Nikon D7100

Manufacturer: Nikon
Type: camera
Sensor: DX (APS-C), 24.1 megapixels
Resolution: 24.1MP (no optical low-pass filter)
Processor: EXPEED 3
Year introduced: 2013
Price at launch: $1,199.95 USD (body only); $1,599.95 with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR
Successor: Nikon D7200 (2015)
Key feature: No optical low-pass filter and D800-class 51-point AF in a DX body; widely regarded as the de facto successor to the Nikon D300

Overview

The Nikon D7100, announced on February 21, 2013, was Nikon’s DX-format flagship and the camera that effectively replaced the legendary D300 — even though many photographers had been waiting for a “D400” that never came. Its 24.1-megapixel DX sensor without an optical low-pass filter (OLPF) delivered exceptional sharpness, and it inherited the 51-point AF system from the D800 via a new Multi-CAM 3500DX AF module, giving it autofocus performance that Alex Mustard found indistinguishable from the D800 in back-to-back testing (^[1]).

Mustard’s review for Wetpixel was emphatic about the D7100’s value proposition: at $1,100 USD (body only at B&H Photo), it cost roughly one-third of the D800’s price while delivering sensor performance that “out resolves” the Canon 5D Mark III and “out scores it in DXO’s tests.” He called it “Nikon’s best ever DX body,” noting that while the D7100 “doesn’t bring much new technology it does blend some choice features into a small and aggressively priced camera body. In design, evolution is often better than revolution” (^[2]).

The Missing D400

The absence of a true D300 successor was a recurring theme in the Wetpixel community. Mustard noted that “the D300 was introduced over six years ago and people still tell me that they are waiting for its direct replacement, a D400. This camera should have appeared three years ago!” He concluded that the D7100 was so full of pro features that it was hard to see room for a D400, leaving D300 users with a simple choice: “the DX D7100 or FX D800” (^[3]). Tim Rock, reviewing the Aquatica housing, echoed this frustration: “I have been waiting for the mythical ‘Nikon D400’ for too many years now. I waited and waited and used all the other Nikon DXs… the D200, D300, D90 and D7000” (^[4]). Adam Hanlon’s later D500 review confirmed that the absence of a D400 “caused a ripple of effects: Many underwater photographers have held on to their D300 bodies and housings. Others have moved on to the prosumer D7000 series” (^[5]).

D300 owners nevertheless tended to “look down their noses at the D7000 and D7100, which don’t have the tank like build of their camera.” Mustard countered this attitude by pointing out that when he traveled to Bali to judge the inaugural Indonesian World Underwater Photography Competition (IWUPC) — “the world’s richest underwater photography contest” with $200,000 USD in cash prizes — fellow judges Burt Jones, Keri Wilk, and Matt Weiss were all shooting D7000 cameras in Subal, Aquatica, and Nauticam housings (^[6]).

The DX Advantage for Underwater Photography

Mustard made a compelling case for the DX format’s inherent suitability for underwater work: “DX means smaller cameras, smaller housings and the option of travel friendly mini-domes. It also means versatile lenses, like the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom, highly suited to underwater subjects.” He noted that DX provides “more depth of field for any given subject magnification in macro shooting and for similar reasons, better corner sharpness in wide angle photography.” While portrait photographers prize the shallow depth of field of FX cameras, “underwater we don’t often use shallow depth of field and when we do it is easily achieved with our macro lenses, without even opening up all the way” (^[7]).

This philosophy was shared by other professionals. Rock argued that “manufacturers make more money selling full frame bodies so they promote them more,” citing Thom Hogan’s observation that “camera makers are preying on your ‘wants’ and not your ‘needs’” (^[8]).

Key Specifications

The D7100 offered several features of particular interest to underwater photographers (^[9]):

• 51-point AF system with Multi-CAM 3500DX AF module; 15 cross-type sensors; center point functional at f/8 (useful with teleconverters)
• 1.3x crop mode offering an additional telephoto boost (2x total with the DX crop) at 15.4-megapixel resolution, with the 51-point AF array covering more of the frame — particularly attractive for macro shooters
• No optical low-pass filter, maximizing sharpness from the sensor
• 6 fps continuous shooting at full resolution, 7 fps in 1.3x crop mode
• ISO 100-6400 (expandable to Hi-2 of 25,600)
• 3.2-inch LCD with 1,229K-dot resolution
• 1080/30p video (60i/50i in 1.3x crop mode) with stereo microphone input and headphone output
• Weather-sealed construction to the same moisture and dust resistance specifications as the D300S, with magnesium alloy top and rear covers
• 150,000-cycle shutter rated for professional durability
• Dual SD card slots accepting UHS-1 and SDXC cards
• Spot White Balance — a new feature allowing custom white balance from a distance in live view

Known Limitations

The D7100’s most frequently cited weakness was its limited buffer. In continuous mode, the buffer filled very rapidly, and both card write time and on-screen RAW review were slow. Alex Tattersall noted this in his preview from Sogod Bay, observing that “for an event such as the sardine run with continuous shooting required, the buffer may be an issue” (^[10]). Rock found that “the small buffer of the D7100” was concerning — “didn’t seem like much of a flagship with only a second or two of RAW high speed shooting before the buffer filled up” — but discovered that investing in high-speed SD cards (95MB/s write speed) “made a world of difference. On Consecutive Low I can click away at 3-4 FPS for quite a while” (^[11]).

The D7200 successor specifically addressed this, increasing the buffer to 18 consecutive 14-bit RAW frames (versus the D7100’s much smaller capacity), with Nikon marketing “30% faster image processing” over the D7100 (^[12]).

Underwater Performance

Image Quality and Detail

Alex Tattersall of Underwater Visions tested an early D7100 unit in Sogod Bay, Philippines, in a Nauticam housing, and found “improved detail” and “superior AF performance” compared to the D7000. He also noted the camera’s LCD was clearer for reviewing images. He was “very happy to be able to use the tokina 10-17 again with the Zen 100mm minidome” and appreciated the extra macro magnification (^[13]).

Rock, shooting the camera in Yap for the Manta Fest shootout and in Tonga for humpback whales, praised the camera’s “24MP sensor,” its “extraordinary low light performance and the ability to render highlights with excellent detail.” For underwater work, he noted that “the camera is only really reading black, white and blue so the camera’s buffer handles free diving situations and shallow diving quite well” (^[14]).

Mustard’s comprehensive multi-part review tested the D7100 in Bali — at Scuba Seraya Resort and Mimpi Tulamben — for wide-angle, macro, and close-up work with Inon Z240 strobes. He used the Nikon 105mm VR with Subsee +5 diopter for macro, and the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye with 1.4x Kenko teleconverter for wide-angle. The camera won both the TIPA 2013 award for best advanced DSLR and the EISA European Camera of the Year award (^[15]).

Dome Port Considerations

In his review of the Nauticam 140mm dome port, Mustard explained the optical relationship between sensor format and dome size. The D7100’s 1.5x crop factor used a 10mm fisheye for 180-degree coverage, versus 15mm on full-frame cameras. As a result, “I use a 100mm port with the 10mm on the 1.5x crop” — a smaller dome was acceptable because the shorter focal length provided more depth of field to compensate for the curved virtual image (^[16]).

Strobe Compatibility and TTL

The D7100’s maximum X-sync speed was 1/250 second. Forum members discovered that using Auto FP (high speed sync) settings with underwater strobes caused dark bands across images, since external underwater strobes cannot produce the 40kHz multi-pulse bursts required for FP sync. The correct setting was “Bracketing/Flash > Flash sync speed > 1/250” without FP enabled. Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes were confirmed to work at 1/250 X-sync despite their manual listing a 1/200 restriction (^[17]).

The D7100 was supported by the UW Technics TTL converter, the first product to incorporate optical and wire TTL in one device, compatible with Inon Z240 and Sea & Sea YS-D1/D2 strobes (^[18]).

Creative Techniques

Photographer Mike Bartick used the D7100 with a 60mm lens and DIY “reflection tube” to create his signature “ringflection” macro images, demonstrating the camera’s versatility for creative underwater techniques (^[19]).

Housing Availability

Six major housing manufacturers offered aluminum and polycarbonate housings for the D7100, all shipping within the camera’s first year:

• Ikelite — Announced April 2013 at $1,500 USD. Polycarbonate construction with optically corrected glass viewfinder and built-in TTL exposure when used with Ikelite strobes. Ports available for most popular lenses (^[20]).

• Nauticam (NA-D7100) — Announced April 29, 2013; shipping from May 5 at $3,200 USD. Featured the company’s patented locking latch system, patented port locking release, and lens release button accessible from the housing front. Depth rated to 100m, weight 3.3kg. Dimensions: 350mm x 190mm x 135mm. Alex Tattersall used an early unit for the Sogod Bay preview (^[21]). Nauticam confirmed in 2015 that the D7200 “works fine in the NA-D7100 housing,” though they released a dedicated NA-D7200 with improvements including 15% weight reduction and factory-installed vacuum electronics (^[22]).

• Sea & Sea (MDX-D7100) — Announced June 2013, available end of June. Aluminum alloy construction with depth rating of 100m. Weight 2,700g. Dimensions: 341mm x 192mm x 136mm. Featured optional built-in Optical YS Converter N for TTL via fiber optic cable, redesigned multi selector mimicking camera controls, externally controlled port lock, and built-in leak detector (^[23]). When upgrading to D7200, the mode dial lock button required a minor modification — some users successfully applied a dab of Aquaseal to the rubber tip as a DIY fix (^[24]).

• Aquatica (AD7100) — Depth rated to 300ft/90m (upgradeable to 425ft/130m). Weight 2.75kg. Featured redesigned camera saddle, Fn button access routed through the saddle to a rear push button, powder-coated finish, and compatibility with the 8-inch dome without an extension ring (unlike the AD7000). Tim Rock reported it was “a bit larger than the AD7000,” which he liked for accommodating his car key during beach dives and for steadying video shooting. Reviewed by Rock during shoots in Yap (Manta Fest, Vertigo shark dive) and Tonga (humpback whales) (^[25]). Shown at DEMA 2013 in Orlando with a redesigned camera saddle that no longer needed a coin or screwdriver (^[26]). In 2015, Aquatica confirmed the AD7100 was fully compatible with the D7200, renamed it the AD7200/7100, and reduced the price to $2,995 USD — a $365 drop, passing along R&D savings to consumers (^[27]).

• Subal (ND7100) — Used by Alex Mustard for his comprehensive field review in Bali. He noted it was “very similar to the company’s D7000 and D600/D610 housings.” Shown at ADEX 2014 in Singapore by retailer Scubacam (^[28], ^[29]).

• Hugyfot — Also produced a housing for the D7100, compatible with the D7200. Featured the Hugycheck vacuum system and manual pump, available with Nikonos 5-pin adapter or twin fiber optic adapter (^[30]).

Housing Compatibility with D7200

A key development for D7100 housing owners came in March 2015, when Adam Hanlon attended The Photography Show in Birmingham, UK, and confirmed that the D7200 body was physically compatible with existing D7100 housings. The test was carried out with a Nauticam housing, with Hanlon noting “it seems likely that it will fit into other housing manufacturers’ housings too” (^[31]). This was subsequently confirmed by Aquatica, Nauticam, and Hugyfot, making the D7100 housing system an unusually long-lived investment.

Reviews & Discussion

• ^[32] — Alex Mustard’s comprehensive multi-part review from Bali, covering wide-angle, macro, and close-up work. Made the case that the D7100 was the best DX Nikon ever made and a serious alternative to the much more expensive D800 for those who didn’t need 36MP. Included extensive technical comparisons with the D800, D600, and D7000.
• ^[33] — Alex Tattersall’s early field test from Sogod Bay, Philippines, with sample images. Found improved detail and AF performance over the D7000 but noted buffer limitations and slow RAW review. Comments from users confirmed the improvement was significant.
• ^[34] — Tim Rock’s extensive review of the Aquatica housing, tested during shoots in Yap (mantas, sharks) and Tonga (humpback whales). Called it “the best designed housing Aquatica has come up with in recent editions.”

Community Discussion

The D7100 generated extensive forum discussion, with many threads touching on its position in the Nikon DX lineup:

• Upgrade path from D300: Forum members who had held onto their D300s for years debated whether to go D7100, D500, or full-frame. One user noted “I have the D7100 and it is a fine camera” while recommending the D500 for those seeking a true D300 successor. Another described going “DX-FX-DX: D300-D800-D500” in his upgrade journey, ultimately favoring the D500’s compactness and return to the Tokina 10-17mm lens. Claire Goodwin, a science photographer who had used a D300 in Subal for 10+ years, swayed toward the D500 for macro shooting after community advice (^[35]).

• D7100 vs D7200 performance: Users who upgraded from D7100 to D7200 reported improved low-light autofocus performance. One user did “informal low-light comparison testing with my D7100, D7200, and D850” and confirmed the D7200 outperformed the D7100, with the D850 surpassing both (^[36]).

• Flash sync troubleshooting: A detailed technical thread resolved the common problem of dark bands in TTL images, traced to the D7100’s Auto FP flash sync mode being incompatible with underwater strobes. The correct configuration was confirmed as 1/250 X-sync without FP (^[37]).

• Mirrorless transition debate: As late as 2022, D7100 users were part of the community discussion about whether to switch to mirrorless cameras. One long-time user stated he planned to “keep my Nikons D7200 and D500” as he saw “no advantage in converting to mirrorless” (^[38]).

• D7100 to D750 upgrade: Alex Tattersall switched from the D7100 to the D750, reporting he was “giving up my D7100 now” after being “very pleased with the D750 in Raja Ampat last week, small and compact, excellent image quality” (^[39]). Fabian Schorp’s D750 macro article also noted only a “marginal difference” in size between the D7100 and D750 housings (^[40]).

• Popular lens pairings: Community members commonly paired the D7100 with the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom (with Zen 100mm minidome for wide-angle), Nikon 105mm VR macro (with Subsee diopters), Nikon 60mm macro, Sigma 8-16mm, Nikon 14-24mm, and Nikon 10.5mm fisheye with Kenko 1.4x teleconverter.

Firmware and Service Updates

• Firmware C1.04 (February 2018): Fixed AF-P lens support and corrected exposure for E-type lenses (^[41]).
• EN-EL15 battery recall (July 2017): Nikon recalled certain EN-EL15 batteries used by the D7100 (among other models) due to safety concerns. Batteries with “E” or “F” as the 9th digit of the 14-digit serial number were affected (^[42]).

Timeline

• 2013-02-21: Nikon announces the D7100 at $1,199.95 (body), shipping March. Features 24.1MP DX sensor without OLPF, 51-point AF, 1.3x crop mode (^[43])
• 2013-04-06: Ikelite announces D7100 housing at $1,500 USD (^[44])
• 2013-04-29: Alex Tattersall previews the D7100 underwater in Nauticam housing from Sogod Bay, Philippines (^[45])
• 2013-04-29: Nauticam announces the NA-D7100 housing at $3,200 USD, shipping May 5 (^[46])
• 2013-06-17: Sea & Sea announces the MDX-D7100 with optional built-in Optical YS Converter (^[47])
• 2013-08: Tim Rock takes first AD7100 off the Aquatica production line to Yap for Manta Fest (^[48])
• 2013-11-07: Aquatica shows the AD7100 housing at DEMA 2013 in Orlando with redesigned camera saddle (^[49])
• 2013-11-29: Tim Rock publishes Aquatica AD7100 review based on shoots in Yap and Tonga (^[50])
• 2013-12-18: Alex Mustard publishes comprehensive field review from Bali in Subal ND7100, calling it “Nikon’s best ever DX body” (^[51])
• 2014-04-12: Subal ND7100 shown at ADEX 2014 in Singapore by retailer Scubacam (^[52])
• 2015-03-02: Nikon announces D7200 successor with larger buffer, faster AF to -3EV, and EXPEED 4 processor (^[53])
• 2015-03-23: Adam Hanlon confirms D7200 fits in existing D7100 housings at The Photography Show, Birmingham (^[54])
• 2015-05-12: Nauticam ships dedicated NA-D7200 housing, 15% lighter than NA-D7100 (^[55])
• 2015-05-15: Aquatica confirms AD7100 compatibility with D7200, renames it AD7200/7100, reduces price to $2,995 (^[56])
• 2016-02: UW Technics TTL converter announced with D7100 compatibility (^[57])
• 2017-07: Nikon recalls certain EN-EL15 batteries affecting the D7100 and other models (^[58])
• 2018-02: Nikon releases firmware C1.04 for D7100 with AF-P lens support and E-type lens exposure fix (^[59])