How to select the right Nikon dSLR

By Leonard Goh, CNET Asia
Aug 11, 2009

The D3x is Nikon's flagship dSLR camera.

This Japanese company is the other major player in the imaging industry, and its SLR lineage runs in the circuits of its dSLRs today. In 1959, Nikon announced the Nikon F, the first camera to use F-mount lenses and give 100 percent view in the viewfinder. The D3x, unveiled in late 2008, also utilizes the F-mount, making this optical system one of the oldest in the industry. Just in case you are wondering if Nikon will can this mount for a new one, rest assured: We got confirmation from the company that the F-mount will be around for a long time to come.

As for shooters with crop factors, Nikon also has a range of lenses optimized for them. There are currently about 12 DX lenses, which cover a wide range of focal lengths from 16mm to 300mm (35mm equivalent).

Nikon is probably one of the few companies still producing film-based SLRs today. Although the Nikon F6 has been overshadowed by its digital siblings, it is without a doubt one of the most solid and rugged SLRs on the market now.

The Japanese company is also the first to introduce video recording in a dSLR with the D90, but the shooter's specifications have since been surpassed by Canon.

Nikon's version of an optical image stabilizer is called Vibration Reduction (VR) and its equivalent to Canon's USM is the Silent Wave Motor.

Click here to check out Nikon's Coolpix point-and-shoots.