The Digital Photography Show #94:Nikon’s Latest and Maybe Greatest - the D700, and more!
The Digital Photography Show #94:Nikon’s Latest and Maybe Greatest - the D700, and more!
July 25, 2008 :On today’s show, Michael and I cover a lot of topics, including:
- Nikon’s newest DSLR - the full-frame D700.
- The Yahoo/Getty Deal - and my first contest on Scott’s Photo Blog. Check it out here.
- A photo service that you may want to think twice about
- The sexy but mysteriously-priced AniMoto. -
- Listener Matthew Boyle’s 100 Portraits
- A great-sounding little clip on diffuser - the Puffer.
- Check out how good Laurel’s gotten!
You can get more information on these topics, as well as a bunch of other interesting photo-related news, at Scott’s Photo Blog.
If you just click here to Subscribe to TPN :: The Digital Photography Show by Email you’ll get the posts announcing each new show in you email. That’s gotta be better than most of your spam, no?
We’d love to hear what you thought of the show either here on the blog or at TheDigitalPhotographyShow@gmail.com.
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- Send us an email at TheDigitalPhotographyShow@gmail.com.
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Thanks!
Scott
The Digital Photography Show #94:Nikon's Latest and Maybe Greatest - the D700, and more! [67:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
July 28th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Interesting discussion about FF sensor and lenses. This is going to be a big topic over the next couple of years, that’s for sure!
Michael commented that he was hoping for some high quality FF f/4 Nikkors to match the Canon equivalents. Don’t forget, though, that an f/4 lens isn’t going to give you the DOF that you wanted from the FF sensor in the first place. It seems to me that if you need that extra DOF enough to buy the FF camera you’ve got to invest in those fast zooms.
If nothing else, I do think there will be a used market for those DX lenses for some time to come. I’m not looking to buy any more of them just now either, but I suspect when I’m ready to move on I’ll be able to sell the ones I have.
July 29th, 2008 at 8:59 am
I hate to say it, but I just recently added the Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 to my collection. As 4 out of my 8 lenses are FX/full frame, nonetheless I have a pretty significant investment in DX lenses as well.
Scott, you hit the nail right on the head. Despite Nikon’s constant assurances that DX is hear to stay, I do think in a couple of years from now, that we will be seeing the death of the DX format entirely.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Thanks for mentioning my project on the show. I thought the sound was great and it was good to hear you guys chew the fat over the trends in photography. I use a 40D (smaller frame) and like Scott have decided not to buy any more smaller frame lenses until I see what the 5D’s successor is like. In actual fact the two prime lenses I bought for portraits, the Canon 50mm 1.4 and the sigma 28mm 1.8 are both full frame compatible, and chosen for that reason. They give fantastic results with the smaller sensor anyway, so it’s possible to choose lenses that keep a foot in the full frame camp to some extent. Keep up the good work guys.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I, too, enjoyed the conversation topics in this episode. I am always interested in hearing enthusiasts’/experts’ take on lenses and why they use a particular focal length and aperture. Keep these kind of shows coming (interspersed with the excellent interviews of course!).
As for the sound, the quality was fine (well balanced, good tonality, etc…) However — and its a big “however — is the level. I listen via my iPod in the car using a small FM transmitter. I had to turn the radio ALL the way up to hear you guys today, particularly Scott. When the A/C was on and I was on the freeway, it became hard to hear you at all. This was never the case when you used your old mixing equipment. I hope this is not a case where the new equipment can’t do any better. Its a real frustration for me.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
One comment regarding DX lenses with a full frame sensor camera. It may reduce the number of pixel (~6MP), but that is not an automatic decrease in quality. I’m still shooting a D100 (6MP). There are a couple of reasons why I have yet to upgrade:
1) I’m not convinced a D300 would allow me to significantly(if at all) improve the quality of my pictures. I can readily see the case for investing in better glass, light kits, etc. before investing in a new camera body.
2) I’m finding 9MB per each RAW file (actual size of a 6MP RAW image) is hard enough to manage. By the time you save the picture as a PSD the files jump to 15MB and up, and that’s without any extensive processing. The D300 would double those numbers, and drastically increase my space requirements, and my processing speeds.
Another reason I like DX sensors (and why I think they will still be around) is that part of my shooting involves shooting animals, birds, etc. On a DX sensor my 80-400mm VR lens is a 120-600mm VR, without using a teleconverter.
That said, I would buy a full frame sensor camera if it allowed me to “step down” to DX on demand. That is, get the benefit of the DX 1.5 multiplier when I wanted it. I don’t think the corresponding “loss” in mega pixels would make a good picture worse. And since I already enlarge cropped shots from 6MP photos to 13″x19″ and above, I don’t see printing from reduced MP prints as a problem.
Great show as usual. Thanks.
July 31st, 2008 at 2:36 am
Hey Guys,
Me Bad! Would you belive I have finally listened to the show today! I started getting more traffic to my blog and a few very nice emails complimenting on my work. I was wondering where all this good love was coming from and low and behold you guys mentioned me. Thank you so much.
It seems that in my spare time I am either reading up on photography ( I am currently re-reading my D300 instruction manual, more specifically how to use the Focus Lock System), blog stalking ( I have a few blogs I subscribe to of some really great wedding and children photographers that I follow religiously) reading up on the latest software - currently getting up to speed with Lightroom 2.0 and watching some great video tutorials on Kelbytraining.com - more specficially the Joe McNally flash tutorials and Laurie Excell’s excellent tutorial on using the D300! Whew!
This beginnnig of this year I decided to take the leap from enthusiast to pro to make some extra $$$. I am focusing on family and children photography. I am at a great place for leads because I have access to all three schools that my kids attend as well as the official photogrpaher for my temple and my son’s school. It has given me some great exposure. I have joined my local professional photography guild at http://www.ppncf.com and have made some great friends and connections. I have learned alot from this organization.
As far as my lighting…I have been practicing more with my SB-800 and getting it OFF the camera. I am still so uncomfortable using it but the more I practice the more comfortable I am getting. Until recently, I have been using the TTL (Through The Lens) setting and having the flash work out the proper exposure of background and foreground but now I am getting more into the manual setting which gives me so much more control.
I would love to come on the show and talk about what I have been doing - I am just shocked that anyone really wants to know!
Here is what is in my camera bag:
Nikon D-300 (this was my major upgrade this year - moved up from a D70s)
SB-800 - which I have had for about two years but only now really using it
I did buy the grip for the D300 which I really love. Gives me more battery power - and a higher Frame per second when in continous release)
My favorite lens that I use for portraits is my Sigma 30mm 1.4 and my Nikon 50mm 1.8
The rest of my lens collection is a Nikon 18-55 3.5-5.6 which is the kit lens to the D70s, a Sigma 28-300 3.5-6.5 - which is really crap but I did not know that when I bought it. and I have a Sigma 10-20 that I use for landscapes.
I plan on staying with the D300 and not upgrading. I really love this camera. It was a very interesting discussion on the DX and FX glass. I need to get either the 17-55 2.8 or the 24-70 2.8 and have been going back and forth. I love to shoot wide and really like the 17-55 but then what do I do if I ever go to a full frame? I really liked Emilio’s reply to this question.
For post processing I use Lightroom for all my tonal adjustments and then if I need to do any retouching or want to add some dramatic effects to the picture - I will bring into PS3 and take advantage of Nik Color Efex 3.0 and some actions that I have in my bag of tricks. I always flattened and then bring back into Lightroom as a PSD.
Please feel free to email me with any questions and I would love to come on the show to discuss.
When is the next contest? I’m ready to rock!
Cheers,
Laurel
http://www.thephotoenthusiast.com
July 31st, 2008 at 3:52 am
Actually, having reflected on the smaller sensor issue, I’m not so sure they will disappear any time soon. Emilio’s point is always valid and wildlife photographers will find a use for the multiplication factor. Two friends of mine would like DSLR’s and they are most interested in small lightweight cameras to take hillwalking and climbing with them. Unless they can get a full frame camera with a Canon 1000D or Olympus 420 body size, they would choose the DX or APS-C sensor for portability; I have just been walking in the Swiss alps with a 40D and a Sigma 18-200 OS which adds up to nearly a kilo and a half, if I had a smaller camera with a similar sensor I would have found it easier to carry. Finally, the law of increased random manufacturing errors in larger chips means that smaller sensors will be cheaper for a long time yet.
All things considered, and agreeing that there is a welcome trend to full frame, I wouldn’t expect the disappearance of small sensor DSLR’s for a long time, if ever.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Bokeh isnt pronounced like that its pronounced bouquet.
Just letting you know.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:03 am
I haven’t had a chance to listen to this episode yet, but I did just watch a PhotoshopUserTV podcast that mentioned Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk. I see one in Montpelier and one in White River Junction. Any chance that Michael will lead one in Burlington? (Being in Essex, I’d much rather head there than Montpelier.)
August 8th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I haven’t had a chance to listen to this episode yet, either, but regarding the ability to step down to DX at will…
You can currently do that with any FX camera out there.
1) Take the shot with your FX camera.
2) Crop the photo in post-processing down to whatever framing, and number of megapixels, you like…
What you’re really asking for is a viewfinder mask/magnifier that will show you what the photo would look like with a 1.5 crop factor. That would be something you could “bolt on” to the back of the camera, in theory…
August 11th, 2008 at 3:13 am
According to Webster’s Dictionary, “bokeh” can be pronounced bo-kay or bo-kuh. The Japanese pronounce it bo-kay. It comes from the Japanese word “boke” or blur.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
So no more shows?
August 15th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hi Guys,
I really enjoyed this latest show. Your musings and conversation are both entertaining and enlightening. I own the D700, and even I didn’t realize some of the nuances about DOF and full frame until I heard it on your show. Now I understand!
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Guys loved the show but to counter balance your talk on why a full frame sensor is better, it should also be pointed out that for the Ameteur there are some applications where the APS sized sensor with it’s crop factor is actually an advantage.
Two advantages of a Non- full framed sensor
1: It gets you closer to the subject. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper to by a wide angle lens than it is to by a telephoto lens. So something that gets you closer to the action can have advantages.
2: On a traditional lens (not a special APS lens) the crop sensor isn’t using the edges of the lens glass, ie it’s using the middle. This has an effect of being kind to your lens as any imperfections are more likely to show up at the edges of the lens (chromatic abberation, vingretting), in other words you’re just using the sweet spot.
So basically someone using mid level gear might find the cropped sensor being nice to their non pro glass, they would also find it useful when shooting Sports and Wildlife.
As a keen sport photographer I have deliberately stayed with the 20/30/40 and now 50D range in the Canons as the 5D simply doesn’t interest me with it’s full frame sensor as I loose to much zoom combined with a much lower frame per second shot rate that the full frame sensors have.
VIVA LA CROPPED SENSOR!!!
Travis
Australia
September 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Hi,
I had a questions for all of you experts out there, and I would really appreciate some help. I have been doing a lot of portrait photography, and notice that I seem to have silver “dots” in people’s hair and on certain places on their skin. Softening/noise reduction helps a little, and using the dust/scratches control on CS2 helps, but it softens the entire picture, which I don’t want to do. Cloning dots on the skin is no problem, but on the hair is a pain in the neck. Also, cloning 300-400 pictures is a REAL pain in the neck. I don’t think it’s dust on my sensor (because the “dots” cluster mostly in my subjects hair, so it’s not exactly random (although the skin “dots” could be random, but I doubt it). Any ideas on what these imperfections could be and any idea of how to get rid of them?
Thanks very much,
Clint Wolf