Art of the Image

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

I had the Nikon D3100 with me at last Saturday's wedding.

It was a great chance to try it out in low light indoors, not to mention mixed, less than ideal lighting.

Shot some candid and detail photos during the reception using the Nikon 50mm f1.4G on the D3100.

Here's a few (click on the image to see larger)...

Nikon D3100 @ ISO 1800

Nikon D3100 @ ISO 6400

Wedding Cupcakes - Nikon D3100 @ ISO 3200

Nikon D3100 @ ISO 3200

You can see the full-size jpgs at my Nikon D3100 Flickr set.

Related posts...

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Nikon D3100 Gamechanger

Nikon D3100... the Perfect Prime Camera?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 & Nikon 50mm f1.4G

My Nikon D3100 came in! Here's it is unboxed with the Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S on it, which is the lens that will likely stay on it.

I'm curious to see if the Nikon D3100 is going to make the grade as a prime camera.

It's small and light.

It has the same excellent 11 point auto focus system as the Nikon D90.

The big bonus... the D3100 appears to have even better high ISO image quality than the D90 despite it having 2 more megapixels (from all initial reports and sample images I've seen).

So... here we go. Time to put my new Nikon D3100 through it's paces.

(of course, my Nikon D7000 should be here in a couple of weeks, and that is on my mind too so my Nikon D3100 has got to make the grade or it'll get dropped in favour of a 2nd D7000)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Nikon D7000 - The New Crop Sensor DSLR King!

Nikon D7000

So the internet is humming with talk of the Nikon D7000. As I wrote yesterday, The Nikon D7000 Over-Delivers In Spades! and I wasn't exaggerating.

With it's SUPER impressive specs, build, and performance (check out Chase Jarvis' D7000 3200 ISO image sample), there isn't anything out there in a DX body that comes close to the D7000, especially when you consider the price.

Even Nikon's own line-up has been shaken up by the D7000. It's now the top megapixel crop sensor DSLR they have, second only in resolution to the formidable Nikon D3x.

And the high ISO looks VERY good!

From all initial reports and the images I've seen, the D7000 rivals the full frame Nikon D700 and D3 (not the Nikon D3s mind you) for high ISO image quality. I have to think Nikon wouldn't have done this without knowing they would be releasing a Nikon D700 update soon.

Perhaps the Nikon D700s and the Nikon D700x are coming sooner than I thought!

And what about the D300s and D400? Is the Nikon D7000 replacing the Nikon D300s / D400 in the lineup? If not, I can hardly wait to see what the D400 will look like!

So, if you're over at Canon and you just released the disappointing, under-spec'd, and un-exciting Canon 60D, you have to be a little concerned here. The Nikon D7000 just SMOKES the 60D. In fact, the D7000 looks like it'll blow away the Canon 7D too.

And Pentax, Olympus, and Sony have to be worried too. Nothing they have can take on the D7000, and it's only priced at $1199.99 USD!

As always, competition is good, and the Nikon D7000 will most certainly cause Canon and the others to pull up their socks and deliver more to the customer at a better price which is EXCELLENT news for all of us photographers!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

WOW! The Nikon D7000 Over-Delivers In Spades!

So I'm reading the Nikon D7000 specs, and this little voice in my head keeps saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you Nikon" over and over again. :-)

This thing ROCKS!

Dual card slots!

AF fine tuning to dial in your lenses!

1/8000 shutter speed!

Manual video control!

Partial Magnesium alloy body with weather sealing!

And those are just the surprises!!! We got everything else we were expecting too!

16 megapixel sensor, full 1080 HD video, external mic jack for the video, AF-F continous video focus, new 39 point AF system... and the list goes on! Check it out at Nikon's website

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!

Is the Nikon D7000 replacing the Nikon D300s / D400?

Nikon D7000 Spec Rundown

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

3 Reasons to Buy the Nikon D90 over the Nikon D3100

Nikon D90 vs Nikon D3100

Yesterday I received another email from a reader wanting my advice on whether he should buy the Nikon D90 or the Nikon D3100. I've had a few such emails now, including the one I posted last week... What to Buy... Nikon D90, Canon T2i, or Nikon D3100???

The Nikon D90 is STILL a great DSLR. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, especially with the low pricing available these days. Despite the Nikon D3100 being two years newer, there are three reasons to buy the Nikon D90 over the D3100.

1) Lenses... the Nikon D90 can shoot with pretty much ALL of the Nikon lenses. Want to use that stellar Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D? No problem. Want to use the portrait favourite Nikon 85mm f1.8 AF-D? No problem. Want to go really wide and light? Put the Nikon 20mm f2.8 AF-D on the D90.

You can't use any of the above lens on the Nikon D3100 and get auto focus. It only takes the newer AF-S lenses because it doesn't have an AF motor in the body. This is BIG for me and a lot of people. While I'll be picking up a D3100, it's primarily to use as a prime camera... specifically with my Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S. If you want to use non AF-S lenses and don't have another Nikon DSLR like the D90 that will take them, the Nikon D3100 probably isn't for you. Go for the Nikon D90.

2) Monitor... it may not seem like much, but the Nikon D90 has a MUCH better monitor than the Nikon D3100. The D3100 has a 3" monitor with 230,000 dots vs the D90 monitor at 3" and 921,000 dots.

This is HUGE when it comes to viewing your photos and judging sharpness and contrast. I had the Nikon D5000 for a couple months, and it was one of my biggest pet peeves with it. It was no fun to go from the D90's beautiful high resolution to the D5000's low resolution monitor.

The Nikon D90 has the same high resolution monitor found on the Nikon flagships. The Nikon D700, D3s, and D3x all have the same monitor. It's just better, period.

3) Size, weight, and feel... again, this may not seem like much, but the Nikon D90 just feels more professional, more solid, and better in the hands. Of course, it's a personal preference, but it's also one that MANY photographers will agree with.

The D3100 is 4.9"wx3.8"hx2.9"d vs the D90 at 5.2"wx4.1"hx3.0"d. The D3100 weights 16oz (455g) vs the D90 at 22oz (620g). Before you disregard the size, weight, and feel as a minor issue, go to your local camera store and hold both of them (if the D3100 isn't in yet, which it won't be at the time of this post, then compare the D3000 to the D90). See what works for you. A lot of people prefer the size, weight, and feel of the D90.

Of course, there are a few good reasons to buy the Nikon D3100 over the Nikon D90 too! :-)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Canon 1Ds MarkIV or Nikon D4x - Which will come first?

Canon 1Ds Mark IV

CanonRumors has been posting various tidbits and rumors relating to when we might expect to see the Canon 1Ds MarkIV.

Most of us were expecting to see the 1Ds MarkIV announced by Photokina this year, but it would seem that may not be happening. In fact, if the rumors are true, Canon may be waiting for Nikon to announce the Nikon D4x before they make any Canon 1Ds MarkIV annoucements.

Regardless of if they wait for Nikon, the rumor now is that we won't see the 1Ds MarkIV until 2011, or (GASP!) even early 2012.

I'm kinda doubtful of this though. Traditionally, neither Nikon or Canon has held back new products in order to see what the other is doing. Even if Canon wanted to see what Nikon is going to announce with the Nikon D4x, why not release the 1Ds MarkIV now and then tweak an update as an "s" version later if need be?

Let's say Canon announces the 1Ds MarkIV this week in time for Photokina. They get to enjoy top spot in the game for a while until Nikon announces the Nikon D4x, both satisfying professionals who need the update to the 1Ds MarkIII and keeping the Canon faithful happy that Canon is remaining a strong competitor in the DSLR game.

Then, when Nikon announces the D4x, if Canon feels they need to do some tweaks and up-dates to the 1Ds MkIV in response, they can release an updated "s" version... the Canon 1Ds MarkIVs.

It's a win-win situation.

Frankly, I don't see any benefit in Canon waiting to release the 1Ds MarkIV. Just the opposite actually, I see a lot of potential negative to waiting.

Come on Canon... show us what you've got!