KAMERA digital yang tersedia di pasaran sekarang ini sudah beragam dan memiliki keunggulan dari berbagai sisi, mulai dari teknologi sampai rancangannya yang dibuat guna menarik para pembeli untuk memilikinya. Sebenarnya, memang menjadi membingungkan kalau kita melihat etalase toko peralatan kamera digital sekarang ini yang memiliki begitu banyak ragam pilihan yang tersedia, dari mulai merek yang terkenal sampai yang tidak terkenal sama sekali.
KEHADIRAN kamera-kamera digital sekarang ini memang memberikan sebuah pertanyaan, apakah era penggunaan digitalisasi dewasa ini memang sudah mencapai sebuah titik, di mana penggunaan kamera tradisional menggunakan film-film seluloid sudah akan berakhir tergantikan oleh rangkaian-rangakain papan kecil CCD (charge coupled device) yang melekat di berbagai kamera digital? Para konsumen yang menggemari berbagai gadget berteknologi mutakhir pun sebenarnya tidak terlalu memusingkan persoalan ini.
Belum lama ini Kompas mencoba sebuah kamera baru buatan Canon, yang memang dikenal memiliki keunggulan tersendiri dalam menghasilkan beberapa kamera digital piawai. Sebagai sebuah kamera saku, Canon Ixus V3 ini memang sangat ringan dengan berat sekitar 250 gram dan memiliki dimensi yang memang cocok untuk diletakkan di dalam saku celana, dengan ukuran 87x 57x27 mm.
Canon selalu mampu untuk menghasilkan kamera-kamera digital yang mudah digunakan, seperti pada kamera Ixus V3. Selain sangat sederhana penggunaannya pada posisi otomatis, pada penggunaan manual pun tidak serumit kamera profesional konvensional. Keuntungan dari adanya pengoperasian kamera Ixus V3 secara manual ini adalah memungkinkan bagi para pemula untuk bisa memahami seluk-beluk sebuah kamera pada umumnya.
Artinya, mereka yang ingin mengetahui bagaimana perbedaan penggunaan aperture (bukaan) dan kecepatan shutter speed, bisa segera melihat hasil-hasil foto jepretannya secara instan yang muncul pada layar LCD yang terletak di belakang, berukuran 1,5 inci (sekitar 3,8 sentimeter).
Memang, dan ini terjadi pada umumnya kamera digital, tampilan LCD ini kadang menjadi tidak jelas sehingga sulit untuk melihat dan memastikan apakah gambar yang diambil sudah memiliki ketajaman seperti yang diharapkan oleh pemotretnya. Karena, tampilan LCD ini memang dimaksudkan guna memudahkan penggunanya untuk melihat apakah gambar-gambar yang diambil ini sudah sesuai dengan keinginannya.
5/13/2008
Mengambil Gambar dengan Cepat Berteknologi Maju
Nikon D70
NIKON® ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF D70™ DIGITAL SLR CAMERA
New Nikon D70 Poised to Expand Digital SLR Camera Market by Delivering Excellent Performance and Superb Image Quality at an Attractive Price
MELVILLE, NY, DECEMBER 03, 2003 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today announced development of the D70, a new interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera designed to deliver superb image quality and hallmark Nikon SLR performance at an attractive price that a broad range of consumers will find within reach. A new DX Zoom-Nikkor lens is being developed concurrently to match the D70, and both products are scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2004.
Designed for a wide range of customers, from novices to serious and experienced photo enthusiasts, the D70 will enable photographers to easily adopt digital technology into their existing camera system. The new model will offer an exclusive selection of new features and exciting Nikon SLR technology that will surpass products within the evolving digital SLR market, and provide exceptional value at an estimated retail price of $999.00 for the camera body.
"The D70 represents Nikon's next step in expanding the digital SLR camera market. Ever since the introduction of the revolutionary D1 in 1999, Nikon has been in constant pursuit of the highest image quality and performance in digital SLRs.
This has led to the introduction of the D1X, the D1H, and most recently the groundbreaking D2H. The D100, introduced in June 2002, marked Nikon's efforts in bringing digital SLR technology into the hands of enthusiast photographers, and has since become a flagship camera for this audience," said Richard LoPinto, vice president for SLR camera systems, Nikon Inc. "With the development of the D70, Nikon is responding to a growing interest among a broad range of photo enthusiasts who are looking for a full featured digital SLR camera that fits within their personal budgets, and also the expanding interest among amateurs who enjoy great pictures and want the high level of performance that a Nikon digital SLR can provide."
The D70 joins Nikon's current selection of digital SLR models and employs the popular Nikon DX format sensor and Nikon F lens mount. This design will allow photographers to use high quality DX Nikkor lenses, and also maintain seamless compatibility with all AF Nikkor lenses and the D70. Designed exclusively for Nikon's D-series digital SLR cameras, DX Nikkor lenses are optimized to achieve outstanding center-to-edge-to-corner image quality, when used with any of Nikon's digital SLR cameras including the D1, D1X, D1H, D100, the new high-speed D2H, and the forthcoming D70.
Nikon currently has three DX Nikkor lenses that offer exceptional wide-angle coverage:
AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED lens: 180º angle-of-view
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED: 99º - 61º angle-of-view
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED: 79º - 28º50' angle-of-view
More information and detailed specifications about the D70 will become available at a later date. Please log on to www.nikonslr.com for more information about Nikon digital SLR photography and products.
source : http://www.dpreview.com/news/0312/03120301nikond70.asp
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II Digital SLR
Sixteen point six megapixels of effective resolution is really nice. Of course, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II costs about the same per megapixel as the Canon EOS 1D Mark II - 2x as much money.
After spending a sum of money approaching 5 figures and waiting 3 months to get the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II, I had high expectations. And I am not disappointed. I have found no unexpected surprises - do not expect to find any - and should not find any for what this tool costs.
The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II's overall design, features (fully loaded including E-TTL II), functions, build quality, image quality (not resolution of course) ... are nearly identical to the Canon EOS 1D Mark II.
And for the most part, this is a good thing. Canon's 1-Series digital bodies are weather-resistant (when paired with a weather-resistant lens) and rugged. They are made to hold up to considerable and demanding use and in bad conditions. Though rugged, they have an attractive, modern design. Although some may disagree, I find the Canon 1-Series body very ergonomical. Although not light, the tactile feel and balance are excellent. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II feels great in my hand. I find that some setting changes are not as intuitive and logical as I would prefer, but I have definitely acclimated to the functionality.
Of high importance to most of us - the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II focuses very fast and accurately (at least when I do my part correctly) using a 45-point autofocus system including 7 cross-type sensors. According to Canon, the 1Ds II focuses faster than its predecessor, the 1Ds, faster than the 1D and identical in speed to the 1D Mark II ... "Same One-Shot AF speed and AI SERVO AF subject tracking performance as the EOS-1D Mark II." (Canon) I personally have noticed no focus speed difference between the two mark II bodies. Canon also notes that "Because the AF unit is capable of operating at 8.5 frames-per-second and the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II has a maximum speed of 4 fps, the AI Servo AF algorithm has been optimized for 4 fps operation."
Of highest importance is image quality - I am also not disappointed in any way in this regard. I didn't find anything sacrificed in image quality to get the large 16.6 megapixel image. The sensor and the related software deliver the excellent image quality I expect from Canon Digital SLRs. Dynamic range is very good (non-officially rated at 9.5 f-stops), colors look natural. Auto white balance is very good (I am using it more often than ever).
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II sharpness is comparable to the Canon EOS 1D Mark II when the same number of pixels are covering the subject (pixel level sharpness). This is a good thing. Sharpness seems to be turned up slightly by default, but post-processing resulted in similarly sharp images even though the 1Ds II has a higher pixel density on the sensor. There was no question that the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II delivered far more resolution for a similarly cropped image. And of course, if you reduce the 3:2 aspect ratio 4992x3328 pixel 1Ds II image to a 1D Mark equivalent 3504x2336 pixel image and apply some sharpening, the 1DS II image easily wins.
What can you use 16.6 megapixels of resolution for? Huge prints for one thing. Think Billboards! The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II's image also has lots of cropping headroom. Even after cropping an image significantly, enough resolution can be available for a large print. Or take several crop variations out of a single shot. For those times 16.6 megapixels are not needed, JPEGs can be shot at 8.6, 6.3 and 4.2 megapixels. RAW files can be processed to any desired size when using DPP (Digital Photo Pro).
Although one can never have too much resolution (in my opinion), there are downsides to this - such as the resulting image file size. Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II .CR2 (raw) files average 13-16 MB (and like big, fast memory cards - a 2GB CF card formats to indicate 109 exposures available). High quality .JPG files are generally 5-8 MB, 16-bit .TIF files are 97 MB and 8-bit .TIF files are 48.7 MB. These numbers are about 2x larger than the same files from the Canon EOS 1D Mark II, which has about half as much resolution. Also averaging about 2x that of the 1D Mark II are the 1Ds Mark II's per image download (to PC) times (using a card reader) and the .CR2 processing times. I am not struggling with 16-bit image file load times or processing performance in Adobe Photoshop - I expected much worse.
Of significance is the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II's 48.7 MB 8-bit .TIF file size. Getty Images and other of the world's premier stock photo agencies require a minimum 8-bit .TIF file size of 48 MB for their submissions. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II natively meets this requirement.
The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II's FPS (frames per second) burst rate is slightly less than half that of the Canon EOS 1D Mark II (4 vs. 8.5). To hear the difference between 4 FPS and 8.5 FPS, select each of the following sound clips.
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II 4 FPS Burst
Canon EOS 1D Mark II 8.5 FPS Burst
The 8.5 FPS specification of the 1D Mark II will be the deciding factor for many sports and other fast-action photographers. The 1Ds Mark II can shoot a burst of 32 JPEGs or 11 RAW frames before filling the buffer. The single frame shutter/mirror sound of the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II also differs from the 1D Mark II - It is a bit more drawn-out.
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II Single Shots
Canon EOS 1D Mark II Single Shots
Both cameras share the same 200,000 activation-rated shutter and the same 87ms viewfinder blackout time.
One of the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II's most sought after features is the 1.0x full frame 36mm x 24mm sensor. The large viewfinder that comes with it is very nice. Wide angle lenses are very wide and very long lenses are required to fill the frame with small or distant subjects. But, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II stretches even the best lenses to their limits. Even some of the best lenses show vignetting and distortion with a wide open aperture at their shortest focal length. And, the shorter DOF (Depth of Field) for similarly-framed subjects (compared to a 1.3x or 1.6x FOVCF camera) can be good or bad. Read the Field of View Crop Factor Explanation for more information on this feature.
The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II's higher pixel density (than the 1D Mark II) will be welcomed by those who crave more focal length or magnification. Although cropping may be required to get the framing right, more detail can be captured within the same framing and using the same focal length lens as the 1D Mark II. Higher pixel density often means more noise in the image, but the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II handles this very well in my opinion.
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N Digital SLR
After great debate, I have decided to not write a hands-on Canon EOS 1D Mark II N review. It is just me here and I have to prioritize what I am working on. Apparently some of the other camera review sites have come to the same decision.
There are just not enough enhancements in the Canon EOS 1D Mark II N over the Canon EOS 1D Mark II that I used as my primary body for many months to justify the time and cost to create a hands-on "N" review. I will however give you with my thoughts on this is excellent 1-Series body as it has a strong niche in Canon's DSLR lineup and consequently, this site's Canon Digital SLR guide. What I write is based on experience with the very similar 1D II, using the identical new features on other Canon Digital SLRs, and my at-least-average ability to visualize other simple improvements (such as buffer depth).
Are you photographing sports or other fast-moving action? There is probably no better camera available for this purpose. With an excellent 45-point, high sensitivity autofocus system paired to a rugged, weather-sealed body capable of firing 8.5 very high quality frames per second into a deep buffer, the Canon EOS 1D Mark II N is ideally suited to capture every moment of fast action.
The biggest improvement over the 1D II is, in my opinion, the 2.5" LCD. I have used the same 2.5" LCD on the Canon EOS 5D and now the Canon EOS 30D. And I like it. It is not perfect - I would like to have better visibility in bright daylight without adjusting the brightness (a menu option), but I consider the LCD a nice improvement.
The Canon EOS 1D Mark II N features a new "Magnified View From Any AF Point" option that sounds very useful for checking sharpness. Instead of zooming in (during review) and scrolling to the AF point used, you can now zoom in at the AF point used. Magnified view is now available during quick review as well.
The frame buffer can never be too large. I'll take any improvement offered to me in this area - especially when the frames go by at 8.5 per second. However, going from 20 to 22 frames will probably not make much difference to most photographers.
