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Israel Photo Tours and Workshops - Experience Israel with a private photo tour guided by Israeli professional photographer Rafael Ben-Ari Graphic and Web Design israeli graphic designer portfolio in israel including brochures, logos, advertising, corporate identity, branding, web and more Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:11:22 +0000http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/links/links/http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/links/links/ Review based on a production Nikon D80 Two and a half years ago Nikon announced the six megapixel D70, their first affordable enthusiasts digital SLR, it proved to be a very popular camera and strong competitor to the Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel). Just fifteen months later Nikon revealed the D70s which was essentially the same camera with a some subtle tweaks (improved AF, wider flash coverage, higher capacity battery, larger LCD monitor). And so just over fifteen months on from the D70s Nikon present the latest incarnation of their 'enthusiasts' digital SLR line, the ten megapixel D80. The D80 slots nicely between the entry-level D50 and the semi-professional / professional D200, clearly based on the D70 design but also different enough to be seen as a completely new model. It features a ten megapixel DX format CCD (the same we presume as used by Sony in the DSLR-A100), the metering sensor from the D50 and numerous other items taken or modified from the D200. UPDATE 18/Dec/06: In our original review a mistake was made in the measurement of the ISO sensitivity of the Canon EOS 400D as used for comparison, this has now been corrected and the releveant pages of this review updated. Key features 10.2 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop) Image processing engine (similar to D200 / D2X) 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (same as D50) 11-area AF system (new version of Multi-CAM 1000, similar to D200) Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed) Configurable high ISO and long exposure noise reduction Mechanical only shutter (maximum 1/4000 sec, flash sync to 1/200 sec) Quoted 80 ms shutter lag (short viewfinder blackout; 160 ms) Larger, brighter pentaprism viewfinder (x0.94 magnification) Support for SD-HC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity) In-camera retouching D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement) Red-eye reduction Trimming Monochrome Filter effects Small picture Image overlay Multiple-exposures Compact body (smaller, lighter than D70/D70s) Improved menu user interface (same as D200) Higher capacity EN-EL3e battery (provides detailed information, same as D200) Wireless flash integration (same as D200) Compared to the Nikon D70s, major feature and specification differences   Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:46:49 +0000http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/nikon-d80/http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/nikon-d80/ The professional Nikon D 'single digit' series of digital SLR's started life back in June 1999 with the groundbreaking D1. Groundbreaking because it was the digital SLR that broke Kodak's stranglehold on the digital SLR market and fundamentally brought prices down to a level which most professionals could afford (around the US$5,500 mark). Since then we have seen a steady progression in the evolution of this line of cameras. Whilst the core values of a high quality full-size body with integrated grip have remained constant, the line split into two halves (indicated by the X and H suffixes), one targeted at high resolution photography the other high speed sports type photography (lower resolution but faster continuous shooting). It's been almost three years since Nikon introduced a completely new digital SLR with a new sensor (the D2X) and there had been much anticipation that Nikon's next move would be a full-frame chip. And so it was, with the introduction last August of the new 'FX format' D3, featuring a 36 x 23.9 mm 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor as well as a vast array of new features which absolutely raise it another notch above previous single digit Nikon DSLRs. Important headline improvements include high sensitivity support by default, up to ISO 6400 with 25600 available as a boost option, 14-bit A/D conversion, a new standard image processor, a new shutter, new auto focus sensor, focus tracking by color, nine frames per second continuous, dual compact flash support, DX lens support (albeit at lower resolution) with automatic cropping and a 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (which it has to be said is lovely). Some will undoubtedly question Nikon for 'only' delivering twelve megapixels on their first full frame digital SLR, all we can presume by looking at past model line history is that this camera is designed for speed (both in sensitivity, auto-focus and continuous shooting). Our first comment on seeing the D3 in the late summer of last year was 'where's the 'H' suffix?', something echoed many times in the months following announcement by commentators and photographers. Although Nikon remains tight-lipped about its future plans it seems fair to assume that Photokina will bring an EOS 1DS Mark III competitor (with higher resolution but without the high speed shooting). Note: The day this review was finished Nikon announced a firmware upgrade for the D3, which added a couple of new features (including vignette correction and control over the brightness of the AF points) and a few bug fixes. Today Nikon pulled the upgrade as in certain circumstances (shooting at maximum speed in 14-bit RAW mode) it can 'in rare circumstances' cause corruption of some images. We updated the firmware on our test D3 yesterday and have not been able to recreate the issue, though many of our forum members have. 99% of this review was done with the original (v1.00) firmware. *1 Also 8 fps in cropped mode (6.7 MP)*2 Up to 11 fps with DX format (5.1 MP) Nikon D3 Key Features First ever Nikon DSLR with a Full-Frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor (dubbed the 'FX' format) 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch) ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600) Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens) 5:4 ratio crop mode (10 megapixels, up to 9 fps, viewfinder masked) 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power) Super fast operation (power-up 12 ms, shutter lag 41 ms, black-out 74 ms) New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 300,000 exposure durability New Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage) Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor) Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings) Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor) Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III) Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast Nine frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking Eleven frames per second continuous without auto-focus tracking Ten / eleven frames per second continuous in DX-crop mode (AF / no-AF) Dual Compact Flash card slots (overflow, back-up, RAW on 1 / JPEG on 2, copy) Compact Flash UDMA support 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display) HDMI HD video output 'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve) Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness Buttons sealed against moisture Dual battery charger as standard Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:38:21 +0000http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/nikon-d3/http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/nikon-d3/ Review based on a production Canon EOS 40D The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon 'prosumer' digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we've come. It's been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there's a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 400D, an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter. Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0") and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps). Canon EOS 40D vs. EOS 30D feature and specification differences Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 30D Weatherproof Battery door and storage compartment No Sensor • 10.1 million effective pixels• 5.7 µm pixel pitch • 8.2 million effective pixels• 6.4 µm pixel pitch A/D converter 14-bit 12-bit Image sizes • 3888 x 2592 • 2816 x 1880 • 1936 x 1288• 3504 x 2336• 2544 x 1696• 1728 x 1152RAW files • CR2 format, 14-bit• RAW full resolution • sRAW (2.5 MP) • CR2 format, 12-bit• RAW full resolution Image processor DIGIC III DIGIC II Dust reduction High speed vibration of filter None Auto focus • 9-point TTL CMOS sensor • Points cross-type for F5.6 or faster lens • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster9-point TTL CMOS sensor Metering range 0.0 to 20 EV 1.0 to 20 EV Spot metering Approx. 3.8% at center Approx. 3.5% at center Auto ISO ISO 400 to 800 / 100 to 800 depending on exposure mode ISO 100 to 400 Kelvin WB 2500 - 10000 K in 100 K steps 2800 - 10000 K in 100 K steps Viewfinder • 95% frame coverage• Magnification: 0.95x• Eyepoint: 22 mm• 95% frame coverage• Magnification: 0.90x• Eyepoint: 20 mm Focusing screen • Interchangeable precision matte• Two other screens available • Fixed precision matte Viewfinder info Now includes ISO sensitivity, B&W icon LCD monitor • 3.0 " TFT LCD• 230,000 pixels• 2.5 " TFT LCD• 230,000 pixelsLCD Live View Yes, including mirror-drop AF No Main LCD settings display When changing settings such as AF mode or White Balance No Tilt correction Yes No Opening CF door Warning message shown Power down, loses images Mirror lock-up Single or multiple exposures Single exposures Mirror mechanism Motor up / down, quieter, faster Spring up / motor down Playback modes Exposure line at top in single image view No exposure in single image view User modes Three custom user modes on mode dial No user modes High-speed continuous • 6.5 fps• Up to 75 JPEG Large/Fine images • 5.0 fps• Up to 30 JPEG Large/Fine images Portrait grip WFT-E3/E3A, BP-E2N, BP-E2 BP-E2 Wireless connectivity • WFT-E3/E3A• Integrates as vertical hand grip • WFT-E1/E1A• No grip Menu UI Same as EOS-1D series Same as previous xxD series Menu languages 18 15 Custom functions 24 19 AF-ON button Rear 'under thumb' None Rear buttons • Direct print• Menu• Play• Erase• Jump• Info• Picture Style• Direct print• Menu• Info• Jump• Play• Erase Top right buttons • Lamp• Metering / WB• AF / Drive• ISO / Flash comp. • Lamp• AF / WB• Drive / ISO• Metering / Flash comp. Dimensions 146 x 108 x 74 mm(5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in) 144 x 106 x 74 mm (5.6 x 4.2 x 2.9 in) Weight • No battery: 740 g (1.6 lb)• With battery: 822 g (1.8 lb)• No battery: 706 g (1.6 lb)• With battery: 785 g (1.7 lb Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:54:27 +0000http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/canon-eos-40d/http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/canon-eos-40d/Review based on a production Nikon D300 Just under two years since the D200 Nikon reveals the D300, the range of changes is so significant that it wouldn't be inappropriate to call it a 'compact D3' (less the full-frame sensor of course). From the top there's a new CMOS sensor with twelve megapixels, a new auto-focus sensor with 51-points (15 of which are cross-type sensitive), there's focus tracking by color, scene recognition, Picture Control presets, six frames per second continuous shooting (or eight frames per second with a battery pack), Compact Flash UDMA support, Live View (with contrast detect AF) and the mighty impressive 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (oh and HDMI video output). It's an impressive list, the D200 was a fair step up from the D100, the D300 can be seen as just as big a step, certainly more than enough to make the competition sweat. Nikon D300 Key Features 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration) ISO 200 - 3200 (6400 with boost) 14-bit A/D conversion Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power) Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 45 ms, black-out 100 ms) Shutter life 150,000 exposures New Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage) Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor) Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings) Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor) Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III) Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast Six frames per second continuous shooting (eight frames per second with battery pack) Compact Flash UDMA support 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus HDMI HD video output 'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve) Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness New MB-D10 vertical grip fully integrates into body, multi battery type compatible Buttons sealed against moisture Nikon D300 vs. D200 feature and specification differences Nikon D300 Nikon D200 Sensor • 12.3 million effective pixel CMOS • DX format • 10.2 million effective pixel CCD• DX formatA/D converter 14-bit 12-bit Image processor Nikon EXPEED Unspecified Image sizes • 4288 x 2848 • 3216 x 2136 • 2144 x 1424 • 3872 x 2592 • 2896 x 1944 • 1936 x 1296 RAW files NEF / Compressed NEF 14-bit NEF 12-bitTIFF files Yes No Dust reduction Self-cleaning sensor unit No Auto focus • 51-point Multi-CAM 3500DX • 15 cross-type sensors • Contrast detect in Live View mode • 11-point Multi-CAM 1000 Focus tracking by color Yes No AF area mode • Single point AF• Dynamic Area AF • Automatic-area AF• Single Area AF• Dynamic AF with Focus Tracking and Lock-on• Group Dynamic AF• Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AFSensitivity • Default: ISO 200 - 3200• Boost: ISO 100 - 6400• 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps • Default: ISO 100 - 1600• Boost: Up to ISO 3200 • 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps Continuous shooting • With built-in battery: up to 6 fps • With AC adapter or MB-D10 pack and batteries other than EN-EL3e: up to 8 fps 5 fps Image Parameters • Picture Control (4 presets)• Sharpening• Contrast• Brightness• Saturation• Hue • Presets (6 presets)• Sharpening• Tone• Color mode• Saturation• Hue Active D-Lighting Yes (also adjusts exposure) No Viewfinder 100% frame coverage 95% frame coverage LCD monitor • 3.0 " TFT LCD • 922,000 pixels• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixelsLCD Live View • Handheld mode (phase detect AF) • Tripod mode (contrast detect AF) No Compact Flash Type I / II (UDMA support) Type I / II Vertical grip MB-D10 MB-D200 Video output HDMI (HD) Composite (SD) Menu languages 14 13 Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) 147 x 113 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in) Weight (no batt) 825 g (1.82 lb) 830 g (1.8 lb) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:28:32 +0000http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/nikon-d300/http://www.forum.chameleonseye.com/reviews/nikon-d300/