Why the Nikon D3 Sucks (and What the D4 Oughta Be)
I love me the Nikon D3. It's the first camera that I've used where I feel confident going into any situation. The high ISO performance, huge LCD, dual CF card slots, 9 FPS, and 12MP files are amazing. Safe to say, Nikon hit a home run with this camera.
That said, I've got some complaints. Call it a wish list if you will. But after using this camera for about 6 months in a wide variety of situations, it's pretty safe to say that the tool isn't perfect.
With the release of the D3x, I've come to realize that Nikon is advancing technology, but is clearly holding out for the next release to do anything drastic. I might/probably am too late to get into the D4 product cycle, but nonetheless…
What could be fixed for the Nikon D4
The D90 gets the OK button right. Why can't the high ends cameras that came out after it follow suit? (Looking at you D3x)
The OK button is useless. There are two ways to confirm a command in the menu system: hit OK, or hit the center of the 4-way dial. However, most things only require you to hit the 'right' button on the 4-way dial. The OK button, aside from being repetitive, is out of the wa
I'd like to see a repeat of the D90's solution. Replace the 'push the center to confirm' option of the 4-way control with the OK button. This reduces clutter and makes menu navigating a more one-handed operation.
The World Is Our Studio
-NEWS! - Nikon announces D3X digital SLR
Alright… so the megapixel war is old and worn. It probably doesn't really matter too much anymore, but it sure is amazing to see some of these new cameras. 24 MP is a boatload of resolution. Bringing down the base ISO to 100, a really smart move for studio shooters. But, if the rumors are to be believed, this will be a $8000 camera - aimed at medium format shooters.
Makes sense… the ease of use of a SLR is really convenient in a studio. Digital backs are really hiRes, but are equally as hard to work with. Not to mention, you can use the Nikkor lens system.
It's a bummer that they didn't change the layout of the buttons a bit. I like the D300 method of putting the OK button in the center of the command dial.
I'll most likely go back and edit this post soon, but for now, I'm exhausted from a 8 hour marathon to finish a Knight News Challenge grant for CoPress.
Update: click here for sample of the D3x at high ISOs. (thanks to Trusted Reviews)
Business and Coolness
I've been super busy lately – I've started working at my school paper again. Even though it's a part time job, it's really a full time job. My new title is "exponent of the evolution." I will write more about that soon – there's a lot to say. For now I'll just leave it at: I do a lot of new media.
If you haven't seen it yet, check out Jeffrey Friedl’s Blog: Nikon D3 Shutter Release in Super Slow Motion. It's really well done, and very cool to watch.
More soon!
Nikon D90: I Thought This Was at Least 5 Years Out
-Chase Jarvis Blog: Chase Jarvis RAW: Advance Testing the Nikon D90
I'm an happy Nikon fan-boy.
I've been saying privately that still photography will be dead in 10 years. It will simply be easier to shoot video and take a frame from the capture after the fact. Cameras like the Red ONE (and soon, the Red EPIC) are revolutionizing the video capturing field. With 12mp capture at 60fps and really good dynamic range, the stills look fantastic. As soon as storage in the field gets figured out (trust me, 12mp video files are huge) this camera becomes a snap for photojournalists.
But…
Now Nikon has gone and tackled the problem from the still image end. The new D90 shoots video – 720p video, and apparently it does it fairly well. You get all the advantages of the D300 sensor (that's right, it's high ISO video time baby!), and the awesome depth of field of still camera lenses.
This is the revolution! The D90 is a phenomenal camera that every PhotoJ is going to need to have in their bag – though if you're on a budget, I'd wait a while, seems like Nikon's rate of innovation (that seems like it needs an acronym) is increasing – I'd bet we get a higher-end model that shoots video within the next 15 months.
I do have a coupla questions:
• can you attach a mic to the camera? Do we have to wait for a higher end model than that?
• how much does the GPS suck battery life?
• 720p video is huge – how much can you fit on a puny SD card?
• what's the lag time for setting up video on the camera? Can I switch between video and still easily?
• can shutter speed and aperture be adjusted while the camera is shooting?
• how much does shooting video drain the batter?
• Jarvis shows the D90 with a vertical grip – are we getting vert. grips on the prosumer line now too!?
Signing off,
– a very happy New Media photog (and Nikon fan-boy)
Update
Nikon has posted some sample video. Nothing ground breaking but interesting to see. Things worth noting:
• there is no autofocus in movie mode (not too surprising, but a bummer)
• The high ISO performance is outstanding
• I'm excited to see the D400 (with movie mode), heck, the D4 (with movie mode)
• still don't know if attaching an external mic is an option (doubtful)
Canon Might Be in Trouble
Canon has mistakenly released the specs of their yet-to-be-announced 50D.
- 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 4
- 1.6x crop
- Dust Reduction
- Auto Brightness Processing
- 95% viewfinder .97 magnification
- 9 point af (All Cross Type)
- 35 meter area equipped with high-precision sensors
- AF Fine Tuning
- ISO 100-12800
- 6.3 fps (high speed) 3fps (low speed)
- Buffer: 16 RAW - 60 JPG - 10 RAW+JPG
- 920,000 points VGA 3.0-inch LCD monitor
- 100,000 cycle shutter
- Rugged magnesium alloy body
-Canon 50D Info Leaked - REAL SPECS! - Digital Camera Reviews, News and Resources | Photography Bay
As presumably the successor to the aged 5D, the 50D has a lot to live up to with new competition from the Nikon D700. Unfortunately for Canon, it looks like Nikon's got them beat in everything buy megapixels (Canon: 15mp, Nikon: 12mp), fps (Canon: 6.3 fps, Nikon 5-8 fps), and body material (Canon: metal alloy, Nikon: polycarbonate). Nikon's still going to run the table with their higher ISO, faster auto-focus, and more fps (with vertical grip).
Welcome Adorama! | Joe McNally’s Blog
I had the opportunity to hear Joe McNally speak at Syracuse University (where I have one more year of enrollment, and his alma matter) near the end of 2007.
When I encounter something exciting I have a tendency to link it into my conversations for days. In part, to help wrap my mind around it, and in part to … be excited. Usually, this is some news article that I've read; perhaps a book; or even a funny tidbit from The Daily Show.
After listening to McNally, I talked about what him for weeks. Granted, part of this was because McNally's wife, Anne Cahill had brought the yet-to-be released D3 and D300 with the new glass, and we had all had the opportunity to play. It was also nifty to see how McNally worked, when, the following day, he demoed a lot of Nikon's wireless flash system to us. What I was bringing up the most though, was how McNally approached photography.
As an ostensibly successful photographer, he sure didn't present himself as such. Pro photography is a tough job, what little of being 'pro' I've been able to ascertain from being a student can vouch. Yet, I didn't become interested in photography to make money, and I'm not sure if it was attributable to his humbleness, but the McNally underplayed his true success – what he has experienced with a camera in his hands. Perhaps even more importantly, what he has enabled others to see what he experienced through that camera.
Today, McNally posted on his blog an intoxicating story about his 9/11 photography experience. Though he had mentioned parts of his adventure with the world's largest Polaroid camera at Syracuse, this blog post is touching, well written, beautifully illustrated (via photos of course), and well … go read it!
Nikon Releases New Gear
Nikon D700
Sweet! Nikon has introduced a new DSLR. The Nikon D700. Basically, it's a D300 with full frame! It's the same sensor as the D3, so we get all of the low light goodness with the smaller footprint of the D300 body. Oh! and the dust reduction too!
| vs. D300 | vs. D3 |
| full frame | slower FPS |
| far superior noise control | $3000 |
| Brighter view finder | dust reduction |
Also see DPreview or KenRockwell.
sb-900 Flash
In addition to the new DSLR, Nikon has updated their high-end flash unit a bit. The new stuff:
- 25% fast recycle times (good improvement, not fantastic),
- no need for a fifth battery (awful nice),
- more intelligent computer (should help a bit)
- more powerful (nice, not necessary)
- $500 cost (36% price increase)
Also see DPreview.
PC Lenses
Two new PC-correction lenses at 45mm and 85mm. Both at f/2.8. Both at roughly $1800.
Nikon now has 24mm, 45mm, and 85mm PC correction lenses. That's a much better range than a sole 85mm, which was an awful lot of telephoto on a D2x. Shame they're all so expensive.
Sidenote: Seems like the new price point for glass is $1800. The 14-24mm, 24-70mm, as these two are all priced right around there. What a bummer. I much preferred the $1300 standard of the 70-200mm and 17-35mm.
Also see DPreview.
Inteview: Nikon’s New Scene Recognition System
-Nikon | Imaging Products | Scene Recognition System
Nikon has posted an interesting (though clearly biased) interview with Hiroshi Takeuchi, one of the engineers behind the new scene recognition system in the D3 and D300. Aside from the cool graphic (above), it's interesting to read about how this has been developed (and makes me anxious to try it out).
Apparently, the tie-in with the AF system works very well, which allows you to compose your picture first, then auto-focus. This is much improved over the auto-focus in the center, then compose system that every other camera has depended on.
Canon Loses SLR Share, as Nikon Surges | Underexposed – CNET News.com
Just a word of: Go Nikon!
Canon loses SLR share, as Nikon surges | Underexposed - CNET News.com
