How are Nikon model numbers classified?

Question

How does Nikon series numbers work? For example for Canon is pretty simple:

• 1000 series is "cheap"
• 100 series (600D, 650D) is "enthusiast"
• 10 (50D, 60D) series is semi-pro
• 5 and 1 series are pro DSLRs

How can Nikon models can be classified?

Answer 1

It's actually pretty similar except that they changed numbering when they run out of digits in some series.

For the current lineup:

• One-digit DSLRs are top-of-the-line full-frame cameras. The higher the number the newer. So D4 is newer than D3. There are sometimes variants such as D3S which is specialized for low-light and D3X which is specialized for high-resolution.
• Three-digit DSLRs are semi-professional cameras, both APS-C crop and Full frame. These include the D800 which also has a D800E variant which lacks an anti-alias filter but is otherwise identical, and the older D700. There only remains one APS-C model in this series, the D300S, which may be the last I suspect. Again here, higher numbers are newer.
• Four-digit models have cropped sensors (APS-C). There are three sub-series here. The semi-professional D7000 (only one model so far), the basic D5xxx series and the entry-level D3xxx series.

For the older lineup:

• 2-digit models where lower meant more basic and higher numbers were better. So a D40 to D60 was entry level and a D70 to D90 was mid-range. These were the last models of their series as the numbers had no where to go from there.
• Before the D3, all Nikon DSLRs with APS-C. This included large professional models like the D2S and D2H.

Answer 2

Don't forget that Nikon used to number their film cameras in a similar manner: Fx, Fxx

The model numbers used to make more sense when a new camera would be brought out only once every couple of years. Since new digital cameras seem to be produced every couple of months the 'old school' numbering system doesn't stand up to the number of cameras available.

Answer 3

There is little, if any, point in trying to coax some arbitrary level of "pro-ness" out of Nikon's model numbering scheme. The last time you could do that was at the end of 2003, when Nikon's DSLR lineup consisted of the D1X, D2H and D100, and fewer digits meant better bodies. The D70 broke that model shortly afterward in 2004.

About the only thing you can say at this instant and be right about it is that the Dx family are full-sized pro models, the Dxxx family are compact pro models, and everything else is consumer.

Answer 4

Nikon its difficult(but possible) to classify the series like in Canon.
But its pretty much similar to Canon's by the fact that "pro'ness increases with decrease in the number of digits in name".

Nikon As how you classified Canon:

D3###  series               = "cheap"
D5###, D3## series          = "Enthusiast"
D7###, D8##, D7##  series   = "Semi-Pro"  //Except that 7### is crop sensored
D4 ,D3X series              = "Pro"

This list is how I infer the categories.