Windows Help & Advice - UK (2020-05)

T

he Nikon D780 is perhaps the
best example yet of a DSLR
reinventing itself for the
mirrorless age. It’s a very
traditional-looking full-frame
camera with an optical viewfinder,
but underneath that old-school
skin lies some of the same tech that
you’ll find in its cutting-edge Nikon
Z6 cousin.
When Nikon and Canon finally
relented and committed to their
Z Series and EOS R mirrorless
systems, fans of optical viewfinders
and generous battery lives were
naturally worried that the days of
new DSLRs were behind them. But
the D780 proves that Nikon isn’t
abandoning the DSLR – in fact, if
you have a stash of F-mount lenses
or just prefer the way a DSLR
handles, it might just be one of
the best full-frame cameras the
company has made so far.
Designed to sit alongside rather
than fully replace the older Nikon
D750, this is Nikon’s ‘entry-level’

full-frame model, sitting below the

D850 and offering something for

those who don’t need mega-high

resolution, but who still want a

good all-rounder.

Design and build

The sturdy, magnesium alloy body

is resistant to both dust and water,

and sports a satisfyingly chunky

grip. The big range of dials and

buttons also have lots of room to

breathe. The vast majority of

shooting controls can be found on

the right-hand side of the camera.

These include the on/off switch,

dials for altering shutter speed and

aperture, and the ‘i’ button for

accessing a quick menu.

You’ll also see a top-plate LCD

which gives you an at-a-glance

view of several key settings,

including ISO, aperture, shutter

speed and how many shots you’ve

got left on your memory card.

On the left-hand side you’ll find

the mode dial, the drive mode dial

and a set of buttons which mostly

relate to playback.

Using an optical viewfinder is a

matter of preference, but if you

prefer them to electronic versions

then, again, you should be pretty

happy here. It’s not quite as bright

and clear as the one found on the

D850, but if you’re not comparing

them side by side you’re likely to be

very impressed by it.

If you find yourself using the

screen, you’ve got a tilting touch-

sensitive display. Using a DSLR’s

Live View was once a slow and

painful affair to be avoided unless

absolutely necessary; these days,

the technology has improved so

much that it’s a realistic option –

especially in this case, where it

offers an autofocus (AF) advantage.

The only downside is having to

hold the camera away from your

body, which isn’t something you’ll

want to do for extended periods.

A fully articulating screen would

also have been much more handy

Nikon D780

£2,199 | $2,700 http://www.nikon.com

Is the full-frame DSLR still relevant in the mirrorless age?

Images : Nikon

68 |^ |^ May 2020