Nikon 16-85mm VR Review: Why I Don't Recommend This Lens

I get a lot of questions about this lens.

The Nikon 16-85mm VR is a bit of a puzzle as it doesn't excel at anything, and although it is a good lens, it's quite pricey for what it offers.

The problem the Nikon 16-85mm VR faces is some pretty tough competition from the Nikon 18-105mm VR (and even the Nikon 18-55mm VR) which cost a lot less.

Here's my review and thoughts on the Nikon 16-85mm VR, and why I don't recommend this lens.

Nikon 18-105mm Review: More Than You'd Expect for the Price

Following my review of the Nikon 18-55mm VR, the logical progression is the Nikon 18-105mm VR.

The 18-105mm VR is the next up in the line-up if you're considering an up-grade from the 18-55mmVR, and it's a pretty significant up-grade in several ways.

Here's my review of the Nikon 18-105mm VR, a lens that offers more than you'd expect for the price.

Nikon 18-55mm VR Review: An Under-Estimated Lens That May Surprise You

A lot of readers have been asking me about the Nikon 18-55mm VR, as well as the non-VR version, and whether it's worth buying.

In this video review, I take a look at the little Nikon 18-55mm, and go over it's strengths and weaknesses. You may be surprised at how well this little bargain performs.

4 Reasons to Buy the Canon 60D Over the Canon 550D (T2i)

Since the venerable Canon 60D arrived, a lot of readers have been wondering whether they should spend the extra money and get the 60D or save their cash and buy the 550D (T2i).

Here's 4 reasons to buy the Canon 60D over the Canon 550D.

Related posts...

Canon 60D: First Impressions After a Few Hours Shooting

How to Make Your Canon 550D or 60D Video and Photos Look Like It Came From a Canon 5D MkII - Part 3

How to Make Your Canon 550D or 60D Video and Photos Look Like It Came From a Canon 5D MkII - Part 2

How to Make Your Canon 550D or 60D Video and Photos Look Like It Came From a Canon 5D MkII - Part 1

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Review: A Look at Nikon's Flash Flagship and Why You Might Want to Up-Grade

Reviewing the Nikon SB-900 Speedlight and looking at the new features and reasons you may want to up-grade from the SB-800 to the SB-900.

Next in the Nikon Speedlight series... a look at the new Nikon SB-700.

Related posts...

Nikon SB-700 Speedlight Flash: Much More Than Just An Up-Date to the SB-600

Nikon SB-800 Overview: Two Big Reasons to Step Up to the SB-800 Over the SB-600

Nikon SB-600: A Great Speedlite Flash For New Nikon DSLR Shooters To Start Off With

Nikon SB-800 Overview: Two Big Reasons to Step Up to the SB-800 Over the SB-600

In this, the 2nd installment in our series on Nikon Speedlights, I look at the SB-800, it's features, and why you might want to step up to the SB-800 from the SB-600.

Next up in the series... a look at the new Nikon Speedlight flagship, the Nikon SB-900.

Related posts...

Nikon SB-600: A Great Speedlite Flash For New Nikon DSLR Shooters To Start Off With

Related posts...

Nikon SB-700 Speedlight Flash: Much More Than Just An Up-Date to the SB-600

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Review: A Look at Nikon's Flash Flagship and Why You Might Want to Up-Grade


Nikon SB-600: A Great Speedlite Flash For New Nikon DSLR Shooters To Start Off With

Nikon SB-600: A Great Speedlite Flash For New Nikon DSLR Shooters To Start Off With

I've had some reader requests to do a series on Nikon Speedlights and the Nikon CLS Speedlight system, and I thought this was a great idea!

This is the first in the series, and what better flash to start with than the Nikon SB-600! It's well featured and a great price for those wanting to start expanding their lighting system.

Stay tuned as I'll be covering the Nikon SB-800 Speedlight next!

Related Posts...

***NEW*** -Nikon SB-800 Overview: Two Big Reasons to Step Up to the SB-800 Over the SB-600

Nikon Lens Recommendations for New Nikon DSLR Owners

I've had a lot of readers asking about lenses and what lens they should buy with their first Nikon DSLR.

There are a lot of Nikon lenses to choose from, and it's easy to see how it could be a daunting task for the newcomer.

Here's a short video on my Nikon lens recommendations for those of you that are just starting out with a Nikon DSLR, are considering buying one, or are trying to decide what your next lens purchase should be.

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Photographer on Your List

With Christmas coming up, people are always looking for gift ideas, and it can be hard to buy for the photographer (s) on your list if you're not a photographer yourself.

That said, here's some great Christmas gift ideas for the photographer (s) on your list.





Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 (Win/Mac), Adobe Photoshop CS5, or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 (depending on your budget). Adobe makes the industry standard software for image processing, and all of these programs are top notch.






Rode Shotgun Microphone - if the photographer on your list uses their DSLR for video, then they'll love this shotgun style microphone. I have one and use it all the time. It delivers EXCELLENT quality audio for your video production.






Professional Heavy Duty Ball Head with Quick Release Plate - these are a fantastic value and precision made. I recently bought one and just love it!






Every photographer can use more memory! Transcend makes excellent quality memory cards. They have a lifetime guarantee, and I've been using them exclusively for several years now with no problem.






Photographers love camera bags. You can never get enough! I have WAY TOO MANY, and I just bought a new one a couple weeks ago! This LowePro Slingshot is a great little bag that's light and perfect for quick access.





And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't put in a shameless plug for our Art of the Image Speedlight Softbox! The perfect gift for any photographer who wants to take their portraits to a whole new level. Check out our Christmas Speedlite Softbox Sale for some great deals!

Christmas Speedlite Softbox Sale Is Here!

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Nikon D7000 One Month Review

I've been shooting the Nikon D7000 for a month now. Everything from weddings to portraits, landscapes to wildlife, macro, and walk-abouts, so I thought it was time to post a D7000 One Month Review.

Here's my thoughts and observations on the D7000 after shooting it for a month.

Video is awesome. The 1080HD video on the D7000 is top notch. I thought I might miss the 30fps and 60i settings that my Canon T2i 550D has, but I don't. The 24fps 1080HD setting on the Nikon D7000 is great.

The D7000's LiveView switch is killer! I love it! So much so that when I was switching between T2i and the D7000 to shoot video, I found myself really missing the D7000 switch when using the T2i. It's just so convenient and easy to use. One of those things that just works great, and once you start using it, you don't want to be without it.

The D7000 video quality is excellent. I've found it to be even better than the video from the T2i (and by inference the Canon 60D and Canon 7D which all have the same video quality). The D7000 video has greater dynamic range than the Canon video and doesn't bunch up the blacks the way the Canons tend to.

The D7000 video is so good that I've since sold my Canon T2i. I'd originally bought the T2i solely for video use, and I was very pleased with it. The D7000 is just that little bit better, and I found I no longer needed the T2i.

Photo image quality on the Nikon D7000 is superb. The extra 4 megapixels on the new 16 megapixel sensor are great. The extra resolution translates into finer detail, more ability to crop tighter, and a better file over-all. The beauty is that it comes at no loss of image quality.

The D7000 high ISO is excellent. The D7000 is now the TOP crop sensor DSLR for high ISO image quality. It beats the Nikon D300s, the Nikon D90, the Canon T2i, the Canon 60D, the Canon 7D, the Pentax K5, and all the Sony DSLR's for high ISO image quality. Check out the rankings at www.DXOMark.com.

My observations are that my D7000 is within a stop to a stop and a half of my Nikon D700 for high ISO image quality. Simply incredible for a DX sensor with 16 megapixels!

Color is beautiful on the D7000. It renders accurate, pleasing tones.

White balance is the best I've seen of any Nikon DSLR to date. Auto white balance works great, and the colors are pleasing.

Focus is fast and accurate. The D7000 locks on quickly and is super sharp. From my observations, the D7000's auto focus is on par with my Nikon D700. The new 39 point auto focus system delivers in spades.

After shooting with the Nikon D7000 for a month, I'm VERY impressed. It delivers on everything it promised and then some.

In fact, the D7000 is SO GOOD that I'm considering selling my Nikon D700 and adding a 2nd D7000 so that I'm shooting with a pair of D7000 bodies. For those of you that know how good the D700 is, that's high praise for the D7000.

I give the Nikon D7000 a hearty 2 Thumbs Up for the D7000 One Month Review. Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted as I continue to put the D7000 through it's paces.

Related posts...

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Is the Nikon D7000 replacing the Nikon D300s / D400?

Nikon D7000 Spec Rundown

Blender Oatmeal in the Vitamix 5200 (shot with the Nikon D3100)

Nikon D3100 Video with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G

Here's my own recipe for making Blender Oatmeal in the Vitamix 5200. Tastes great, easy to make, good for you, and the kids love it!

Shot with the Nikon D3100 and Nikon 35mm f1.8G. A mix of video and still photos. Edited in Sony Vegas.

Nikon D3100 Low Light Video Test Indoors with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G

Nikon D3100 Video with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G

Ella was gracious enough to let me film her having lunch, so I took the opportunity to test the Nikon D3100 video indoors in lower light.

Shooting with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G you get the advantage of f1.8 to get a boatload more light to the sensor which allows you to keep your ISO down.

Black Friday Speedlite Softbox Sale

The BLACK FRIDAY SPEEDLITE SOFTBOX SALE starts today!

Only $88.00 each. Quantities are limited so order now!

Buy two for yourself or one for a friend and save on shipping! We'll combine shipping and you pay only one shipping fee!

Nikon D90 or Canon T2i... What Should I Buy?

Both the Nikon D90 and the Canon T2i (Canon EOS 550D) have some great deals on right now, and I've been getting a lot of questions from readers on which one of these DSLR's to buy.

I did a video post on Youtube to try and answer the question for you.

The short answer is...

If video is your primary concern, then go with the Canon T2i. The T2i is a better DSLR for video. It has manual control options, an external mic input, and 1080HD.

If photography is you primary concern, then go with the Nikon D90. The D90 is more of a photographer's camera. It has better high ISO image quality, better auto focus, and is built better.

For more elaboration, watch the video. :-)

Nikon D3100 Review: 1080 HD Video

I've been putting the new Nikon D3100 through it's paces as I continue to evaluate it to see if I'll keep it in my bag. In doing so, I've shot some video with it to see how it measures up.

The new Nikon D3100 is capable of 1080HD just like it's big brother, the amazing Nikon D7000. The D3100 video quality is VERY good, which is quite impressive for a DSLR at this level.

The big difference between the D3100 and the D7000 where video is concerned is that the D3100 doesn't have the more advanced options like manual controls and an external mic input.

This isn't a big deal if you're not planning on doing anything more than making some family movies of your kids at the park or in the tub, but it is a big deal if you planned on doing some more professional quality video or movies.

The in-ability to control exposure is a HUGE handicap for more advanced movie making. With the Nikon D3100 you're basically stuck letting the camera control the exposure, which means you can often see the exposure changing in your video as the camera makes metering adjustments.

The lack of an external mic input is a biggie for those wishing to get better quality audio for their video. With the D7000, as well as Canon DSLR's like the T2i and 60D, you can plug in an external mic like the Rode Shotgun mic or a Sony lavalier mic and get MUCH better sound. You can't do this on the Nikon D3100.

The D3100 is also limited to 10 minute video clips, whereas the Nikon D7000 can do 20 minute clips. Not a big deal, especially for the market the D3100 is aimed at, but a limitation none-the-less.

Now before you go thinking these are big knocks on the Nikon D3100, let's remember what we're talking about here. The D3100 is Nikon's ENTRY LEVEL DSLR, and it's only a little over $500! Canon doesn't even have a DSLR at this price point that does video.

For the price, the Nikon D3100 is a great camera. You can't expect everything on a $500 entry level camera. If anything, I'm amazed you get SO MUCH for your money with the D3100.

As I mentioned earlier, the D3100's video quality is very good. It has very little (if any) of the negatives that people observed with the Nikon D90 video. The color is great, and the dynamic range is impressive.

The D3100 also features the new Nikon AF-F continous autofocus in movie mode. I was pretty excited about this feature when it was first announced and had high hopes for it. A DSLR that could focus as well as my Canon HF200 Camcorder would be fantastic!

Alas, that was not to be. The AF-F auto focus, while impressive on paper, is near useless in reality. Focus is intermittent at best and totally lost at worst. You can also hear a lot of noise from the lens focusing in the audio. Perhaps the AF-F auto focus will be ok for the casual user making home movies, but for myself, I find it to be pretty much unusable.

Over-all, the Nikon D3100 video is very good for a DSLR at this level and price point. If you're just planning on filming the kids and home movies type video, you'll probably be happy with the D3100's video abilities.

If you think you'll be wanting to do more advanced video and require exposure control and more advanced audio ability, then you'll probably want to step up to the Nikon D7000 or consider the Canon T2i or 60D.

Here's a couple of quick sample videos I put together from Nikon D3100 shooting with AF-F Auto Focus and Face Priority mode. Note the intermittent focusing as well as the sound of the lens on the audio.


Nikon D3100 Review: Auto Focus AF-F Face Priority with the Nikon 18-105mm VR


Nikon D3100 Review: Auto Focus AF-F Face Priority with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G

Nikon D7000 High ISO Movie Tests at ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, 12,800, 25,600

Nikon D7000 Movie Clips at ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, 12,800, and 25,600

Lilly was watching the Wiggles last night, so I grabbed the D7000 and shot some movie clips of her at the higher ISO settings.

I put them together in Sony Vegas so you can see how they compare for noise.

Similar to my findings for using the Nikon D7000 for photos, even ISO 6400 is quite usable.

For best quality, I would stay at ISO 1600 or lower, with ISO 3200 being ok depending on what you're using the footage for. ISO 6400 is usable, but the noise is getting more visible, so again, it depends on what you're shooting and what your end use is.

For personal stuff such as family and kids, I wouldn't hesitate to use ISO 6400.

For professional use, I would stay at ISO 1600 or lower.

The Nikon D7000 continues to impress me, and it's video capabilities are no exception. I'm really liking the D7000 movie controls much better than my Canon T2i.

The D7000's new movie switch / button is excellent.

Related posts...

Nikon D7000 One Month Review

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Is the Nikon D7000 replacing the Nikon D300s / D400?

Nikon D7000 Spec Rundown

Nikon D7000: Lilly & Ella - filmed with the Nikon 35mm f1.8G

filmed with the Nikon D7000 & Nikon 35mm f1.8G

I've been getting lots of questions about the Nikon D7000 video abilities.

The short answer is, the D7000 is excellent at video. It is easily the equal of my Canon T2i, and may even be better (translation... it's the equal of the Canon 60D and Canon 7D too as all 3 do the same quality video).

I actually prefer the controls for the video on my Nikon D7000 better than on my Canon T2i, especially the live view switch and movie record button.

Yes, the Nikon D7000 only does 24fps at 1080HD, but that's the industry standard. It's also something they may change in a later firmware release. You can get 24fps and 30fps at the 720HD setting.

I'll keep you up to date as I shoot more video with my D7000.

Nikon D7000 Locks Focus On IMPOSSIBLE Shot!

I was out yesterday on a personal shooting day with the Nikon D7000 at the Toronto Zoo, which by the way, is a GREAT place to go for a day of shooting!

Anyhow, things were going great, and I was getting some great fantastic photos.

My next stop on my list of animals I wanted to photograph was the Artic Wolves exhibit. I love wolves, and the white Artic Wolves are just incredibly beautiful animals.

I went over to the Artic Wolves area in the Canadian Domain exhibit, but no wolves! As I soon found out, they'd recently been moved to the newer Tundra Trek exhibit, so I finished up shooting a few more animals in the Canadian Domain and headed towards the Tundra Trek to photograph the wolves.

When I got to the Tundra Trek exhibit, I was bummed out. The Artic Wolves were now behind about 1/2" wire fencing with no opportunity to get a clear shot.



Their old home in the Canadian Domain was much more conducive to photography, with lots of spots where you could get an unobstructed view for photography.

I looked around, walked the area, and tried to figure out how I could get a good shot. Nothing presented itself. I was stuck.

Dissappointed, I aimed the camera through the wire fencing at the wolves, more out of habit than anything. To my amazement, the D7000 locked auto focus on the wolves right through the 1/2" wire fencing!


Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300mm VR

I couldn't believe it! How was the D7000 able to do this? I could barely manual focus through the wire fending, and here the Nikon D7000 was auto focusing through it!

Sure, this wasn't optimal conditions for good photos. You could still see reflection and artifacts from the wire fence, but I was just blown away that the Nikon D7000 was focusing through it!

Here's a few more from the D7000 shooting through the fencing...


Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300mm VR


Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300mm VR


Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300mm VR


Related posts...

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D7000 First Impressions After a Few Hours of Shooting

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

The burning question that's been on my mind since even before the new Nikon D7000 was announced, is how it would compare to my Nikon D700 for High ISO image quality and noise.

I've been shooting with the D7000 for five days now, and the image quality is VERY good. The Nikon D7000 has beautiful color rendition, and the new 16 megapixel sensor really delivers when it comes to detail.

Still, until one sees a side by side comparison, you can't really compare. So, I got out my Nikon D700, got out my Nikon D7000, stuck my Nikon 50mm f1.8D on the D700, stuck my Nikon 50mm f1.4G on the D7000, and prepared for a shoot-out!

I put together two different composite images from various stuff lying around the house and my office, and I also shot my Nikon 18-105mm by itself to add a very dark subject into the mix.

Both cameras had High ISO NR set to NORM, and both cameras were shot at identical shutter speed and aperture settings, with the exception of the photos of the Nikon 18-105mm which were metered identically in each camera and shot as such.

All images were processed in Lightroom 3.3 RC with no adjustments made and no additional noise reduction applied.

The results are very impressive. The Nikon D7000 performs VERY well against the Nikon D700. The D700 wins, but not by as much as you might think considering the D7000 is a crop sensor with 4 more megapixels.

The Nikon D700 resolves more detail the higher the ISO goes. It's at least a stop better than the D7000, probably getting close to two stops better at ISO 25,600.

Something interesting I noted... the D7000 seems to be automatically adjusting exposure at the higher ISO settings, despite being shot in manual. The D7000 images were all brighter than the D700 images at the same shutter speed and aperture, and it seemed to be more pronounced at the highest ISO settings. I imagine this is an automatic thing to try to minimize noise by keeping the photo from being under-exposed.

The Nikon D7000 also appears to be applying more aggresive noise reduction at the higher ISO settings compared to the D700. Specifically look at the detail in the tiger's nose fur at the higher ISO settings. You can see the D700 is doing better than the D7000. Again, I imagine this is Nikon's approach to maximizing image quality and minimizing noise.

Over-all, the Nikon D7000 fairs very well against the Nikon D700, especially up to ISO 6,400. At ISO 12,800 and 25,600, the D700 does noticably better than the D7000 at resolving detail with less noise. Again though, this speaks volumes to how well the D7000 sensor does when you consider it's a DX sensor with 4 more megapixels than the full fram D700 sensor.

For me, this means that the two are a perfect shooting combination. I'll likely use my D7000 where I want more resolution up to ISO 1600 or 3200, and my D700 when I'm in dimmer lighting and want to go SUPER high ISO at 12,800 or 25,600.

That said, if I didn't already own a D700, I'd have a tough time deciding whether to buy two Nikon D7000 bodies, or to go with a D700 / D7000 combination. I suspect I might just end up with two D7000's.


NIKON D7000 ISO 1600 1/100 f4


NIKON D700 ISO 1600 1/100 f4


NIKON D7000 ISO 3200 1/200 f4


NIKON D700 ISO 3200 1/200 f4


NIKON D7000 ISO 6400 1/400 f4


NIKON D700 ISO 6400 1/400 f4


NIKON D7000 ISO 12,800 1/800 f4


NIKON D700 ISO 12,800 1/800 f4


NIKON D7000 ISO 25,600 1/1600 f4


NIKON D700 ISO 25,600 1/1600 f4

The rest of the test shots are on the Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out Flickr page. Feel free to download them and compare side by side!


Related posts...

Nikon D7000 One Month Review

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D7000 First Impressions After a Few Hours of Shooting

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Is the Nikon D7000 replacing the Nikon D300s / D400?

Nikon D7000 Spec Rundown

Speedlite Softbox Halloween Spook-tacular Sale!

We just received a new shipment of Art of the Image Speedlite Softboxes in time for our Speedlite Softbox Halloween Spook-tacular Sale!

Just $88 each for a limited time (plus shipping).

Buy one for a friend, or buy two with a friend and save on shipping! We'll combine shipping, and you pay only the one shipping fee!

Hurry and get yours before the Speedlite Softbox Halloween Spook-tacular Sale is over!

Nikon D7000 First Impressions After a Few Hours of Shooting

After the unboxing and once the battery was charged, I took the Nikon D7000 for a photo walk around the house and the yard.

I shot with the Nikon 50mm f1.4G, the Nikon 105mm f2.8G VR, and the Nikon 70-300mm VR to see how a variety of lenses performed.

I also shot the D7000 at a range of ISO settings, including 6400 ISO, to see how what kind of image quality and high ISO performance the Nikon D7000 is capable of.

While I was shooting, I was paying careful attention to auto focus, shutter lag, and over-all camera response of the D7000 to see how it compared against the Nikon D90 and even my Nikon D700.

Quick summary... the Nikon D7000 ROCKS! It's built like a tank. Feels like a smaller D700. Auto focus is quick and accurate. I'd say it's likely the equal of my D700 from my initial impressions.

The D7000 image quality is fantastic. Could be close to the Nikon D700 from what I'm seeing, but I plan on doing some head to head comparisons to see for sure.

Over-all, I'm very impressed! Watch the video for more of my thoughts and observations, but it's safe to say the Nikon D7000 is a HUGE SUCCESS!

Related posts...

Nikon D7000 One Month Review

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Is the Nikon D7000 replacing the Nikon D300s / D400?

Nikon D7000 Spec Rundown

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

My Nikon D7000 came in! Check out the unboxed video I did, showing off the D7000, what's in the box, and discussing new features and specs of the Nikon D7000.

I also discuss the up-coming tests and comparisons I'm going to be doing on the D7000 to see how the auto focus performs, how the high ISO measures up, and how the overall image quality of the Nikon D7000 compares to other Nikon DSLR's such as the D90, D3100, and the D700.

I'll also be doing more comparison shoot-outs with the Nikon D7000 against the Nikon D90, D3100, D700, and the Canon T2i.

Related posts...

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D700 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D7000 First Impressions After a Few Hours of Shooting

Nikon D7000 Unboxed Video

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G RAW Comparison Using Nikon ViewNX 2 vs Lightroom 3.3 RC

I have to admit, I jumped a little in my chair when I saw that Lightroom 3.3 RC was out, then I downloaded it as fast as I could.

Nikon ViewNX 2 has been just awful to work with for processing RAW files from the Nikon D3100. It's kinda like having someone poke you in your left eye with a hot poker while at the same time twisting your arm up behind your back until it feels like it's going to pop out of the socket.

Sure, ViewNX2 yields some nice results, but the pain you have to endure to get them almost intolerable.

So, yeah... I was more than a little excited to see Lightroom 3.3 RC come out with support for the Nikon D3100.

The next thing on my mind was how they compare... not so much for workflow as I know Lightroom is the best software out there for RAW processing workflow, but I wanted to see how close the image quality was.

A while back I wrote a piece called Lightroom vs Nikon Capture / View comparing Lightroom to Nikon Capture and Nikon View. I figured it was time for an update to see if there was anything had changed, and if there was any reason to keep this clunky, piece of crap software, ViewNX 2, on my computer.

The short answer is, no.

Lightroom 3.3 RC handles the Nikon D3100 RAW files beautifully. When you set the camera profiles to match those used in camera, you pretty much can't tell the difference. The odd file is slightly different, but not in a bad way... just not exactly identical as the one from ViewNX 2.

Maybe 1in a 100 images might turn out just ever so slightly nicer out of ViewNX 2, but even then it's so close as to be hardly worth mentioning.

I did a photowalk around the house with my Nikon 35mm f1.8G on my Nikon D3100 and shot random images of my kids at different settings and ISO values to run some tests between Lightroom 3.3 RC and Nikon ViewNX 2.

I then ran the RAW files through both pieces of software and compared the results. With the camera profiles set to match the file as shot, Lightroom is practically indistinguishable from ViewNX 2 for color and look.

In fact, if there was any minor difference, I usually preferred the Lightroom file.

Images were saved as High Quality in ViewNX 2 (once setting below the top), and to 60% in Lightroom 3.3 RC which works out to about equal compression settings.

So, my conclusion... Lightroom 3.3 RC ROCKS for processing Nikon D3100 RAW files! I'll probably still keep ViewNX2 on my computer, but I doubt I'll use it much if at all. It's just WAY TOO BAD for workflow. ViewNX 2 has got to be one of the worst, if not the worst, piece of imaging software I've ever used.

Here's some photo samples for you to see for yourself how Lightroom 3.3 RC measures up against Nikon ViewNX 2. Click on the photos to see the full size file.


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Nikon ViewNX 2


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Lightroom 3.3 RC


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Nikon ViewNX 2


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Lightroom 3.3 RC


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Nikon ViewNX 2


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Lightroom 3.3 RC


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Nikon ViewNX 2


Nikon D3100 + Nikon 35mm f1.8G processed with Lightroom 3.3 RC

More over at the Lightroom 3.3 RC vs Nikon ViewNX 2 Flickr page.

Related posts...

Lightroom vs Nikon Capture / Nikon View

Lightroom vs Canon DPP

Lightroom Workflow : Import Photos : How To Get Your Photos To Look Like They Did On Your Camera LCD

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Nikon D700x / D800 Status

Nikon D700x / D800 DSLR

For those of you that have read Nikon D4, D4x, 700s, 700x 2011 Lineup, you'll know I expect to see the Nikon D700x in 2011.

Perhaps one of the most written about, sought after, dreamed of DSLR cameras to date, the D700x / D800 will be the perfect camera for a lot of photographers. I know I want one!

The Nikon D700x, also referred to as the Nikon D800 and Nikon D900, will feature the sensor from the current DSLR King, the Nikon D3x. That means we'll be getting the 24 megapixel goodness in the wonderful D700 body, the perfect mating of performance and ergonomics for many shooters.

The Nikon D3x is the BEST camera in a 35mm DSLR that money can buy at the time of this writing. Check out DXOMark to see why.

Now take that BEST ranking and drop it into a smaller, lighter, more ergonomically friendly body, and it's easy to see what all the fuss is about.

The question on most people's minds is "Where is it?" or "Why hasn't Nikon released it yet?"

I touch on this in Nikon D4, D4x, 700s, 700x 2011 Lineup. Basically, I think Nikon didn't want to cannobilize D3x sales until they were close to releasing the D4x.

The Nikon D4x is expected to have a new 38 megapixel sensor, and when it's out, Nikon should have no fear of releasing the Nikon D700x with the D3x's 24MP sensor. The D4x will have no need to fear losing sales to the D700x as it'll be significantly more advanced with signficantly more resolution.

Nikon will have the best of both worlds. The D4x will sell well to those needing the BEST, and the D700x will sell like crazy to the rest of us who want the next closest thing to the BEST at a MUCH BETTER price.

When, in 2011, Nikon releases the Nikon D700x /D800 is dependant on a couple of things.

First off, it'll depend on whether Nikon chooses to release the D700x / D800 just before or just after the Nikon D4x. This could go either way as Nikon could benefit from either choice, especially if they leak info on either camera prior to releasing the other.

For example, let's say Nikon chooses to release the D700x /D800 before the D4x. If they leak info, images, arrange public sightings of the D4x in use, the D700x /D800 will sell very well and not hurt any sales of the D4x as those who would buy the D4x will know it's coming from the leaks.

Conversely, the same strategy could be used if the D4x is released before the D700x /D800.

I think we'll see the Nikon D4x released, or at least announced, first, followed by the Nikon D700x /D800.

When you say?

I expect we'll see the Nikon D4x announced by March 2011, and the D700x /D800 shortly after.

In the meantime, let me know by posting a comment or emailing me if you have any info to share on either the D4x or D700x /D800.

Related posts...

Nikon D4, D4x, D700s, D700x 2011 Lineup

Nikon D700x, D800, D900... where is it?

Nikon D700x, D800, D900... Whatever The Name, IT'S COMING!

Nikon D700X - Misconceptions On D700X Pricing

Nikon D700x Replacement for the D700?

Nikon D700X vs Nikon D3X... A Look At The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Each

Sony NEX-5 vs Nikon D90 Comparison Contradicts DXOMark Nikon D3100 Test Results

Following my previous post Nikon D90 Beats Nikon D3100 at High ISO where I discussed the DXOMark test results of the D3100 vs the D90, a reader posted this Cameralabs comparison of the NEX-5 vs the Nikon D90 showing conflicting test results.

In the Cameralabs tests of the Sony NEX-5 vs the Nikon D90, the NEX-5 clearly beats the Nikon D90 at higher ISO settings.

Considering the Nikon D3100 uses a similar sensor to the Sony NEX-5, this adds to my thoughts that something is out of whack with the DXOMark test results.

If anything, the Nikon D3100 will perform better than the NEX-5 as Nikon has always delivered superior image quality compared to the Sony DSLR cameras.

Factor in Thom Hogan's and my own initial findings that the Nikon D3100 is better than the Nikon D90 at high ISO settings, and the evidence is piling up against the DXOMark results.

The question is why?

In the past, I've always found the DXOMark results to be quite accurate and reflective of my own findings, so I'm curious why that isn't the case with the D3100.

If you come across any other NEX-5 or Nikon D3100 high ISO tests or comparisons, please post them in the comments section as I'd like to see them. Thanks!

Related posts...

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D3100 Over the Nikon D90

Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100 Auto Focus First Impressions

Nikon D3100 at ISO 3200 with Bounce Flash Dialed Down

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, & 12,800

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D90 Beats Nikon D3100 At HIGH ISO!

I was surfing around the photo world online last night and was surprised to see DXOMark has the test results for the Nikon D3100 up already.

I was even more surprised to see that when I ran the Nikon D90 against the Nikon D3100, the D90 kicked the D3100's butt by a significant margin at HIGH ISO. This morning I see 1001 Noisy Cameras has done a similar comparison stacking up the Nikon D3100 against the Nikon D5000, Nikon D90, Nikon D3000, and Nikon D300s.

The DXOMark test results surprised me as it isn't what I've been seeing from my tests. Thom Hogan has also said that from his testing, the D3100 "seems to beat the old 12mp sensor cameras in my low light tests (but only by a small amount)."

So what is going on here?

Why are mine and Thom's initial findings on the Nikon D3100 not jiving with the DXOMark sensor evaluation?

Could it be software related? I don't think so as I've been processing both D90 and D3100 photos I've been using for comparison in Nikon ViewNX2.

I'm drawing a blank at the moment for other possible reasons. Thought about bit depth, but that shouldn't be a factor. Thought about noise reduction, but again, not a factor as shot in RAW and processed with the same software.

The good news is that the Nikon D90 is holding it's own very nicely.

The bad news is that these aren't the same observations I've seen when shooting my Nikon D3100 against the Nikon D90.

I'm hoping Thom will comment on this as he's sure to see the DXOMark results and be questioning them as well.

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D3100 Over the Nikon D90

Following up on my previous Video Post, Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100, here's the flipside.

I'm still getting lots of people writing in to ask about which camera they should buy... the Nikon D3100 or the Nikon D90. Hopefully these video posts will help make the choice a little easier.

Related posts...

Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100

The Nikon D90 - The Perfect DSLR For Just About Everyone

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D90 Replacement by Mid-September

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100

I'm getting lots of people writing to ask about whether they should buy a Nikon D3100 or Nikon D90.

While I've written about this previously in my post 3 Reasons to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100, it seems many are still up in the air about choosing between the two.

So I decided to do a video explaining why you might want the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100!




Related posts...

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D3100 Over the Nikon D90

The Nikon D90 - The Perfect DSLR For Just About Everyone

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 High ISO Shoot-Out

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D90 Replacement by Mid-September

Little Things Photo Contest Begins Today!

Good Morning Photographer Friends!

Once again, it's time to get your cameras out, check them over, charge your batteries, make sure you downloaded and backed up your last shoot before formatting your memory card, clean your lenses, and start your engines!

The subject of the October/November 2010 Art of the Image Photo Contest is Little Things. Thanks to Paul Doelken for the suggestion!

The contest is FREE to all. There is NO CHARGE to enter. Each person can submit up 10 photos each for consideration. The contest starts today and runs until the end of November 2010.

We'll be posting some of our favorite photo entries through-out the contest to show off some of our favourite photo submissions.

The winner will be selected during the first week of December and will be receiving the grand prize. For the Grand Prize Peter Gregg has generously agreed to donate one of his awesome A Better Bounce Cards, and Art of the Image will be adding your choice of any DSLR battery we carry to sweeten the pot!

That's right folks! Top prize to the winner will be an A Better Bounce Card and your choice of any DSLR battery we carry!

To submit your photos, just head on over to the Little Things Flickr Group and submit your photos. Remember, 10 entries per person is the limit.

If you missed the last post where we announced the Days of Summer Photo Contest Winner, check it out!

Days of Summer Photo Contest Winner!

Well, it took longer than I thought to go through all the great photos submitted for the Days of Summer photo contest, but we've finally got a winner!

There were a LOT of great photos submitted. It's always fun to see other people's photographic vision and have a peek into their photographic psyche. :-)

That said, it's a lot of work going through all the photos and trying to decide on a winner! Mostly because there were so many we liked.

In any case, there can be only one as the Highlander once said (great movie if you haven't see it!), and the winner is....

Drum roll...


Ballon Festival in Lancaster PA by Debbie Saull

Debbie wins the grand prize... an A Better Bounce Card, generously donated by the brilliant photographic inventor Peter Gregg, and her choice of any DSLR battery we carry!

Thanks to everyone who entered for all the great submissions, and start your cameras for the October/November 2010 Little Things Photo Contest!

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 High ISO Shoot-Out

I shot the Nikon D3100 against the Nikon D90 to see how the high ISO noise and image quality compares side by side.

I shot the Nikon D3100 with my Nikon 50mm f1.4G, and my Nikon D90 with my Nikon 50mm f1.8D. Shot them both at f2.8, as both lenses are tack sharp and virtually identical for sharpness by f2.8.

Lighting is fairly low, from overhead compact flourescent bulbs. I've left the images with the color as shot out of camera. No color correcting for white balance has been done.

The conclusion from these samples and all the shooting I've been doing in the last couple weeks... the Nikon D3100 is about a stop better at high ISO. Maybe not quite a full stop, but bear in mind the D3100 has an extra 2 megapixels on the D90, so close to a stop better is VERY impressive.

Also, at the higher ISO settings I find myself liking the image color better out of the D3100. The color from the Nikon D3100 at higher ISO settings seems to hold together a little better than the D90 colors.

Here's some side by side composite images I put together from D3100 and D90 images at ISO 800, 1600, 3200, and 6400. The full size images are over at my Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 Flickr page.

The images are all processed in Nikon's ViewNX2 as Lightroom 3 doesn't support the D3100 at this time. Images are all as shot, no editing done, and saved at the High Quality JPG setting. They were cropped at full resolution, and as you can see, no re-sizing has been done, so the D3100 images are a little bigger than the D90 images.


Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 800


Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 1600


Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 3200


Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 6400

Here's the full stack of ISO 800 through 6400 from the D3100. Feel free to download it from the Flickr page and compare it as you will against the D90 stack below.



Here's the full stack of ISO 800 through 6400 from the D90.



These images are cropped from the full size image. The full size images on the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 Flickr page have more in the photo to compare if you want to do further pixel peeping.

Related posts...

Sony NEX-5 vs Nikon D90 Comparison Contradicts DXOMark Nikon D3100 Test Results

Nikon D90 Beats Nikon D3100 at High ISO!

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D3100 Over the Nikon D90

Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100 Auto Focus First Impressions

Nikon D3100 at ISO 3200 with Bounce Flash Dialed Down

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, & 12,800

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D3100 AF-F Continous Video Auto Focus... Not So Good

I've had a chance to play around a bit now with the Nikon D3100 video. Specifically, I was interested to see how the AF-F continous video auto focus (full-time-servo AF) stacks up.

The short answer is, not so good.

It's choppy and intermittent. It struggles to maintain focus, often losing focus and having to hunt to regain it. Basically, I consider it close to useless.

That said, these results are from indoor tests, not dark but somewhat subdued lighting. To quantify, we're talking normal indoor lighting that my Canon HF200 camcorder has zero problems with. The D31oo doesn't even come close to performing on the level of my HF200 for auto focus.

Perhaps the Nikon D3100 AF-F is better outdoors in bright light, but indoors, I won't be using the AF-F auto focus. It stinks.

The question now that comes to mind is whether the Nikon D7000 will have better AF-F full-time-servo auto focus???

It's likely that Nikon is not equipping their low end DSLR with the best of the best of their new AF-F auto focus. Perhaps the D7000 will shine in this area. Let's hope so!

So, Nikon, I love ya, and while my D3100 is a fantastic little DSLR, the AF-F just doesn't cut it. I'm giving you an F in this department. Hopefully you'll blow me away when my new Nikon D7000 arrives.

Related posts...

Nikon D3100 Auto Focus First Impressions

Nikon D3100 at ISO 3200 with Bounce Flash Dialed Down

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, & 12,800

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D3100 Auto Focus First Impressions

I've been shooting a lot with my new Nikon D3100 over the last few days to get a feel for it, how it performs, and whether or not it's going to meet my needs as a light-weight prime camera.

So far, I'm fairly impressed with the venerable little Nikon D3100. Image quality is second to none for a crop sensor DSLR. ISO 6400 is usable. For a $500 DSLR, the D3100 is incredible.

That said, my first impressions on the auto focus aren't as good as I was hoping.

Let me qualify that. From the specs, it would seem the Nikon D3100 inherits the excellent Nikon D90 11 point Auto Focus system, hence I expected the D3100 to be on par with the D90's excellent auto focus performance.

Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.

The D3100 hunts more than my D90 when focusing, especially indoors and in lower light situations. Obviously this type of observation is very hard to quantify. I can't stand there and shoot the same subject with both cameras at the same time, so I'm the first to admit my observations are subjective.

That said, I've shot thousands of images with my Nikon D90, and I'm intimately familiar with it's auto focus performance in all lighting situations. I've now shot over 500 images with my Nikon D3100, and I'm getting a good feel for how the auto focus performs. My initial impressions are that the D3100 is slower to focus than the D90 in all but the best of lighting conditions. Indoors in lower light situations, this is even more pronounced.

I've been shooting the Nikon D3100 exclusively with my Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S lens to this point. Prior to getting the D3100, in the last few weeks I've shot my D90 exclusively with the same Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S lens, so I have a very good feel how the lens performs on both cameras.

I've been thinking about why the D3100 would be slower to focus when on paper it should be the equal of the D90, and I think it might be battery related. The bigger 1500 mah battery in the D90 may be deciding factor. The D3100 battery is only 1030 mah so it may not be able to drive the AF-S motor in the lens as fast and sure as the D90's bigger battery can. Just a guess, but all else be equal, it's the only explanation that comes to mind.

Don't get me wrong though folks... the D3100 auto focus is VERY good. It's better than my Canon T2i in every lighting situation, and almost as good as my D90 in most lighting situations.

The Nikon D31oo auto focus is likely best in class. I'm making comparisons to a whole different class of camera, and keep in mind these are my first impressions.

Stay tuned for more on the Nikon D3100 as I continue to put it through it's paces!

Related posts...

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, & 12,800

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D3100 @ ISO 3200 with Bounce Flash Dialed Down

Here's some more samples from the Nikon D3100. These are shot at ISO 3200 with some bounce flash off the ceiling or wall.

The flash is the Nikon SB-400 and is dialed down to create a more subtle mix with the ambient.

Over-all, the image quality I'm seeing from the Nikon D3100 is superb. ISO 6400 is quite usable. I'd say the D3100 is about a stop or more better than the Nikon D90 at high ISO.

For a $500 crop sensor DSLR, the Nikon D3100 is really amazing!

Click on any of the images below for a larger photo. Full size jpgs at my D3100 Flickr page.


Ella at large - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella biting football - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella holding football - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella crushing football - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella watching Baby Einstein - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Lilly watching Caillou - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella pausing - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Lilly playing kitchen - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella eating Cheerios - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Ella standing - Nikon D3100 & 50mm f1.4G at ISO 3200


Related posts...

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, & 12,800

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600 3200 6400 & 12,800

One of the big things I'm curious about with my new Nikon D3100 is how the high ISO noise levels and image quality stack up.

Lightroom 3 doesn't support the D3100 files yet, so we're left with RAW conversions from ViewNX2 or jpgs straight out of the camera.

Still, even though I'm dying to see how Lightroom 3's new advanced noise reduction handles the Nikon D3100 RAW files, things are looking very good using ViewNX2 and OOC jpgs.

Here's some random shots from around the house to compare the D3100 high ISO noise at ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, and 12,800.

Click on any of the photos to see a larger image. Full size jpgs are available at my D3100 Flickr page.


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 1600


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 3200


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 12,800


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 1600


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 3200


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 12,800


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 3200


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 12,800


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 1600


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 3200


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 12,800


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400


Nikon D3100 with Nikon 50mm f1.4G @ ISO 6400

Stay tuned for more as I continue to put my new Nikon D3100 through it's paces...

Related posts...

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D3100 Gamechanger

Nikon D3100... the Perfect Prime Camera?