PHOTOGRAPHIC THREADS: camera queries, any photo tech stuff!

[David King]

RAW is better, just like a DSLR is better, but like a DSLR the amount gained is not in proportion to the effort.

While I would agree there is much truth in that I would not agree entirely.  I switched to RAW some years ago and there are definite benefits and some drawbacks.  I think it rather depends on how much you are into photography.  RAW will not suit many people because there is a time factor in processing the pictures but you do have considerably more control over them as it contains all the information recorded by the sensor un-edited unlike a jpg.  I find the control over white balance and exposure particularly useful.  Most of us take photos on auto white balance and the camera doesn't always get it exactly right. I noticed my snow pictures had a definite blue tinge to them, probably because I tend to under expose shots, but a tweak on WB brought it right.  Control over exposure is also beneficial as is enhancing under exposed areas.

One of the things to be gained from a DSLR and I think is worth the effort.  Picture quality.  As far as I am concerned It is definitely better. Picture quality depends on the glass in front of the sensor.  A lens costing £1000 and more should, I would think, give a far better result than a fixed lens on a compact or bridge camera.  Looking at the resulting picture at 100% would show that. 

You do need more storage but I don't keep my RAW pictures on the computer but on external hard drives.  The computer only has the finished result as a jpg which will never be re-edited.

At the end of the day its horses for courses. Isn't it good there is so much choice.

[TC]

I think the point was that jpegs would suit  David N.better  than going down the DSLR/ RAW way.  I would think that most people on the forum are not into photo processing on their computer as a way of life.  A reasonable quality camera that they can carry about without the burden of extra lenses, filters flashguns, which weigh a ton, suits most people.  The pictures are either viewed on a screen or printed 6x4.  The quality inherent in A DSLR does not show until you are at A4 level.  Again, cost is a consideration.  QUALITY IS NOT CHEAP !

[Anthony Darby]

We thought 6" x 4" had gone the way of all flesh until we came to New Zealand, then we had to search for shops that actually sold 7" x 5" paper and albums. Our photograph albums have been 7" x 5" for well over 20 years. The cost of 7" x 5" reprints in photographic shops here is considerably more, disproportionate to the increase in size of paper but presumably reflecting the popular size here.

[Gerry Webster]

Can anyone recommend a miniature - 'table top' - tripod for use with a Canon camera? Amazon seem to offer several quite cheaply but it's not clear whether there is anything to choose between them. 

[Ed Alverson]

My "old" DSLR (a Canon Digital Rebel Xti) is 7 years old now, and I decided it was time to upgrade my camera. I've purchased a Nikon D600, which is a FX or "full frame" digital SLR, meaning that the sensor is the same size as a 35mm film negative or slide. While one of the advantages over the "standard" DX format is the greater pixel count and ability to printer larger enlargements, I have to admit that for me one of the motives was the larger size of the view in the viewfinder, which allows for a better ability to compose, check focus, etc., through the viewfinder. The D600 is a great improvement over the Canon DX format, though it is still not as good in this regard as my 35 year old Olympus OM1! Anyway, I bring this up because right now the D600 is being discontinued (the replacement D610 has only minimal differences), and good discounts can be had before the stock runs out. At my local Best Buy store, the body only was for sale for $1500 - quite a bit less than the $2000 list price for the D610. Still a lot of money for a camera, but I figure it is worth it when I consider how much effort it takes to travel to a scenic location or good wildflower spot.

Ed

[ArnoldT]

Ed:

I picked up the D600 last year.  I have a 105 macro lens and the combination is a bit heavy.

For me it's a great piece of equipment.

Too many bells and whistles at times.

Check here for prices that I found were about the best around. http://www.rythercamera.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=64_2372_2152_1211

[Ed Alverson]

Yes, the D600 is definitely larger and heavier than the Canon Digital Rebel, but I got a 50 mm f1.8 lens, which is quite small, so the combination is not too heavy. That should work for me. The User's Manual runs to 340 pages, so there is a lot of complexity there, my hope is that I can figure out pretty quickly how to do the things I need to do (white balance, image quality adjustments, and the like) and gradually go from there. But it is definitely a complex piece of technology.

Ed

[Anthony Darby]

No discount here in New Zealand. $3,949.00  http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/cameras/digital-slrs/nikon-d600-digital-slr-with-24-82mm-lens.html?gclid=CNvoj5ntrLsCFZWUfgodzkgAzw

[David Pilling]

I'm considering a new DSLR - the attraction of full frame is that lenses will then work with the results expected for their focal length in other words a 50 mm lens will not give (equivalent of) 75 mm results (as it will on an APS size sensor).

Must have been a wrench moving from Canon to Nikon and leaving all the non-compatible kit behind, lenses, flashes etc.

Time for an open hardware standard that will put all the big brands out of business 

[Ed Alverson]

I believe the D600 is compatible with all of Nikon's SLR lenses, even for old film cameras (though focus and exposure may be manual).

The switch from Canon is not that big of a deal - I had only purchased a couple of lenses, and since they were DX lenses I'd need to buy new lenses even if I got a Canon FX camera.

As I recall, the first SLR I purchased cost about $250 in 1973. With inflation in the US that is about $1300 in today's $$. So really we are now able to get much more advanced technology for a similar (ballpark) cost today.

Ed

[David Pilling]

I have a Sony alpha - they're compatible with all the old Minolta lenses going way back - but there is something called 'sensor flare' - a digital sensor reflects more light than film, the light hits the back of the lens and is reflected producing an artifact. Doesn't happen with all lenses or in all situations.

Adding coatings to reduce this is one reason there are new versions of old lens designs.

I only know the situation on Sony/Minolta.

[David Pilling]

I like the DXO mark for cameras here:

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Ratings

compares the sensors from 100's of DSLRs over years. The Nikon D600 is just about the best on that score.

[TC]

An old version of Photoshop...CS2 ...is available FREE from the Adobe site.  THIS IS NOT A PIRATE COPY !!  although 7 years old it is still functional for all average users.
See the site below.  I have been using Photoshop 7 for years and this is a bit more user friendly.
It downloads and installs easily.  The download is about 340Mb.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-get-photoshop-for-free/

[ArnoldT]

I received an email from NIKON stating that there is a problem with spots on images taken with the Nikon D600.  They are offering to pay for the shipping back and forth to have the camera serviced.  See below.  I have noticed spot on some of my images.

Dear Arnold,

Thank you for choosing Nikon for your photography needs.

Nikon Inc. is contacting you regarding your D600 D-SLR camera. As you may be aware, Nikon Inc. recently issued a Technical Service Advisory for Users of the Nikon D600 D-SLR camera.

This Advisory related that some users of Nikon’s D600 D-SLR camera have reported the appearance of tiny spots on certain of their images. Not all users have experienced this issue. Nikon has thoroughly evaluated these reports and has determined that these spots are caused by dust particles which may become visible when the camera is used in certain circumstances and/or with certain settings. It is a well-known fact that the presence of dust particles cannot be completely avoided when using a D-SLR camera even after normal sensor cleaning procedures, because of a number of factors including components moving at high speeds when images are taken, the use of interchangeable lenses and the different environments in which a D-SLR camera may be used. As part of its customer-service commitment, Nikon is providing a customer-service measure to reduce the potential impact of dust particles on images taken by its D600 D-SLR cameras.

Nikon has resolved this by making available to you (even if Nikon’s product warranty has expired) this customer-service measure, which includes the inspection, cleaning and replacement of the shutter assembly and related parts of your camera, FREE OF CHARGE as well as the cost of shipping your D600 camera to Nikon and its return to you. Once again, please understand that regardless of this service, your D600 camera as is the case with all D-SLR cameras, will continue to require normal periodic sensor cleanings.

[TC]

This is a well known problem with the D600. There have been many complaints in the photographic press about this.  I had thought of upgrading but decided against it until something had been done about this.  It has !!

The D610 has been introduce fairly recently as an upgrade to the D600 and this "problem" seems to have been solved although Nikon did not admit there was a problem with the sensor.  From the correspondence you received, they now finally have acknowledged this.