Will a D7200 focus more accuratey than a D5500?

[Peeb]

This is a real-world question for anyone who has shot both.

I know the 7200 has more cross-type AF points (15 vs 9) and more focus points overall (39 vs 51)- but how does that translate in the field?

Is your chance of catching a charging linebacker or a flying bird in focus any better?

 

[wfooshee]

I can't speak to these, but I can speak to D5000 vs D7000.

First, though, the 39-point system in the D5500 is, I think, the same system as in my D7000. My D5000 had an 11-point system. When I was looking at upgrading from the D5000, my primary considerations were better high-ISO performance and higher burst speed for continuous shooting. AF never crossed my mind; what did cross my mind was the question, "Why the hell would anyone ever need 39 focus points???!?!"

My first outing with the D7000 demonstrated the better operation of the new AF system: it focused faster and more accurately, with the same lenses, than the D5000 did. My first air show with it, a couple of months after getting it, showed me why you need more focus points.

I'd tried Continuous AF with 3D tracking on the D5000. The manual explained it, the setting was in the configuration, but it didn't work. I think it was a combination of the system not being fast enough, and the fact that more of the viewfinder was empty of AF sensors than had them. They were just too far apart, and an aircraft being tracked could too easily slip between the sensors. That first air show with the D7000, though, it was flawless. Absolutely flawless. Over 1100 frames, mostly in Continuous AF with 3D tracking, without missing focus once! So the number of focus points matters, as does the speed of the system.

I haven't shot with a camera with the 51-point system, but I do get instances where the 39-point system falls short by not covering the top and bottom edges of the frame. It's nearly complete left-to-right, but only three rows of sensors. The 51-point system fills a lot of that space in.

Summary: D7000 focused the same lenses faster, and almost never "guesses" the wrong direction like the D5000 would, and 3D tracking worked.

The D5500 is that system, and the D7200 is almost that big a step up from there.

 

[KmH]

First, though, the 39-point system in the D5500 is, I think, the same system as in my D7000.

No they are different. A lot different.
See the respective list of Specifications for each camera.
The D5000 uses Nikon's Multi-CAM 1000 AF module.
The D7000 uses Nikon's Multi-CAm 4800DX AF module.

Also note to that the D5000 uses a 420 pixel metering sensor while the D7000 uses a 2,016 pixel metering sensor.

 

[jaomul]

Personally I think the amount of points beyond a certain amount is bs.

It is how good the system works as a whole is more important.

I will say that I had the d7100 and now the 7200. While I think that 51 points is loads, I'd have no problem if it only had 39. However the d7200 focus is more confident than the d7100 in my opinion. I'd have no doubt that (in difficult lighting scenarios) the d7200 is better than the d5500

 

[wfooshee]

First, though, the 39-point system in the D5500 is, I think, the same system as in my D7000.

No they are different. A lot different.
See the respective list of Specifications for each camera.
The D5000 uses Nikon's Multi-CAM 1000 AF module.
The D7000 uses Nikon's Multi-CAm 4800DX AF module.

Also note to that the D5000 uses a 420 pixel metering sensor while the D7000 uses a 2,016 pixel metering sensor.

What I said was the D5500 used the same AF as my D7000, and it does, from everything I'm finding.

My whole post was to illustrate the difference from the D5000 to the D7000.

 

[Braineack]

Is your chance of catching a charging linebacker or a flying bird in focus any better?

yes.


simple.

 

[KmH]

First, though, the 39-point system in the D5500 is, I think, the same system as in my D7000.

No they are different. A lot different.
See the respective list of Specifications for each camera.
The D5000 uses Nikon's Multi-CAM 1000 AF module.
The D7000 uses Nikon's Multi-CAm 4800DX AF module.

Also note to that the D5000 uses a 420 pixel metering sensor while the D7000 uses a 2,016 pixel metering sensor.

What I said was the D5500 used the same AF as my D7000, and it does, from everything I'm finding.

My whole post was to illustrate the difference from the D5000 to the D7000.

My mistake.

 

[Solarflare]

Um ...

My D5100 never had an issue to focus ACCURATELY.

My D750 simply focusses FASTER.


P.s.: My D600 was already a lot faster than the D5100, and that wasnt even supposed to be a very fast focusing camera.

 

[hamlet]

I want every individual pixel to have its own focus point. On my d7100 that would 24000000 focus points. Now that should do until we figure out a way to give individual atom its own focus point.

 

[Peeb]

I want every individual pixel to have its own focus point. On my d7100 that would 24000000 focus points. Now that should do until we figure out a way to give individual atom its own focus point.

If it doesn't focus at the higgs-boson particle level, it's clearly rubbish.

 

[Stan57]

I have both the D5500 and a D7200. They seem about the same to me as far as focus goes. I shot this spider with the D5500 and the autofocus struggled but got it after a few tries. Unfortunately at the time I did not have the D7200. That would have been a good comparison.