Nikon D780

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

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Nikon D780

The 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/offswitch, 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.