Category : The Learning Center

 

Nikon has released several fast, single focal length lenses, last year.  After some time to shoot them I’m in love!   All are f 1.4 maximum aperture.  85 f 1.4 – 35 f 1.4  and the 24 f 1.4.  They are spectacularly sharp, and very well corrected.  As you would imagine they cost more than $199.   All are just sub $2,000. each!!!   So why would you invest in such expensive glass?  Actually you might if you had to shoot in dismal light, or needed as bright an image as possible for viewing.  If you worked in reasonably good light and had a camera that can shoot in High ISO (6400 and higher)  You can work perfectly well with f 2.8 lenses.   the 24-70 AF-S f 2.8 is a perfect example.  It is razor sharp and reasonably fast. I even find the 24-120 AF-S VR II f 4 to work good in “most” situations.  “Most” is a big word when you are being paid to shoot.  If you have to work in miserable light, you’re gonna want these lenses in your bag.

 

Another reason you may want such fast lenses is to get very shallow depth-of-field.  Nothing is prettier than a soft, out of focus, background when you want to eliminate distractions.  The faster the lens, the easier it is to get that effect.  One other reason to think about this trio is the exclusive Nikon “N” coatings.  The Nano coatings are the ultimate weapon in the battle against reduced contrast due to  flare.

 

All in all, if you have the right reason to buy them, these three great lenses look less and less expensive!

 

the pilgrim

 

Is there anyway to save some money and still enjoy the fast glass???  Sort of, if you own both DX and FX bodies buy the 24 f 1.4 which on your DX body would be a 36 f1.4 and then add the 85 f 1.8 which is costs almost 1/4 the 85 f 1.4.   You would get 95% of the performance at substantially less than half the cost.  So I have a D4 and a D7000 if I own the 24 mm f 1.4 it will be a 24 f 1.4 on the D4, and 36 f 1.4 on the D7000.  The 85 mm f 1.8 is an 85 mm f1.8 on the FX, a 127.5 mm f 1.8 on the D7000.  Pretty cool………………

 

 

 

In the first few hours after the D4 was announced I was flooded with questions, and I thought some were very good ones!  So I thought I would attempt to address some of them, but first, this is why I’m excited about the image quality, Below are a full frame image and a 100% enlargement of a small portion of the file, I think you will be impressed!

 

 

 

O.K. I will let the images speak for themselves, now to your questions:

 

Question 1.  Is the D4 enough better than the D7000 to pay $5,999.95 for one?

 

Answer; I’m not trying to be evasive but that is an impossible questions to answer.  What I mean is for some photographers it’s worth every penny, for others it will definitely be over kill.   If you are a professional sports photographer or photojournalist, I would say I don’t see how you could live without one.  If you are a serious amateur and have and unlimited budget, once again, it’s well worth the price.  If your budget for equipment would be stretched to the limit to just buy the body alone, I would say a D7000 and few very good lenses might be the best answer for you.  Comparing the D4 to a D7000 is like comparing a Toyota Camry to a S Class Mercedes.  They both do the same things but at a very different level.  Both will get you from point A to Point B, but the trip is going to be very different!!!

 

Question 2.  How much better do think the D4 is than the D3s?  

 

Answer:  In terms of video, it is revolutionary, in terms of still photography I would say it is very evolved and significantly improved!  I say that while still believing the D3s was one of the greatest cameras of all time!   You have to keep in mind that the professional top model from Nikon is very specifically designed for a certain kind of photographer, and in that respect those shooters should be very, very pleased indeed! I would say that if extremely high resolution like the D3x is not necessary for what you do, the D4 just might be in your future.

 

Question 3.  How do you think it will compare to the New Canon X pro camera?  

 

Answer:  I have not seen the Canon camera, or used it, so making a comparison would be impossible, I’m sure their camera will be a fine machine, but working for Nikon I don’t spend to much time shooting with Canons!

 

Question 4.  If you compared the D4 to a D3s, or D700,or even a D7000, how much better will the images be?

 

Answer:  It is hard to address that because except for the D3s you’re comparing apples and oranges.  First, the D4 is going to be better than any of the camera you mentioned.  In terms of video there is no comparison.  For still work if images are not blow up very large, or not shot at extremely high ISOs (like 6400 and up)  I think the comparisons would be closer than you might think, however, at very high ISO and very large print sizes, the D4 is going to really shine by comparison.  The D700 is virtually equal to a D3, now two generations old, and the D7000 is a different animal altogether, the D7000 is a screaming bargain a 1/5 the cost of a D4 , but definitely made for different uses!

 

Question 5.  What has impressed you the most about the D4 in your first month of shooting it?

 

 

Answer:  That’s a great question!!  I love the solid no nonsense design and the way it operates, smooth, quick and very responsive.  I love the fact that it offers all the controls in a familiar way but with a lot of enhanced capabilities, like the much expanded bracketing options.  I love the viewfinder, and the image quality, even when blown up huge is very impressive.  In the film era the Nikon F5 was once called a mean picture making machine!  Among pro DSLRs I would have to say this is this generations Mean picture making machine!

 

Question 6.  Do you use the D3x much, and do you like the D4 better even though it has less megapixels?

 

Answer:  My work does not require the level of megapixels that the D3x offers, many people do want, and need that kind of resolution, I’m just not one of them.  I love the D3x, I just don’t find I need that extreme resolution that often.  If I did studio or fashion work and huge prints I would use one far more often.

 

Question 7.  When you retire from Nikon, someday,  do you think you will buy a D4 to keep?

 

Answer: I think there is very little doubt about that!

 

Hope those were helpful!

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

 

* PS:  Thanks to Ken Rockwell for the studio shot of the D4!

 

 

Last night the worldwide release took place of Nikon’s New Flagship Pro camera, the D4.  I have actually been shooting with the camera for the last month and I can say it is very high on the Wow factor scale.  My apologies for those that have asked hundreds of questions about the new camera everyone was expecting, you must understand that prior to the release of any new camera, we are strictly forbidden from discussing any information, until it is officially released it doesn’t exist…. Now I’m happy to fill you in on the details!  For the last several years I’ve felt that for those willing to carry a heavier camera the D3s was the camera n the market in terms of out and out image quality at all ISO’s and in all situations requiring speed of operation.  The D4 is the next logical step in this evolution, and a huge step at that!  I personally was not sure I wanted to carry such a robust camera, before it was released, after several weeks of testing,  I will definitely be using the D4 myself, a great deal, it’s simply the most complete camera I’ve ever held in my hands! I’ve never shot a more responsive camera, or one that produced more magnificent files!

 

Of course for the video producers the new camera is a massive leap forward with more capabilities and much higher quality video files than anything previous from Nikon.  The control of exposure, focusing and sound while capturing in multiple frame rates at full 1080p makes this camera a fantastic machine to produce Broadcast quality video.  New features include HDMI support for off camera video file capture, headphone out, exceptional in camera sound quality, and many other key features for the DSLR videographers.

 

On the still side, I can say without any reservations that I’ve never shot a camera that produces nicer, cleaner, sharper files.   Many of the test images I’ve made, (some samples below), are so rich with detail that no matter how much I have enlarged the files they remain crisp, clean and highly detailed.  Noise performance at High ISOs has once again been improved, even over the D3s which was so spectacular that many thought not further improvement might be possible, trust me it is possible and is accomplished in the D4!   For those of us that like to work in HDR, one very valuable new feature is the broad range of bracketing options in the D4.  The camera will allow 3-5-7-or 9 exposures in either 1/3 – 2/3 – 1 full stop, plus 2 stops and 3 stops!!!!  The possible dynamic range capture for very difficult HDR situations has been massively increased!  The D4 also features a quick HDR feature that makes an in camera file based on a overexposed and normal frame.  Nice for increased dynamic range in a quick and easy fashion.

 

Other key features include:

 

* A 3.2 inch 921,000-dot LCD with ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the LCD visibility according to the environment.

 

* 51 AF points delivers fast and accurate AF detection.  15 are Cross-type sensors in the center detect contrast for both vertical and horizontal lines for lenses f 5.6 or faster.

 

* 10 Frames Per Second in FX-format for up to 200 frames.

 

* A new Nikon FX  (36 x 23.9 mm) CMOS sensor with 16.2 effective megapixels. 

 

* Nikon’s first 91,000 pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering III.  Highly effective in field use.

 

*  ISO range from 100 to 12,800 that can be set to from 50 to as high as 204,800!

 

* While the basic operational controls remain located as in the D3s several valuable new controls have been added, two sub-selector joystick make moving and setting autofocus points more responsive to your fingers touch, and they are positioned for optimal control for both vertical and horizontal operation.

 

*  Lighted control buttons for better operation in dim light.

 

* Expeed 3 image-processing engine for exceptional speed and performance.

 

* A battle hardened – weather sealed – fully magnesium body with a Thermal Shield finish that protects the camera by dissipating heat in direct sun conditions.

 

The list goes on and on and I can assure you  that it you have been a very happy D3 or D3s shooter you are going to love the D4.

 

For years I’ve said things like I love the Nikon F, I’m not interested in the F2 only to adopt it and use it with much love and success, the trend continued through the F3, F4, F5 and finally the F6! Now the D1, D2, D3 and the D4 is the very best yet.  You would think I would learn………..

 

the pilgrim

 

Here are some sample shots with the D4, they are HDR’s and the shot below each is a small portion of the same file:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust me, these files blown up to 4 X 6 foot don’t look any different!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite self-assignments in to look for color as a subject, or as I call it, color for color sake.  It can be anything as long as the color works, subtle color, or knock your socks off color, odd color combinations, or complimentary color, but color!  I’ve found that it helps me stay on top of my game to make myself go out and search for things I would not normally look for, and the color assignment is a good one. After you get pretty good at this, start assigning yourself just a specific color like Red.  You will surprised at how much it helps your visual acuity.  Developing a good since of visual awareness is one of he major keys to becoming the photographer you’ve always wanted to be!

 

In a couple of hours I’m headed over to the Super Dome for tonight’s Sugar Bowl, I’m assigning myself a color assignment, so tomorrow we will see how I did, extra pressure!!!  I love it!

 

Thanks Father for a great job, and an adventurous life!

 

the pilgrim

 

*Note:  All of  these images ere made at Old Car City in White GA, a great place to color hunt!  Can’t wait to shoot it with our group in March!