Uploaded December 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Really, Nikon? You make this camera that seems great on paper for video people, then it's missing a key critical feature... || Skip to video samples: 1:35 || This review is focusing on the video quality of the camera. I really looked forward to reviewing this so it was a bit of a letdown. I personally thought more often than not the video it produced was ugly, blocky, grainy and unappealing. As I said it's not awful, but there's quite a few drawbacks to take into consideration. Example:
- No manual exposure in video
- Auto focus tends to hunt instead of locking
- Stabilization can't handle the big lens while zooming even on a tripod
- Contrast is tuned way too high
- 4K doesn't have that much detail in some situations
I must be wrong about it missing manual video mode, right? If I am please tell me ASAP so I can reshoot and test it out properly.
Photos are OK but still suffer from some of the same issues as video. For example the Canon G7X II often had more detail even though they're both 20MP sensors.
I was quite hard on this camera despite it being cheap because I think a lot of new content creators will be swayed by it saying 4K, when this camera will really end up holding them back and being frustrating once they want to get more creative with their videos.
Overall, I recommend saving your money and using what you've got until you can afford a M4/3, or an RX100 V, or something along those lines. Or heck unless you NEED the zoom just use a smartphone lol.
--------
RX100 V: http://dreki.tech/rx100v
RX100 V bundle: http://dreki.tech/rx100v-bundle
G7X II: http://dreki.tech/g7x-ii
--------
Note: the above links are Amazon Affiliate links. If you use them before buying any product on Amazon I get a small kickback. It helps me buy coffee. Thanks for your support. :)
--- Gear Links ---
- Drone : DJI Mavic Air -
USA: amzn.to/2GEdBXz
Canada: amzn.to/2GbwrWf
UK: amzn.to/2OMbPMt
- Action Cam : Firefly 8SE -
International: http://dreki.tech/8se-gb
- Stabilizer : FY WG2 -
International: http://dreki.tech/fy-wg2-gb
- Phone : Galaxy S9 -
USA: amzn.to/2EKkN8s
Canada: amzn.to/2EKtYFN
UK: amzn.to/2z1EhPH
- DSLR : Nikon D750 -
USA: amzn.to/2D8JExg
Canada: amzn.to/2DebFIa
UK: amzn.to/2GI8B3P
Please note: the above links are affiliate links, and I get a small kickback if you use them to buy anything. It helps support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks a bunch! :)
--- Gear Links ---
- DSLR (Mirrorless) : Nikon Z6 -
USA: amzn.to/2WULmxF
Canada: amzn.to/2T6blkv
UK: amzn.to/2T7t6Qi
- Drone : DJI Mavic Air -
USA: amzn.to/35ZVVU4
Canada: amzn.to/2Z4wL5e
UK: amzn.to/2T4Utue
- Stabilizer : FeiyuTech WG2 -
International: http://dreki.tech/wg2
- Phone : Galaxy S9 -
USA: amzn.to/2WuE9oX
Canada: amzn.to/2yLHyGZ
UK: amzn.to/2LuEzFy
Please note: the above links are affiliate links, and I get a small kickback if you use them to buy anything. It helps support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks a bunch! :)
Really, Nikon? You make this camera that seems great on paper for video people, then it's missing a key critical feature... || Skip to video samples: 1:35 || This review is focusing on the video quality of the camera. I really looked forward to reviewing this so it was a bit of a letdown. I personally thought more often than not the video it produced was ugly, blocky, grainy and unappealing. As I said it's not awful, but there's quite a few drawbacks to take into consideration. Example:
- No manual exposure in video
- Auto focus tends to hunt instead of locking
- Stabilization can't handle the big lens while zooming even on a tripod
- Contrast is tuned way too high
- 4K doesn't have that much detail in some situations
I must be wrong about it missing manual video mode, right? If I am please tell me ASAP so I can reshoot and test it out properly.
Photos are OK but still suffer from some of the same issues as video. For example the Canon G7X II often had more detail even though they're both 20MP sensors.
I was quite hard on this camera despite it being cheap because I think a lot of new content creators will be swayed by it saying 4K, when this camera will really end up holding them back and being frustrating once they want to get more creative with their videos.
Overall, I recommend saving your money and using what you've got until you can afford a M4/3, or an RX100 V, or something along those lines. Or heck unless you NEED the zoom just use a smartphone lol.
--------
RX100 V: http://dreki.tech/rx100v
RX100 V bundle: http://dreki.tech/rx100v-bundle
G7X II: http://dreki.tech/g7x-ii
--------
Note: the above links are Amazon Affiliate links. If you use them before buying any product on Amazon I get a small kickback. It helps me buy coffee. Thanks for your support. :)
--- Gear Links ---
- Drone : DJI Mavic Air -
USA: amzn.to/2GEdBXz
Canada: amzn.to/2GbwrWf
UK: amzn.to/2OMbPMt
- Action Cam : Firefly 8SE -
International: http://dreki.tech/8se-gb
- Stabilizer : FY WG2 -
International: http://dreki.tech/fy-wg2-gb
- Phone : Galaxy S9 -
USA: amzn.to/2EKkN8s
Canada: amzn.to/2EKtYFN
UK: amzn.to/2z1EhPH
- DSLR : Nikon D750 -
USA: amzn.to/2D8JExg
Canada: amzn.to/2DebFIa
UK: amzn.to/2GI8B3P
Please note: the above links are affiliate links, and I get a small kickback if you use them to buy anything. It helps support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks a bunch! :)
--- Gear Links ---
- DSLR (Mirrorless) : Nikon Z6 -
USA: amzn.to/2WULmxF
Canada: amzn.to/2T6blkv
UK: amzn.to/2T7t6Qi
- Drone : DJI Mavic Air -
USA: amzn.to/35ZVVU4
Canada: amzn.to/2Z4wL5e
UK: amzn.to/2T4Utue
- Stabilizer : FeiyuTech WG2 -
International: http://dreki.tech/wg2
- Phone : Galaxy S9 -
USA: amzn.to/2WuE9oX
Canada: amzn.to/2yLHyGZ
UK: amzn.to/2LuEzFy
Please note: the above links are affiliate links, and I get a small kickback if you use them to buy anything. It helps support my channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks a bunch! :)
