Nikon D700 Review – 026

Nikon has once again raised the bar with its new D700, a gorgeous full-frame dSLR that outperforms the recent D300 and in many ways equals the performance of the famed Nikon D3.

The D700 employs a full-frame (Nikon FX format) image sensor, which makes it compatible with pretty much every Nikon lens made in the last 30 years. The sensor and image processing engine are identical to those used in the D3, making the D700 equivalent in terms of image quality. For many professional or serious amateur photographers, the D700 is a real alternative to the D3 and even offers a few advantages over its higher-end predecessor.

Performance

With its full-frame sensor and support for up to ISO 6400, the D700 performs excellently under low light. Nikon’s ADR (auto dynamic range) system also works well, providing a noticeable improvement in richness and depth of colours to highly contrasted shots. A decent flash is built in, though with the D700’s low-light performance I can’t imagine it ever being necessary. Perhaps it will be used as a fill-in, though with ADR even that becomes somewhat moot.

The D700 shoots up to five frames per second, or up to eight with the optional MB-D10 grip and battery pack. This is respectable, though decidedly slower than the D3’s maximum of 11fps. Start-up time is virtually nil and auto-focus is quick, despite Nikon’s sophisticated 51-point AF system (which did a superb job under low-light test conditions).

Feature range

The D700 boasts a wide range of features, including a sensor cleaning function that was notably absent on the D3. The D300’s support for common Garmin GPS units has been maintained, allowing you to tag your images with longitude and latitude data with only a little extra hardware. Also present are the D300’s ‘Handheld’ and ‘Tripod’ Live View features, the latter of which is almost faster than my point-and-shoot with its nifty trick of focusing via contrast.

Personally I prefer the viewfinder (or a wild guess) to Live View any day, though it has its uses and Nikon has implemented it better than most.

The D700 does lack the D3’s second CompactFlash card slot, though you can still save each shot as both JPEG and RAW images to a single card.

Ease of use

Despite the overwhelming array of features, Nikon has managed to make the D700 a dream to use. The layout of controls is excellent; most functions can be accessed one-handed and the camera’s buttons and menu can be customised to suit your preferences. The user manual is comprehensive and easy to read — much of it is also available from the camera’s menus with a single button press.

Conclusion

This is a brilliant semi-professional dSLR for those looking to go full-frame, equal in image quality to the Nikon D3. If you don’t need the extra speed of the D3, the D700 is a smaller, lighter and less pricey alternative with a few nifty new features that are certainly worthy of consideration. I used the camera with an optional AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens.

SPECS:

• Manufacturer: Nikon
• Model: D700
• Price: $5199 (body only)
• Effective Pixels: 12.1 million.
• Image sensor:  36.0 x 23.9mm CMOS (Nikon FX format).
• Viewfinder: SLR eye-level pentaprism, 95per cent FX frame coverage
• Monitor: 3-inch LCD, 920,000 pixels (VGA), 170-degree viewing angle, 100 per cent FX frame coverage
• Shutter: 1/8000 to 30 seconds in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb. Rated for 150,000 exposures
• ISO: 200 to 6400 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1EV (also supports ISO 100 and ISO 25600 equivalent)
• Exposure Metering: Matrix, centre-weighted, spot
• Media: CompactFlash Type I (UDMA-compliant)
• File Format: NEF (RAW) 12-bit or 14-bit, JPEG, TIFF
• Interface: USB2.0, composite video out, HDMI video out
• Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-ion
• Dimensions: 147 x 123 x 77mm
• Weight: 995g without battery or memory card

CONTACT:

www.nikon.co.nz

PROS:

• Full-frame (Nikon FX format) 35mm image sensor
• 3-inch LCD screen (VGA, 920k pixels)
• Outstanding feature range and customisability
• Massive accessory system available from Nikon

CONS:

• A little heavy

This review is from D-Photo issue #026.

Fraser Kitt

Canon 5D Mark II Review – 029

Phil Hanson is impressed by the solid performance of Canon’s latest dSLR, which offers good low-light pictures and full HD video recording.

Canon stunned the professional and advanced amateur market in August 2005 with the remarkable Canon EOS 5D. So its successor, the 5D Mark II, has a tough act to follow.

A list of things that are new or different could fill the page, but hero features include its 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor coupled to the fast DiG!C 4 processor; an incredible ISO range; the ability to shoot full HD video; and a top-notch 3-inch VGA LCD screen with live view.

Feelgood factor

The Mark II shares Canon’s EOS ‘family’ feel, and many controls will be familiar to users of other of the firm’s cameras. Having spent time with the smaller-sensor 50D, I was right at home with its larger, heavier, full-frame big brother. It’s hard to fault the 5D Mark II for ergonomics, and balance with the packaged 24-105 lens is exemplary.

Users coming from the 5D will notice the different finish, the viewing screen with almost a million dots, a brighter viewfinder and a clearer, more intuitive menu. They’ll also find it works faster, despite having to process more data from its sensor, and has a ‘gruntier’ battery. In crud weather, they’ll appreciate better body sealing.

Night into day

A strength of the 5D was its excellent performance at high ISO, appreciated by those who work in low light. The Mark II goes further and has an ISO range from 50 to 25,600. Speeds beyond 6400 have to be set via an ISO expansion menu. Just for fun, I set 25,600 expecting absolute rubbish, but the images were surprisingly good — the sort of thing photographers might have expected from 3200 to 6400 not so long ago.

Video

Adding video — full HD 1080p at that — seemed silly at first glance, but Canon is responding to the needs of photojournalists who have to send both still and moving images to their newsrooms.

It’s good for other users, too, including wedding photographers who can be taking stills, then push two buttons and record the bride walking down the aisle. Files of up to 4GB or 12 minutes can be made.

It’s not possible to take moving and still pictures simultaneously, but the photographer can instantly interrupt filming to shoot an important still photo.

Zoom

Canon didn’t scrimp when it came to choosing a kit lens. The L-range 24-105mm goes from genuine wide angle to ‘light’ telephoto that’s ideal for portraits. Its aperture maxes out at f4, but not to worry, there’s image stabilisation, and the quality of higher ISO settings means few will miss a wider maximum aperture.

Out and about

I threw the camera-lens combo in at the deep end, photographing fast-moving 4WD action deep in a forest after little more than a cursory look at the instruction book. I customised the Program mode, including auto ISO, and went to it. The lens is a great performer across its zoom range, and the Mark II works quickly enough that no important shot was missed.

Conclusion

I really can’t think of anything seriously wrong with this camera/lens combo. It exceeded my expectations.

Specs

Manufacturer: Canon

Model: EOS 5D Mark II

Effective pixels: 21.1 million

Image sensor: Full frame CMOS sensor with self cleaning

Monitor: 3-inch TFT VGA colour LCD, approx 920,000 dots

Shutter: 30 sec-1/8000 sec

ISO: auto, 50-6400 and customised to 25,600

Shooting modes: JPEG, RAW (21MP, 10MP or 5.2MP)

Exposure metering: 35-zone TTL full-aperture metering (Evaluative, Partial, Spot, Centre-weighted average)

Focus modes: One-Shot AF, AI Servo, AI Focus, manual

Media: CompactFlash card (Type I and II, UDMA compatible)

Flash: E-TTL II autoflash with EX-series Speedlites, max synch speed, synch 1/200 sec

Battery: LP-E6 or AA batteries with optional BG-E6 battery grip

Dimensions: 152 x 113.5 x 75mm (W/H/D)

Weight: 810g (body only)

CONTACT

www.canon.co.nz

PROS

• Superb picture quality

• Well thought-out controls

• Stellar performance at high ISO

CONS

• A little heavy

This review is from D-Photo issue #029.

Canon Pixma MP980 Review – 029

Phil Hanson discovers an all-in-one printer that delivers quality prints and makes its 35mm film scanning and faxing functions a real bonus.

Although Canon still offers a range of printers that do nothing but print, the MP980 has joined the all-in-one bandwagon.

It carries over many of the MP970’s features but adds some important twists of its own, particularly in the ink system, which now comprises six colours, a mix of dye and pigment cartridges. This is one colour less than before and the printer’s also a little slower, so where’s the advantage?

The answer’s in the print. Here’s an all-in-one that punches well above its photographic weight, producing stunning images, particularly when using Canon paper. But more on that later.

First impressions

Finished in silver-grey and black, the MP980 will look at home in most locations. Note, though, that because it has a pull-out paper tray at the back and a pull-out output tray in the front, it needs a larger working space than its folded footprint suggests. Apart from the paper trays – there’s another one at the front that shuts flush with the body – the machine feels well built and sturdy.

Setting it up

This is not the quickest printer to get going out of the box, especially if it’s to be part of a wireless network. But while Canon’s quick-start printed manual isn’t the most elegant document, its diagrams and instructions are clear and straightforward, easing the process.

A pleasant surprise

The MP980 prints to paper and CD discs, copies and scans — and offers a nice twist to the last-named function. Hidden between the scanner lid and the white pad that holds reflective copy flat is a holder for a strip of 35mm negatives or transparencies.

Load it up, place it on the scanning surface and the MP980 will quickly bring your old films into the digital age.

No, it can’t do this with the quality of a dedicated film scanner but it will offer surprisingly good quality for many uses and the software allows significant adjustments to be made.

Show and Tell

After using several of these home/office utility tools from a number of manufacturers, we no longer need convincing that they can deliver what D-Photo readers are primarily looking for: first-class prints, not only in colour but also monochrome.

The rich black and white prints were close to the results D-Photo obtained last year from the much more expensive Canon 9500 A3+ printer.

And despite its six-pack colour tray, prints were near 
to those we made from the same files on the 10-pot 9500. You can buy all-in-ones for less than the MP980, but this seems a classic case of getting what you pay for, image-wise.

Pushing the Buttons

Normally I print from Photoshop, letting the program do the colour management. But I quickly became enamoured of the Canon interface and its Easy-PhotoPrint EX that makes selection, paper choice and printing so easy. It doesn’t allow a great deal of image tweaking, but it’s great for those that have already been post-processed. Most if not all printers have a similar utility but Canon’s is a gem.

Conclusion

In the blossoming world of all-in-ones, Canon’s MP980 stands out as a printer for discerning photographers. Its other functions — such as the scanner — as  useful as they may be, are a bonus.

Specs

Printer

Printing method: Inkjet

Minimum ink droplet volume: 
1 picolitr

Print Resolution: black up to 
600 x 600 dpi; colour up to 
9600 x 2400 dpi

Paper sizes: Letter, Legal, 4x 6, 5 x 7, 8x 10, No 10 envelopes

Scanner

Scanner type: A4 Flatbed CCD

Colour depth: 48-bit internal, 
24-bit external

Max. resolutions: optical – 
4800 x 9600dpi; interpolated – 19,200 x 19,200dpi

Max. document size: 
215  x 297mm

Copy function

Copier Copy Speed: black up to 24cpm; colour 4 x 6 borderless photo approximately 20 seconds

Interface: Wireless LAN 802.11b/g, Bluetooth v2.07 (optional), card slots, Ethernet, IrDA IR6, PictBridge, USB 2.0

Photo card support media: SD, SDHC, MMC, MMC Plus, miniSD, miniSDHC, microSD, microSDHC, RS-MMC, Compact Flash, Microdrive, 
Memory Stick/Pro/Duo

OS compatibility: Windows Vista/XP/2000, Mac OSX v. 10.3.9 to 10.5

Dimensions: 380 x 480 x 200mm (folded)

Weight: 10.7kg

Contact

www.canon.co.nz

PROS

• Good quality prints

• Excellent interface

• Wireless connectivity

CONS

• Setting up wireless a bit fussy

• Flimsy paper trays

This review is from D-Photo issue #029.

Canon S5IS Review – 025

In a world where new cameras appear to be released almost monthly, this is the grandaddy of the latest bunch of super-zooms. Packing a 12x optical zoom, 8 million pixels and almost every conceivable feature you could expect in a compact camera, it is little wonder this model sells well.

Brilliant Design

Canon’s trademark 2.5-inch swivelling screen makes this camera so versatile. It allows you to take low and high-angle shots without having to lie on the ground or climb a ladder. When you’ve finished, you just turn and swivel the screen so that it is protected. When folded away the digital viewfinder becomes active.

Canon has a separate shutter release for making movies, conveniently placed by your thumb so you can quickly hit it and start without shaking the camera. Brilliantly, the S5IS allows you to take high-resolution stills while filming by just pressing the shutter release. Slap a 4GB SDHC card in the slot and get an hour of continuous movie recording.

Up tight

Macro photography with this camera is unbelievable, focusing down to 0cm in the super-macro setting. Just a touch of the macro button on the left of the lens will swing the camera into the normal macro mode with a focusing distance of 10 to 50cm. But if you need to move in that bit closer, holding the macro button for a couple of seconds shifts it into super-macro for focusing so close your lens can touch the subject.

The S5IS is quick to start and extremely responsive thanks to the DiG!C III processor. It also makes exposure allowances for skin tones when the camera is set to the face detect focus mode, and lets the camera shoot at an ISO setting as high as 1600.

Software

I’ve always been impressed with the software bundle that comes with Canon cameras. The Zoom Browser EX program not only lets you download and sort your images, allowing you to catalogue and file as well as place keywords on your images, but it also lets you tether the camera to the computer by the USB cable and remotely take pictures just by pressing the enter button on your computer’s keyboard. The panorama stitch function makes joining images together a breeze.

Conclusion

The Powershot S5IS with its USM — silent focusing — and image stabilized 12x optical lens is a great shape and size. The lens length is a little lean but the results are fantastic. The articulated screen is a dream to use at any angle and offers added protection when not in use. The S5IS is a great compact super-zoom, if not quite super.

Specs

Manufacturer: Canon

Model: Powershot S5IS

Price: $599

Lens: 6 –72mm 
(35mm equivalent 36 –432mm)

Viewfinder: Colour LCD

Monitor: 2.5-inch TFT LCD (207,000 pixels)

Shutter: 15sec – 1/3200sec

Aperture: f2.7 – f3.5

ISO: Auto, high ISO auto, 
80 – 1600.\

Shooting Modes: Auto, Program, TV- shutter priority, AV, Manual, Custom, Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, Sport, Stitch Assist, Movie, Night scene, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, colour swap, colour accent.

Exposure Metering: Evaluative, centre-weighted average, spot

Focus Modes: Face detect, 
centre, flexi

Media: SD, SDHC, MMC,

File Format: JPEG, WAV

Flash: Built-in, hot shoe

Interface: USB2.0

Batteries: 4 x AA

Dimensions: 117 x 80 x 77.7mm

Weight: 450g

Contact

www.canon.co.nz

Rating

Pros

• Fast to start

• Independent buttons for movies and stills

• Comprehensive software

• Brilliant macro

• Hot shoe

Cons

• Only 12x optical zoom

• Heavy due to four AA batteries

This review is from D-Photo issue #025.

Sony DSC-H50 Review – 025

Sony is a company that thrives on innovation and this model certainly has some interesting characteristics. You’re going to love the screen and there is almost every function you could ever want.

Zooming good

The H50 has a zoom range cover the equivalent of 31mm to 465mm that will be beneficial for most. But those who like to go really wide angle — 28mm or lower — won’t be that impressed. The telephoto, on the other hand, has a great range, allowing you to get those candid images of the kids.

The lens is a Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar f2.7 to f4.5 with a feature that I really like. Even though it has a macro setting, you don’t have to select it as the camera automatically determines how distant you are from the subject and lets you focus as close or as far away as you want. The focus area can also be changed from the centre to wide or placed wherever you choose at the turn of the command dial.

Face detective

This Cybershot lets you select from three face detect settings. Auto automatically detects faces in a scene and surrounds them with a box, or you have the choice of Child Priority or Adult Priority. It must be able to measure the girth of our heads as it does a grand job of discriminating between the two. If you thought that was enough choice, there is also the crazy setting that will automatically fire the camera when your subject smiles. This can be a bit hit and miss but it’s loads of fun on a wet afternoon.

Once you have captured your people pics then you can do some onboard editing, correcting for redeye or adding a smile to those who persist in frowning. There is also a bank of filters so that you can adjust colour or add a vignette around the periphery of the image for a nostalgic look.

Nightshot

The H50 has a range of scene modes for shooting at night, but none as interesting as the Night Shot setting. Once found only on Sony’s video cameras, it has now been integrated into this still camera. It allows shooting in almost pitch-black conditions, ideal for capturing wildlife such as a kiwi in a kiwi house. As it shoots in black and white it is also an alternative to hunting for the B&W option, as Night Shot is only a button switch away.

Conclusion

Sony has produced a reasonable mega-zoom with the Cybershot DSC-H50 but it could do with a wider angle option. That said, it performs magnificently, giving flash range beyond belief, while a fold-out screen makes it more versatile. The unique Night Shot setting may not be to everyone’s liking, but if ever you get caught in ultra-low light, you’ll be the only one taking pictures.

Specs

Manufacturer: Sony

Model: Cybershot DSC-H50

Price: $699

Effective Pixels: 9.1 million

Lens: Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 15x optical zoom, 5.2mm – 78mm (31 – 465mm)

Viewfinder: Electronic

Monitor: Tilting 3-inch TFT LCD

Shutter: 30sec – 1/4000sec

Aperture: f2.7 – f4.5

ISO: Auto, Auto High, 80 – 3200

Focus Modes: face detect, TTL nine-point AF, manual, wide area, centre, variable

Media: 15MB built-in memory, Memory Stick

File Format: JPEG, MPEG-1

Flash: Built-in, auto, flash on, slow sync, off

Interface: USB

Batteries: Lithium-ion rechargeabl

Dimensions: 116.1 x 81.4 x 86mm

Weight: 547g

Contact

www.sony.co.nz

Rating

Pros

• Facial detection that rocks
• Incredible flash range
• Unique Night Shot feature

Cons

• Only uses Memory Stick
• Zoom starts at 31mm
• Smile shot is kind of gimmicky

This review is from D-Photo issue #025.

FujiFilm S8100fd Review – 025

The FujiFilm Finepix S8100fd is a 10 million pixel, 18x optical zoom camera with enough functionality to enthuse any keen photographer. The big grip makes it comfortable to hold and it takes two types of card.

Breaking open the box late in the evening reveals that even in low light this camera will focus. The yellow glow of the low light illuminator reaches comfortably across my lounge into the dark recesses of the kitchen, and while it takes a few moments for the S8100fd to focus, it does so none the less.

Face detection is spot on, quickly locking onto subjects’ faces then tracking them as long as they stay front on. It couldn’t recognise a face in profile, but that’s a big ask of any camera.

Shoot

The big Fujinon lens covers a great range from 27mm to 486mm. The extra-wide 27mm makes taking groups and interiors a breeze and the telephoto will greedily gobble up any sports field. It also produces sharp images.

The processor comfortably handles an ISO range up to 1600 at the full 10 million pixels and has the ability to go out to 6400 — if you don’t mind compromising file size. It halves the pixel count when you spike the ISO out to 3200 and 6400. You also have the choice of auto settings of 400, 800 and 1600 that automatically adjust the ISO up to those amounts depending on the light conditions.

On the button

The layout of this model is reasonably straightforward with a big control dial on the top, a large on/off button behind the shutter release, and rocker-style zoom control. Then there are the perfectly placed face detect and anti-shake buttons behind the on/off switch. When you activate the face detect setting it also switches on redeye removal, although you do have to manually raise the flash. Even the button cluster on the back is well marked and reasonably easy to follow — forget consulting the rather vague handbook.

The body is reasonably large and the big grip, which holds the four AA batteries, makes it comfortable to hold for big and small hands alike.

Pair of aces

FujiFilm’s trump card is a slot that accommodates both xD and SD memory cards. This gives you the choice of storage formats and may well sway you to the Fuji camp if you’re considering changing cameras and already hold a handful of SD cards. It will also take the next generation SDHC card.

Conclusion

FujiFilm has made a wise move by including support for both xD and SD cards in the S8100fd. It’s a camera with wide appeal thanks to the easy-to-use picture modes and advanced exposure settings. The images are crisp and clear, and if you want added punch of the sort slide film once gave, then it is only the press of a button away.

Specs

Manufacturer: FujiFilm

Model: Finepix S8100fd

Price: $699

Effective Pixels: 10 million

Lens: 18x optical 4.7mm – 84.2mm (27-486mm in 35mm terms)

Viewfinder: Electronic

Monitor: 2.5-inch TFT LCD

Shutter: 4sec – 1/2000sec

Aperture: f2.8 – f4.5

ISO: Auto and 64 – 6400

Focus Modes: Face detect, single AF, continuous AF, manual AF,

Media: 58MB internal memory, xD, SD, SDHC,

File Format: JPEG, AVI, WAV

Flash: Built in, auto, redeye, slow synchro, supressed

Interface: USB

Batteries: 4 x AA

Dimensions: 111.3 x 78.2 x 79.3mm

Weight: 500g

Contact

www.fujifilm.co.nz

Rating

Pros

• Dual card capability
• Focuses in low light
• Flash range keeps up with zoom

Cons

• Extra weight from four
• AA batteries
• No charger

Fraser Kitt

This review is from D-Photo issue #025.

Olympus SP-570UZ Review – 025

Olympus has maintained the lead in the race to have the biggest lens in the super-zoom war. The SP570UZ has upped the ante to 20x optical zoom covering an enviable 26mm wide angle through to 520mm telephoto.

Get a grip

Grasp the SP-570 with both hands and you’ll see how comfortable and ergonomic it is. Ingeniously, the zoom is controlled by turning the lens as you would on a dSLR. At the flip of a switch on the side of the lens, focus can be changed from auto to manual. This design forces you to hold the camera correctly, ensuring you cradle the camera with your left hand using the index and forefingers to control the zoom, with your right hand’s index finger poised over the shutter release.

Even with an image stabilizer — the sensor moves to counter any movement you make — you’ll still need a good physical grip with this 20x optical zoom.

Time travellers

If you travel you’ll love the dual time function that lets you set the date and time here and then set the date and time for your destination. You can quickly change between the two so that the date and time information actually matches your home or overseas images. Another great thing Olympus provides is an alarm clock, so even if you forget to pack your travel alarm there is one at hand in your camera.

File this

The camera menu is so easy to access and move between functions that you’ll rapidly learn to change file type from JPEG to RAW or RAW to JPEG. With the press of the OK button you can quickly scroll around the whole menu then change the function with the wheel on the top of the camera. There are shortcut buttons for macro, exposure compensation, flash, continuous shooting and the shadow adjust function that gives more information in shadow areas.

Low light

There are things I don’t like about this camera. It won’t focus in low light, even with the illuminator on. And it only accepts xD cards that are limited to 2GB of data. It owes some of its weight to the four AA batteries and you’ll either want to run lithium single-use or rechargeable NiMH batteries to take the most images between battery changes.

Conclusion

Olympus invented super-zoom cameras and is back at the top of the field with the 20x optical zoom. The zoom range is fantastic and will suit anyone who travels or wants a compact camera with a wide focal range. The functions will please anyone from rank amateur to the seasoned pro, as the SP-570 can be used in a simple mode with the scenes or you can take full control.

Fraser Kitt

Specs

Manufacturer: Olympus

Model: SP-570UZ

Price: $799

Effective Pixels: 10 million

Lens: 20x optical, 4.6 – 92mm (26 – 520mm in 35mm terms)

Viewfinder: Digital

Monitor: 2.7-inch hypercrystal LCD (230,000 pixels)

Shutter: 4sec to 1/2000sec (8min bulb mode)

Aperture: f2.8 – f4.5

ISO: Auto, 64 – 6400

Exposure Metering: ESP, centre-weighted, spot.

Focus Modes: Face detect, iESP, spot, area.

Media: xD card

File Format: RAW, JPEG, WAV, Motion JPEG

Flash: Built-in with auto, red-eye, fill in, slow sync, red-eye with slow sync

Interface: USB2.0

Batteries: 4 x AA

Dimensions: 118.5 x 84 x 87.5mm

Weight: 445g

Contact

www.olympus.co.nz

Rating

Pros

• 26 – 520mm zoom rang
• Manual with 8min bulb setting
• Macro as close as 1cm

Cons

• Poor focusing in low light
• xD card limited to 2GB
• Extra weight from four AA batteries

This review is from D-Photo issue #025.