List of All Nikon Cameras as of 2024 + Brief Reviews

Spencer Cox
Current-Nikon-Cameras

No camera manufacturer is perfect, but there’s no denying that Nikon has an amazing lineup of cameras at the moment. Beginner or professional, DSLR or mirrorless – chances are good that there’s a Nikon camera targeted toward your needs.

Today, I’ll compare every single Nikon camera available as of 2023 and explain what you need to know about each one. I’ve tested all of these Nikon cameras myself (yes, really!) as part of my job at Photography Life. So, I have a good understanding of each camera’s strengths and weaknesses.

Understanding Nikon Cameras

DX vs FX

The first thing you need to know about Nikon cameras is that they are divided into two distinct groups: DX and FX.

This simply refers to the camera’s sensor size. Sensor size determines image quality more than any other feature of the camera, especially something trivial like the number of megapixels. It’s why every current DSLR on the market will crush a smartphone in image quality.

(As you can see, FX is about 1.53× larger per dimension, which results in an area of about 2.34× the size.)

So, you’ll get better image quality with FX cameras. But they also tend to cost more.

That said, both DX and FX are much larger than Nikon’s point-and-shoot camera sensors. Those are just 6.2 × 4.6 mm in size (about the same as a smartphone, actually slightly bigger).

Compared to that, FX sensors are a whopping 30× larger in area.

NIKON D7000 + 105mm f/2.8 @ 105mm, ISO 1250, 1/100, f/3.5
Taken at ISO 1250 with the Nikon D7000, a discontinued DX camera announced in 2010. Any current Nikon DX and FX camera has excellent image quality. So do most of the older ones.

DSLR vs Mirrorless

Right now, Nikon is pouring a ton of energy into its full-frame mirrorless lineup. However, they have such a long history of making DSLRs that the DSLR lineup is arguably more refined at this point.

In terms of image quality, there is no difference between Nikon’s DSLR and mirrorless FX cameras. They’re all excellent. Instead, the mirrorless/DSLR differences are more subtle:

If you’re still not sure, here’s a rough guideline: Nikon’s mirrorless cameras are better for travel photography right now, and arguably better for landscapes as well. For portraiture and event photography, there are pros and cons to both systems, and neither is necessarily ahead. For dedicated wildlife and action photography, Nikon’s DSLRs still have the advantage today, although the gap is narrowing.

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14mm, ISO 200, 1/5, f/16.0
For travel photography and hiking, it’s nice to carry along a lighter mirrorless kit like the Nikon Z series. Captured handheld in a slot canyon in Utah.

Compatibility with AF-D lenses

One last thing I’d like to point out is that some Nikon cameras won’t autofocus with older AF-D type Nikon lenses.

Specifically, the cheapest cameras on this list – the Nikon D3500 and Nikon D5600 – do not have a built-in autofocus motor. The same is true of the Nikon Z mirrorless cameras with the FTZ and FTZ II adapters.

On these cameras, you can still use any of Nikon’s current AF-S or AF-P lenses with autofocus. But if you have AF-D glass (or a more unusual AF-I supertelephoto), you’ll be stuck with manual focus.

It’s not a big deal for most photographers. Some of Nikon’s AF-D lenses are excellent bargains, but many have been overhauled optically in a newer, better AF-S version. Still, if you’re thinking about using AF-D glass, you should consider one of Nikon’s compatible cameras instead.

NIKON D800E + 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5 AF-D @ 18mm, ISO 100, 1/50, f/11.0
Taken with the older AF-D version of the Nikon 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5. This lens will not autofocus with many of Nikon’s current cameras, nor will any other AF-D lens.

Now let’s take a look at the specific Nikon cameras in the company’s lineup:

DSLR Cameras

Nikon D3500

We’ll start with Nikon’s entry-level DSLR, the Nikon D3500. This camera retails for $600 in theory (including the kit lens), but Nikon is no longer selling it new in most markets as of 2023. However, I’m including it here because there is no replacement in Nikon’s DSLR lineup for the D3500, and there probably never will be. It remains Nikon’s most current entry-level DSLR.

Here’s a quick look at the specifications:

Nikon’s purpose with this camera is to hook people in the world of Nikon DSLRs at an attractive price. Despite being the least expensive camera on this list, it’s actually quite a good one. This is the top camera I recommend for many of my friends if they want to get into photography.

The biggest selling point of the Nikon D3500 is its amazing camera sensor – the 24 megapixel DX beauty. This sensor is just as good as the other DX cameras on this list (even the D500 that costs $1500). And it’s not far behind the much more expensive FX cameras in image quality.

The biggest downside of the Nikon D3500 is that it doesn’t have very many advanced features or controls. For example, there is not a single customizable “Function” button on the D3500, unlike every other camera on this list. The D3500’s autofocus system, LCD, and video specifications are all out of date compared to many of Nikon’s other options.

In short – the D3500 is an amazing budget camera, but it has some missing features that advanced photographers may be annoyed about.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D3500 + 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 52mm, ISO 100, 1.3 seconds, f/6.3

Nikon D5600

One step above the D3500 is the Nikon D5600. It’s still an entry-level DSLR – “prosumer” at most – but it justifies its $800 price (including a kit lens) with a better autofocus system and a tilt-flip touchscreen. 

Also (a small secret) the D5600 often goes on sale for $550, including a kit lens, around the holidays. That puts it in extreme budget territory and makes for an excellent buy. I’d wait until it goes on sale to purchase one, if you haven’t already. You can check the current price here.

The specifications:

The D5600 still has a limited control layout (only one command dial, for example) – but at least it has a Function button you can customize. I use mine to control ISO, which speeds things up in the field.

Both the Nikon D3500 and Nikon D5600 have identical camera sensors with equally amazing image quality. That’s something Nikon really knows how to get right no matter the level of camera.

As you can see, the D5600 is a good choice for first-time DSLR buyers who want a few more features than the Nikon D3500 delivers. It’s also a nice backup camera for professional photographers.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D5600 + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18mm, ISO 100, 1/200, f/8.0

Nikon D7500

The next step in Nikon’s lineup is an important one – the Nikon D7500. This camera has a much more advanced control system and better build quality, two things that pro photographers will find very useful.

The D7500 sells for $1000 body only – though the current price fluctuates – plus at least another $200 when you factor in the price of a lens. Here are the important specs:

Aside from its more advanced build – including two command dials – the Nikon D7500 is priced higher to reflect the greater amount of data it can process at a time. This includes the ability to shoot 8 FPS photography as well as filming 4K video. Plus, its 51-point autofocus system does a very good job tracking subjects across the frame.

Who is the Nikon D7500 for? The target audience is sports and wildlife photographers on a moderate budget. However, it’s also a good choice for pro photographers looking to buy an advanced backup camera with more features than the D3500 and D5600.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D7500 + 300mm f/4 @ 300mm, ISO 720, 1/800, f/4.0

Nikon D500

The first truly “pro” camera on this list, the Nikon D500, is also Nikon’s most expensive DX camera at $1500. However, even this camera is starting to be hard to find in stock new as of 2023, so you may need to buy it used.

Photographers waited years for the Nikon D500. Some grew so tired of waiting that they jumped ship to Canon or another manufacturer. Others held out – and they weren’t disappointed. Here are the D500’s key specifications:

The most important points to note are the autofocus system (153 points) and the frame rate (10 FPS). And – even though it’s not in the specifications I listed above – one of the huge selling points for the Nikon D500 is its buffer capacity.

You can take a whopping 200 photos in a row before the D500 locks up (lossless compressed 14-bit RAW). Even the Nikon D7500, which doesn’t have a bad buffer by any means, locks up after 50 shots.

Taking everything into consideration, the Nikon D500 is one of the best cameras on the market for sports and wildlife photographers today. That’s even more true when price is a concern.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D500 + 300mm f/4 @ 420mm, ISO 400, 1/500, f/5.6

Nikon D610

Moving on to Nikon’s full-frame FX cameras, we have the the $1500 Nikon D610 (although once again, a camera that Nikon has now discontinued from most markets). 

This camera is often overlooked today. I get the sense that even Nikon wants you to forget it exists. After all, it was only released to sweep the D600 dust issue under the rug.

Even worse, it currently sells for exactly the same price as the newer, higher-end Nikon D750. There is no good reason why someone would buy the D610 rather than the D750 at the same price (though the D610 is more reasonable on the used market).

Still, Nikon doesn’t have a single dud in its lineup. Even though the D610 is priced too high when sold new, it’s still a good camera:

The biggest liability is autofocus. The D610 has Nikon’s old 39-point focusing system (same as the entry-level D5600). 

That said, the D610 still has a great 24 megapixel FX sensor. Photographers who don’t care as much about autofocus – say, landscape photographers – will appreciate the sensor’s quality and not care as much about its other limitations.

So, who should get the Nikon D610? At the moment, if you’re buying new, no one. It’s the same price as the D750, a better camera. But if you’re buying used and find a good deal, landscape and portrait photographers would be very happy with the D610 overall.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D610 + 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58mm, ISO 100, 1/10, f/11.0

Nikon D750

One of Nikon’s best all-around cameras – though also one which has been replaced and discontinued – is the Nikon D750. The reason why I’m mentioning it anyway is that it represents one of the best values a photographer can find on the used market, where it’s selling for about $700 (eBay Partner Program affiliate link).

The Nikon D750 was released back in 2014 and has since been replaced by the D780. Here are the D750’s specs:

Compared to the D610, the D750 has a more advanced autofocus system, 60 FPS video (rather than 30 FPS), a tilting LCD, and slightly better battery life. Image quality is the same.

What are the D750’s drawbacks? On one hand, as good as its 51-point autofocus system is for sports, a few cameras in Nikon’s lineup have a newer 153-point system that’s even better (though the only inexpensive one of the three is a crop-sensor camera, the Nikon D500). Other than that, it lacks a touchscreen, 4K video, and some of Nikon’s newer features like focus-stack shooting.

The D750’s biggest audience is probably the portrait/wedding crowd, but I’d also strongly consider it for landscape photographers who dabble in other genres. Especially bought used, it’s a really hard camera to beat.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D750 + 20mm f/1.8 @ 20mm, ISO 720, 1/40, f/5.6

Nikon D780

The camera that replaced the Nikon D750 is called the D780, and it has some fantastic features. To be specific, it fixes almost all of the Nikon D750’s issues and adds some of Nikon’s newest (mirrorless-inspired) tech. The Nikon D780 is currently selling for about $2300 new (check current price) and $1700 used. Here are the specs:

Compared to the D750, the Nikon D780 has a touchscreen, 4K video, marginally better image quality at high ISOs, and many of Nikon’s newest bells and whistles. These include things like extended 900 second shutter speeds, focus stack shooting, and better live view autofocus.

For portrait or wedding photographers who want Nikon’s best all-around camera at the moment, the Nikon D780 is the way to go. It’s a bit newer than most of Nikon’s cameras, so it isn’t selling as cheap as some of the others, but the price premium isn’t without good reason. The D780 is an excellent camera.

Nikon could have technically bumped up some of the D780’s “top-line” specs like the sensor resolution and maximum frame rate, but other than that, there’s almost nothing to complain about with this camera. If you want a jack-of-all-trades DSLR, the D780 is the way to go.

Pros

Cons

NIKON D780 + 17-35mm f/2.8-4E @ 25mm, ISO 100, 1/400, f/9.0

Nikon Df

This retro-themed DSLR is a bit of a weird one, but it has a dedicated following even today. Here are the Nikon Df’s specifications, which may remind you of the D610, even though the Df is much more expensive:

The Nikon Df is a beautiful camera with a great design and excellent manual controls. Plus, in low light, its 16-megapixel sensor has slightly better high ISO performance than any other Nikon camera at the moment. But for the launch price of $2750, it was always a tough sell. Even on the used market, it’s closer to $1000, which I think is a bad deal compared to a used D750.

Again, Nikon doesn’t have any real duds in its lineup – just a couple cameras that are more expensive than they should be on the new market. The Df is one of them. But if it ticks the right boxes for you, don’t let me stop you. If nothing else, the Nikon Df holds a unique spot in Nikon’s lineup.

I’m not the Df’s target audience, I admit – but I also think its real target audience is shrinking more and more as the years go by. It’s aimed largely at portrait photographers, as well as certain wedding and street shooters. But options like the D750 and D780 target the same users, arguably with much better features overall.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Df + 50mm f/1.8 @ 50mm, ISO 400, 1/25, f/2.8

Nikon D850

Now we arrive at one of the best cameras of all time, the Nikon D850. We ranked it #1 in our list of today’s top DSLR cameras, with good reason. This $3000, 45-megapixel FX camera is a monster.

The specs:

It has Nikon’s top 153-point autofocus system, the company’s highest resolution 45-megapixel sensor, a surprisingly high frame rate of 7 FPS (9 FPS with the battery grip), and nearly every one of Nikon’s top features. It commands a $3000 price for good reason (check the current price here).

Then again, $3000 is a lot of money to spend on a camera, no matter how good it is. The good news is that Nikon makes cameras at half the price which do 90% of the D850’s job. For most photographers, the Nikon D750 coupled with a good lens is a more practical purchase.

But if you want the best of the best, you know where to look.

Ostensibly, the Nikon D850 is targeted at landscape photographers. However, plenty of sports and wildlife photographers accept the camera’s slightly lower frame rate in exchange for such remarkable image quality. For everything but the most rapid-fire sports and wildlife applications – or in cases where light weight is critical – the D850 is as close to perfect as any camera today. 

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D850 + 14mm f/1.8 @ 14mm, ISO 64, 1/160, f/16.0

Nikon D6

As amazing as the Nikon D850 is, it’s still not the flagship camera in Nikon’s lineup. That honor goes to the $6500 Nikon D6 – an extreme sports and action camera with Nikon’s top autofocus system, a 14 FPS maximum frame rate, and a 20 megapixel FX sensor.

Here are the D6’s specifications:

It may seem expensive, but pros who photograph the Olympics don’t care. The D6’s specifications are unparalleled among Nikon cameras for action photography. And its near-invincible build quality holds up well in almost every environment that isn’t underwater.

That said, the Nikon D6 is so specialized that many photographers don’t even have it on their radar. If you told me I had $6500 to spend on Nikon DSLRs, I’d buy a D850 for landscapes and a D500 for wildlife, then put the rest of the money toward lenses.

Of course, if you need it, you need it. You probably already have it, and you’ll pre-order whatever flagship comes next.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON D5 (the similar predecessor of the D6) @ 600mm, ISO 4000, 1/640, f/4.0
Copyright Robert Andersen

Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon Z6

It took the company years to get here, but in 2018 Nikon finally released a series of full-frame mirrorless cameras to compete with the likes of Sony. However, the Z6 has been superseded by the Nikon Z6 II, and Nikon is no longer selling it new as of 2023 in most markets.

In terms of specifications, the Nikon Z6 is quite good:

Note the weight of the Z6: 675 grams (1 lb, 7.8 oz). By comparison, the Nikon D780 weighs 840 grams (1 lb 13.7 oz). Even the Df, Nikon’s lightest FX DSLR, is 90 grams (3.2 oz) heavier than the Z6. This is one of the big advantages of mirrorless cameras over DSLRs.

In addition, the Z6 has Nikon’s new Z lens mount, allowing you to use the camera with any of Nikon’s excellent mirrorless lenses. And you can still use Nikon’s existing DSLR lenses (the F-mount glass) on the Z6, by using Nikon’s FTZ or FTZ II adapters. Though, when you do, you’ll lose a decent bit of the Z6’s weight savings compared to DSLRs.

The Nikon Z6’s closest DSLR competitor is the Nikon D780. The two are actually extremely similar, but the Z6 has the expected benefits of a mirrorless camera, such as light weight, an excellent electronic viewfinder, and in-body image stabilization. The D780 has dual memory card slots, a better battery life, and a slightly better autofocus system. The two cameras have the exact same image quality. See our D780 vs Z6 comparison for more details.

What about focusing? Although the Z6’s autofocus system has a whopping 273 focusing points, it’s not as good as Nikon DSLRs for tracking moving subjects. (Interestingly, for photographing nonmoving subjects, the Z6 is actually slightly faster and more accurate to focus than Nikon DSLRs.)

Overall? Travel photographers and videographers will love it, while I’d stick to the D780 for portrait and event photography because of the better autofocus tracking. But you can’t go wrong either way.

The Z6 also sells for remarkably good prices on the used market – we’ve seen it as low as $1150 at sites like Fred Miranda and KEH. At that price, it’s almost impossible to beat.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z6 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 24mm, ISO 100, 1/2, f/11.0

Nikon Z6 II

Despite all the Nikon Z6’s great points, it’s still showing its age a bit given that it was part of Nikon’s first generation of Z-series mirrorless cameras. Since then, Nikon has released the Z6 II, which fixes some of the Nikon Z6’s biggest flaws (and is probably responsible for most of the Z6’s amazing used prices)!

Here are the Z6 II’s key specifications:

The Z6 II is currently selling for $2000, but you should check the current price here, because it’ll start selling for some good discounts once the newness fades away.

Compared to the Z6, the Z6 II adds some much-requested features like better autofocus tracking, dual memory card slots, and 4K video at 60 FPS. Its autofocus still isn’t perfect at tracking fast-moving subjects, but otherwise, it’s an all-around fantastic camera.

The only issue right now is price. Given that the Nikon Z6 II was announced so recently, it’s not possible to find it selling used at such competitive prices. But $2000 new is not bad at all, and actually puts the Z6 II cheaper than the Nikon D780, despite the Z6 II being the better camera in many ways.

Here are the camera’s pros and cons:

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z6 II + NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S @ 200mm, ISO 3200, 1/500, f/2.8

Nikon Z7

The high-resolution counterpart to the Nikon Z6 is the Nikon Z7. Like the Nikon Z6, the Z7 has been discontinued in most markets and may be hard to find new. However, the used prices are pretty good. The Nikon Z7 has been replaced by the Z7 II.

Nikon Z7 specifications:

Other than slight differences here and there, the Nikon Z7 is the same as the Nikon Z6, just with a 45 megapixel sensor rather than 24 MP. They even have the same camera body and button layout. You can check our Z6 vs Z7 comparison to see how similar they really are.

My recommendation – and I say this as a Nikon Z7 owner – is to get the Z6. The extra megapixels are overkill for most photographers, and even a drawback for some (taking up twice the hard drive space).

Still, certain specialized photographers will find the Z7 a great camera for their needs. If you’re a landscape or architectural photographer who prints large, there’s no denying that the Z7 is a strong camera. In many ways, it’s like a mirrorless D850 – albeit not as refined of a camera overall. (For the more refined version, you’ll want to check out the Nikon Z7 II that’s up next.)

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 39mm, ISO 64, 4 seconds, f/11.0

Nikon Z7 II

Nikon’s current top-of-the-line mirrorless camera is the Nikon Z7 II. It sells new for $3000 (check current price) and used for about $2400.

Here are the Z7 II’s specifications:

As you can see, it’s very similar to the Nikon Z6 II, although it has a higher resolution sensor of 45 rather than 24 megapixels, and a base ISO of 64 rather than 100.

If that description sounds familiar, it’s because the Z7 II is also similar to the prior generation Z7. The two cameras share a sensor (and thus the same image quality) and have almost identical builds. The reason to get the Z7 II are for new features like a larger buffer, slightly better autofocus, dual memory card slots, and 4K video at 60 FPS.

It may seem like it’s not worth the money over the Z7, and maybe for you it’s not. But before you make that decision, you may want to check out our Nikon Z7 vs Z7 II comparison. Nikon made a lot of behind-the-scenes improvements on the Z7 II that make it a more comprehensive camera than the Z7.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z 7 II + NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S @ 14mm, ISO 64, 1/125, f/5.6

Nikon Z5

The least expensive full-frame camera in Nikon’s lineup is the Z5. Depending on the sale, we’ve seen its new prices dip down as low as $1000, which is absurd for a camera that was released not that long ago in mid-2020. (Check current price here.) The Z5’s specifications are as follows:

This camera is an amazing value, full stop. Compared to the much more expensive Nikon Z6 II – which is already a good value camera – the Z5 gives up some high-FPS shooting, loses the camera’s top-panel LCD, has a 1.7x crop in 4K video, and otherwise is basically the same.

While it does use a slightly older 24 megapixel sensor compared to the one on the Z6 II, the image quality differences are very small. Only at ultra-high ISOs will you notice any difference, and even then, only if you’re pixel-peeping.

Used, you might find the Z5 for about $800 – a great deal normally, although if it’s on sale for $1000 new, it’s probably better to go new. Either way, for photographers who want to get a full-frame camera with modern features at a low price, it’s hard to beat the Z5.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z 5 + NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR @ 61mm, ISO 400, 1/125, f/8.0

Nikon Z9

Nikon’s flagship camera right now is the Z9, a mirrorless camera with a built-in grip and some of the most impressive features of any camera on the market today. Its price of $5500 may seem high (check current price), but it’s actually much less than expected and cheaper than usual for a Nikon flagship. Meanwhile, the specifications are incredible:

There is very little that the Nikon Z9 can’t do aside from cook a piece of toast. It has 20 FPS raw shooting with no limitations, a truly massive buffer, Nikon’s newest and best autofocus system, 8K video, and every advanced feature Nikon could throw at it.

It’s even a good camera for landscape photography despite the emphasis on sports/wildlife features, thanks to the base ISO of 64 and the high resolution 45.7-megapixel sensor. There are also some great astrophotography features on the Z9 not found on other Nikon cameras, like the ability to autofocus on the Milky Way.

Depending on what you need to do, the Nikon Z9 isn’t simply the best Nikon camera today, but possibly the best camera on the market from any manufacturer, period.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 320mm, ISO 800, 1/1250, f/5.3

Nikon Z8

The Nikon Z8 has pretty much everything that the Nikon Z9 has but in a smaller, cheaper $4000 body. Although this might seem expensive, the Z8 is really one of the best value cameras for its price, especially when compared to similar cameras like the Sony A1 and the Canon R3. The Z8 has very similar specs to the Z9:

Despite being very similar to the Z9, there are some differences. The Nikon Z8 doesn’t have as big of a battery and it also has a shorter recording limit since it cannot dissipate heat as fast. On the other hand, it weighs less and is much smaller, so the Z8 would be the best choice for most photographers looking for a camera like this, unless of course the built-in grip is a necessity.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z 8 + AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR @ 500mm, ISO 220, 1/1000, f/6.3

Nikon Zf

Nikon’s Zf is a beautiful, retro-designed full-frame camera with a surprisingly impressive set of features. Here are the main specs:

Although many of these specifications look similar to the Nikon Z6 II, despite the Zf being three years newer, there are some major reasons to get the Zf instead.

First, the Nikon Zf has a sensor-shift mode that can capture up to 96 megapixel photos with full RGB data at every pixel – allowing for extraordinary levels of detail, especially paired with one of Nikon’s S-line lenses.

Second, the Nikon Zf has one of the most advanced in-body image stabilization systems of any camera on the market. It’s rated to 8.0 stops compared to just 5.0 stops on the Nikon Z6 II, and it even prioritizes the stability of your focus point, which is a world’s first – not just among Nikon cameras.

On top of that, the autofocus system is also far more advanced, borrowing the subject-tracking algorithms from the Nikon Z8 and Z9. You can read about additional differences in our Nikon Z6 II vs Nikon Zf comparison.

In short, the Nikon Zf is an extremely advanced camera that feels very competitively priced at $2000.

Pros:

Cons:

NIKON Z f + NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S @ 50mm, ISO 200, 1/640, f/2.2

Nikon Z50

At the moment, Nikon has three Z-series cameras with a DX sensor rather than FX. The first to be released was the Nikon Z50. It’s aimed at a more beginner-oriented audience than the mirrorless cameras above, although it still has some advanced features. Here are the specifications:

The Z50 is roughly between the Nikon D5600 and Nikon D7500 in specifications, which is a pretty good spot to be. It’s also Nikon’s lightest camera at the moment, and the $860 price ($1000 with the 16-50mm kit lens) is pretty reasonable – though we recommend checking the current prices for any discounts. You can find it used for about $650 or so, depending on where you look, and that price is likely to go down before long.

For photographers who want to start using a Nikon Z camera at the lowest price, the Z50 is the way to go. It doesn’t have all the fanciest new features, but it still does a lot of things right.

Nikon is going all-in on its Z system and most likely will keep prioritizing it in the future. So, it’s probably a better investment (in terms of lenses, accessories, and resale value) to go with the Z50 over a comparable DSLR like the D5600.

Pros

Cons

NIKON Z 50 + NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR @ 16mm, ISO 100, 8 seconds, f/5.6

Nikon Zfc

The Nikon Zfc is very similar to the Nikon Z50. It does have a few improvements – a fully articulating screen, manual exposures up to 900 seconds, and eye AF in video – but the biggest difference is the design. The Zfc has a retro styling with some extra dials on the top of the camera for controlling your exposure settings. It’s also $100 more expensive at $960 (check the current price here).

The pros and cons are very similar to those of the Z50:

Pros

Cons

NIKON Z fc + NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 @ 28mm, ISO 100, 1/400, f/8.0

Nikon Z30

The newest consumer-level Nikon Z camera is the Z30. Nikon says it’s aimed at vloggers and on-the-go video shooters, although most of its video features are borrowed from the existing Z50. (Most of its stills features are, too.)

The Z30 is very similar to the Nikon Z50, except it lacks a viewfinder and was announced more than 2.5 years later. Given that, I’d have expected more than a $150 price difference between them. Frankly, the Z30 should be priced about $500 based on its features and timing. Or, Nikon should have added higher-end video features like 10-bit recording, 4:2:2 sampling, and N-log if they wanted to seriously target it at video users.

Pros

Cons

Point-and-Shoot Cameras

That’s it for Nikon’s current DSLR and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. However, Nikon also has a huge lineup of “Coolpix” branded point-and-shoot compact cameras.

Personally, I wouldn’t get any of these, especially the more expensive ones (a cheaper one can make a good gift for a kid’s first “real” camera). In terms of image quality, these camera sensors are only a hair larger than that of the iPhone X. Not terrible, but you won’t get world-class image quality with them – unlike the DSLRs and mirrorless cameras above.

I’ll only cover the most basic information here, because frankly all of these cameras are becoming less relevant in the smartphone era. Rather than writing separately about each one, here’s a table comparing the main differences between them (with only cameras currently sold new at B&H or Adorama appearing on the list below):

P1000P900B600B500A1000W300W100A10
Megapixels16161616161613.216
RAW capabilityYesNoNoNoYesNoNoNo
Optical zoom125×83×60×40×35×5×3×5×
Equivalent focal length (mm)24 to 300024 to 200024 to 144022.5 to 90024 to 84024 to 12030 to 9026 to 130
Frame rate (JPEG)7 FPS7 FPS7 FPS7.4 FPS10 FPS7 FPS11 FPS1.2 FPS
WaterproofingNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNo
ViewfinderYesYesNoNoYesNoNoNo
LCD typeTilt-flipTilt-flipFixedTiltTiltFixedFixedFixed
Weight (with battery and card)1415 g899 g500 g541 g330 g231 g177 g160 g
Price$1000$715$330$260$500$390$160$90

As you can see, the main specification that differs here (aside from price) is zoom capability. The P1000 has a whopping 125× zoom, but it also costs an unreasonably high $1000. The less expensive cameras have smaller and smaller zooms, until you get to the W100 with a diminutive 3× zoom (30mm to 90mm equivalent).

As interesting as the P1000 may look, its crazy 3000mm zoom is beyond overkill for 99% of people. And its image quality isn’t good enough for most photographers, either (just like all the other cameras in the chart above). For a lower price – and less weight – I’d get a DSLR like the D3500 or D5600 instead.

If I had to pick one of these point-and-shoot cameras, I’d go for the A1000, simply because it is the least expensive camera here that can still shoot RAW. That’s the only factor that differentiates image quality among these options. (The 16 vs 13 MP sensor difference is too small to matter.) Still, $500 is pretty expensive for a point-and-shoot with a small sensor. I’d much rather buy it used, where you can find it for about $250.

As for the other cameras here, the cheap Nikon A10 is a good choice to give to a kid for their first camera. And if you’re going on a trip where you’ll need a waterproof camera, the W300 and W100 are better than risking your phone to an underwater case.

Other, Discontinued Cameras

The cameras listed above are all recent Nikon cameras, even though a few of them have been discontinued. But Nikon also has an excellent lineup of older cameras that you can find used, or occasionally refurbished, for great prices.

The discontinued DSLRs I’d pay attention to are as follows:

Each one of these cameras does 95% of what Nikon’s current cameras can do, but they cost far less on the used market.

In terms of other discontinued cameras, these are the ones I’d consider:

Nikon COOLPIX A @ 18.5mm, ISO 320, 1/1000, f/3.5

Film Cameras

All the cameras above are digital, but Nikon has a huge lineup of older film cameras as well.

The last one Nikon ever made new is the F6. Released in 2004, the Nikon F6 is a flagship SLR with 11 autofocus points, 5.5 FPS shooting (8 FPS with a battery grip), and iTTL/high-speed flash sync support.

It’s Nikon’s most advanced film camera ever, and arguably the most advanced 35mm film SLR of any brand. But it was discontinued in late 2020. You can still find it used for about $1000 (eBay Partner Program affiliate link) these days.

However, if you are an existing Nikon user who is considering a Nikon film camera today, I recommend the F100 instead (which sells for roughly $250 used). It has a modern, DSLR-like design and autofocuses with Nikon’s AF-S lenses without a problem. It also allows for semi-automatic modes like aperture priority.

Of course, there is a massive lineup of older Nikon film cameras selling for great prices on the used market right now. It’s impossible to cover all of them here, but suffice to say that you’re in luck if you want a film camera on a budget today (even though prices have been rising slightly in recent years).

Other than that, if none of the Nikon cameras above works for you, I suggest taking a look at other brands.

Nikon F100 + Kodak Tri-X 400 B&W film

Conclusion

Nikon’s current camera lineup is pretty extensive, and the company has done a good job overall at positioning each camera well for its target audience. The D3500 is an amazing budget camera, the D500 is a great sports camera for a reasonable price, the Z7 II is an all-around image quality beast – and so on.

This article is not about deciding which one of Nikon’s cameras is the “best.” All of them could be the best for some photographers and totally unnecessary for others. And that’s why Nikon makes so many cameras.

I hope this comparison gave you a good bird’s-eye view of Nikon cameras today, including our takeaway from each review we did at Photography Life. If you have any questions or recommendations about these cameras, please let me know in the comments section below!

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