Nikon's new ones: The D2Hs digital SLR, and the Coolpix 7900, 5900, 7600, 5600, and 4600
posted February 16th 2005 6:25AM
About a billion new Nikon digital cameras today. Well, six, actually. Here's the run down:
The heavyweight of the bunch is the DSHs, an updated version of their D2H digital SLR that's going to run $3,499 and
is capable of shooting at 8 frames per second for up to 50 images and is compatible with Nikon's WT-2/21 802.11b/g WiFi
adapter.
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The 7 megapixel Coolpix 7900 and 5.1 megapixel Coolpix 5900, two new compact digital cameras which are basically the
same apart from the difference in resolution. Both have a 2-inch LCD screen and a 3x optical zoom.
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Nikon's other new 7 megapixel digital camera, the Coolpix 7600 has a 1.8-inch LCD screen, a 3x optical zoom lens, and
features like in-camera red eye removal.
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Rounding things out are the five megapixel Coolpix 5600 and its four megapixel cousin, the Coolpix 4600. Both are
entry level cameras and have in-camera red eye removal, 1.8-inch LCD screens, and 3x optical zoom lenses.
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Nikon D2Hs - really nice specs.
But only 4mp on a $3500 camera? Riiight. Get real.
When they double the res with those same specs, then I'll consider it.
Who cares about the D2Hs Nikon, when is the D2X going to be available?
The point of the D2Hs is a 40(!) frame buffer for RAW images...it's a camera intended for sports photographers, where the usual use of the pics will be a low res/small size image in the newspaper. It's not a fine-art camera intended for 2' x 3' enlargements. And that 4.1 megapixel sensor probably has extremely low noise, making higher ISO use possible, than with an 8 megapixel consumer-cam-sized sensor. It's a specialized tool, and most people dropping 3500 on a camera probably already know why they're buying it, not to mention having 15000 tied up in Nikon glass already.
Sell the glass and buy a Canon EOS 1D Mark II, which gives you 8mp, 8.2fps, with no re-releases required to omit heinous noise problems. Still sounds cool cranking off 8fps, too. Nikon should be embarassed, especially given that no other company still sells a 4mp digital SLR. I'm not one who believes megapixels make the camera, but this is going to make a loud thud.
I had to re-read the specs..... 4.1 megapixel? is this a joke? Seriously... it's a little early for April fools... "And that 4.1 megapixel sensor probably has extremely low noise, making higher ISO use possible" a statement like that could only come from a Nikon fanboy. For less than half the money (~$1600) you could get an 8.2MP Canon 20D that has an extremely good noise to ISO ratio. The only good thing about the D2H appears to be the high frame buffer... it's easy to have a huge frame buffer when your images are so small. You would have to be a pretty bad sports photographer to need that much buffer just to get the shot you're looking for anyway... this whole thing is a farce
Actually, Adam C, I own a Digital Rebel. That doesn't make me a hardcore photojournalist or anything, but I am far from a Nikon fanboy.
The 4mp might actually be good thing, much easier and quicker to store and process 4mp images than 8mp or more images. Plus the wireless transfer goes much quicker with the lower image size. Nikon might be going after kind of a niche market, but with a camera that really serves that market well.
I am selling my Canon 20D and buying a Nikon D2HS.
The D2HS is a much better camera and you can print 16x20 and 20x30s prints from the 4MP file size with no problem i have samples printed and next to the 20D 16x20s i have you can not tell any differance at all.
More MPs is not needed to make good prints only good exposures.
The D2HS is a professional camera the 20D is not.
The 4MP file size is much easy to work with and takes a lot less CF cards when shooting in raw.
Compared to the D2X the D2HS has the same color look and the inside of the cameras has most all the same parts except for the chip and the chip in the D2HS produces better high iso photos then the D2X or 20D at 1600 iso.
Do a little home work and you will see every D2HS user loves the camera and uses it over using the D2X thay also have for 90% of what they shoot becouse of the easy file size to work with and the better high iso shooting and its faster then even the best canon for that matter.
If you want to buy a 20D i will sell you mine for $950 and i have a 17-40L F4 lens i will sell for $500.