totally changed after I actually messed around with the camera.
The D750 may not be a spectacular addition to the Nikon FX line by any stretch, but it does offer some usable features for certain shooters.
The D610 market is definitely going to face intense competition from the D750 but I'm pretty sure you can get it for cheap at various outlets out there.
I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with the D750, but I can't help but feel like Nikon rushed it too much.
I mean, they just released the D810 a few months ago and the D610 only came out last year!
I believe that most of the features in the D750 were supposed to be upgrades for the successor of the D600 but due to that oil spots defect on the sensors, Nikon had to push a newer version out with minor tweaks to compensate for their mistake.
But then that still won't explain why Nikon couldn't have just waited another few years to implement those new improvements into the successor of the D610.
I guess we'll never know.
Check out all the HIGH RES photos from this review and more at my Flickr gallery here.
DISCLAIMER: I do not represent Nikon, VSCO or any other brand that might be showcased in this review. This review is written for THE FEAR and is of no significance to any sort of argument that may or may not ensue. I deliver this with utmost honesty and sincerity.
I know I've been teasing about this entry for quite some time now and I finally got it written.
Nikon D750
Shot using a Nikon Df + 50mm f1.8G
Before I get into the review, I'd like to admit something first:
When Nikon first announced the D750, I was confused and somewhat disappointed.
I kept asking myself,
"Where does this camera fit?"
"Why did they release something so soon after the D810?"
"Are they really trying to kill the D610 market?"and one question I just couldn't stop thinking was
"How is this any different from the D610?"
And now, after my perusal of the D750, I think I can safely say that I do have the answer to those questions.
Read on and discover them with me.
As always, I will furnish you with a brief description of the D750's specs and improvements.
- 24.3 MP FX (35.9 x 24.0) CMOS sensor
- 51 AF points (15 cross type)
- EXPEED 4 image processor
- 100% viewfinder coverage (in FX)
- Shutter speeds: 1/4000 to 30s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb, time, X200
- Frame rate: 1 to 6 fps (Continuous Low), 6.5 fps (Continuous High) or 3 fps (Quiet Continuous)
- Exposure compensation: -5 to +5 EV
- ISO range: ISO-100 to 12800 in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV; can be expanded to ISO-50 to ISO-51200
- Includes group area AF
- 1920 x 1080; 60p (progressive), 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p; 1280 x 720; 60p, 50p
- 8-cm/3.2-in., approx. 1.229 m-dot, low-temperature polysilicon tilting TFT LCD monitor with approx. 170° viewing angle
- Download the official brochure with full specs here.
It has everything all new Nikon high-end DSLRs have, such as the group area AF, 1080 60p video, EXPEED 4 and also 51 AF points.
Up till now, it kind of seems like it's the cheap version of the D810, doesn't it?
Maybe it is.
I'm sure, if you're someone who's dabbled in the world of photography for quite some time or are a Nikon enthusiast, you would think that the D750 is indeed the successor to the legendary D700.
For me, naturally, I would say it is an upgrade but not necessarily the descendent of the D700.
Anyway, it really doesn't matter.
What matters is how it performs.
Design, Operation & Feel
The overall design is your typical Nikon DSLR body design, which I like.
I appreciate the uniformity of all Nikon DSLRs and how they're like one whole collective of clones.
However, the D750 handles supremely different from any other DSLR I had used before.
And yes, it is attributed by the fact that it has a much lighter weight and a much deeper grip.
You will come across the words "lighter" and "deeper" in most (if not all) reviews and advertisements of this camera, because it's true.
But it is annoyingly overused.
Just you see.
"The adoption of a newly developed monocoque structure using a new carbon fiber composite material and magnesium alloy for a compact, durable frame and an improved grip with added depth that delivers steady and secure handling" is Nikon's way of saying "We used plastic this time instead of the regular magnesium alloy frame".
Why go through all the fuss of trying to cleverly come up with all that jargon?
Because they added WiFi!
As with Canon's EOS 6D, they had to use another material other than metal so that the WiFi signals actually transmitted.
They won't tell you that, and expect you not to question why they couldn't have just incorporated WiFi into all the other pro bodies.
It's simply because they can't.
D750 skeleton; noticeably less magnesium alloy-fortified
Cr: Nikon Australia
That's why you don't see WiFi in the D4s/4, D800/800E/810. D610/600 or even the D7100.
Now, at this point, the fact that you cannot install built-in WiFi to magnesium frames still holds true.
But maybe down the line, in two or three years, camera makers will find a way around this and start building metal-solid bodies with WiFi capability.
Even so, the plastic on the D750 does NOT feel plasticky at all.
It is a dream to hold and to fondle.
And with its light weight and deep grip (see), it was just brilliant to shoot around with.
I tested the D750 with a whole lot of lenses, ranging from primes like the 85/1.4G and 58/1.4G to the zooms like the 70-200/2.8G VRII and 24-70/2.8G to the massive telephoto 200/2.0G; and from what I experienced, the camera did not feel cheap or fragile at any instance.
The body is slightly larger than the D610 so it balances beautifully with the whole array of lenses that Nikon provide.
Operation-wise, it is exactly the same as any other Nikon DSLR, which I also keep telling you.
However, there is one point worth mentioning here.
Refer to the photo below and look at the mode dial on the top of the DSLR body (top right of the photo).
Nikon D750 - 45° view
Notice that the dial isn't the same as seen on the D700 (or D810 & D4s on the new ones).
In fact, it is the same as the one seen on the D610 and D7100!
I don't know if they forgot to use the other /more pro/ one or they decided that this camera should use this one instead.
It's alright, though, because I personally prefer this one.
To me, it makes much more sense and is an easier transition going from the D7100.
The dial is great and I commend Nikon for making it lock in place.
Overall, I really loved the handling and feel of this camera.
I wouldn't say I like it more than the D810's sturdiness, but the D750 definitely is a pleasure to work with.
I would even say that it's more suited for long hours of work due to its light weight and deep grip (see).
Auto Focus, Tracking & Burst
I cannot iterate enough how much I love the group area AF on these new bodies.
It works like a charm and I am definitely excited to see it implemented in DX bodies later.
Filling up the buffer
Processed with VSCO Film 06: HP5+3
The AF, tracking and burst go hand in hand whenever I do reviews because the things I normally shoot require them to work in sync with each other; like singers in a concert or people running around having fun.
I would have to say that the D750 only excels in two out of three (2/3) categories: AF and tracking.
It has fast and accurate auto focus, even in low light.
I tested it out with the same lighting conditions and same lens as when I did with the D810 (review here) and I found that the D750 did way better.
It tracked the subject (in this case it was the dude on the far right of the group) in every frame and didn't lose track of him even when someone was walking in front of the frame!
That is great and all the images came out sharp and in focus.
Alas, the problem with this camera is that the buffer fills up too quick.
You get 6.5 fps burst, which is half a frame faster than the D610 and D7100 but you don't get as much buffer size as the D810 (let alone the D4s).
After the 1 second of shooting, the buffer slows down substantially to about 2-3 fps and then shoots at 1 fps after the tenth frame.
Comparing it to the D610, the only difference there was was that the D750 shot faster but only in the first second.
The upside is that the D750 clears up the buffer slightly faster, so you get to continue shooting faster.
Some would argue or ask why anyone would want to shoot more than 6 or 7 frames at a time.
I would wonder the same thing.
It may not be necessary for daily usage or typical field work, but sometimes to get that money shot, you need more depth in the buffer to accommodate the files that are coming in.
Image Quality
The D750 has basically the same sensor as the D610, albeit a new processor in the EXPEED 4.
We have seen outstanding quality from the 24.3 MP sensor in Nikon's previous full frame bodies and the crop sensor on the D7100 is also amazing.
This camera is just as good, if not better.
Fariq having fun with the Df
Processed with VSCO Film 06: 400H+1 -
"The way you smile at the ground"
Processed with VSCO Film 06: 400H+1 -
"Ground" 100% crop
Although the D750 does have an OLPF, the images you get are sharp and full of detail.
The colors rendered perfectly and the combination with marvellous Nikon glass gives you undoubted quality.
Here's a photo that wasn't processed with a preset, in case you're throwing a hissy fit because I used some.
Market place
High ISO
Yes, it works great right up till ISO-12,800.
It's the shadow dude again
ISO-12,800
Processed with VSCO Film 06: Tri-X+3
Shadow dude 100% crop
All that detail and tone retained in the darkest areas with no noise whatsoever is certainly a selling point in my book.
AF Area Coverage
A bit strange of a topic to talk about but I think it is necessary to address.
Although the D750 has the same number of AF points as the D810 (51, if you forgot), the AF area coverage is actually smaller!
In fact, it is actually more similar to the D610's area coverage.
Below is the viewfinder display of the AF area coverage of the D750 overlayed onto the D810's.
D750 /smaller/ AF area coverage overlayed onto the D810's
Cr: Dojoklo (Great work, man!)
I don't know why the coverage isn't consistent and it was apparent while I was using the D750.
As I had tested out the D810 before, I noticed that the coverage was smaller.
I always hated the compactness of the coverage in the D600/610 and Df so this pretty much irked me, as well.
One theory that explains this compactness of the 51 AF points is that Nikon actually used the same AF layout as in the D7100, which has a DX sensor.
Now, in the D7100, the 51 AF points are just hands down perfect, but when they used it in the D750, it just made it awful (and certainly put things into perspective).
Don't get me wrong.
I'm not saying that the compact coverage isn't at all unusable, but I would have really appreciated a much wider spread of points to make composing much better and much more versatile.
I welcome all 51 of the points; the more the merrier!
I just wished they could improve on the spread, as well.
Tilting Screen & WiFi
These are actually the two main changes introduced in the D750, which were also the two things I didn't even use while doing the review.
Ironic.
The D750 has a tilting LCD screen which is okay, I suppose.
I, personally, don't see myself ever using it for my photography because I don't trust live view.
Of course, shooting concerts and events, I would benefit from the aerial shots of crowds or groups but I don't think DSLRs have the capability to quickly capture the photo in live view.
I concede that mirrorless cameras have the upper hand in this sense.
The tilting screen is very useful for video shooting, though.
You get the flexibility of the screen which enables you to shoot comfortably from unconventional angles.
You can also tilt the screen to avoid reflections from the Sun or even just for the sake of having something different than other people.
Aside from the tilting screen, there are abundant options and features that are very useful for video shooters and filmmakers, much like the ones seen in the D810.
However, as I've stated in my other reviews, I don't shoot a lot (not any, frankly) of videos so I won't speak too much about it.
On the other hand, I think the built-in WiFi is a very useful addition.
The thing is, I usually only look at all my photos only after I've gone back from my shoot and importing them into Lightroom.
It escaped my mind completely the other day while I was doing the review that I could actually do real time updates from my phone but I guess that's because I never had to do any instant sharing of photos from my DSLR.
Much like the Canon EOS 6D, WiFi usage may drain your battery faster but it's a fun addition to an already very practical camera.
It would have been cool to try out the feature but it just goes to show that it isn't really necessary.
Is This Camera For You?
I don't know.
I will say that it would be a great upgrade from my D7100 for a person that does shoots like I do.
I mainly do concert, event and also portrait photography so the practicality and overall performance of the camera is certainly necessary.
I would love to have the great focusing and brilliant tracking.
(Oh, what I'd give to have that group area AF at my disposal)
The light weight and deep grip (see) of the camera would certainly be the best choice for long hours of shooting.
The tilting screen might come in handy occasionally and maybe the WiFi function could come into play on days where I have a lot of intervals in between shoots.
The 6.5 fps isn't a huge jump from the 6 fps I already shoot with so not much different there, although I would definitely benefit from the terrific low light capability.
The trade-off from upgrading to FX from DX is that I lose reach, where my 70-200mm will actually give me 70-200mm focal range instead of the cropped 105-300mm.
But then again, I'll just need to get more lenses, right?
D750 (left) and D7100 (right)
But for those of you who may not be shooting concerts or events like I do, you would still benefit from all that this camera has to offer.
Whether you shoot weddings, commercial photography, extreme photography or even daily shooting, this camera will suit your situation just nice.
As with any investment, you really need to consult your needs first and then your budget.
Now to answer this question,
"How is this any different from the D610?"Well, the D750 has a slightly faster burst rate, a newer image processor and has much lighter weight & deeper grip (see).
Otherwise, it really isn't that much different from the D610.
Considering the close difference in price, I figure that it really is up to you whether you need (and I stress NEED) the extra features the D750 offers over the D610.
In Malaysia, the D610 body is marketed at RM6,188 and the D750 body is RM6,998, which is a RM810 difference (coincidence?).
Honestly, I would pick up the D750 just because of the comfortable grip, even though I might have to wait just a little longer to make that RM810 difference.
In the end, my first impression of the D750 (where I was confused and disappointed) totally changed after I actually messed around with the camera.
The D750 may not be a spectacular addition to the Nikon FX line by any stretch, but it does offer some usable features for certain shooters.
The D610 market is definitely going to face intense competition from the D750 but I'm pretty sure you can get it for cheap at various outlets out there.
I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with the D750, but I can't help but feel like Nikon rushed it too much.
I mean, they just released the D810 a few months ago and the D610 only came out last year!
I believe that most of the features in the D750 were supposed to be upgrades for the successor of the D600 but due to that oil spots defect on the sensors, Nikon had to push a newer version out with minor tweaks to compensate for their mistake.
But then that still won't explain why Nikon couldn't have just waited another few years to implement those new improvements into the successor of the D610.
I guess we'll never know.
Check out all the HIGH RES photos from this review and more at my Flickr gallery here.
DISCLAIMER: I do not represent Nikon, VSCO or any other brand that might be showcased in this review. This review is written for THE FEAR and is of no significance to any sort of argument that may or may not ensue. I deliver this with utmost honesty and sincerity.
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