Features
Full-frame photography used to be the preserve of professional photographers, but SLRs like the Canon 6D and Nikon D610 have made it a more realistic proposition for amateur and enthusiast photographers. Nikon’s latest full-frame camera, the D750 sits above the D610 and below the Nikon D810 in the company’s range, giving enthusiasts another model to choose from.
At the heart of the D750 is a newly designed 24.3-million-pixel CMOS sensor and a Expeed 4 processing engine. Unlike the 36Mp D810, the new camera has an anti-aliasing filter over the sensor.
This sensor and processor combination enables a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-12,800 with extension settings taking this to ISO 50-51,200. It’s also possible to shoot at up to 6.5 frames per second (fps) and record Full HD video at up to 60p. While 6.5fps is a fair rate, some sports photographers may have been hoping for something a bit higher, perhaps 8fps or more.
Enthusiast videographers will also appreciate the stereo microphone and headphone ports along with the ability to fine-tune audio levels in isolation before and during recording. It’s also possible to select the sound range (wide/voice) for adjustment. Wind noise can also be reduced when recording with the built-in microphone.
When shooting in Live View or video mode, there’s a handy Zebra pattern display to indicate on the screen which areas are in danger of burning out. The D750 can also output uncompressed HDMI to allow high-quality recording to an external device.
Nikon has given the D750 a new Multi-CAM 3500 II autofocus (AF) module, an updated version of the one in the D810. This has 51 AF points, 15 of which are the more sensitive cross-type and 11 that operate down to f/8, which is especially useful for photographers who want to use an extender with their telephoto lenses. As in the D810, the new Group Area AF mode is available to help when shooting subjects that are comparatively small and against a high-contrast or distracting background.
Exposure metering is handled by a 91,000-pixel RGB sensor and this enables face detection metering even when the image is composed in the viewfinder – although rather unhelpfully you are unable to see when a face has been detected.
However, there’s a useful highlight spot-metering option which is calibrated to take measurements from the brightest part of the scene and suggest an exposure that will prevent it from being burned out, but not render it a mid-tone. That could be a blessing for wedding photographers. The spot white balance option that enables white balance to be set from a small part of the scene is also likely to find favour amongst these demanding users.
Like the D810, the D750 uses the EN-EL15 Li-ion battery and when flash is used Nikon claim that it will last for 430 shots. Without flash, this extends to 1,230 shots. Nikon has also introduced the MB-D16 battery pack to complement the D750 for longer shoots.
Although there are two card slots they both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC. One can be used as an overflow store or it can operate as a back-up. Alternatively, the camera can send different file types to one card or the other.
While the D750 is compatible with the Nikon’s UT-1 and WT-5 for professional-level wireless image transfer, there’s also Wi-Fi ‘n’ connectivity built-in for the speedy sharing of images and wireless remote control via a smartphone (using Nikon’s Wireless Mobile Utility app).
Taking the lead from cameras like the D5300 lower down in the range, the D750 has seven Special Effects modes including Selective Color and the like, which can be applied to stills and movies.
The changes to the Picture Control system introduced with the D810 are also present. This means there’s the new Flat Picture Control mode that produces video footage (and still images) with less contrast, giving greater scope for post-capture grading. There’s also the Clarity control, which enables the micro contrast of images to be adjusted to give the appearance of greater or reduced sharpness, with less risk of halos and over-sharpening problems.
Build and handling
Nikon has used a monocoque construction for the D750 and by using a combination of magnesium alloy and carbon fibre has given it a good solid feel without excessive weight. The camera feels comfortable in the hand and has enough weight to make it feel durable without being too heavy for long shoots. It’s reassuring to know that the camera has the same degree of weatherproofing as the D810.
Inside, there’s a Kevlar/carbon fiber–composite shutter, which has been tested to 150,000 cycles. The mirror and shutter movements have a similarly dampened sound to the D810 and it will be interesting to compare the two cameras side-by-side. The D810 is far more discreet than the D800. I’ve only been able to use the D750 in a noisy room so far and I couldn’t tell if it is as quiet.
Control and design-wise the D750 looks almost exactly the same as the D610. There’s a mode dial on the left of the top-plate that has the addition of ‘Effects’ for accessing the Special Effects modes and a lock to prevent it from being knocked out of position.
On the back of the camera, the control layout is very similar to the D610’s but the Info button is to the side of the thumb-rest rather than towards the bottom of the camera; meanwhile, the Live View button and switch are lower down in the space created by moving the Info button. The function of a couple of the buttons to the left of the LCD screen has also changed in comparison with the D610, since the bottom one is now an ‘I’ for information control.
When the ‘I’ button is pressed a list of features appears, as on other recent Nikon SLRs. However, they are now arranged in a list rather than a grid. Unfortunately, there are still a couple of oddly placed customisation options in this list. I can’t understand why these are in a quick access-type menu instead of being restricted to the main menu.
The interface has also changed somewhat, as when buttons such as the white balance control are pressed. It looks cleaner and makes it clearer how adjustments can be made.
Although at first glance the main menu looks a close match for those on other Nikon SLRs, a second look reveals that the video options now have their own tab in the menu structure – this is a good move that will help users find the options they want more quickly.
Like the D810, the depth of field preview and function buttons on the front of the D750 can be set to act as aperture adjusters in order to enable silent changes to be made to aperture while shooting video.
Of course the biggest news about the back of the D750 is that the 3.2-inch 1,229,000-dot RGBW screen (the same as on the D810) is mounted on a tilting bracket. This enables the screen to be tipped up through 90 degrees and down through 75. It doesn’t help with selfies, but it makes shooting movies and landscape format stills at high or low angles more comfortable. Its a good display that shows plenty of detail.
Naturally, as the D750 is an SLR, there’s also an optical viewfinder for composing images. This isn’t the brightest that I’ve used, but it’s still pretty good and it covers 100% of the field of view so there shouldn’t be any nasty surprises around the edges of the frame.
I’ll need to use the camera for an extended period of time before I can be certain, but the controls all seem to be logically arranged and within easy reach. It seems that video is finally starting to find a more comfortable position within a stills camera.
Performance
According to Nikon UK’s Simon Iddon the Nikon D750 is “the ultimate enthusiast-level full-frame camera”. Enthusiast photographers are a demanding bunch. They want to be able to shoot all sorts of subjects in a wide variety of situations and get top-notch results.
As it has a 24-million-pixel sensor with an anti-aliasing filter, the D750 won’t be able to match the D810 for detail, but it should be able to produce images that are at least as good as those from the D610. In fact, the passage of time and the extra investment since the arrival of the D610 should mean that it produces better results. Bear in mind that many consider the D610 a hasty upgrade to the D600, which was only brought about to correct the problem with the shutter spraying oily material onto the sensor.
The D610 produces images with very well controlled noise and even shots taken at ISO 3200 have little coloured speckling visible when they are viewed at 100%. Even at ISO 25,600 chroma noise is within very acceptable limits and luminance noise is subtle. We also found that detail is maintained pretty well at the higher sensitivity settings.
Although we found the D610’s automatic white balance system generally performed well, the screen sometimes made images captured in shady conditions look too cold and this could trick users into setting the wrong white balance. The D750 has the same screen as the D810 and we didn’t have this issue with that camera, so hopefully all will be well with the D750.
Nikon’s Matrix metering system usually does a good job of getting exposure right in a range of conditions, but we will investigate it fully when we get a production sample in for testing. I’m also looking forward to using the highlight spot-metering.
As it uses an updated version of the D810’s AF system it seems likely that the D750 will be capable of getting subjects sharp very quickly and following them around the frame when necessary.
Early verdict
I have only used a pre-production sample of the D750 to date and I haven’t been able to examine any images that I’ve taken with it, so I can’t say for certain what the quality of the images it produces will be like.
However, Nikon’s recent SLRs have all produced very high quality images and it seems unlikely that the D750 will be different. We may not see the class-leading detail resolution of the D810, but I expect detail levels to be very good and noise controlled well.
Nikon seems to have produced a well-rounded, enthusiast-level SLR. It has the majority of the features that an enthusiast would want, along with a few modern niceties like Wi-Fi connectivity. Furthermore, the white balance, metering and autofocus systems are tweaked versions of proven systems. It’s also good to see the introduction of a tilting screen on a full-frame camera – it’s a shame it’s not fully articulating, but it’s a move in the right direction – and a weatherproof system.
The only downside seems to be that SLRs themselves now seem quite dated in that the viewfinder can’t show the image as it will be captured. Electronic viewfinders in compact system cameras are now becoming so good that they are often preferable to an optical finder.
Some enthusiast sports photographers may also have been hoping that the maximum continuous shooting rate might have been a bit higher, perhaps 8 frames per second (fps) to match the D300S with its battery-pack. Nevertheless, the D750 is sure to attract lots of admirers and I’m looking forward to giving it a thorough test in the near future.
Sample Images
The images below have been provided by Nikon and were captured using a prototype Nikon D750. The images were taken by Ray Demski and Joshua Cripps as indicated.
© Joshua Cripps
© Joshua Cripps
© Ray Demski
© Ray Demski
© Ray Demski
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