Nikon D7000

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

I wonder, however, what the Sony 580 will come out like? Same sensor again.

This level of performance is going to be the standard for APS-Cs from now on - they do somewhat dent the desire for FF

Interesting point - will Sony's implementation of its own sensor equal or better the performance of its competitors? I would imagine we will not be able to get a cigarette paper between the overlaid graphs of the three cameras.

As far as full frame is concerned, some models including the D700 are ageing (in DSLR terms, not compared with me alas) and due for upgrades soon. I will be surprised if the new generation does not make the same leap in image quality that the D7000 and K5 have in APS-C format. That would widen the gap again. Please, Father Christmas......

[amk1977]

I want one tooooooooooooooooooooo

[HinFrance]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

Interesting point - will Sony's implementation of its own sensor equal or better the performance of its competitors? I would imagine we will not be able to get a cigarette paper between the overlaid graphs of the three cameras.

As far as full frame is concerned, some models including the D700 are ageing (in DSLR terms, not compared with me alas) and due for upgrades soon. I will be surprised if the new generation does not make the same leap in image quality that the D7000 and K5 have in APS-C format. That would widen the gap again. Please, Father Christmas......

Definitely will just continue to leapfrog, that's the nature of the beasts.

But when will it get so far that most people get bored - look at the take up rate on BluRay.

PS still planning on waiting for the dust to settle before buying anything. But if I do it will be the K5 - for me built in image stabilisation is the killer app.

[Mr Bump]

Originally Posted by HinFrance

But when will it get so far that most people get bored

Frankly, I was perfectly happy with my Nikon film cameras. I didn't 'need' digital but I got it just the same. Much better for manufacturers, though - cameras being replaced every three years or so whereas skinflints like me hung onto their film cameras for decades

[Eyeayen]

Originally Posted by Mr Bump

cameras being replaced every three years or so whereas skinflints like me hung onto their film cameras for decades

It is better for the manufacturers but not for us, I expect the pro's loose it as part of the job / equipment but surely it must irritate them too, having to keep up with tech is really annoying

Before if you had a good camera and good lenses you could go and buy the same film as a pro would and in effect have a chance of achieving the same results, now though you have to have the latest camera and then there is the FF / APS-C battle. Maybe it's because I can't afford FF, I'm still struggling to buy my first DSLR to be honest. The trouble is that it's still very new and while they keep developing this new tech this will happen, maybe in another 5 or 10 years it will have reached a peak and level out more ???

For all of our pockets I hope so !

[HinFrance]

This is posted in the D7000 and K5 threads.

OK, this morning I splurged out on Réponses Photo as they had a comparison of the D7000, 60D, and K5. I expect the analysis in Chasseur d'Images to be more thorough, but this mag has a good reputation and although slightly less technical than CI, it's still loads more empirical than anyting you'd find in the UK.

There are lots of data, and lots of writing. We'll ignore the completely out of the race 60D and concentrate on the Nikon and Pentax.

We already know that there is not a lot in the sensor performance in the lab. But . .

D7000 +
excellent viewfinder
double card slot
good auto modes and help function
video better than K5 (AF), but still leaves a lot to be desired
integrated flash control system
good kit lens (18-105 VR)
exposure management
12-14 bit RAW choice

K5 +
completely weather sealed
integral IS
very fast AF
7 frames per second
ergonomics
no noise until 6400, and then little chromatic noise
very quiet
studio flash sync socket

D7000 -
Contrast soft by default
Images have yellow tint
Difficult controls and menu system (although everything is there somewhere)
Impractical video and live view
AF erratic and sometimes slow
heavy
poorly designed hand grip
top LCD panel has limited information

K5 -
heavy
mediocre kit lens
noisy AF with non HSM lenses
basic video
complex (possibly does too much?)

Now having digested that lot, I think we can conclude that they had to look pretty hard to find to come up with a list of negatives to fill the space the editor had left for them. Both, for example, are heavy. And although the Nikon is much better at video it is still not considered particularly well implemented.

Without translating literally more than a dozen pages of text and graphs, the overall impression that I get is this – you pay your money and you decide which set of characteristics suits you better. The vibe is that the Pentax handles the higher ISOs more effectively than the Nikon (but we are talking 6400 and upwards here); the Nikon is more aimed at people who prefer to work on auto.

The Pentax is an outdoorsy fully specified bit of kit that you need to understand to use to it's optimum, the Nikon is rather more of a consumer item.

Both of the bodies trounce anything APS-C from Canon at the moment, unless you want to shoot video.

Luckily I see that Pentax France is also giving decent cashback deals, so I think, on reflection, that the K5 might be in my camera bag by the middle of January after all. The inbuilt image stabilisation is the killer app for me, but for others it might be video, superior flash control, or using automatic.

Back after the Chasseur d'Images tests.

[amk1977]

Thanks for the translation Hin. My linguistic skills were not required then, I take it?

They both look to be fantastic cameras. I'd love to have a play with each and compare them to my D90 to get a first hand impression of the improvement in sensor quality, as well as other features.

As I said in the K5 thread (I think), I don't see many Nikon users (at least at the professional/ enthusiast with multiple lenses) switching to the Pentax, when they are already locked into the Nikkor lens system, which would cost a fortune to replace. For those with entry level models and kit lens, looking to upgrade, the Pentax would indeed be very appealing. If I didn't already own a Nikon and 5 lenses, I think I'd most likely go for the Pentax because of the sensor based IS.

I think the most relevant bit of news for me is that Canon is out of the race. As a Nikonian with a friend who is a "dirty Canon user", I will take great pleasure in taunting her.... which is what photography is all about

[HinFrance]

Don't fret, Canon will be back, probably very soon indeed

I agree, two fantastic cameras with a review that quite frankly seemed to have nit pick to find fault. No-one with lenses in stock is going to change brands just to get one or the other of them.

I've just read the PR review of this ground breaking body, and frankly I am staggered by the low rating. Comparing unfavourably to a body that costs four times as much is just churlish.

[amk1977]

I was quite surprised by the somewhat paltry score of 3/5 stars, given by Angela Nicholson in the Photoradar review of the D7000. Considering the article states its beats the D90 on all counts, a camera body that achieved 5/5 stars in its review.

The negative points of the review seemed to focus primarily on the limitations of the 18-105mm kit lens, rather than the D7000 body itself. Obviously if you stick an f/2.8 pro grade bit of glass on the front of a camera, it won't hunt so much in low light and will undoubtedly give you better performance and image quality than a standard kit lens.

If like me, you found the above review a bit light on the ground for technical information and explanations of the individual new features of the D7000, have a read up of Ken Rockwell's review.

BTW, if any owners of the 3/5 star D7000 would like to swap for my 5/5 star D90... PM me and I will consider your offer

[greenwing]

Originally Posted by amk1977

I was quite surprised by the somewhat paltry score of 3/5 stars, given by Angela Nicholson in the Photoradar review of the D7000. Considering the article states its beats the D90 on all counts, a camera body that achieved 5/5 stars in its review.

The negative points of the review seemed to focus primarily on the limitations of the 18-105mm kit lens, rather than the D7000 body itself. Obviously if you stick an f/2.8 pro grade bit of glass on the front of a camera, it won't hunt so much in low light and will undoubtedly give you better performance and image quality than a standard kit lens.

If like me, you found the above review a bit light on the ground for technical information and explanations of the individual new features of the D7000, have a read up of Ken Rockwell's review.

BTW, if any owners of the 3/5 star D7000 would like to swap for my 5/5 star D90... PM me and I will consider your offer

It brings to mind Digital Camera's head-to-head of the D300s and 7D. "The 7D sometimes misses the correct exposure by 2 or 3 stops, but the D300s has too many RAW recording options, so the 7D wins".

Happy to give a few £ as well as my 4/5 D50 for that 3/5 D7000. (starts a bidding war )

Chris