CAMERA REVIEW: Nikon D5200

The brand new DSLR is priced at Rs 46,950k with 18-55mm VR kit lens. But is it worth it?

Back in April 2012, a few days after announcing D3200 with 24MP resolution, Nikon updated the rest of DX SLRs to match the whopping resolution. Meanwhile D5100 had been doing pretty well and when its time was up, D5200 surfaced, offering better grip and more physical controls.

Cosmetically, D5200 is same as its predecessor and changes that have occurred are inside the body.

Significant features like 39-point AF system along with 9 cross-type sensors that cover most of the frame and 2016 pixel RGB colour-sensitive metering sensor have been taken from D7000.

On the outside, few things make D5200 different from D5100. These are new top-plate drive mode button and stereo microphone that sits over the pentamirror.

D5200 sports a 24 megapixels CMOS sensor and has an ISO range ending at 25600 points plus the ability to shoot continuously at 5 frames per second. You can shoot videos at full HD 1920x1080 up to 50i when set to NTSC and 60i when set to PAL format.

With these, the central sensor area gets cropped approximately 1.25x. With EXPEED 3 image processor, the images get worked upon faster than before and come out with better colour reproduction and enhanced noise reduction. The on-screen user interface display information in a systematic way so it becomes easy to comprehend the shot composition.

D5200 also features Nikon's WU-1a Wi-Fi unit; the device gets plugged into the camera's accessory terminal and enables you to transfer images to a smartphone or tablet, wirelessly.

For group shots, self-portraits the device can also be controlled via remote.

Here is a detailed review of the camera:

Lenses

Nikon D5200 has an F-mount, meaning most of the Nikkor lenses can be attached to it.

For full focus and metering modes, you will need recent lenses. With older lenses, you can avail only manual-focus. So auto-focus would come only with AF-S or AF-I CPU lenses with NIKKOR lens tag.

Typically, D5200 is sold with Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR lens. VR here stands for vibration reduction that empowers lens with its anti-shake capabilities. However, the longest focal length of 83mm readily lessens any wobbling.

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Sensor

D5200 comes with 24.1MP sensor that delivers images with maximum pixel dimensions of 6000x4000.

The ultimate image data gets saved in JPEG format in one of the three set compression ratios: fine, basic and normal at 1:4, 1:8, 1:16 respectively.

Detailed images weigh around 10-12MBs.

The raw data, if the option is selected within, captures images into .NEF formats. ISO sensitivity range begins from 100 till 25600 ISO.

The shutter speed ranges between 30s  and 1/4000.

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Menus

Menus have been presented clearly, each segment has its distinct colour like shooting menu is in green, playback blue, setup orange, custom red, retouch purple.

The playback options have editing elements too, which can be applied to the photos taken. The retouch menu has a large number of options, viz., D-Lighting, Red-eye correction, Resize, Monochrome, Colour Balance, Trim, Image Overlay, RAW Processing, Filter Effects, Quick Retouch, Straighten, Fisheye, Colour Outline, Distortion Control, Perspective Control, Colour Sketch, Miniature Effect, Selective Colour, and Movie Editing.

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Battery

Beneath the body, D5200 has a compartment for battery.

The camera comes with rechargeable EN-EL14 Lithium-Ion battery rated to 1030mAh. Under CIPA conditions, it can take around 500 shots.

These shooting style does not include Live View, video recording, continuous AF, VR lens or RAW capturing. The remaining battery gets shown on-screen using a three segment indicator.

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Highlights

Nikon D5200 comes basically D5100 added with new and advanced features. The Auto ISO programme that first came in D800, which lets you set the minimum shutter speed with five options that are inclined to setting faster and slower speeds.

Now in video record mode, you have full control over exposure elements: aperture, shutter speed and even ISO. The camera also is able to set microphone gain with stereo sound level to aid you set the right level.

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Design and build quality

D5200 fits perfectly to the design of the previous Nikon SLR line-up. The mode dial atop camera gives full access to aperture, shutter, manual modes.

Learners can pick up fast since the range of presets involve basic elements, like portrait, landscape, night mode etc.

Filter for the images come under 'Effects'. Standard options include miniature, selective colour, silhouette, low and high key.

The built-in HDR mode simply takes two exposures and adds them. AF overlays in the viewfinder have been enhanced too to make it simpler to comprehend what camera has focused.

Videos can be shot at 1080p at 24/25/30fps and at 1080i at 60/50fps.

The microphone that sits before hotshoe makes sure the in-camera audio recording is better than that of it's elder. One also gets 3.5mm headphone jack.

With combination of both, stereo sound and FULL HD, the captured video quality appears perfect and detailed.

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