pixelPERFEXION™
pixelPERFEXION.net
Site contents ©2021 Jack Neubart. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • News/Views
  • About
  • Contact

Field Test Report: Nikon Z 7 FX-format (Full-frame) Mirrorless Digital Camera – Is This Nikon’s Way of Telling Us the DSLR Will Go the Way of the Dodo?

4/24/2019

2 Comments

 
PictureNikon Z 7 full-frame mirrorless camera. Courtesy Nikon.
In what promises to be a growing lineup of mirrorless FX (full-frame) interchangeable-lens digital cameras for the pro and serious amateur, Nikon recently unveiled the 45.7MP Z 7 and 24.5MP Z 6. My mouth watered as I awaited delivery of a Z 7 test camera from Nikon – the “big kahuna” in the new lineup – (with Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S kit lens). While bad weather kept me from spending as much time as I would have liked with the camera, I did manage some quality time with the Z 7 on a number of outings, photographing wildlife, sports, architecture and landscapes, and came away with several clear impressions of this formidable mirrorless camera. (Z 7 firmware version tested: 1.03.)

The Burning Questions
The Nikon Z 7 is undeniably a professional tool. But does it have what it takes to bring countless photographers, especially pros, back into the Nikon camp? More to the point, will the Z-series put a big detour sign on future DSLR development from this manufacturer, perhaps stopping it dead in its tracks, as these new mirrorless cameras pave their own path? And will video shooters find in the Z 7 what they’ve been missing in the D850? Granted, the delay in the Z-series introduction may have weakened the initial foothold Nikon had hoped to gain, but time (and timely innovative product introductions, especially lenses) will tell if this icon in the world of photographic image-making will recapture the adoration of photo enthusiast and pro alike that this company once enjoyed.
 
First things first, however… How did the Nikon Z 7 fare in our real-world tests?
 
Even before that, allow me to add, for the most part, I am bypassing tech specs. You can read tech specs on Nikon’s website by clicking this link. Other reviews get bogged down in them. I won’t waste your time.

​And Questions I Ask Myself
My go-to DSLR these days is the Nikon D500, so I naturally had to compare the new Z 7 with my D500. Of course, one key difference, aside from the mirror, is that the D500 sports the smaller APS-C sensor, compared with the full-frame sensor of the Z 7. But if sensor size were the only factor driving you to the Z-series, then you might consider the D850.
 
The D500 serves me well in my wildlife and bird photography, given the fast 10 fps. And, arguably, the cropped sensor proves beneficial in stretching the reach of my long zooms. And, yes, I also own a full-frame D610, which mostly sits idle these days (until I brought it out to compare with the Z 7, in terms of footprint and interface). But both the D500 and D610 DSLRs are a bit on the hefty and bulky side.
 
Still, the D500 is my go-to, and in testing the Z 7, my overriding thought was: Are the smaller size and weight of the Z 7 enough to sway my thinking toward mirrorless, notably the Z 7 (or any Z-series camera)? And are the newer technologies really relevant to what I photograph, notably wildlife, and my style of shooting? Will this camera benefit me, and, if so, how? Also, is it worth the price of admission and am I willing to replace a number of my lenses just to buy that ticket? Further, how much am I focused on shooting movies? This last factor could tip the scales for many photographers these days, though I'm currently on the fence when it comes to shooting video with a still camera. Read more by clicking this link.

Where Do I Get More Info? (click link)
Nikon USA

How Much Is It?

Nikon Z 7 w/24-70mm kit lens: $3,999.95
Nikon Z 7 body only: $3,399.95


Read More
2 Comments

Nikon Coolpix P900 Superzoom Camera Review 

8/8/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Posted 5/11/2015 on www.shutterbug.com.

I’ve often wished I had a camera that could go from 24mm to 2000mm at the touch of a button and without being weighed down by a ton of glass. Okay, maybe not all the way to 2000mm and perhaps not in a power zoom, but you get my point. The Nikon Coolpix P900 superzoom (super-duper-zoom?) camera gives you that reach in a fairly compact body, relative to a lens with such a broad range of focal lengths.

And the Nikon P900 does so in a camera build that looks and feels like a lightweight DSLR, more or less. This combination is what initially enticed me to take a closer look at this new Cooplix model from Nikon. But are the Nikon P900’s eye-popping zoom specs just glitz or is there a substantial picture-taking machine underneath this façade? READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW.
0 Comments

Nikon D5500 DSLR Review

8/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Posted 4/15/2015 on www.shutterbug.com.

The first question I’d ask of any camera is this: Is this camera a good fit for me—for my hand, for my style of shooting, for what I want to shoot?

I’ve been looking for a compact interchangeable-lens camera that I could easily carry around when I didn’t need my full-bodied Nikon D610. Yet, I don’t want to compromise image quality or the versatility that my D610 system affords me. So the obvious choices are a mirrorless compact system camera or just a smaller DSLR.

With mirrorless, I’d have to invest in a whole new system. And with DSLRs, well, we have the same cost involvement—unless I remain faithful to the Nikon system. Which led me to the Nikon D5500 compact DSLR. This camera features an articulated touch screen for Live View movie shooting and still captures, along with a typical optical viewfinder for the bulk of my still photography—I like optical finders.

And with its 24MP, albeit APS-C  (cropped), CMOS sensor, I have the real estate to crop or print large. Moreover, the D5500 lacks an optical low-pass filter, which is a step toward capturing sharper images, a feature found in much more expensive cameras, such as the D810, as well as the new D7200. And the D5500 has the grit to tackle low light levels with its top ISO of 25,600. What’s more, wireless enthusiasts will welcome the built-in Wi-Fi, and video lovers will appreciate its full HD capture. And all this and more is driven by the EXPEED 4 image-processing engine.

Still, that’s all well and good, but would the D5500 allow me to effectively respond to my subject and would it impinge on my shooting style? READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW.
Picture
0 Comments

Nikon D810 DSLR Review

8/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Posted 1/16/2015 on www.shutterbug.com. Originally published in Shutterbug Magazine.

One outing with the new Nikon D810 pro digital SLR convinced me that this camera is not only thoughtfully designed, a good fit, and easy to work with right out of the box, but that it’s also a solid performer that’s beautifully crafted. It has looks, smarts, and savvy, without being pretentious. And unlike enthusiast and entry-level cameras, it’s not filled with a bunch of useless toys no one really needs, wants, or uses (well, except for maybe a few of the post/retouching effects that seem to be wasted on this camera).

Boasting a new and improved 36.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, the FX-format (full-frame) D810 ($3296, body only) is decidedly a serious camera aimed at the serious—translation, professional—still photo and video shooter. This camera incorporates features first introduced in the D610 and D7100, while paving new ground. Making it an even better camera than its D800-series progenitors is one missing element, for starters. READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW.
0 Comments

First Look Review: Nikon’s 36.3MP D810 Full-Frame Pro DSLR

8/1/2015

0 Comments

 
PicturePhoto courtesy Nikon Inc.
Posted 9/14/2014 on www.shutterbug.com.

(Editor’s Note: Shutterbug contributor Jack Neubart has been testing the new Nikon D810 pro digital SLR. Here’s his hands-on “first look” at the camera. His full review of the D810 will appear in an upcoming issue of Shutterbug magazine.)

I became a Nikon convert back when the D300 was first introduced in 2007. I appreciated the camera’s handling, but mostly they got me with the Creative Lighting System, or CLS. Specifically, on the D300 it was the fully integrated wireless Commander mode via the built-in flash that grabbed my attention.

But I wasn’t entirely happy in the APS-C sensor realm. I wanted a full-frame DSLR and the affordable D600 made that possible. With it’s built-in flash, the D600 let me continue to enjoy wireless flash photography sans peripherals, other than an SB-900 Speedlight.

The new 36.3-megapixel Nikon D810 ($3,296) full-frame pro DSLR builds on that, sporting its own pop-up flash. I even built up my arsenal of FX-compatible lenses. I was largely done with having to extrapolate focal lengths and handholdable shutter speeds around a cropped sensor.

More importantly, with the full-frame sensor, especially the one in the D810, I have the real estate to crop and still have plenty of image to play with. That’s especially relevant when correcting perspective in architectural shots in Lightroom. With the D810’s 36.3 million pixels occupying a CMOS sensor measuring 35.9 x 24mm (FX-format), you can take in the entire structure with plenty of room to spare to fully correct for converging verticals without fear of chopping off vital structural elements, such as the top of a bell tower. READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW.

Picture
0 Comments

    Reviews

    TECHNICAL EDITOR
    Jack Neubart

     

    Archives

    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    13x19-inch Printers
    35mm-style Digital Cameras
    Acratech
    Adobe Software
    Austin
    Backpacks
    Ballheads
    Camera Backpacks
    Camera Bags
    Camera Cases
    Camera Holsters
    Camera Luggage
    Camera Supports
    Canon Cameras
    Canon Lenses
    Compact DSLRs
    Compact Photo Printer
    Compact System Cameras
    Desktop Printers
    Digital Projectors
    Digital Retouching
    Digital SLR
    DSLR
    Epson
    Exposure Control
    Fashionable Bags
    Fast Lenses
    Film Emulation
    Flash Photography
    Hawaii
    HDR Plug-in
    HDR Software
    HD SLR
    HD-SLR
    High-resolution DSLR
    Holster Bags
    Image-editing Software
    Image-stabilized Lenses
    Inkjet Printers
    L Bracket
    L-bracket
    Lens Cases
    Lenses
    Lens Pouches
    Leveling Base
    Long-lens Bags
    Macphun
    Macro
    Macro Flash
    Manfrotto
    Mega-zoom Digital Camera
    MindShift Gear
    Mirrorless Cameras
    Nikon Cameras
    Nikon Digital Cameras
    Nikon Mirrorless
    Nikon Pro Digital Cameras
    Nissin
    Nodal Rail
    Nodal Slide
    Olympus
    Outdoor Photography
    Panorama Head
    Panoramas
    Panoramic Photography
    Photo Accessories
    Photo Backpacks
    Photo Belts
    Photo Luggage
    Photo Rollers
    Plug-ins
    Point-and-shoot Zoom
    Portrait Retouching Software
    Printer
    Pro Cameras
    Pro Digital Cameras
    Radio Remote Flash
    Radio TTL Wireless Flash
    Rain Covers
    Rain Hoods
    RAW Conversion Software
    Review: Photo Accessories
    Review: Phottix Odin Radio Remote
    Review: PocketWizard ControlTL
    Review: Software
    Ring Flash
    Rolling Cases
    Samsung Cameras
    Shimoda Designs
    Shoe Mount Flash
    Shoulder Bags
    Shutterbug.com Review
    Shutterbug Magazine
    Sigma Lenses
    SKB Cases
    Sling Bag
    Sling Bags
    Sling Pack
    Snapshot Printer
    Software
    Software Effects
    Super Wide Lenses
    Super-wide Lenses
    Superzoom
    Tamron Lenses
    Telephoto Zooms
    Tenba
    Texas
    Think Tank Photo
    Tripod Heads
    Tripods: Carbon Fiber
    TTL Radio Wireless Flash
    TTL Wireless Flash
    Ultra Wide Lenses
    Ultra-wide Lenses
    Ultra-zoom Digital Camera
    Wide Format Printers
    Wireless Flash
    Zoom Lenses

    RSS Feed

    All products and services are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
    Use or mention of any product or service is not an endorsement - compensated or otherwise.
    However, manufacturers, distributors, vendors & services may provide products or services for use.

    Your purchase and/or use of any product or service tested, reviewed, listed or mentioned is solely at your discretion and you release us from any and all liability associated with such purchase and/or use.

Your satisfaction, our expertise. They go hand in hand.
Bringing over 35 years' experience into everything we create.

Entire contents of this website is comprised of original works created by Jack Neubart, including but not limited to photographs, digital work, musical compositions, stories, humor, poetry, and any other artistic or textual material. 
All work Copyright ©2021 Jack Neubart and is protected under United States and International laws and treaties.
All rights reserved. None of the contents may be copied, extracted, abstracted, adapted, transmitted, digitally altered, or otherwise used or published without express permission of the Copyright owner.
Webmaster: Jack Neubart (building on a Weebly.com template).