Posts Tagged ‘DSLR’
Nikon D90 DSLR
Legendary Image Quality
For shooting in a variety of lighting conditions, the D90 has a wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200 (expandable to Lo 1 ISO 100 and Hi 1 ISO 6400) to deliver incredible low-noise images. The camera also employs an Image Sensor Cleaning function that works to free image-degrading dust particles from the sensor’s optical low-pass filter, helping to ensure spot-free images.
The new D90 companion lens, the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR provides a versatile focal length, and the benefits of Nikon Vibration Reduction (VR) imaging stabilization technology. Nikon VR reduces the image blurring effects of camera shake allowing photographers to shoot hand-held at as many as 3 shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible*, assuring dramatically sharper images, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Borrowed from Nikon’s professional line of digital cameras, the D90 is the most affordable camera to include Nikon’s Scene Recognition System and adds newly-developed advanced Face Detection technology. The intelligent Scene Recognition System interprets color and brightness information of each individual shot from the 420-pixel RGB sensor, and applies changes to AF, auto exposure and auto white balance. The D90 can also detect up to five faces using the new Face Detection system, producing flattering portraits with astounding definition and accuracy. While in playback mode, simply press the zoom button and portraits captured with Face Detection can be immediately magnified to ensure proper focus on the subject and faces are displayed on the LCD screen within brackets for easy reference and subject tracking.
The D90 benefits from Nikon’s comprehensive digital image processing engine, EXPEED, which provides smooth tones, rich colors and defined image details, as well as enhanced processing performance. Additionally, Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II helps to ensure accurate exposures, even in the most challenging lighting conditions. Evaluating each scene, input data from the system’s sensor is automatically referenced against an internal database of over 30,000 scenes derived from actual photographs to calculate correct exposure values. To push the creative boundaries even further, Variable Center-Weighted metering and Spot metering centered on the active focus area are also available, as are exposure compensation and auto exposure bracketing.
The Next Big Blockbuster
For the first time in digital SLR photography, Nikon introduces the addition of the D-Movie mode, allowing consumers to create their own HD movie clips (1280 x 720) with sound from their D-SLR camera. Photographers will appreciate the cinematic qualities that come from the 24fps frame rate, which matches theatrical film, whether producing vacation clips or creatively melding stills with video. Additionally, the large size of the D90′s DX-format sensor, combined with the optical superiority and broad selection of NIKKOR lenses, provides shooters with the ability to capture amazing perspectives not possible with typical camcorders. D-movie clips also benefit from Nikon VR image stabilization, which is automatically activated during recording to aid the low-light capability that trumps many other hybrid devices. Users can record movie clips onto an inserted SD / SDHC card, created as Motion JPEG AVI files that are easily edited with widely available video editing software. The D90 also features an HDMI terminal, allowing viewing of both pictures and movies on High Definition televisions.
D90 Delivers Peak Performance
The D90′s unprecedented start up time and imperceptible shutter lag derives from the same standards as the professional sports photographer choice, the Nikon D3. JPEG bursts can be shot as rapidly as 4.5 frames per second, allowing photographers to capture detailed action sequences or catch fleeting expressions that might otherwise be missed. Images are also processed and previewed rapidly at 120 ms, which is less time it takes to move an eye from the viewfinder to the screen. Users are also able to creatively stop the action with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 second or create long-time exposures down to 30 seconds.
Nikon’s 11-point AF also offers best-in-class speed and performance, helping to ensure sharp focus at any focal length. Adopting a refined version of Nikon’s advanced Multi-CAM 1000 AF Module, the AF system’s center area wide-frame operation adds inherent focusing options that will instill greater confidence in getting the desired shot. Single-point AF is suggested for static subjects, dynamic-area AF for moving subjects, auto-area AF for spontaneous shooting and 3D-tracking (11 points) AF for when changing the composition after focusing on a subject.
Push Creative Boundaries to the Limit
No matter the level of experience, the D90 makes high-quality photography fun and easier for a remarkably broad range of picture-takers. Users can enjoy complete control over all manual features or let the camera optimize settings automatically. For the camera novice and photography enthusiasts, the D90 puts all of the tools to explore new creative possibilities at their fingertips through the simple menu driven interface. For those looking to enjoy the added performance and versatility of digital SLR photography, creative shooting is as simple as rotating the Mode dial with Advanced Scene modes on the camera. There are many options when it comes to realizing creative vision, such as Picture Control settings to provide an assorted palette of color effects that optimize color, saturation and hue through user-selected choices of Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, and Landscape. Popular editing tools such as Nikon’s exclusive D-Lighting and image trimming, image overlay, and a wide assortment of color filters can also be applied to images after capture. The D90 also provides new options for in-camera image enhancement, including:
* Distortion Control: Adjusts lens aberration
* Straighten: This feature helps to correct linear inclination of an image for straight horizons and landscapes
* Fisheye Effect: In camera filter produces optical effects similar to a fisheye len
Skillfully Capture Inspiring Images
The D90 has been engineered with the photographer in mind with an intuitive interface that places a variety of automatic and advanced features at the hands of the user. The camera is built to withstand the rigors of an urban excursion or backcountry safari while boasting an impressive shutter mechanism that is tested to 100,000 cycles for durability. Whether upgrading from a compact digital camera or already a seasoned hobbyist, the D90 D-SLR will help anyone take great pictures, thanks in part to the following new features:
* Battery life – new circuitry enhances power consumption, affording up to 850 shots in typical conditions on a single charge of the Lithium Ion battery (CIPA standard)
* Viewfinder – The bright viewfinder offers a luminous 0.94x magnification to more accurately compose images
* LCD screen – the high resolution 920,000-dot, 3-inch LCD screen gives a 170-degree angle of view to make both composing and sharing easy and fun
* New playback function – Users can show their images in either four, nine or 72 thumbnail images, or use a new calendar format to easily find photos; Users can also show their photos via Nikons pictmotion slideshow, including background music
* Built-in Flash – The built in Speedlight offers a guide number of approximately 18/56 (ISO 200) and can wireless control up to two groups of Speedlights in full iTTL mode
Nikon System Legacy
The D90 also offers unprecedented compatibility with Nikon’s extensive selection of NIKKOR lenses, including DX NIKKOR lenses, which are designed for optimum performance with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras. NIKKOR lenses offer legendary optical superiority and add to the D90′s ability to deliver outstanding images. Paired with the D90 is the new AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens, which provides a versatile 5.8x optical zoom and VR image stabilization, for even sharper handheld picture taking. This lens offers a 27-157.5mm focal length in 35mm equivalent, a one-lens solution that offers a broad focal range to let photographers get up close and personal to their subjects from a distance, or wide for breathtaking landscapes. The built-in Silent Wave Motor ensures quick and quiet AF operation, while an aspherical element and ED glass deliver high resolution, high contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration and distortion.
Photographers will also enjoy advanced functionality anywhere in the world with system accessories designed for the adventurous globe trekker. When used with the Nikon GP-1 GPS Unit (available separately beginning November 2008), the D90 provides geotagging to images with latitude, longitude and altitude data imprinted on the images’ metadata. Users can also prolong their adventure with the MB-D80 battery pack that accepts two EN-EL3e or six widely available AA-size batteries. Additionally, photographers can share and upload their images with a wireless interface optimized for the Eye-Fi ™ wireless enabled SD card wherever there is a wireless network.
The D90 is also fully compatible with Capture NX2 software (available for purchase separately), Nikon’s highly versatile and elegantly simple new photo editing solution designed to help photographers tap into the full potential of NEF (RAW) images. Featuring an innovative user interface that provides easier access to powerful and visually intuitive enhancement tools, Capture NX2 affords photographers the ability to use revolutionary control points.
Nikon D5000 DSLR
Nikon’s D5000 is the most intriguing camera of the year so far. It’s an entry-level digital SLR that has plenty of advanced features, yet it also features shooting guides and in-built scene modes. It’s a camera that can be tailored to any shooting situation, and inexperienced photographers should find it simple to use. Essentially, what you are getting in the D5000 is a camera that incorporates technology from the Nikon D90 (Live View) and marries it with user-friendly features from point-and-shoot and advanced compact cameras.
It has a compact body that is 12.5cm long, 8.3cm wide and 10.5cm tall, and it weighs 0.6kg without a lens. Inside, it has a 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor and an EXPEED processor. It can be paired with any F-mount lens, but it’s best suited to autofocusing AF-S and AF-I type DX-format lenses; you can attach anything from a fisheye to a 300mm lens. To get you started, Nikon supplies the D5000 in a single or a dual lens kit. The single lens kit has an 18-55mm image stabilised lens, while the dual lens kit has the 18-55mm lens as well as a 55-200mm image stabilised lens.
To really get the most out of the D5000, you will want to learn all about exposure settings and what effect changing the shutter speed, aperture and ISO will have on your photos. However, if you don’t want to learn about them all just yet, you can use the 19 scene modes to good effect. They really do a good job at selecting the right settings depending on your environment. Also, if you choose to shoot in the semi-manual aperture priority or shutter priority modes, the camera has built-in hints that can let you know if a scene is too dark or too bright, allowing you to change your setting.
You can frame photos either by using the optical viewfinder or the 2.7in LCD screen (Live View). Live View is perfect for the times when you need to frame images at low or high angles: the LCD screen flips open and swivels so that you can take all sorts of angled shots and self-portraits with relative ease. It’s a high quality screen, which helps with focusing. Because the screen flips out downwards instead of sideways, it doesn’t hinder the position of your left hand while shooting.
The Live View implementation on the Nikon D5000 is excellent. It’s better than what we’ve seen from Canon and is as good as what we’ve seen from Olympus. Automatic focusing functions are quick and clear on the screen and shot-to-shot performance is very quick (though the camera’s shutter feels like it takes an eternity to close, even at high speeds). Because of the Live View mode, you’ll have no problems using this digital SLR in the same way as an advanced compact camera.
The only problem you’ll have is viewing the screen in very bright conditions; in these situations you’ll want to use the optical viewfinder. Also, the battery will be drained much quicker if you use the LCD screen extensively. Because the Nikon D5000 does not have a dedicated window for displaying its settings (like a mid-range D-SLR has), you’ll have to refer to the LCD screen more often than not in order to view and change settings.
The LCD screen and Live View need to be active when you want to use the camera’s video mode, which can capture movies at a resolution of 720p. The captured files are in AVI format and can be viewed easily in Windows Media Player on your computer, or on your TV through the camera’s HDMI port.
During our tests, video footage wasn’t on par with a dedicated camcorder. It was jittery, and relatively fast panning made lines skew. It’s as good as video taken from a typical digital camera, but it has a higher resolution. It’s a useful feature to have, and the neat thing about it is that you can change lenses and get weird and wonderful perspectives.
As for the camera’s still image performance — it’s stellar. The focus system has 11 points and it focused very quickly. It can track objects in three dimensions within those focus points, which means you can take photos of moving objects without losing the focus point. The focus point can be changed by using the thumb control. Face detection is also available in Live View mode. The quality of your shots will depend on the lenses that you use. We used a Nikkor AF-S 60mm prime lens, which produced crisp images (it should given it’s a prime lens) and virtually no noticeable chromatic aberration.
We shot in aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes for the most part, but the scene modes are also useful if you don’t know how to set the exposure manually. You can also play with the built-in filters and colour modes to manipulate your photos without even using a PC. The built-in D-Lighting effect can be used when shooting backlit images, and it does a good job of brightening up the foreground image without blowing out the bright part of the image. It’s a useful feature if you have to shoot towards the sun, for example, or in partly shaded areas.
Because the Nikon D5000 is an entry-level digital SLR, it doesn’t have many of the niceties of a more expensive camera (such as a dedicated aperture dial, a shortcut to ISO speed, a status screen, nor a depth of field preview button, for example), but it does pack some nifty features that make it a desirable model nonetheless.
It has built-in image sensor cleaning; an airflow system (vents) to clean dust off the low-pass filter; support for a GPS module; a hot-shoe; a reduced noise shutter (for example, when photographing a sleeping baby, you can snap the photo, hear the click, keep holding down the shutter button, walk away and release it so that the second click does not wake the baby); as well as a slew of built-in filters (such lens distortion, which does a decent job of straightening lines that have curved due to barrel roll). It also has a useful burst mode (it shot up to 39 frames before slowing down to write them to our Lexar Professional 133x SD card).
The Nikon D5000 is one of the most impressive digital SLR cameras on the market. Not only can it be used as a fully fledged D-SLR with manual settings, but it can shoot movies and also be used in a similar way to an advanced compact or a point-and-shoot camera. Its user-friendly features and built-in hints make it a very easy model to use, and it’s also not a big camera, so it won’t be too hard to carry on outdoor adventures and overseas trips — unless you also pack plenty of lenses and accessories. We recommend it for anyone who wants to make the leap from a compact camera to a digital SLR.
Nikon D700 DSLR
The D700 is Nikon’s second full-frame, FX-series DSLR camera, following on from the more expensive pro D3 model. The Nikon D700 features the same 36x24mm, full frame, 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor as the D3, housed in a more compact and lighter body. The amazing ISO range of the D3 is retained by the D700 – ISO 100 – 25600 should cover most lighting conditions! It also borrows liberally from the cheaper D300 model, with the same integrated dust reduction system, almost identical continuous shooting speeds, and similar control layout. All three high-end Nikon DSLRs offer a 51-point auto-focus system, 3 inch LCD screen, Live View mode and a HDMI port for connection to a HDTV. You do have to pay a price-premium for the full-frame capabilities of the Nikon D700, however, this is a lot cheaper than the D3.
Our recent review of the 12-megapixel CMOS sensor-sporting DX format D300 concluded that it was, for most intents and purposes, ‘all the DSLR you’d ever need’. So will there be any superlatives left in the trunk for lauding the newer D700, which sits in Nikon’s range between that earlier DSLR and its equally recommended bigger brother, the D3, while borrowing liberally from both?
The Nikon D700′s headline specification includes an effective resolution of 12.1 million pixels from a full frame FX format CMOS sensor, the same as that found within the D3. It’s Nikon’s second FX camera after that flagship model, the difference being that, like the D300, it sports a smaller and lighter body design while retaining its 3-inch LCD with Live View. At 995g without accessories though, the D700 is still reassuringly hefty and brick-like when gripped. In fact it boasts a thicker magnesium alloy body than the D300, along with better weather sealing that, claims Nikon, may not be of quite the same standard as the D3, but is not far behind. So, in the Nikon D700, are we looking at a ‘best of both worlds’ DSLR for the pro, semi pro, or deep-pocketed enthusiast?
Arguably the D3′s main selling point was not only full frame capture but also its frighteningly fast capture speed: nine frames per second or 11fps in DX crop mode (1.5x magnification factor). This enabled it to just nose ahead of its nearest competitor in Canon’s 10fps, 10.1 megapixel 1D Mark III as the tool du jour for sports and action photographers. The D700 by contrast – and matching the D300 – offers up to a maximum 8fps, but with the caveat of requiring an optional multi-power battery pack to achieve said speed. Otherwise it’s up to a less impressive (by contrast) 5fps, whereas the D300 offered a maximum 6fps.
On launch, Nikon was also keen to flag up the fact that the D700 boasts an advanced scene recognition system that can detect human skin tones and track subjects by their colour. When using a type G or D lens and in Auto area AF mode – selected via a three-option switch on the camera back – it uses colour information and special face recognition algorithms to automatically focus on a subject’s face. Nikon suggests this as an aid when there’s not time to select a focus point, or alternatively when shooting handheld in Live View mode at high or low angles. We were sent a review sample that came bundled with a high performance standard lens in the AF Nikkor 50mm F/1.4D, suggesting that those shooting portraiture in available light – with the D700 again boasting light sensitivity topping out at an incredible ISO 25600 equivalent – are another prominent target market. Aiming at a greater variety of test samples we also managed to wangle an image stabilised (or as Nikon would have it VR-equipped) Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G (IF) zoom for more general-purpose photography.
Olympus E-620 Review
- 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
- World’s smallest D-SLR with built-in image stabilization
- Flip-out, rotating 2.7″ LCD
- 7-point autofocus system
- 4 fps continuous shooting
- Dust reduction system
- Same art filters, multiple exposure, and aspect ratio features as the E-30
- Live view with contrast detect AF and face detection
- Illuminated buttons
The E-620 is essentially a chunkier version of the E-420. The biggest change is undoubtedly the rotating 2.7″ LCD that you’ll see in a moment. The only other really noticeable change is the addition of a white balance sensor on the front of the camera.
Now, let’s see how the E-620 compares to other cameras in its class, in terms of size and weight:
First things first: obviously, the Micro FourThirds-based Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 is going to be the smallest in the group. If you stick with “regular” D-SLRs, the E-620 is the smallest and lightest camera in its class.
Like the E-520 and E-30, the E-620 has a built-in sensor-shift image stabilization system. Sensors inside the camera detect the tiny movements of your hands (known colloquially as “camera shake”) that can blur your photos. This can especially be a problem in low light, or when using a telephoto lens. The camera shifts its Live MOS sensor to compensate for this motion, which increases the probability of a sharp photo. Olympus says that the E-620 gives you approximately 4 extra stops of usable shutter speeds. I’ll show you the IS system in action in the final review of this camera.
Like all of Olympus’ E-Series cameras, the E-620 has the “SuperSonic Wave Filter” dust removal system. This system literally shakes dust off the sensor with ultrasonic pulses, greatly reducing the amount of dust that can litter your photos. The dust reduction cycle is run when when camera is powered on.
Above the lens mount is the E-620′s pop-up flash, which is released electronically. The flash has a guide number (GN) of 12 meters at ISO 100 — the same as on the E-420 — which is about average for a D-SLR. Should you want more flash power, you can attach an external flash to the hot shoe that you’ll see in a moment, or you can go wireless. The E-620 can control up to three sets of wireless flashes, right out of the box.
Pentax K-M Body with Sigma 18-50mm & Sigma 50-200mm
Pentax offers begining photographers anxious to move up to a DSLR the Pentax K-m bundled with an 18-55mm lens. Featuring a 10 megapixel sensor and built in image stabilization, the K-m faces quite a bit of competition from the likes of the Sony A200, Nikon D60, and Canon Rebel XS.
In a review of the K-m, Trusted Reviews finds the K-m to be an excellent first camera with build equaling or exceeding the rivals, fast AF (with a catch), and yes, great image quality:
Finally we come to image quality, and here there is good news. When shooting in Raw mode the K-m produces sharp, perfectly exposed images with excellent natural colour reproduction, and is easily a match for any of its immediate rivals, and even for a couple of more expensive models.
-Trusted Reviews