How to look at Nikon camera models
As a world-renowned camera brand, Nikon has a rich product line and complex model naming rules. Many users are often confused by the letters and numbers in the model name when purchasing a Nikon camera. This article will analyze the naming rules of Nikon camera models in detail and help you quickly understand the meaning of different models through structured data.
1. Basic structure of Nikon camera models

Nikon camera models are usually a combination of letters and numbers, such as D850, Z6 II, Coolpix P1000, etc. The naming rules of camera models in different series are slightly different, but generally they can be divided into the following categories:
| Series | Naming rules | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SLR camera (D series) | D + number (the larger the number, the higher the positioning) | D3500, D750, D850 |
| Mirrorless camera (Z series) | Z + number (the smaller the number, the higher the positioning) | Z5, Z6 II, Z9 |
| Coolpix series | Coolpix + letters + numbers | Coolpix P1000, Coolpix B500 |
2. SLR camera (D series) model analysis
Nikon SLR camera model numbers begin with the letter "D", followed by a number that usually indicates the positioning and level of the camera. The more digits there are, the higher the positioning. For example:
| Model | Positioning | Features |
|---|---|---|
| D3xxx | entry level | Suitable for beginners, simple functions and affordable price |
| D5xxx | Mid-range entry level | More advanced than D3xxx, with practical functions such as flip screen |
| D7xxx | Mid- to high-end | Suitable for photography enthusiasts, balanced performance |
| Dxxx (three digits) | Professional grade | For professional photographers, such as D850, D780 |
| Dx (one digit) | flagship level | Top performance like D6 |
3. Mirrorless camera (Z series) model analysis
Nikon mirrorless cameras start with the letter "Z", the smaller the number, the higher the positioning. For example:
| Model | Positioning | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Z9 | flagship level | Top performance for professional photographers |
| Z7 II | high-end | High resolution, suitable for landscape and commercial photography |
| Z6II | Mid- to high-end | Balanced performance for video and photography enthusiasts |
| Z5 | entry level | High cost performance, suitable for beginners |
4. Coolpix series model analysis
The Coolpix series are Nikon's portable digital cameras. Model names usually begin with "Coolpix" followed by letters and numbers. The letter indicates the type of camera and the number indicates the level. For example:
| Model prefix | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| P | High performance zoom | Such as P1000, with ultra-long zoom capability |
| B | Entry level zoom | Such as B500, suitable for daily shooting |
| A | High-end portable | Such as A1000, compact and high performance |
5. How to choose a Nikon camera model according to your needs
When choosing a Nikon camera, you can match the model based on the following needs:
| demand | Recommended series | Example model |
|---|---|---|
| professional photography | D series or Z series flagship | D850, Z9 |
| Photography enthusiast | D7xxx or Z6 II | D7500, Z6 II |
| Beginner | D3xxx or Z5 | D3500, Z5 |
| Portable for travel | Coolpix series | P1000, A1000 |
6. Summary
Although the naming rules of Nikon camera models are complicated, the positioning and functions of the camera can be quickly determined through the combination of letters and numbers. For SLR cameras (D series), the more digits, the higher the positioning. For mirrorless cameras (Z series), the smaller the number, the higher the positioning. For the Coolpix series, the type is distinguished by letters. I hope this article helps you better understand Nikon camera models so you can choose the one that's right for you.
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