Monthly Archives: September 2012

Let’s Get Down to Business – Image Business

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Let me begin by saying that whatever you and I have been reading and hearing in the world wide web is actually true; and that the Nikon D800 is one merciless camera to shoot with. It chews amateurs up for breakfast and spits semi-pros on the face for lunch. It exposes every photographers’ worst nightmare – their careless, unproven shooting techniques and unaudited/distorted views on the fundamental laws of photography.

Some jokes abound in cyberspace about body fitness level required with the Nikon D800/E and I must say its partly valid too. The Nikon D800 demands a heightened level of finesse on the part of the photographers, while exposing their every flaws each step of the way…without mercy. I have recently taken rounds about several used camera stores both in Singapore and Hong Kong, with many owner friends grinning on a relapsed business demand for used Nikon D700 – All due to the huge bunch of D800 upgraders who fail to understand and practice the above.

It is also for the very first time that a camera maker discloses the right lens to be used with the Nikon D800! Let us not think for a moment this notice was given casually. Positive derivations from the Nikon D800 can only be achieved with a perfect exercising of the law in photography while spending a lot longer time on the post processing to yield what Nikon Engineers claimed – “Ultimate Image Quality” from the Nikon D800.

On a personal note, the need to now “actively” post process each Nikon D800 image is forcing me to rethink and revamp my current workflow, which in a way means that my time-to-shoot versus time-to-process ratio has just gotten all screwy. By screwy, I would imply less fun and more business required.

Well, it had better be worth all this trouble!

Playing with the Nikon D600

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Yes, I did just that and was not impressed with the machine, at least when compared with what my Nikon D7000 already can do. I am very sure its the cheapest FX camera Nikon made today, but was startled to discover that all the pros features I expected were deliberately removed or crippled.

At USD2099, you are essentially getting a bigger Nikon D7000 with a FX sensor. Frame rate being lower, coupled with a slower shutter speed, slower cross sync speed (versus the Nikon D7000) and more exposed alloy cage, it all begins to add up to be really what Nikon said it is – An enthusiast FX camera.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the Nikon D600 scores pretty much identical ranks with her more expensive siblings, making it an exceptional alternative to folks who just want brilliant FX imagery without shelving out a premium for the more expensive FX models. The Nikon D600 target audience is very different yet very clear.

Shutter release sound wise, its a tad quieter than my older D700 but still more authoritative than say a Nikon D7000 or D300s (which still is one major reason why I chose Nikon). The hand drip was heavily indented to my surprise on the Nikon D600, with an overall beefier grip that scores on ergonomics. Some web claims hail the U1/U2 dial as their Savior but I often find it pretty useless on my D7000, save some rare, unprepared exceptions.

New Addition – Nikon D800

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It was a long wait but a deliberate one if you must ask.

With over demand, prices then was more of a robbery compared to countries I know are clearly cheaper. Vendors were making a killing on desperate pros and newbies alike. It’s pure lunacy. On the account of the machine itself, her well reported left focus issue was the another push, followed by erratic freezes.

Would you get a gear that buggy at this obscene price point? Nope, not until Nikon is willing to fix this critical issue!  And that they did. And now that the new cheaper FX D600 is all the craze, I can stroll into practically any shop today and pick one up at a bargain!

My Nikon D700 is history and in good hands. Let’s get things started with Nikon’s biggest pixel-count tool and see what this baby can do!