Nikon D7000

The Nikon D7000 is an APS-C DSLR from 2010 built around the Nikon F mount. It suits photographers who like composing through an optical viewfinder and want a camera with some weight behind it rather than the smallest kit.

At 780g it is a body you notice when carrying, and that solid build pairs with weather sealing for outdoor shooting.

Handling follows the traditional DSLR pattern, with live view and WiFi available as conveniences when they help. A 16.2MP sensor feeds both stills and Full HD video recording.

A 16.2MP APS-C sensor working with the Expeed 2 processor produces files with enough resolution for standard prints and a fair margin for cropping, covering typical hobby and travel photography.

Our Optics score of 55 is a modest rating that places the camera around the middle of cameras in our database for optics. The ISO range runs from a base of 100, suited to bright conditions, up to a ceiling of 6400 for dim light.

Burst shooting reaches 6fps, quick enough to catch moments such as a child racing past or a bird lifting off. The 1/8000 maximum shutter speed provides headroom for bright conditions and fast action, and 39 autofocus points give placement choices.

Two characteristics shape the shooting style. There is no in-body stabilisation, so slow handheld shutter speeds call for steady technique or a support. Framing runs through a pentaprism optical viewfinder, which shows the scene through the lens.

The camera records video up to Full HD, and its highest frame rate is 24fps. That is enough for holiday clips and projects where a filmic pace fits. Our Video score of 57 rates the capability as modest, in line with those limits.

Clips record as MOV files, which keeps the camera's video output in one predictable format for storing and organising your footage.

A timelapse function is built in, letting the camera shoot interval sequences on its own for moving clouds or slow scenes, with no extra equipment needed.

With 24fps as the ceiling, slow motion is off the menu, and recording stays at or below Full HD rather than reaching 4K.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots, enough detail to check focus and colour during playback. Live view helps when the eye-level finder does not suit, though the screen is fixed and not touch-sensitive.

Lighting options are flexible. A built-in flash provides fill when a scene needs a lift, and the camera also supports external flash units when you want more power or control.

Weather sealing guards against dust and moisture on breezy or drizzly days.

WiFi is built in for wireless connectivity, though Bluetooth is missing. GPS is absent too, so geotagging needs another approach. The missing touchscreen and Bluetooth keep our Features score of 54 modest.

Storage and battery are among this camera's stronger suits, with our score of 79 rated good. Two slots take SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, so you can carry plenty of capacity and swap cards less often during a busy day.

The EN-EL15 battery carries a rating of 1050 shots, one of this camera's stronger specification points. How long that lasts in practice will depend on your shooting habits, screen use and conditions.

There is no USB charging, so power cannot be topped up over a USB cable while you are out. For longer shoots away from mains power, a charged spare EN-EL15 is one option.