Nikon D2H DSLR launched today

[oeyvind]

(1) One of 1D's bad pts... like you said someone must be sleeping on this one when they launched it 2 years back.

(2) no comment... Nikon does have good viewfinder with all the useful info there.

(3) 1D & 1Ds has an external white balance sensor, same as D2000 & D6000 (DCS 520 & 620)

(4) Yes they still use old tech like D1 series.

(5) no comment.

(6) 1D and 1Ds has it.

(7) Have to admit I like Nikon flashes.

Then again the body is now 2 years + old... :devil:

Enough gear fetish, whatever gear it's, so long it gets the job done. Innovation is always good for everyone, i.e. Minolta did surprise Canon and Nikon with the 1st AF in the world.

 

[Altezza]

Don't forget the vertical orientation sensor, and the USB 2.0

 

[Jed]

Actually there are plenty of bits and bops. Auto ISO is worth its weight in gold (otherwise found only on the D100 and some P&Ses). A huge 2.5" screen. The 1D's buffer is a joke too. I mention the weight of the camera yet? 2ms lag with the mirror locked up. Nikon need to sort the firmware so this can be used properly, but if they do, its applications for wireless shooting, particularly trap shooting, would be amazing. Wireless transmission, don't knock this either.

 

[Viewfinder]

One thing I did not like was the the LCD could not zoom all the way to 1:1. Seems to make out at 4 x magnification. Maybe there is a way to do it, but could not manage there.

zooming to 1:1 can be done throught customise settings. The cam allows one touch full zoom or step zooming (used in D100). All these can be customised under the menu settings.

 

[Avatar]

Post amended, thanks oevyind, guess I didn't notice on the cam that earlier.

 

[Jed]

Ah yes. Now the only small problem. To get my hands on one. Or five.

 

[Avatar]

Ah yes. Now the only small problem. To get my hands on one. Or five.

LOL! Exactly the same problem, we have scheduled for 3 units for my pub but so far, I only got mine. Darn, they need to supply more soon

 

[robinchee]

Check it out ..

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse1/page15.asp

Looks like the noise level in D2H lose out to the EOS10D and S2Pro .. disappointing to say the least.

"Up to ISO 800 noise levels from the E-1, EOS-10D and D2H are relatively similar. Of these three cameras the EOS-10D has the cleanest images at ISO 100 and 200 followed by the D2H and then the E-1. At ISO 1600 the E-1's noise levels leap notably (and visibly) higher than the EOS-10D and D2H which both maintain similar levels. Also noteworthy is the increase in brightness of the EOS-10D image at ISO 800, 1600 and 3200. Throughout the ISO range Fujifilm's impressive S2 Pro plots a shallow noise curve none of the other cameras can match."

"The D2H's sRGB (I) default color balance does appear to to produce stronger (more saturated) color than the E-1, especially reds. The E-1's extra resolution does seem to deliver a little more detail than the D2H but it's really not as noticeable as it should be. As we noted earlier the E-1 doesn't appear to have as sophisticated a Bayer interpolation algorithm as the more mature digital SLR's. It exhibits artifacts which are simply not visible in the D2H image. That said the D2H does have a few 'bridge pixel' artifacts which can be seen in the barcode crop. From a noise point of view there seems to be little between these two cameras at ISO 200."

 

[offspring]

Went to SITEX today and roamed to Nikon area. Saw the D2H dispay set.

Talked to the nikon sales rep and he let me try the unit. When it set on my hands - felt good! Definitely ergonomically well-designed and made from fine materials. Kinda light too.

Start shooting a bit with the fisheye. Sweet - the dispay is huge!!! Did not know Nikon functions (was and has been and probably will still be a canonian). So the guy showed me. I start shooting continuos mode - VERY FREAKING FAST.. Almost unreal....

AF is fast (11 points). View finder is bright. Oh, D2H can automatically zoom into the AF point during preview.

The sales gut said "Come to the dark side". He knows I'm a canonion. And continues " Sell Sell Sell, Buy Buy Buy". Clubsnapper? :think:

There are many other drool points about the D2H....... One word - lust!!! Good thing, cameras are not wives/girlfriends, else I might be unfaithful. :bsmilie:

:thumbsup: for the D2H. But the price :nono: , I rather spent the dough on glass. For a long while, I never believe the saying "Nikon make *damn* excellent bodies" till today.

For the record, I was, still am, and likely continue to be a canonian.

 

[Avatar]

Check it out ..

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse1/page15.asp

Looks like the noise level in D2H lose out to the EOS10D and S2Pro .. disappointing to say the least.

"Up to ISO 800 noise levels from the E-1, EOS-10D and D2H are relatively similar. Of these three cameras the EOS-10D has the cleanest images at ISO 100 and 200 followed by the D2H and then the E-1. At ISO 1600 the E-1's noise levels leap notably (and visibly) higher than the EOS-10D and D2H which both maintain similar levels. Also noteworthy is the increase in brightness of the EOS-10D image at ISO 800, 1600 and 3200. Throughout the ISO range Fujifilm's impressive S2 Pro plots a shallow noise curve none of the other cameras can match."

"The D2H's sRGB (I) default color balance does appear to to produce stronger (more saturated) color than the E-1, especially reds. The E-1's extra resolution does seem to deliver a little more detail than the D2H but it's really not as noticeable as it should be. As we noted earlier the E-1 doesn't appear to have as sophisticated a Bayer interpolation algorithm as the more mature digital SLR's. It exhibits artifacts which are simply not visible in the D2H image. That said the D2H does have a few 'bridge pixel' artifacts which can be seen in the barcode crop. From a noise point of view there seems to be little between these two cameras at ISO 200."

Don't be because it is not unexpected.

The 10D is known to have an optimized and agressive noise reduction algorithm given the noisy nature of the CMOS sensor it sports. It also sports ISO 100, which in any case, should be relatively "clean". Phils' comment is quite close and reasonable from my observation so far too.

However, the largely unknown fact is the amount of detail the D2H can resolve is easily unequalled with any sensors of its class or some from higher MP count (but not the 1*MP ones of course). The use of a much thinner low-pass filter enabled this feat but at the price of a slightly higher, in this case, luminance noise ratio. Given that, it is already a marvellous achievement so to say.

There are many who expects butt clean ISO 800 and above images but in reality, even professional film of such ISO ratings doesn't behave this way. It is IMHO an outrage of what Digital is going to replace for it to "destroy" the authencity of film (which I prefer over digital anyday till now)

My first print from the D2H is already out in publication, a full 2 page wide image without any need of interpolation. It stunned my graphic editors with details that they didn't expect to see from a "measly" 4MP machine.

 

[erwinx]

the dpreview review also gives the resolution of 10D/D2H/S2 Pro etc...

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse1/page21.asp

 

[AJ23]

My first print from the D2H is already out in publication, a full 2 page wide image without any need of interpolation. It stunned my graphic editors with details that they didn't expect to see from a "measly" 4MP machine.

I agree with you. The amount of details the D2H can resolve is simply speechless for the measly 4MP.

Even at high ISO (>1600), quite some details is still preserved and retained while some 6MP's simply washed out or lost.

WB accuracy and skin tone saturation is also simply :thumbsup:.

End of the day, resolution isn't about everything.

 

[Clown]

I agree with you. The amount of details the D2H can resolve is simply speechless for the measly 4MP.

Even at high ISO (>1600), quite some details is still preserved and retained while some 6MP's simply washed out or lost.

WB accuracy and skin tone saturation is also simply :thumbsup:.

End of the day, resolution isn't about everything.

this statement is extremely true when you bring the sigma SD9 and 10 into the picture. a 3mp output with all the details a 6mp could have lost. but then, the cons of that camera really undermined the power of that sensor. :dunno:

 

[Watcher]

For the record, I was, still am, and likely continue to be a canonian.

It seems that you have underestimated the power of the Dark Side :devil:

Nope, once the feel the power of the Dark Side, forever will it remain borrowed into your body and soul. You may think otherwise, but forever will you now belong to the Dark Side...

:blah:

 

[Watcher]

this statement is extremely true when you bring the sigma SD9 and 10 into the picture. a 3mp output with all the details a 6mp could have lost. but then, the cons of that camera really undermined the power of that sensor. :dunno:

The issue is mainly because the lack of experience. Regardless how well the sensor is, without the experience of a first tier digital SLR maker (Nikon and Canon and Kodak), they won't get far. The same situation with Olympus.

With the D2H, the first camera using the LBCAST sensor and CAM2000 system, the quality is already so impressive. Note that there should be further improvements to the firmware which is end-user upgradable, just like Kodak's 14n. The performance and noise level will improve along the way. No digital SLR has no upgrade in the firmware. I can't wait to see what will come out with D2x and D200 next year or two.

ALL products are made with a series of compromises in order to reach the market.

 

[AJ23]

:thumbsup: for the D2H. But the price :nono: , I rather spent the dough on glass. For a long while, I never believe the saying "Nikon make *damn* excellent bodies" till today.

For the record, I was, still am, and likely continue to be a canonian.

Young padawan, do not give in to lust, lust leads to the no good side, give in to buy, buy leads to the dark side. :blah: :blah: :blah:

 

[scanner]

Young padawan, do not give in to lust, lust leads to the no good side, give in to buy, buy leads to the dark side. :blah: :blah: :blah:

:bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:
BTW, I'm really interested to know, does the print made by D2h is better than D1x or D100?

Any comments?

 

[AJ23]

:bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:
BTW, I'm really interested to know, does the print made by D2h is better than D1x or D100?

Any comments?

So far, images on screen for D2h are better than D100, despite its measly 4MP. Haven't tried prints yet, but I figured it will be better in favour of D2h even at 8Rs or 12Rs.

As for D1x, didn't have the chance to compare, maybe you can... :wink: :devil:

 

[robinchee]

Don't be because it is not unexpected.
There are many who expects butt clean ISO 800 and above images but in reality, even professional film of such ISO ratings doesn't behave this way. It is IMHO an outrage of what Digital is going to replace for it to "destroy" the authencity of film (which I prefer over digital anyday till now)

Would you say the D2H noise at 800 and 1600 is better than grain of Fujipress 800 and 1600? As long as its better, it should be good enough for me in the real world.

While ultimately I would like the noise level to be of S2Pro levels, its useless if I can't even get the shot. I believe that the D2H's shutter response, focusing and hopefully better TTL flash will enable shots that the S2Pro just can't get. If the noise really disturbs me, there is always neat image and noise ninja. I guess all things are a compromise.

Dpreview reviews while accurate, tend to be very clinical and don't really talk about how it works in real life. So I'll take it into consideration but not based my decision solely on their review.

 

[Watcher]

Would you say the D2H noise at 800 and 1600 is better than grain of Fujipress 800 and 1600? As long as its better, it should be good enough for me in the real world.

While ultimately I would like the noise level to be of S2Pro levels, its useless if I can't even get the shot. I believe that the D2H's shutter response, focusing and hopefully better TTL flash will enable shots that the S2Pro just can't get. If the noise really disturbs me, there is always neat image and noise ninja. I guess all things are a compromise.

Dpreview reviews while accurate, tend to be very clinical and don't really talk about how it works in real life. So I'll take it into consideration but not based my decision solely on their review.

You're actually comparing apples to oranges. The S2Pro (despite the name) is NOT the same target as D2H (or D1H) which is for pro action/sports/news photographer, but high end consumer or semi-pro. The base body will tell you this already (modelled after the F-80 body right).

The noise so far does not seem to be an issue though currently, it is not significantly better than say 1D. I expect that to change with the next revision of the firmware.

As for DP Review, do note that Phil seems to be a little prejudice against Nikon.