Nikon D7000

Color & Noise Performance

The D7000's results in our color test weren't anything special, but the camera delivered a color accuracy that we'd consider average for a video-capable DSLR. Of course, the camera has plenty of manual color controls and color modes to choose from, so you don't have to stick with the auto mode color performance if you don't like it. Click here to read our full color performance review, including color swatches and crops.

Color Accuracy Performance
Color Test Chart (above), Color Error Map (right)
The Nikon D7000 produced a color error of 4.02 and a saturation level of 85% in our bright light color testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular color.)

The camera's noise performance in bright light was solid as the D7000 averaged 0.35% noise. This kind of low noise percentage is what we're used to seeing from a video-capable DSLR. Click here to read our full noise performance review, including crops and comparative analysis.
 

Motion & Sharpness

The D7000 can record using 24p or 30p frame rates, but when recording Full HD video (1920 x 1080 resolution) only the 24p frame rate is available. The video in our motion test had positive elements (low artifacting), but it also looked choppy throughout. Click here to read our full motion performance review, including video clips.

Even with its 1920 x 1080 record mode, the D7000 produced disappointing results in our sharpness test. The numbers weren't bad, but they weren't as good as we'd hoped they'd be. Click here to read our full sharpness performance review.

Low Light Performance

Low light sensitivity was excellent on the Nikon D7000. The camera needed just 5 lux of light to register 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, which is one of the best performances we've seen from a video-capable DSLR. Click here to read our full low light sensitivity performance review.

Required Illumination *

* the lower the lux required, the better the performance

Low light color was also very good for the D7000. The camera actually managed better color accuracy in low light than it did in our bright light test, which is somewhat surprising. The colors produced by the D7000 in low light were strong, bright, and accurate. Click here to read our full low light color performance review, including comparative images and analysis.

Auto Low Light Color Performance
Color Test Chart (above), Color Error Map (right)
The Nikon D7000 produced a color error of 3.29 and a saturation level of 100.9% in our low light color testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular color.)

Noise levels in low light weren't bad, but the D7000 was not amongst the best cameras in this category. The camera averaged just under 1.5% noise, which was more noise than we saw from the Canon 60D, Sony A55V, and Nikon D300S (although, not by a huge margin). Click here to read our full low light noise performance review, including crops and comparative images.

Conclusion

With the D7000 Nikon is finally ready to play with the big boys in the video-capable DSLR market. The camera is Nikon's first to offer Full HD video recording, and it combines this feat with a number of frame rate and resolution options, as well as a good set of manual controls. Even with all these updates, however, Nikon is still a step or two behind Canon and Sony as the best manufacturers of video-capable DSLR cameras. The D7000 suffered from a sloppy interface, confusing controls, and a lackluster performance in our motion test. While we do love the option for 24p and 30p recording, we wish there was an option for 60p as well. Nikon has definitely taken big strides with the D7000, but we want their next effort to go one step further. If Nikon could clean up the video interface, add some extra handling features (like a rotatable LCD), and improve video performance slightly, the D7000 may turn into the camera to beat as far as video capability is concerned.

Exclusive - Read the full review of the Nikon D7000 at DigitalCameraInfo.com, including complete, comprehensive video testing and analysis by CamcorderInfo.com.