Nikon has not disappointed us when it comes to releasing new high end DSLR cameras. The new D3S is not an exception. The D3S redefines what is possible with a six-figure ISO sensitivity for stills and video capture while enhancing overall performance.
The D3S features a Nikon designed 12.1 megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor with 8.45 micron pixels. For image sensors, the pixel size does matter. Larger pixel offers better signal-to-noise ratio and larger dynamic range. The D3S has a standard ISO range of 200 – 12800, expendable downward to 100 and upward to an eye-popping 100400. The high ISO enables the D3S to capture images in darkness that is beyond the capability of human vision.
The 1280×720 24fps HD movie capture seems to be inferior to Canon’s 1080P offering but it is sufficient for the targeted professional users. The D-Movie mode supports full aperture control, exposure control, and contrast detection auto focus. The motion JPEG codec makes it easy to extract JPEG frames.
The in-camera post processing capability is a great feature. It is not about the silly art filters you can find on point-and-shoot cameras. D3S allows RAW editing. You can change JPEG compression, Size, White Balance, Exposure Compensation, Picture Control, Noise Reduction, Colour space and Vignette Control settings. Instead of downloading the images first then editing on the computer, the in-camera post processing capability allows the basic editing in the field before the images are transferred.
The D3S is speedy. It powers up in 12 ms with shutter lag 41 ms and mirror black-out 74 ms. It can shoot 9 fps in FX mode and 11 fps in DX crop mode. The buffer is expended to allow 48 frames in consecutive shooting.
The D3S offers great flexibility. D3S offers several different crop modes (up to 1.2x) for different lenses or for convenience so no useless pixels are recorded. Picture Control allows pre-defined picture styles. Coupled with Nikon’s RAW editing software such as Capture NX, the users can quickly get the desired output image without extensive post processing. Live View and Quiet Shutter modes make it easier or possible to shoot in certain situations. Dual card slots allows users many options in saving their images and videos. Users can record two full CF cards of data sequentially, record the same data onto two cards for backup, record RAW and JPEG simultaneously onto separate cards, transfer data from one card to another, and use one slot for stills and one slot for D-Movie recording. Read More…
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on October 14th, 2009.
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Rumor mills have been busy pumping out the bits and bytes about the upcoming Canon 7D. At the beginning it was rumored to be a full frame DLSR but now it appears to be an advanced APS-C format DSLR with 1.6x crop factor based on the bundled EF-S kit lenses.
The most recent information about the Canon 7D specifications appears to have come from a post in a Chinese language photography forum. Canon Rumors and Neutralday both have translations of the specs. Read More…
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on August 30th, 2009.
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Do you have a Nikon D5000 on hand that won’t turn on even with a fully charged battery? You may not be alone. Nikon has issued a service advisory for the hot new entry level DSLR camera
. Apparently a bad component in the power control circuit caused the problem. Nikon will be offering free fix to all affected users. However the problem seems to be either quite wide spreed or requires special handling that they need to setup a special facility for it. People will have to wait until July 23 to find out if his/her D5000 belongs to the pool of affect ones by checking the serial number against Nikon’s to-be-published list. If you have questions, you can check out the frequently-asked-questions (FAQ) page or contact Nikon.
Further reading:
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on July 17th, 2009.
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People pay great attention to image quality when making DSLR camera purchasing decisions. High ISO noise is one aspect of the image quality matrix. It is uncommon to see high ISO noise performance comparisons by shooting a scene with different cameras and compare the resulting images side-by-side at actual pixel resolution. Sounds simply enough, right? In reality, there are many complications.
Each camera has its own default settings. One may choose to perform more in-camera noise reduction (NR) than others by default. Some cameras have user controllable NR settings but others may only allow user control to certain degree. With NR, there is always a trade-off between noise level and image details.
Not only NR settings, sharpening, contrast, dynamic light optimizer or D-lighting settings can also affect noise levels.
The cameras may meter the scene quite differently and have exposure biases. Even if you choose the same ISO, aperture, and shutter speed, the images from one camera may appear darker or lighter compared to others. Exposure affects noise levels.
Cameras have different sensor sizes, sensor aspect ratios, and different pixel counts. Should the tester try to match the field of view or the magnification at 100% view (each image pixel is displayed as one pixel on a display)? Viewing an image at 100% magnification on a display is rarely useful for practical purposes. Typically the images are output to devices such as a display or a printer with a specific size. IMO, the comparison should be done with test shots matching the field of view in either horizontal or vertical direction. To make the comparison easy and fair, image from camera with higher resolution should be re-sized to match the magnification with lower resolution camera when viewed at actual pixels.
Bearing these complications in mind, here are some comparisons of Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) and Nikon D5000 high ISO noise performances by PhotographyBay.
Just recently, I also talked about the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) vs. Nikon D5000 high ISO noise comparison done by Camera Labs. What is your conclusion after reading the above high ISO performance comparisons?
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on June 10th, 2009.
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Responding to popular user requests, Canon is planning to release a firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II full frame DSLR camera on June 2, 2009 that allows manual exposure control during video shooting.
The 21.1 megapixel full frame DSLR camera can shoot stunning videos but users frequently complaint about the lack of many controls that are available on camcorders that cost 1/10 of its price. The glaring deficiencies include the absence of continuous autofocus and manual exposure control. During video shooting, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II operates in a full automatic mode with the camera selecting the ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds. With the announced new firmware, Canon EOS 5D Mark II users will be able to fully control all aspects of exposure: aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
It is a great improvement. However in order to make video shooting on a DSLR more appealing for average video shooters autofocus is still needed. David Pogue of New York Times thinks that “… without autofocus, an S.L.R. camera that shoots video is just a parlor stunt.” Canon does not offer any indication that autofocus will be available. In case you haven’t heard, the new Panasonic DMC-GH1
is the first DSLR camera that supports continuous autofocus during video shooting.
The following is the press release found on Canon UK website.
Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.
Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:
- Full aperture selection
- ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
- Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second
The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photo-journalists and news photographers. Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel. Now, following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and photographers alike.
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on May 28th, 2009.
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Pentax’s latest K-series digital SLR camera, the K-7, has been officially announced. The mid-level DSLR features a rugged weather-sealed body, 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor, 100% viewfinder, a 3″ 921K dot LCD screen, 5.2 frames per second (FPS) continuous shooting speed, 11 point AF sensor (9 cross types), 30 fps video shooting at [0.9M] (1280×720, 16:9), [1.6M] (1536×1024, 3:2), [0.3M] (640×416, 3:2) resolutions using MPEG format, built-in dust removal and shake reduction, and HDMI port. Other interesting features include the ability to compose a high dynamic range (HDR) image using three photos, a built-in digital level, and in-camera editing using digital filters. The Pentax K-7 is indeed a solid offering, but the $1,299.95 body-only price seems a little high in the very competitive DSLR market. Read More…
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras,
News on May 21st, 2009.
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Previously, we compared the spec sheets of two hot new entry level DSLR cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) and Nikon D5000. If that is enough for you to make a decision between the two, it would be too simple. The spec sheet should be considered a starting point for potential buyers to evaluate their needs against the specs. What follows next should be the verification of real world performances against your expectations.
For some people, the image quality, especially the high ISO noise performance is very important. So how well do they match up against each other? Camera Labs did the tests as part of their full review of the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D). They also included the Olympus E-620 in the comparison.
The Nikon D5000 has a top ISO of 6400 while the Canon has top ISO of 12800. You would have thought the Canon have a better high ISO performance, wouldn’t you? Well, it turns out Canon’s marketing department may be a little too much into gimmicks. The Nikon D5000 appears to have won the noise competition handily above ISO800. The ISO6400 image from Nikon D5000 appears to have less noise and more details than the Canon’s. Perhaps Nikon should have made the ISO 128000 possible on the D5000. It wouldn’t be worse than the Canon’s.
Read: Canon EOS 500D / T1i vs Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-620 High ISO Noise
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on May 19th, 2009.
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Canon announced the EOS Rebel T1i (500D/Kiss Digital X3) earlier (March 25) than Nikon D5000 (April 14), but somehow Nikon beat Canon in getting their camera out to consumers just a few days earlier. With both cameras targeting consumers, the ensuing battle between the digital imaging giants Canon and Nikon is going to be interesting to watch.
For consumers, making decision may be difficult since there is no such thing as perfect camera. Manufacturers carefully balance features and marketing needs to maximize profitability. They also study competitors to make sure their product is competitive in the market. Knowing your exact needs will help you make a good decision. Knowing the exact differences between the cameras will help you to evaluate your needs against the cameras’ features.
To get it started, you can look at the very detailed DPReview previews for both camera: Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital) and Nikon D5000. There is also a side-by-side comparison of the specifications. The gadget blog Engadget has a post about the two cameras as well. The following is a quick summary of each camera’s advantages.
Canon 500D wins
- More pixels – 15.1 vs. 12.3 megapixels on Nikon D5000
- Better videos – 1080P vs. 720P on Nikon D5000
- Better RAW file – 14 bit vs. 12 bit
- Larger and denser LCD screen: 3.0″ vs. 2.7″, 920K vs. 230K dots
- Wider ISO range: 100-12800 vs. 100-6400
- Depth of focus preview button: yes vs. no
- Viewfinder magnification: 0.87x vs. 0.78x
Nikon D5000 wins
- Tilt/Swirl LCD screen
- Faster continuous shooting speed: 4 frames per second (fps) vs. 3.4fps.
- Advanced scene modes
- Built-in filter effects and in-camera editing
- Better AF sensor: 11 vs. 9 point, with AF assist illuminator vs. none (uses built-in flash), slightly better AF sensitivity, 3D tracking
- Wider exposure compensation range; +/- 5EV vs. +/-2EV
- Better flash range: 17m vs. 13m
- Cost: ~$50 cheaper
Posted in
Digital SLR Cameras on April 30th, 2009.
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