Nikon D600 Full Frame

Nikon Rumors have published specs on a supposed upcoming Nikon Full Frame camera, the D600.  Reading the specs, it looks to be a D7000 body with a 24MP Full frame sensor from a D3X and a D800/D4 screen.  Sounds like a winning combination to me, as I like the size and weight of the D7000 and the screen and sensor will also be a good improvement over the D700 too.

My main concern is low light performance.  From reading the specs, it probably won't offer any improvement in this area over the D700, and in fact the D3X wasn't as good.  Perhaps newer software and some sensor tweaks might improve things.  

The other thought is the size.  While I like small cameras, full frame lenses tend to be larger than DX lenses, and this camera could feel very front heavy with a Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8.  Even with a lighter Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4 may feel unbalanced.

All in all, it sounds like the replacement camera I have been waiting for.

Here's a shot from a full frame analogue Nikon FE2.

D70 compared to a compact

Even though it is now over 8 years since the D70 first came out, there are very few compacts that can match it for image quality, certainly not under $400 anyway.  With a good Nikon lens, such as the 50mm f1.4, the results can still be exceptional. 

I loaned my D70 and the 50mm to my brother in law, and compared to his reasonably nice recent Panasonic compact, he was shocked at how good the results were with this combination.  You can pick up a D70 body for about $150 nowadays, which in my books, is amazing value.

Here's an image from the closely related D50 that I shot in Spain at the magnificent Sangrada Familia Cathedral about 3years ago.

The Night Street Shooter High ISO Comparison

The Night Street Shooter High ISO Comparison - Fuji X100 vs Sony NEX 5n with Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 vs Nikon D90 with Nikkor 35mm f2

I decided to compare my 3 main cameras to help determine the best street shooter.  Leaving aside camera size and sharpness, I decided to concentrate the comparison on high ISO noise.  The test was a shot of our baby gym with very low light and the ISO was set at 6400 for all cameras.  The cameras were hand held with vertical support from the arm or our couch, with shutter speeds ranging from 1/10th to 1/40th sec. The lenses were also set at their widest aperture, though I could have set the Voigtlander on f2 to make it equal with the other two lenses.

As expected, the Fuji X100 and Sony NEX 5n are quite a way ahead of the D90.  The D90 has significant noise at ISO 1600.  With the Fuji and the Sony, it is still there but much less noticeable.   I would say that these two have at least a 1 stop advantage over the Nikon.

Though I no longer have the NEX 3, I would say the noise performance with this camera is similar to or slightly worse than the D90.  Comparing this lot with the D700, I would say it is still the champ, but not a whole lot better than the Fuji X100 or Sony NEX 5n.

 Nikon D90 with Nikkor 35mm f2

 NEX 5n with Voigtlander 35mm f1.4

 Fuji X100

Leica X1 and X2

A friend recently asked me why I hadn't talked much about the Leica X1 or the new X2 on Snapshot Voyager.  Here's the big problem as I see it:  you can get a new Sony NEX5n with an M adapter and a new Leica 35mm f2.5 Summarit M lens and still pay less than a new X2.  Alternatively instead of a new Summarit you could buy a used 50mm Summicron or 28mm Elmarit.  Either way, a Sony NEX5n with adapted M lenses is a significantly better camera/lens combination than either an X1 or X2.  

A Fuji X100 also blows both the X1 and X2 out the water as well.

Rideau Canal, Ottawa.  Fuji X100

On Fire

I managed to capture this shot near work with wispy clouds going over top of this condo, which kinda made it look like it was on fire, or at least the building from hell.  The shot was taken with a Nikon FE2 and some colour negative film, which was later scanned and converted to black and white.  I also added some contrast to increase the dramatic look of the shot.

St Lawrence Antique markets

One of the most fun places to go on a Sunday afternoon in Toronto is the St Lawrence Antique Markets.  They are located in the north hall and replace the fruit and vege vendors.  I love looking at the old and interesting things as there are often great photos to be had. 

There's also interesting people to be seen, and some of the vendors there also frequent the camera shows.  Not only are there interesting people, there are other interesting visitors, such as this fella who's owner took him along for an outing.

Fuji X100 bonding

It has been 3 months now since I got the Fuji X100 and the more I use it, the more I like it.  Sure, it can't do everything, and some things aren't that great, but I've learned to respect it for what it does do.  For a street shooter, or even just a camera to have at home, it truly is excellent.  I've probably just bonded with it, so I now show the respect and love!

The Woodpecker

There's been a woodpecker that's lived close to our house for a while now, and as spring is here, he's out and about, making noise.  It's often hard to see woodpeckers, even if you can hear them, but today I managed to capture him with the D90 and Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 with a Nikkor TC 20II tele converter.  This shot is going to win exactly no prizes in the next National Geographic competition, but it was good to see him and get a shot in.  This shot is a very serious crop of the original.

While I had the camera out I shot a few other small birds, with similar results.

 It's for these sorts of shots that it is nice to have a long lens around, even if it doesn't get a ton of use.