STURDY STARR

Some cameras give you a feeling of power, the power to create art in a fraction of a second. The Nikon D5200 is one such camera, absolutely sure of itself and the power it possesses.

The D5200 does not look much different from the D5100 or the D3200 and has a very compact body. The matte finish extends to the flip-out screen too. The screen can fold face in, and this protects the LCD when you don’t need to use it. The grip is good and gives you a feeling of control even with heavy lenses.

The interface is easy to navigate, though the icons make you want to touch them. But that would be of no use as there is no touchscreen here. Still, you can change the settings using the mode dial on top and the control ring below it. Like other new Nikons this one too gives you loads of tweaks and settings, the entire range of which would take some time to master.

One of the first things you will notice, and be pleasantly surprised about, is the click of this camera’s mechanical shutter. That is like music to any photographer, a sound of assurance. I still don’t like the fact that there is no separate ISO switch in most Nikon DSLRs. But thankfully this one has two Info buttons that bring on the settings – one ac- cessed by the thumb, the other by the trigger finger. Near the trigger finger are also the record button for video and exposure adjustment, both thoughtfully placed. The Menu button is hidden away on the left of the LCD and this throws open a confusing array of detailed settings. You can also use this to do some basic editing of the pictures.

We tested the camera with a Nikkor 18-55mm VR lens and the results were as good as we expected. The colour reproduction on this 24MP camera is top-notch and pictures look the way they are supposed to. The 39-point auto-focus too did not trouble us and is ably assisted by an illuminator so that you can compose pictures even in near darkness. In fact, the camera offers superb results at high ISOs and you can actually click pictures even in extremely low light conditions without ending up with just noise.

The auto-focus works equally well while you are recording 1080p video at 50fps. There is, however, no separate mode for video and this is a bit of an irritant, especially since you have to go to menu to tweak settings while shooting. But then the results will make you overlook this minor glitch.

The D5200 is among the best mid-level DSLR options in the market offering great results and amazing versatility.

BAG IT OR JUNK IT?

Best mid-level DSLR option