NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Camera Talk => Topic started by: Netr on February 12, 2020, 05:38:05
-
https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/dslr-cameras/d6.html
20.8 MP. 14 FPS.
-
Temptation!
-
A capable and impressive camera, for sure. Even has GPS built-in -- a first for the flagship class.
-
Just musing this morning, and I’m wondering why the sensor in the D6 has a 20mp chip instead of a 50/60mp chip? I note with interest that the Sony top model the A9 also has a 20mp sensor, I will assume it’s the same chip in both, I don’t know if that is correct, but I’m guessing now.
I’m sure they are both fine cameras, but to my uneducated eyes that Nikon’s top of the line machines have always seemed to me that Nikon has used a smaller mp sensor in its top of the line models. I’m sure that the output from these cameras is also superb, just curious as to why? Or am I to assume any camera with lots of mps is a consumer model?
Please don’t construe these remarks as criticisms.
-
Impressive Nikon soldiers on with the single digit D, must be extremely expensive for then to run R&D on that level! Very cool 8)
If only the had continued to develop the high resolution line,,, would just love to shoot D6X instead of the gripped D850, it never is the same with a separate grip ::)
PJ and sports shooters are favored here
-
Mike: this is a camera optimised for sports and photojournalist usage. Adding massive megapixel capacity would actually go against the needs of its user base.
Calibrated ISO range, to take one example, is 100 - 100K ISO. Meaning you can confidently shoot with the camera set anywhere within this huge span of ISO and have first-class results.
My mind stagers about what R & D efforts Nikon has brought to bear on this flagship model. It goes without saying the camera won't be cheap yet I doubt Nikon directly earns on its sale. The economic benefits are probably from lenses and accessories plus the immaterial value of providing such a machine to the general public.
-
Birna, I hear what you say, and that makes sense of it now. However I’m surprised that Nikon didn’t put those resources into a super fast mirrorless camera, yes I know the m’less lens line up is not comprehensive yet, but it is very possible to use on m’less the range of F mount lenses and even to utilise the Sony range of lenses. But I can understand why Nikon wouldn’t promote that idea!
I must admit I hadn’t twigged the sports angle, but even then the price quoted in $ is $ 6500, ouch.
-
Now this is a camera that I would love to shoot!
I think that it is cheap compared to the Z7 and all the things it does.
-
We'll probably see a quite similar Z version in the near future.
Nikon also launched two Z lenses today. The "travel zoom" 24-200/4-6.3 is not for me, whereas the new 20/1.8 S definitively makes it to my bucket list.
-
Yes the 20mm f/1.8S is on my list as well will be even sharper than its f-mount equivalent which already performs quite good on the Z, price will be €1000 at least, i think.
-
Nikkor 20/1.8 S: NOK 12000 in my country, i.e. around 1100 Euros. A tad more expensive than the 24/1.8 S.
-
Just musing this morning, and I’m wondering why the sensor in the D6 has a 20mp chip instead of a 50/60mp chip? I note with interest that the Sony top model the A9 also has a 20mp sensor, I will assume it’s the same chip in both, I don’t know if that is correct, but I’m guessing now.
Sony's A9II has 24MP, the D6 and 1DX III are with 20MP.
These cameras are primarily targeted at photojournalists and especially professional photographers covering sports. For newspaper and web use, 20MP is sufficient and the primary objective is to get the moment in focus reliably rather than in high resolution. High resolution cameras have gotten faster too, e.g., the D850 can shoot 45MP at 9fps and A7R IV 61MP images at 10fps. However, neither the D850 nor the A7R IV can quite give the excellent AF performance that the "flagship" models have. On one hand, the lower resolution of the sensor means the AF doesn't have to aim sky high in precision and the designers can aim for the highest speed.
In action photography, because of the subject movement, and often low light, high resolution would not really be realized in a typical situation even if the sensor resolution were increased dramatically. There is little time to AF on a fast-moving subject in low light, so the AF has to be super fast and responsive to changes in movement, but would it be possible to focus with the precision requirements of (say) 61MP in that kind of environment? Often in indoor sports photography one is at ISO 2000 to 6400, and applying noise reduction to a high-resolution image tends to smear the finest details. Finally, if you are a press photographer, you may be required to submit the images very quickly and the smaller files may be a better fit for that kind of hectic work environment especially with the wireless transfers.
These are specialized cameras for specific working conditions and not all-purpose cameras.
Or am I to assume any camera with lots of mps is a consumer model?
Not at all, the D850 has 45MP and it's a professional camera. Many users who need high resolution trek in the landscape and the more compact body may be their preference for that kind of work.
-
While it is possible to mount adapted lenses to a mirrorless camera, it is generally not possible to have the best AF performance by doing that. And catching the moment is all these cameras are about, so it's all about how quickly the subject is brought to focus and how one can catch the decisive moment. Nikon probably don't have the technology ready to make an A9 II competitor as a mirrorless camera at the present time (they said at Z launch that they were half-way though developing this, but I don't know how many years that means ;-)), they don't have the native sports supertelephoto lenses for Z, and many sports photographers prefer optical viewfinders and given the declined income opportunities for sports and photojournalism today, I imagine the cost of all-new native lenses is a put-off for many.
Nearly all the advertising images for this product line are of sports subjects. ;-) So they don't hide the objective of the camera.
I haven't yet seen any A9 or A9 II in use at sports events that I go to. Lots of photographers have 300/2.8 lenses to shoot with, and many use older generation ones that are still perfectly fine and don't cost much to maintain (compared to e.g. the cost of a new lens). I imagine in other parts of the world there may be wealthier sports photographers, and at figure skating world's and grand prix I did see some 180/200-400/4 (the 180-400 was with NPS-stickers so likely it was loaned), 600/4 etc. but the 70-200/2.8 and 300/2.8 are still the most common. By looking at many of the lenses it is obvious that they have been around the block and were not bought yesterday.
-
OK, I’ll go and stand in the corner with my dunces hat on. :'(
My apologies if I got some my facts wrong that’s the trouble with musing, and letting ones thoughts wander!
Thanks for the info about the two new lenses, unfortunately this means I’m destined to be poor!
Thanks for bearing with my ramblings. :)
-
They must have decided many months earlier that EXPEED6 has sufficient processing speed and power for the D6 ie not spend more on R&D for an 'EXPEED7'
I'm disappointed the D6 is not 30mp, which is far better for many subgenres of wildlife, but the big marketing thrust of the D6 is sports - as we know and Ilkka explains. One hears that 20mp does a good job for the majority of end users. Compared to all the noise in Canon about their Deep Learning AF system, Nikon spells out it out differently from Canon, but it sounds that the 3D tracking etc has been upgraded in the D6.
"With the new AF dedicated engine, the image processing engine EXPEED 6, and the advanced scene recognition system that works with them, the D6 further enhances various performances. In particular, face / upper body detection information, defocus information, and motion detection information improve tracking performance of the subject's movement in the planar direction. " The block diagram under 'Advanced scene recognition system' does not translate from the Japanese, unfortunately and it's not on Nikon USA nor Nikon Europe.
https://www.nikon-image.com/products/slr/lineup/d6/features01.html
They also mention AFFT in the D6 is improved for the newer zoom lenses :-) And it the D6 AF should also work a bit better at f8 with a TC
Keeping the ENEL18 and core haptics are big +ves for many of us, and hopefully these stay untampered in an upgraded D850. It could use an extra Fn button and more, however, especially with even more AF modes that some of us may hot-map. Bottom line, I'm another one encouraged that Nikon has released the D780 and now the D6, and let's hope there is a D850 upgrade merging key features of the D6 and also D780 :-) If the AF has top specs, it should meet demands for a '30mp D6'
As the tech details roll out patchily on source webpages (in true Nikon fashion), the sum of the parts will become all the more impressive overall; This is only Day 1 - much more stands to be revealed about the D6 'out there', including where possible comparisons with Canon's new DSLR and its AF.
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/features/what-is-deep-learning-af-how-does-canons-ai-powered-autofocus-work
-
OK, I’ll go and stand in the corner with my dunces hat on. :'(
No, don't. We all can learn from each other.
-
Very true Ilkka, that the beauty of forums which are a mine of information, super.
-
Yes the 20mm f/1.8S is on my list as well will be even sharper than its f-mount equivalent which already performs quite good on the Z, price will be €1000 at least, i think.
Correction the pre-order price is €1249, at cameranu.nl, quite steep
-
Fons WEX is listing the 20mm F1.7.8s at £1049 for pre-order!
Almost worth a ferry trip to Norwich.
-
Fons WEX is listing the 20mm F1.7.8s at £1049 for pre-order!
Almost worth a ferry trip to Norwich.
1049 Sterling is 1 248,23 Euros. You reckon the two way ferry trip is 77 cents or less? 8)
-
Prices will drop
-
I own a D5 with around 200k actuations and I don't think this upgrade is worth the money for me considering I have plenty of life left in D5
-
Nikon is characteristically reticent to spell out deeper details of the new AF in the D6. In their video, based on demos of pingpong at the UK Launch, GoW mentioned the ability to delimit the AF zone as well as the 17 options to configure sensors in Group Mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv__lY-TMz4
If I recall correctly, the D4 "only" used the D3 AF, and this was tweaked in the D4s - added improvements. 2 generations after the D3, the D5 was the first camera to get a completely new AF System.: cloned with distinct changes into the D500 and D850. Today we read/hear the D6 again gets a completely new AF System above and beyond the D5. This is only one generation later. Nevertheless, the Nikon bashing is strident?! Maybe cynical, but I suspect most of the bleaters will never buy a D6 (neither a Used D4 etc) and quite a few only have a cellphone ;-)
The AF alone is a great leap forward. It will be with us for the next 4 years if not longer. Nikon won't dump all the R&D they've invested, and we can look forward to the algorithms being built into the MILC AF of future Z cameras.
Currently, this site seems to have the best coverage: https://www.nikon-image.com/products/slr/lineup/d6/features01.html
-
Interestingly the price of the D6 in the USA is almost the same as what Nikon charged for the D5 when it was first released four years ago.
My D5 is still in tip-top condition after four years of extensive use (I use it for everything and everywhere) so I have no reason to even be reading the specs. of the D6 but yet . . . .
Perhaps D5 would like a younger brother?
-
Hello again Ann, I seem to remember you saying something similar just before you bought a D5!
-
Perhaps D5 would like a younger brother?
Definitely.
-
Currently, this site seems to have the best coverage: https://www.nikon-image.com/products/slr/lineup/d6/features01.html
[/quote]
Roger that!!
15-3 is something that would work for my remote control salmon photography. The box of points can be slid up and down as well from one of the examples. This is similar to what was available with the D2X - I often used just the row of points in the middle and shifted them up an down if needed.
Tom
-
We'll probably see a quite similar Z version in the near future.
Nikon also launched two Z lenses today. The "travel zoom" 24-200/4-6.3 is not for me, whereas the new 20/1.8 S definitively makes it to my bucket list.
That 24-200mm is very light and compact at just 570 grams, 114mm length and 67mm filter size. I'm hoping (and kind of expecting) it to be optically quite ok.
And on the D6, it's nice to see Nikon catering for the target group with this camera.
-
The D6 upgrade is exactly what i want from my 2 D5s.
-
Was waiting a long time to replace my D4S with the D6
its success (and my decision) will depend solely on how good and improved the AF system will
The rest of it looks a bit disappointing now
Does not look very progressive compared to the D5
Does not look very innovative compared to new Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
As a result does not look too competitive
Nikon is maybe more far away from regainig its top level positin in pro segment than ever and might lose ground even more than it already did
-
Interestingly the price of the D6 in the USA is almost the same as what Nikon charged for the D5 when it was first released four years ago.
My D5 is still in tip-top condition after four years of extensive use (I use it for everything and everywhere) so I have no reason to even be reading the specs. of the D6 but yet . . . .
Perhaps D5 would like a younger brother?
You know you want it... Your D5 wants a sibling too... What to do....
-
A D6 is a huge temptation — although I really have no way of justifying the purchase of a new camera right now!
:)
-
In an interview (published 12th Feb) this Nikon Executive confirms Nikon responded to feedback from D5 shooters, and it appears they ranked their top needs as: Better AF, Seamless Wireless, improved options to Customize Menus.
In contrast, requests Video, Lv etc didn't feature much, if at all, and it appears neither did a higher resolution sensor. With the very best AFC, the key features that matter for shooting sports are better performance in low light with fastest shutter speeds etc.
https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/6739481235/ces-2020-interview-nikon-we-are-at-a-transitional-stage
-
A D6 is a huge temptation — although I really have no way of justifying the purchase of a new camera right now!
:)
You can afford. You want. You buy. That is Ann.
-
There wouldn't be much demand for more pixels from the kind of photographers who buy these fast-action sports cameras.
They use long focal-length lenses to fill the frame; and a 20+ sensor is more than sufficient for their needs in most cases. They also may need to instantly transmit images quickly across the Internet.
Publications and Web Sites only require relatively small images
I have never understood the race for larger and larger pixel counts.
How many photographs larger than 20" x 16" are the complainers going to actually print?
Also, consider the normal viewing-distance for anything larger than that.
-
It depends on the photographer and situation.
Nikon did make the D850 as they had received requests for the combination of high speed and high resolution. And it's a very popular camera.
Saying that the action photographer always has just the right length of long lens so that no cropping is needed doesn't seem always realistic. I photograph figure skating quite often and in that sport, the subject to camera distance can vary greatly. I have seen photographers do long rapid fire sequences of athletes approaching from quite a distance and I know from looking at the lenses used that for most of the sequence they would not have been filling the frame or even close. However, then I also see photographers do single shots at carefully planned moments in the performance. They go to rehearsals and find out the best angles for specific moments.
But there can also be unpredictable moments. And the lens on camera may not be the best one. IMO the D850 gives some additional playroom in such situations and preserves quality better when the image needs to be cropped. Maybe the tonal and color quality of the D5 in indoor sports is better (ISO would be in that camera's most competitive range) but still the D850 images are a bit sharper and more crisp. Of course whether this is needed is another question but it's evident in a moderate sized print. Of course, a frame-filling shot is better than a cropped one. But still, sometimes I enjoy shooting with the 70-200/2.8 like it were a 70-300mm f/2.8-4 in terms of outcome. And tracking and keeping an unpredictably moving subject in the frame is easier when I can keep a bit of extra room around the subject in the viewfinder and yet still keep enough pixels in the final composition.
However, at the end of the day I have to admit that if I can get a first-row seat, I usually shoot with the D5 and 200/2 and like the frame-filling images the best. So I guess this is just a long-winded admission of agreement. :)
-
My first D5 dates from March 2016, the other one from June 2017. I will keep the younger one. And I pre-ordered a D6 this morning, hoping to have it by end April.
An even better AF, and a WiFi / Bluetooth / SnapBridge communication interface, was on the top of my wish list. I never use the video features of these cameras. And LifeView is almost limited to still subjects.
-
There wouldn't be much demand for more pixels from the kind of photographers who buy these fast-action sports cameras.
They use long focal-length lenses to fill the frame; and a 20+ sensor is more than sufficient for their needs in most cases. They also may need to instantly transmit images quickly across the Internet.
Publications and Web Sites only require relatively small images
I have never understood the race for larger and larger pixel counts.
How many photographs larger than 20" x 16" are the complainers going to actually print?
Also, consider the normal viewing-distance for anything larger than that.
I totally hear what you say and for most applications in my case 20-24MP works and the files are a nice manageable size. Last October I got an IQ4150 back and the 150MP files are breathtaking to say the least and every time I see them up on the computer I shake my head in disbelief, but that of course has to do more with other aspects than resolution alone. I haven't printed anything yet but I am tempted to do some really large scale prints, the thing is I don't have enough wall space at home to display them.
-
If I recall correctly, ISO400 35mm/135 format colour print film was the equivalent to about 6MP before increasing the level digitisation started to fail to yield more useful definition.
Correctly exposed slide film and fine grain B&W did better than this. However few 35mm films for this format would do much better than 20MP even in the best of circumstances and handling. Moreover, scanners such as Nikon's well regarded Coolscan series rarely delivered above 4,000DPI (about 20MP after cropping around the slide mount).
So with a good quality 20MP sensor in the FX/135 format, peoples cameras have already film behind, especially when the correct viewing distance in respect to the size of the print is observed.
I do concede that a larger sensor resolution is helpful if framing is loose and cropping is required, but FX/135 format cameras with about 20 to 24MP seem to be in vogue and with good reason for general purpose photography.
-
It's very obvious to me that a lot of us really like/use the really high resolution of the D850 and Z7 that doesn't mean the D6 is bad, the D6 is just capable of different things, optimized for other or additional functions ;D 8)
High resolution makes eyes pop and architecture stand out, and yes for large prints!
Matt Granger, a long time Nikon aficionado is not impressed with the D6 on announcement, dissing it to pieces even before starting to use it ::)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ2DZhDuTek
Seems to me some have a very difficult time understanding there is huge difference between; Need to have and nice to have,,, must own and!
It's completely fine with me if you just like the best and greatest and never print, fine I know this feeling ;) but it's like not really the target the Nikon designers go for, they go for optimized for the particular job, the intended purpose for that camera, if you're not shooting with the camera with that intent, don't expect the tool, camera is perfect for your intensions or use.Matt is comparing the D6 to some small cameras, I would newer dream of taking such cameras to a paid sports or PJ event type shooting jobs,,, I also think his mirroless arguments a flawed as I see it, there is still a long way before they are up to DSLR viewing experience if they ever get that ::)
-
The troll armies have swarmed over trashing the D6. Typing away past their bedtimes. The cellphone is the limit of most keyboard eggspurts, judging by the silliness and worse.
Many enthusiasts and also Pros do not need a D6, but we all be using the D6 AFC engine if we upgrade to future cameras. Brad Hill and Thom Hogan published some measured pre-use comments on the D6. Otherwise we wait weeks into April - and longer - for reliable reviews. Utubers are best ignored.
http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#D6PrelimThoughts
- D6 AF focusing system, ENEL18c, ~12 fps, dual CFexpress, What is needed rather urgently (if Nikon want upgraders and new owners of DSLRs) is a D850 with emboldened specifications, including cloning feratures across from the D6 and also Z7/D780.
Many owners of this D880 will shoot macro, so ISO64 is mandatory, as is tilting touch screen, and more than decent Lv AFS etc (focus-peaking). Such a camera will also continue to appeal to landscape shooters. So adding key features that have just been added into the D780 will clinch appeal across genres. An improved Z7 sensor that does noticeably better - ie less noise - IQ at ISO6400. The D850 has its traction through fitting the individual demands across a diversity of genres. As Jeff McNally and Dixey Dixon quipped at its launch in NYC - The camera of totality
-
recap: not much innovation following the wishes of a small user base. Great upgrade for D3s/D4s users who skipped the D5
-
To me the D6 appears to be a D5S - a D5S I have liked to buy some 2 years ago
If the AF System proves to be a significant improvement I will buy a D6 (as I dont have to justify anything). With dozens of F-mount lenses including Superteles I am "captured" in the system (which i still consider to be the best choice for me). So sure lots of Nikon D4/D4s/D5- users will upgrade sooner or later. (BTW i am satisfied with the resolution, there is the D850 out there as well for these kinds of jobs).
Photo industry is not only serving needs but beefing up their products with features creating dreams and illusion.
In this aspect the impression is inevitable that former pro-level leader nikon is not on par with Canon any more, which will further (may it be on an irrational level) influence decisions in which system to buy in (or some even to change as it already happened in the past). This might contribute to NIkon having a harder time in sales than it already has now - which is unfavorable. These type of cameras are designed for SPorts photographers and action- nature photographers profit
My favorite Nature Photographers magazine shows an increasing Share of Canon shots observable throughout the last months and years- dont expect D6 to be a trend changer
-
I am confident the D6 will have its place in all manner of hell, be it the US House of Representatives or some far-flung field of misery and slaughter, for years to come.
-
To me the D6 appears to be a D5S - a D5S I have liked to buy some 2 years ago
Well, it is not common that Nikon develops a whole new state-of-the-art AF module every two years (the previous genuinely new module before the D5 in 2016 was from the 2007 D3, tweak a couple times over 13 years, then the D5 gets a genuinely new one and the D6 four years later again gets a new module). Since Nikon's Kenji Oishi says the AF system of the D6 is a "dramatic jump" from the D5, I am willing to give them the benefit of doubt and assume that indeed it is a significant improvement. I'm surprised that people aren't more excited about it, I think pretty much nobody expected a new module and it wasn't mentioned in the rumors.
Photo industry is not only serving needs but beefing up their products with features creating dreams and illusion.
Yes, sure, but in the end the performance and results are what matter, not imaginary things.
In this aspect the impression is inevitable that former pro-level leader nikon is not on par with Canon any more
I thought that Canon took over in early 1990s and has pretty much held onto that position, so this isn't really new! At sports events I always see many more Canons than other brands.
As for what Canon did in the 1DX III what they produced is a new AF system for the viewfinder photography (as did Nikon) but without evaluating its performance, it's difficult to know if either of them is ahead.
Canon also put in a lot of video features into the 1DX III, but I don't know if it is sensible to use this type of a brick for video unless as a second or third camera. There is no viewfinder for video and the camera is heavy. Nikon put video feature upgrades into the Z6, Z7, D780 and D850, less so in the D6. I think the lighter bodies such as Z6 make more sense for video work since there is a viewfinder that can be used, there is no extra mass of optical viewfinder components that cannot be used in video, and so handling should be much easier on rigs that can be lighter weight. I just don't see why video features would be so crucial in a D6 type camera. Apart from video features, what "dreams" did Canon invoke?
To me Canon have a comprehensive DSLR lens system which is their main strength. Canon's fast superteles are lighter than Nikon's. On the other hand Nikon have the 500 PF which arguably wins the lightness contest easily. However, in mirrorless Canon have a scattered approach with separate APS-C and FF mounts and the APS-C system has only a small number of lenses and primes are mainly around normal and moderate wide angle focal lengths. The FF mirrorless system has a lot of exotics (f/1.2 primes and f/2.0 zoom) and only two sub-1000€ lenses. I thought mirrorless was about getting a lighter weight but high quality system; how do RF system users compile a light weight setup? Nikon have 14-30/4 and 24-70/4, both getting excellent reviews and compact. They have a set of 5 new f/1.8 primes all again so far reviewed favourably. To me this is a much more sensible approach to mirrorless. But somehow the market likes Canon. It's as if they only sell a dream, not what is really needed, and the customers take it and swallow greedily. (Canon did produce a set of f/2.8 zooms and that's probably what many users will buy. But we can't really talk about a compact setup in such a case. The 70-200/2.8 is compact for its specification but loses some focal length upon close focus so it's kind of what you see is what you get.)
I like the Canon R5 button and control layout from the back of the camera, it seems they put in all the controls that are needed (wheras the main control wheel is missing from the R). However, it is difficult for me to believe it would be affordable. Yes, dreams, but does the reality match up?
For example, what I would like to do with mirrorless is photograph people quietly with a smaller, less obtrusive camera setup and quieter shutter. Right now the electronic shutter comes with some drawbacks but the mechanical shutter of a mirrorless camera still feels quieter than the combination of mechanical shutter and mirror movement. The Z7's sound is quite pleasant in my opinion. So with it I could photograph people with less attention being directed to me than when using a DSLR (though the D810, for example, and many DX models such as D7200 are quite quiet also, and the quiet continuous mode can be useful).
In these situations where I want to photograph people at close distance, aside from quiet operation, I need a lens aperture that is large enough that I can get high-quality images. I would say f/1.4 and f/1.8 both qualify when used with modern FX sensors. An f/1.2 is unnecessarily large and I consider it more a special-effect lens. For this type of photography, I might want to use 20/1.8, 35/1.8, 50/1.8 and 85/1.8. Nikon already offers such a set costing about 3500€ (less if timed for rebates). If I wanted to get four primes from Canon, I could not build an equivalent set and if I wanted native primes, I'd be spending many times more for f/1.2 lenses that are not best suited for photographing without drawing attention to me.
-
I thought that Canon took over in early 1990s and has pretty much held onto that position, so this isn't really new! At sports events I always see many more Canons than other brands.
There were ups and downs. The introduction of the D3 helped Nikon gain some terrain. I dont foresee this effect now but if so it will depend on which AF system is significantly better
As for what Canon did in the 1DX III what they produced is a new AF system for the viewfinder photography (as did Nikon) but without evaluating its performance, it's difficult to know if either of them is ahead.
We will have to await this. Nikon has more AF sensors and all cross type but that does not say too much
To me Canon have a comprehensive DSLR lens system which is their main strength. Canon's fast superteles are lighter than Nikon's.
BTW. I would not want to exchange my superteles against Canons
Nikon could have as well removed the video functions from the D6, i hardly or nev6er use this feature. it could even go without Live-View. I am using that on other bodies preferrable with flexible display but not with my current D4S
-
We will have to await this. Nikon has more AF sensors and all cross type but that does not say too much
In my experience it does matter a lot if the subject doesn't have clear contrasty texture to focus on; with cross-type sensors it's easy to focus on faces. It really annoyed me a lot when using Multi-CAM 3500 series bodies so many years; the focus percentages using the corner points (1/3 on both axis) on faces in low light were really poor. With the D5 and D850, focusing is much better using peripheral points. The D6 adds the in-between regions to cross-type coverage, which should be good.
BTW. I would not want to exchange my superteles against Canons
Well, there we have agreement; I wouldn't want to give up my Nikkors (nor do I have any plans to). I have used other brands' lenses and don't find the images as pleasing, in many cases.
Nikon could have as well removed the video functions from the D6, i hardly or nev6er use this feature. it could even go without Live-View.
I too rarely shoot video, but if the LVAF were better, I'd use it more. My experience is in photography, not video, and it would take me a long time to learn how to do high-quality video. The whole mindset of video is different, as one needs to consider continuity of the timeline, one can't move the camera freely, etc. I think watching poorly shot video is unbearable and so I'd want to do it properly or not at all. I think video is a whole different world and don't really understand the motivation behind the so-called integration or convergence or hybridization of the two media.
However, Live view is very important to me, as when taking photographs of static subjects, it allows focusing accurately and many other things. One might ask why would I take photos of static subjects with a D5 or D6, the answer to that is that if that's the camera I have with me when I need to take a photograph, that's the camera I'll use. Also, sometimes the subject is moving but camera position is nevertheless fixed on tripod. E.g. today I was taking photos of light art installations in Porvoo, a small town. At one point I was shooting over a river with a 135mm lens, the subject was colorfully lit huts by the riverside, with silhouetted figures inside (the people viewing the work). In this case if I had wanted to avoid blurring the people because they were walking through, I would have had to use a high ISO and the D5 would have been advantageous for that. Still, I was using a manual focus lens (Apo Sonnar) and LV was the best way to focus it in this situation. To me LV is very useful, I would say one of the most important features of a camera. It's the foundation of doing any precision work.
-
Several pros have spelt out that they switched to Nikon for the D3: namely its better AFC and low-light shooting. Comparing the history of new features vs tweaks of D3 through to D5, and now to the D6 tells us more as to perhaps how Nikon have named these cameras:
https://photographylife.com/nikon-flagship-dslr-comparison
Looking back at the flagship D* DSLRs, the improvements have largely been incremental eg fps, although one might quibble 9fps > 11 fps is significant to capture the right gestures at a critical moment (e.g. golf swing, bird landing).... the faster fps the better to grad the "WHEN" can be vital. A New AFC engine is the Mega-Tick of the great leap forward: thus D3 and D5 versus D3 and D4 upgrades. All the tweaks to video etc are merely minor, nice but sidelines - ie none = a Mega-Tick. (So perhaps Nikon work on the maxim of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.) If the AF engine gets redesigned / upgraded then it's a new flagship. This makes sense given the primary users of these cameras. As those with experience tell us here, the FX AF sensor had its limitations, and so it could be argued the D4 did not justify its moniker after the three D3 versions, but Nikon improved the D4 sensor.
Perhaps, the tighter girding of R&D over the past few years (with Z System urgencies and demands) explains why they did not merge more of what we see in the D780. But, again, which Pros really need more of such features?
Improved networking of the D6 is the other Mega-Tick why it's no D5s.
D3 > D4 > D5 each updated the sensor. With the D5 > D6 it's still 20mp - Oh the horror of horrors!!! but we do not YET know if these sensors are the same. If Nikon has improved D6 IQ at end of the of ISO range then another Mega-Tick. Especially if ISO100 gets better DR and the low-light ceiling has "darkened". If it turns out a +ve at either end (better both ends) then Wow, and Wow! This will be significant for actual photographers of sports and wildlife, who push the extremes.
Nikon pulls off bizarre blunders time and again, eg no grip with controls on the Z cameras. Considering how the D6 has turned out, viewed in retrospect the D6 teaser videos are even more bizarre than they did pre-release. Why the hell didn't we see glimpses of the new AF in action (using tested prototypes) - and in low light too?!?
However with the flagship FX DSLRs aimed primarily at Pros shooting top level action events, the R&D has consistently delivered a rugged tank of a camera that delivers, and above all a camera "that leaves nothing to chance" wrt capturing subjects in action scenes. The AFC is the crux. So we read the D6 AF sensor is now Multi-CAM 37K (D5 is Multi-CAM 20K), and layout of the cross-type sensors and software are major upgrades. If tough testing might in fact turn out to obviate the official claims, then there ARE problems. If the AFC in the D6 is indeed a significant improvement, then the D6 is NOT a D5s contra Mr Hogan in his latest essay insinuating Nikon is too proud to call the D6 a D5s.... He should know better.
-
In my experience it does matter a lot if the subject doesn't have clear contrasty texture to focus on; with cross-type sensors it's easy to focus on faces. It really annoyed me a lot when using Multi-CAM 3500 series bodies so many years; the focus percentages using the corner points (1/3 on both axis) on faces in low light were really poor. With the D5 and D850, focusing is much better using peripheral points. The D6 adds the in-between regions to cross-type coverage, which should be good.
Yes it should be good, thats why i plan to buy it and thats the key issue where it might beat the new EOS 1
I too rarely shoot video, but if the LVAF were better, I'd use it more. My experience is in photography, not video, and it would take me a long time to learn how to do high-quality video. The whole mindset of video is different, as one needs to consider continuity of the timeline, one can't move the camera freely, etc. I think watching poorly shot video is unbearable and so I'd want to do it properly or not at all. I think video is a whole different world and don't really understand the motivation behind the so-called integration or convergence or hybridization of the two media.
However, Live view is very important to me, as when taking photographs of static subjects, it allows focusing accurately and many other things. One might ask why would I take photos of static subjects with a D5 or D6, the answer to that is that if that's the camera I have with me when I need to take a photograph, that's the camera I'll use. Also, sometimes the subject is moving but camera position is nevertheless fixed on tripod. E.g. today I was taking photos of light art installations in Porvoo, a small town. At one point I was shooting over a river with a 135mm lens, the subject was colorfully lit huts by the riverside, with silhouetted figures inside (the people viewing the work). In this case if I had wanted to avoid blurring the people because they were walking through, I would have had to use a high ISO and the D5 would have been advantageous for that. Still, I was using a manual focus lens (Apo Sonnar) and LV was the best way to focus it in this situation. To me LV is very useful, I would say one of the most important features of a camera. It's the foundation of doing any precision work.
Dont misudnerstand me. I do see the value of Life View. But if I say a pro camera is developed for just one purpose (fast action) it is not needed, or it would require better Live-View AF. Here there appears to be little improvement in the D6, adn as the D780 and Z Series shows Nikon has not implemented its best available technology. I am using Live View for getting more accurate manual focussing in static situation (yes I can use a D4S or D6 for that type of shooting a swell) or together with tilted LC-Display for dynamic macro work where an AF-lens is needed and the yet implemented Contrast AF is some kind of a nuissance in all my bodies.
The same is true for video, this would deserve better AF, I am no Director but rarely used this feature at bird colonies with action ongoing and such like. Funny enough I did not even one video with the Z6 so far (althouth this should be the most advanced technology) which shows how low the importance of video is for my work
BTW. I'd like to see a D510 later with the new AF module included.
-
Several pros have spelt out that they switched to Nikon for the D3: namely its better AFC and low-light shooting. Comparing the history of new features vs tweaks of D3 through to D5, and now to the D6 tells us more as to perhaps how Nikon have named these cameras:
https://photographylife.com/nikon-flagship-dslr-comparison
Looking back at the flagship D* DSLRs, the improvements have largely been incremental eg fps, although one might quibble 9fps > 11 fps is significant to capture the right gestures at a critical moment (e.g. golf swing, bird landing).... the faster fps the better to grad the "WHEN" can be vital. A New AFC engine is the Mega-Tick of the great leap forward: thus D3 and D5 versus D3 and D4 upgrades. All the tweaks to video etc are merely minor, nice but sidelines - ie none = a Mega-Tick. (So perhaps Nikon work on the maxim of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.) If the AF engine gets redesigned / upgraded then it's a new flagship. This makes sense given the primary users of these cameras. As those with experience tell us here, the FX AF sensor had its limitations, and so it could be argued the D4 did not justify its moniker after the three D3 versions, but Nikon improved the D4 sensor.
Perhaps, the tighter girding of R&D over the past few years (with Z System urgencies and demands) explains why they did not merge more of what we see in the D780. But, again, which Pros really need more of such features?
Improved networking of the D6 is the other Mega-Tick why it's no D5s.
D3 > D4 > D5 each updated the sensor. With the D5 > D6 it's still 20mp - Oh the horror of horrors!!! but we do not YET know if these sensors are the same. If Nikon has improved D6 IQ at end of the of ISO range then another Mega-Tick. Especially if ISO100 gets better DR and the low-light ceiling has "darkened". If it turns out a +ve at either end (better both ends) then Wow, and Wow! This will be significant for actual photographers of sports and wildlife, who push the extremes.
Nikon pulls off bizarre blunders time and again, eg no grip with controls on the Z cameras. Considering how the D6 has turned out, viewed in retrospect the D6 teaser videos are even more bizarre than they did pre-release. Why the hell didn't we see glimpses of the new AF in action (using tested prototypes) - and in low light too?!?
However with the flagship FX DSLRs aimed primarily at Pros shooting top level action events, the R&D has consistently delivered a rugged tank of a camera that delivers, and above all a camera "that leaves nothing to chance" wrt capturing subjects in action scenes. The AFC is the crux. So we read the D6 AF sensor is now Multi-CAM 37K (D5 is Multi-CAM 20K), and layout of the cross-type sensors and software are major upgrades. If tough testing might in fact turn out to obviate the official claims, then there ARE problems. If the AFC in the D6 is indeed a significant improvement, then the D6 is NOT a D5s contra Mr Hogan in his latest essay insinuating Nikon is too proud to call the D6 a D5s.... He should know better.
There is a lot of truth in your words. As I have also called the D6 a D5s but without reading and thus knowing that Mr. Hogan appeared to have done the same. It might be true that ALL true pros are rational and just buy what they need (although I doubt that this goes for100%), but there are more flaghship buyers that are not immune to features. There was a similar situation in times of the NIkon F3 wher Nikon started to lose its lead in the -then assumed - conservative Pro-segment.
I was doing the D5s comparison because evidently Nikon is not using its best available techology in all aspects whereas Canon currently is doing. Nikons policy might also have in mind that they can sell a mirrorless flagship body (Z9?) filled with best technology and features of all usefull or useless kinds next year
Personally i can live without a lot of features, VR is useless and turned off most of the time.
Everybody who can count can see that 20 or 16 Fps is faster than 14 no matter to which extent the difference is really relevant
-
Wolfgang, I suspect that there may be another refresh to the FX sized Z cameras before then.
Nikon are pretty conservative and they are now a financially leaner company than they were even a few years ago and top end professional cameras such as the D* cameras and their successors must cost a fortune to design and build, so I reckon that just before the 2024 Olympics (i.e. the next Olympics in Paris after Tokyo this year) would be the earliest that such a mirrorless professional flagship camera might eventuate.
T.......................................................................................
Nikons policy might also have in mind that they can sell a mirrorless flagship body (Z9?) filled with best technology and features of all usefull or useless kinds next year
.........................................................................................
-
Wolfgang, I suspect that there may be another refresh to the FX sized Z cameras before then.
Nikon are pretty conservative and they are now a financially leaner company than they were even a few years ago and top end professional cameras such as the D* cameras and their successors must cost a fortune to design and build, so I reckon that just before the 2024 Olympics (i.e. the next Olympics in Paris after Tokyo this year) would be the earliest that such a mirrorless professional flagship camera might eventuate.
you are right that they have less financial power than they already had (and downcycles are dangerous). Currently they are refreshing Z6 and Z7 via firmware. I dont know whether there will be Mk2 versions of those. There is rumors of a Z8 with 60 mp Sensor which would equal for Z-mount what D850 is for F mount. I dont think they really can wait four years for bringing a Z9 but on the other hand it is better not to release a Z9 than releasing something that is not able to beat/or at least compete with Sonys A9.
BTW I called my dealer today to put me on the D6 waiting list - so far i am the first
-
evidently Nikon is not using its best available techology in all aspects whereas Canon currently is doing.
Nikon probably don't want to put OSPDAF in their professional DSLRs because they consider the image quality slightly compromised by the OSPDAF sensors and in the DSLR, LV or video are not the primary modes of operation (the viewfinder is), so it's not strictly necessary to implement OSPDAF. Canon use dual pixel AF which doesn't cause striping or banding, but it can lead to much more processing power being needed (or slower operation, if such processing power is not available) because of the amount of data that needs to be read and processed. For example a 20MP camera needs a 40MP sensor for dual-pixel AF and 80 MP for quad-pixel AF should they decide that cross-type sensors are needed. Can Canon make such a sensor with read times competitive with Sony A9, so that they can implement rolling shutter free electronic shutter (1/150s read time instead of the typical 1/15s-1/30s)? With dual-pixel AF it may be not easy to achieve that. The 61MP sensor in the A7R IV has a read time of 1/10s so it's further away from rolling-shutter free silent shutter use in still photography. If Canon want to make a 61MP camera with dual-pixel AF they need a 122MP sensor whose read time might be 1/5s (I am not saying they can't solve the problem with new technology, but the tendency is for larger and higher pixel count sensors to have slower read times).
I think for consumer / newcomer adoption, LVAF is really important as many people are used to using the LCD of their phones or compact cameras and are unfamiliar with viewfinder use, so if they make first contact with an ILC in a store, and the LV AF is poor, they may not look at that camera a second time. And even for serious photographers, some need moving-subject tracking in LV for various reasons (I sometimes do). At least Nikon now provide good LVAF in the Z50, Z6, Z7 and D780 so camera stores can show these cameras as options. If they can't solve the banding/striping in the long run then it may be that they'll continue not to put the mirrorless camera sensors into top DSLRs. Of course this also means there may not be all top video features. D6 does have focus peaking so manual focus during video and LV should be easier in some cases than on a D5.
But other than that, I don't know what technology Nikon have available that they didn't put into the D6.
-
recap: not much innovation following the wishes of a small user base. Great upgrade for D3s/D4s users who skipped the D5
We don’t know yet what the “better AF” will bring. As a D5 user, it’s AF is already the best one currently available. As a sport /action photographer, I demand a lot of the D5’s AF; but if Nikon provides an even better one, I had no much second thoughts to made up my decision.
Another point is communication: having WiFi, Bluetooth (and positioning) available is a big plus point in the era of social media asking for near real time availability of images.
So, for me, even for D5 users, the switch is entirely justified.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49254083067_610130533f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2i3q3UK)
_D568647.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2i3q3UK)
WEC 2019 Bahrain (Federation Internationale Automobile - World Endurance Championship)
Nikon D5
Nikkor 70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8E FL
ƒ/2.8 145.0 mm 1/125s ISO 400
-
Nikon probably don't want to put OSPDAF in their professional DSLRs because they consider the image quality slightly compromised by the OSPDAF sensors ...
Thats a thought that also came to my mind recently
But other than that, I don't know what technology Nikon have available that they didn't put into the D6.
IBIS would be another example, D6 was rumored with that feature, Canon has implemented it, Nikon did not. BTW i dont miss it
They DID implement focus peaking as a new feature, I did not mention that
-
The 1DXMkIII does not have IBIS, the announced R5 will, but that is not a DSLR
-
The 1DXMkIII does not have IBIS, the announced R5 will, but that is not a DSLR
So the information i read somewhere about EOS 1 including IBIS was misleading, sorry
Yes R5 is not a DSLR
-
So the information i read somewhere about EOS 1 including IBIS was misleading, sorry
Yes R5 is not a DSLR
Yeah, there were rumors of D6 with in-camera VR. It is possible to implement (Pentax, Konica-Minolta and Sony had it in DSLRs) but it adds complexity and may not perform as well as on mirrorless. As the image sensor is moved, the viewfinder image does not show the correction and the AF sensor may also be out of alignment with the moved image sensor. There is also the matter that a D6 is expected to be really rugged and additional moving parts may adversely affect that.
I think it would have been nice to have in-camera VR but I can understand why they would not do it. This is a case where rumor sites by dispersing inaccurate information can cause a feeling of a letdown when it turns out the rumored specs were just a figment of someone's imagination. Note that there was no mention of a new AF module in the D6 rumors. A while back a similar thing occurred with the rumored Z lens roadmap which turned out to be fake.
I am just excited that they made a new AF module and look forward to seeing how it performs. I am likely, however, to wait for the D850 to be updated with the new AF system rather than buy the D6. I am pretty confident they will do it since it allows them to leverage the AF system development cost over multiple camera bodies and the D850 is popular and well-regarded.
-
Had that kind of complexity-error with my old F4 and its builit-in viewfinder diopter correction getting lose, thus not showing any kind of sharp viefinder image any more
-
We don’t know yet what the “better AF” will bring. As a D5 user, it’s AF is already the best one currently available. As a sport /action photographer, I demand a lot of the D5’s AF; but if Nikon provides an even better one, I had no much second thoughts to made up my decision.
Another point is communication: having WiFi, Bluetooth (and positioning) available is a big plus point in the era of social media asking for near real time availability of images.
So, for me, even for D5 users, the switch is entirely justified.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49254083067_610130533f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2i3q3UK)
_D568647.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2i3q3UK)
WEC 2019 Bahrain (Federation Internationale Automobile - World Endurance Championship)
Nikon D5
Nikkor 70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8E FL
ƒ/2.8 145.0 mm 1/125s ISO 400
I like to have GPS and WiFi builtin and I like a monolitic body like the one digit bodies ... Better AF is alright but I never use more than 10 fps and I prefer a higher resolution sensor.
-
Had that kind of complexity-error with my old F4 and its builit-in viewfinder diopter correction getting lose, thus not showing any kind of sharp viefinder image any more
This happened to my F4 too after a drop. I opened up the viewfinder and found that the adjustable optic element had come loose from its plastic frame. I simply glued it back in the plastic frame and got it working again.
-
An interesting inside take based upon working at Nikon UK (1995-1999) on the Nikon that was (and probably that still is). Towards the end of the article, in chagrin about the D6, the author argues the company is probably working full steam ahead on its Z system.
I found it reads well and interesting, but his rant after reading the D6 specs, smacks of his having been too gullible (swallowing rumours of IBIS etc) and too impatient to wait for field data
http://www.picturedesk.co.uk/news/2020/02/nikon-an-insider-story/
This article has been picked up on by several web-based photographic newshubs
-
It doesn't sound like the person really understands the technology very well at all; there are many factual errors in the article. So he watched rumor sites and was disappointed that the rumor-site published specs on the D6 turned out to be the figment of someone's imagination instead of real specs. Whose fault is that? If he had been an insider as he claims, he would have known what the product really is going to be like.
Of course we all know that Nikon are working mainly on the Z's since in that sector they came in late and they need to catch up with a comprehensive product line.
The real problem is that fabricated specs get routinely passed on as "rumors" and then there are sites who publish such "specs." It looks like Nikon are getting a lot better at preventing these sites from getting real information until rather close to the product announcement date. So this means that if Nikon keep it that way, rumor sites increasingly publish fabrications. Another example was the rumored Z lens roadmap, which contained zero additional correct information that wasn't already known in the the original roadmap, and the real updated roadmap that Nikon published eventually contained none of the lenses that the rumored roadmap had included beyond the already previously known ones.
My guess is that this trend will continue. Rather than blaming the rumor sites for false specifications, and setting the wrong expectations, people blame Nikon for not meeting the fabricated specifications.
If one wants to know what Nikon are up to, interviews such as frequently published by dpreview and e.g. imaging resource reveal a lot about Nikon's strategy without being specific about yet unannounced product details. From this information it is easy enough to deduce what can be expected in the future. And not be disappointed.
-
D6 Brochure fyi - official details including information about the new AF system
https://cdn-4.nikon-cdn.com/e/Q5NM96RZZo-YRYNeYvAi9beHK4x3L-wmtXfawgokSdJtu7dDU0VkoA==/Misc/D6-Brochure.pdf
-
Woody and Ilkka,
I agree with your points. The author comes across as someone who does not seem to understand technology that well and is more interested in having a "flagship" than he is in photography. The claim that it is an "Insider's" view when he has been outside more than 20 years is certainly a loooong stretch.
-
Ilkka, this site doesn't provide for upvotes on posts but here's one anyway.
-
Brad Hill's update, derived from the D6 Brochure mainly
http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#D6MOREThoughts
https://cdn-4.nikon-cdn.com/e/Q5NM96RZZo-YRYNeYvAi9beHK4x3L-wmtXfawgokSdJtu7dDU0VkoA==/Misc/D6-Brochure.pdf
as noted a few days ago, the whole that's the D6 matches the magnitude of upgrade as the previous flagships (D3,D4,D5)
-
Wow, the brochure is really nice and comprehensive as always!
It is a new focus system,,, ;D
The only thing I still miss is the focus point spread, could do with points further out,,, otherwise,,, Just Wow! 8)
-
-
The real problem is that fabricated specs get routinely passed on as "rumors" and then there are sites who publish such "specs." It looks like Nikon are getting a lot better at preventing these sites from getting real information until rather close to the product announcement date. So this means that if Nikon keep it that way, rumor sites increasingly publish fabrications.
That practice is endemic to the current techno narrative at large, corresponding to a similar condition of reportage unfettered by archaic notions of vetting evidence and fact-checking.
-
Brad Hill's update, derived from the D6 Brochure mainly
http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#D6MOREThoughts
https://cdn-4.nikon-cdn.com/e/Q5NM96RZZo-YRYNeYvAi9beHK4x3L-wmtXfawgokSdJtu7dDU0VkoA==/Misc/D6-Brochure.pdf
as noted a few days ago, the whole that's the D6 matches the magnitude of upgrade as the previous flagships (D3,D4,D5)
Quite a handsome brochure!
-
So far, we haven't gone past the brochure stage.
Usually when a new model enters the arena, the reference manual pops up in downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com.
No manual so far. No announcements by anyone bragging to have one.
The coronavirus pandemic seems to have quarantined the D6 too :(
Ciao from Massimo
-
IF the Olympics go ahead in 2021, then based on past practice, Nikon will release the camera a few months before the commencement of the games.
With the extra development time afforded by the delay of the games, maybe we will see the Nikon D6s instead? ;)
-
IF the Olympics go ahead in 2021, then based on past practice, Nikon will release the camera a few months before the commencement of the games.
With the extra development time afforded by the delay of the games, maybe we will see the Nikon D6s instead? ;)
There are supply chain issues due to the pandemic, so they may have some difficulty to get all the parts for the production of the camera. The manual typically comes out online at the same time as the first cameras reach the customers.
While the Olympics are an important way of showcasing the camera, it is not solely made for the Games. I don’t see how Nikon could afford not to sell a finished camera and just postpone it possibly indefinitely. There is a large cost for making the tools for producing the camera and it should be sold as soon as it is ready to recover those costs while the technology is competitive. Canon and Sony already put theirs on the market.
Of course, no major sports are being played at the moment but there is plenty of photojournalism to do (current issues) and when working with gloves on, it is easier to use the full-size camera. And wildlife is not in quarantine.
-
IF the Olympics go ahead in 2021, then based on past practice, Nikon will release the camera a few months before the commencement of the games.
With the extra development time afforded by the delay of the games, maybe we will see the Nikon D6s instead? ;)
My father used to say "Don't go out for a hard trek with new boots", even the eventual D6s would be a new camera. And the Olympic Games are a "hard trek" in photographic terms. A trusty set of backups is essential.
Ciao from Massimo
-
I don’t see how Nikon could afford not to sell a finished camera and just postpone it possibly indefinitely. There is a large cost for making the tools for producing the camera and it should be sold as soon as it is ready to recover those costs while the technology is competitive. Canon and Sony already put theirs on the market.
I've worked for a long time in semiconductor industry and am always surprised to hear people believe that a product is being held back for one reason or another. New technology is like a banana, it has a short shelf life.
-
IF the Olympics go ahead in 2021, then based on past practice, Nikon will release the camera a few months before the commencement of the games.
With the extra development time afforded by the delay of the games, maybe we will see the Nikon D6s instead? ;)
Last month [21 April] Brad Hill posted Nikon Canada were planning to ship his ordered D6 soon - first week of May. He's already field-testing his 120-300 f2.8E, and will soon be testing the D6 outdoors. More than a few of us are most interesting to hear what he says abou the new focus-system ;) ;)
http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#500mm_wars_1
-
First reviews are appearing
https://nikonrumors.com/2020/05/12/first-nikon-d6-review.aspx/
(Original in Italian)
-
The D6 Manuals are available to download. Many of us may never own a D6, but it's useful for deeper insights into its capabilities and functions - notably the new Autofocus system and also Customization features.
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/545/D6.html
-
Brad Hill has begun testing his new D6
http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#D6_EarlyImpressions
It will be weeks before we will read firm conclusions on the D6 by shooters with years of prior field experience shooting challenging action scenes. There are pertinent questions on the D6 vs D5, which Brad Hill is comparing side by side.
Shooting flying birds with a pre-configured D5 (or D850 etc) is one matter (ie correct settings), but he has swiftly recognized the advantages in being able to switch across full suites of camera settings instantly. In its own right, this ability of a customized D6 to capture unexpected moments with the improved "Recall Shooting Functions" should prove to be a huge game changer.
We will see more of the D6 AF with its entirely new sensor (with major update / expansion of algorithms etc). If Nikon persist in their tradition, they will be cloning this D6 AF engine into its future cameras, including MILCs.
And wrt possible future Nikkors (?): "Now the wild speculation: Does it seem odd to anyone other than me that Nikon would add a unique viewfinder display for ONE lens that is uber-expensive and is owned by (in relative terms) only a handful of folks? Is it possible that Nikon is looking ahead and adding a display that will work with NEW ( = not yet in existence) super-telephoto primes or zooms that have built-in TC's? Interesting to ponder..." Might this TC icon in the D6 screen suggest future Nikkors primes with built-in on/off teleconverters. So far there is the 180-400 f4E TC14
-
We don’t know yet what the “better AF” will bring. As a D5 user, it’s AF is already the best one currently available. As a sport /action photographer, I demand a lot of the D5’s AF; but if Nikon provides an even better one, I had no much second thoughts to made up my decision.
Another point is communication: having WiFi, Bluetooth (and positioning) available is a big plus point in the era of social media asking for near real time availability of images.
So, for me, even for D5 users, the switch is entirely justified.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49254083067_610130533f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2i3q3UK)
_D568647.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2i3q3UK)
WEC 2019 Bahrain (Federation Internationale Automobile - World Endurance Championship)
Nikon D5
Nikkor 70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8E FL
ƒ/2.8 145.0 mm 1/125s ISO 400
that is a VERY FINE racing shot!
-
that is a VERY FINE racing shot!
Thx Frank ;)
-
that is a VERY FINE racing shot!
+1
-
The Brad Hill report sounds very promising
Just suffering from the reported reduced burst length ;-)
Two inconsistencies I found:
He is praising the "Recall Shooting function" (which sounds fine indeed) giving the example switching from macro work crawling on the ground and switching by one button to shoot the red-tailed hawk. He probably would have to switch lens too in this case.
He is reporting the ability to customize AF-ON function to the horizontal subselector to do AF-ON and AF-Field selection without having to switch between AF-ON and multi selector as if that was new. Don't know about the D5 but I can do that with my D4S already. I just found the sub-selector way less comfortable for each function so did not get too familiar with that approach.
I would not see a TC index in the viewfinder as crucial if I owned the 180-400 (wouldbe nice to replace my 200-400/4 with that lens). This lens is indeed overpriced, but even more so is the new 120-300/2,8 (it hasnt got a TC btw and is the new pro lens that Nikon has paired with the D6 which is somewhat against the theory of being more TC lenses soon. Nikon made the 180-400 TC to be on par with Canon who has tried to beat Nikons (for long years standalone) famous 200-400.
(UPDATE: 180-400 is overprized in the same way but it suits more to my needs than the 120-300)
Hopefully the new AF-system will be cloned in the future as it was in the past. I would like to see a D500 successor with this System
-
Alas, no place for a DX D600 in the Nikon naming scheme... ;)
-
Alas, no place for a DX D600 in the Nikon naming scheme... ;)
Would have to be a D510, D550, D500 V.2 ....
The naming scheme isn't very sophisticated anyway
D6, D7, D8 .... D20 ...
there is enough room to move - questionable whether there will even be a D7
-
The Brad Hill report sounds very promising
Just suffering from the reported reduced burst length ;-)
I think the maximum burst depth is likely not a problem in any practical situation with these cameras.
Two inconsistencies I found:
He is praising the "Recall Shooting function" (which sounds fine indeed) giving the example switching from macro work crawling on the ground and switching by one button to shoot the red-tailed hawk. He probably would have to switch lens too in this case.
Well, lenses like 300/4 and 180-400 have pretty high maximum reproduction ratio so they could be used for close-ups and also for birds in flight. I think he is just trying to make a point that recall shooting functions allows easy change of exposure settings and other parameters. It's a blog post, not a book, and so the examples may not be always the most thought-out, rather just ideas that come to the writer's mind while writing.
He is reporting the ability to customize AF-ON function to the horizontal subselector to do AF-ON and AF-Field selection without having to switch between AF-ON and multi selector as if that was new. Don't know about the D5 but I can do that with my D4S already.
This is also possible in the D5. Many people make small mistakes about technical details, this includes Nikon's own video interviews as well. E.g. in one interview the interviewee claimed that the user interface has been similar since F4. In reality the F4 has a very different interface, and he should have used the F5 as example. The internet lends itself to informal writing and comments where the facts may not always be exactly correct. That doesn't mean the general ideas aren't generally correct. When writing a more formal article, brochure or book, people write, read, comment, and rewrite the text until it is close to perfect. That's not the case in the world of youtube and blogging.
I would not see a TC index in the viewfinder as crucial if I owned the 180-400
I can understand why this would be useful. The lens can be used to reach certain focal lengths in two different ways (with and without TC), e.g. 300mm and 400mm settings may be set with the TC in play yet a higher-quality image can be obtained by taking the TC out of the optical path and zooming in to the required focal length. The TC indicator in the viewfinder reminds the user that they have the TC in, so that they are not shooting unintentionally at a suboptimal setting on the lens. I doubt there will be other lenses with built-in TCs, what would be the point? It makes the lens heavier and more expensive and yet doesn't give the optical quality of a native lens of long focal lengths, e.g. in Brad's own comparisons, it is clear the 500 PF is much sharper at 500mm, f/5.6 than the 180-400 with TC in play at 500mm focal length, yet costs and weights a fraction of the zoom. The 180-400 a specialty lens for situations where you must be able to make quick changes in focal length. I am very impressed with the 180-400's output; in Nikon Owner magazine there was an article on the lens by Moose Peterson and the quality of the images in print was really high. I am not trying to suggest the lens is not useful, but I still don't think it makes sense to add built-in TCs to other lenses. Frequent TC users may disagree, of course, perhaps they see something I don't. I can't really bring myself to like any TC images that I've made, the more time passes the more clear and disturbing the fuzzy veil on them becomes in my eyes. I still want the 180-400 but not because of the TC. I'd really like Nikon to make a version of the lens without the TC, at reduced cost and weight.
This lens is indeed overpriced, but even more so is the new 120-300/2,8
Well, I don't disagree with you, but this seems to be the direction things are going. 10k€ seems to be the new 5k€. I fear inflation may accelerate due to the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis.
Hopefully the new AF-system will be cloned in the future as it was in the past. I would like to see a D500 successor with this System
I am reasonably confident it will be seen in the D850's successor at the very least.
I would think there is going to be a D7 as there is nothing in the mirrorless segment on the professional telephoto side from Nikon and I suspect the transition to mirrorless in the sports photography and photojournalism segment will take the retiring of the current generation of photographers.
-
I think the maximum burst depth is likely not a problem in any practical situation with these cameras.
I agree, a maximum burst length of 200 is not truly needed - actually i made a joke marked with ;-)
Well, lenses like 300/4 and 180-400 have pretty high maximum reproduction ratio so they could be used for close-ups and also for birds in flight. I think he is just trying to make a point that recall shooting functions allows easy change of exposure settings and other parameters. It's a blog post, not a book, and so the examples may not be always the most thought-out, rather just ideas that come to the writer's mind while writing.
yes there are lenses where you can imagine to make macro work and bird shots without lens change, alsothe 80-400 AF-S comes to my mind. I just dont think that this is a very thought out l example - nevertheless i am looking forward to this extended recall shooting function - maybe a setting for Birds against the sky while doing other bird shot will make sense for me
This is also possible in the D5. Many people make small mistakes about technical details, this includes Nikon's own video interviews as well. E.g. in one interview the interviewee claimed that the user interface has been similar since F4. In reality the F4 has a very different interface, and he should have used the F5 as example. The internet lends itself to informal writing and comments where the facts may not always be exactly correct. That doesn't mean the general ideas aren't generally correct. When writing a more formal article, brochure or book, people write, read, comment, and rewrite the text until it is close to perfect. That's not the case in the world of youtube and blogging.
I was writing about the D4S because I own it but not the D5, but i am not surprised to hear about this continuity - BTW i have nothing against Brad Hill. And I know the interface switch between F4 and F5 because i have an F4 and refused to buy an F5 because of this.
I can understand why this would be useful. The lens can be used to reach certain focal lengths in two different ways (with and without TC), e.g. 300mm and 400mm settings may be set with the TC in play yet a higher-quality image can be obtained by taking the TC out of the optical path and zooming in to the required focal length. The TC indicator in the viewfinder reminds the user that they have the TC in, so that they are not shooting unintentionally at a suboptimal setting on the lens. I doubt there will be other lenses with built-in TCs, what would be the point? It makes the lens heavier and more expensive and yet doesn't give the optical quality of a native lens of long focal lengths, e.g. in Brad's own comparisons, it is clear the 500 PF is much sharper at 500mm, f/5.6 than the 180-400 with TC in play at 500mm focal length, yet costs and weights a fraction of the zoom. The 180-400 a specialty lens for situations where you must be able to make quick changes in focal length. I am very impressed with the 180-400's output; in Nikon Owner magazine there was an article on the lens by Moose Peterson and the quality of the images in print was really high. I am not trying to suggest the lens is not useful, but I still don't think it makes sense to add built-in TCs to other lenses. Frequent TC users may disagree, of course, perhaps they see something I don't. I can't really bring myself to like any TC images that I've made, the more time passes the more clear and disturbing the fuzzy veil on them becomes in my eyes. I still want the 180-400 but not because of the TC. I'd really like Nikon to make a version of the lens without the TC, at reduced cost and weight.
I also find the TC display useful - just said it is not crucial imho. I currently have the 200-400 f/4 VR and i bought it (although I had 300/2,8 and 500/4) to have the ability of quickly change setting , scenes with mixed waterbirds of different sizes (ducks and swans for instance) and some action. With 300/2,8 and TCs changes take time and there were lots of missed chances (and think of swimming hides where cou cant change lens at all), 200-400 gives you at least some zoom option. The range of 180-200 does not matter too much but with the new lens there are more options and I am seriously interested. I am also more reluctant to use teleconverters than I was in the past but i expierienced that it is different with dedicated Teleconverters. The 800 mm f/5,6 and the TC800 gave me good experiences. The built in TC in the 180-400 is dedicated as well so it should be better than TC14EIII but I dont know whether it is in the same league.
I am reasonably confident it will be seen in the D850's successor at the very least.
Depends on whether there is enough time to sell D6 bodies before, i hope that it will be included in the D880 like it happened with the D5, D500 and D850
I would think there is going to be a D7 as there is nothing in the mirrorless segment on the professional telephoto side from Nikon and I suspect the transition to mirrorless in the sports photography and photojournalism segment will take the retiring of the current generation of photographers.
I hope so - a Nikon Z9 that is beyond Sonys A9 and on par with D6 has yet to come BTW
-
Hereunder very interesting review. One can easily skip the first minute.
https://youtu.be/WlEsHIScxBU
-
Thanks - that recent NR update on D6 links included a video by this enthusiast demonstrating field shooting on birds, including Eye-recognition on a stationary owl. Scroll to about 2:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu62PsYDoCQ&feature=youtu.be
It's still too early for full reviews, notably by Brad Hill, who received his D6 last week. It will be interesting to learn about his comparisons against the D5, which he tested intensively (with the D500) back in 2016 - http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog_2016_all.html#D500_D5_Khutz1
see above - http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#D6_EarlyImpressions
For what they are worth, DW has run off their sensor comparisons. Compared to the D5, the D6 improves the DR and noise control marginally, and over 1600-12800 [where it often tends to matter more shooting sport and wildlife] https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/uk/reviews/nikon-d6-review
[EDIT} In case this was not reported here earlier, the only other notable information is the official Setting Guide (Sports AF Edition) added last month. More insights into the D6 AF
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/545/D6.html
-
Does the site document how they do their measurements? Is it jpg or raw-based, and what procedures and formulas are used?
I'm surprised with how long stories reviewers can make about the LV / video AF, when it's clear it wasn't a priority for this camera. IMO each camera should mainly be tested in applications where it was intended to be used. Of course it is fine to note the limitations, but to go on and on about it is a bit silly.
-
Does the site document how they do their measurements? Is it jpg or raw-based, and what procedures and formulas are used?
Their Lab methods are not stated.
DCW is the parent of N-Photo magazine, and other hobby magazines. I enjoy reading N-Photo primarily for the interviews and news. The N-Photo reviews are best read critically, as their mtf curves are no comparison to Lensrentals etc; but they include 3rd party F-mount lenses in comparisons.
I'm surprised with how long stories reviewers can make about the LV / video AF, when it's clear it wasn't a priority for this camera. IMO each camera should mainly be tested in applications where it was intended to be used. Of course it is fine to note the limitations, but to go on and on about it is a bit silly.
I agree. Too few understand the obvious that video in a DSLR is a peripheral need for pro Sports shooters. However, silent shooting requires reliable CD AF, and it is important for some sports, certain press situations, and not least sensitive wildlife subjects.
-
However, silent shooting requires reliable CD AF, and it is important for some sports, certain press situations, and not least sensitive wildlife subjects.
IMO silent shooting isn't of that much value if the sensor read time is not fast enough to avoid banding due to flickering lights and distortion of geometrical shape when there is movement.
If the subject is truly not moving and there are no flickering lights, then a D780 or a Z camera can be used for situations where silence is critical. Nikon seem reluctant to introduce OSPDAF into their professional DSLRs, but at least they have models that do have it.
-
My Nikon dealer, called me today - yes on a Sunday - that he received my D6, and other good news, at a price lower than the one I was ready to pay (not the ridiculous 8000 Swissies as announced by Nikon Switzerland). ::)
-
Arrived this morning. Quick unbox. Very minor changes on the exterior:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50018635941_89fe418f03_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jcYzQR)Nikon D6 - Box (https://flic.kr/p/2jcYzQR)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50018633506_74ce45d3e7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jcYz7S)Nikon D6 (https://flic.kr/p/2jcYz7S)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50018943717_a1528a7768_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jd1akk)Nikon D6 & D5 (https://flic.kr/p/2jd1akk)
More to follow.
-
Nice! Congratulations ;) Enjoy and share
-
Nice! Congratulations ;) Enjoy and share
Tak min ven ;)
-
Congratulations to your new D6.
It will still take some time until I get mine
-
Congratulations to your new D6.
It will still take some time until I get mine
Thank you Wolfgang :)
A first picture. Btw, processed with the new version of LrC 9.3
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50022239431_111a143a85_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jdi42Z)
_D600013.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jdi42Z)
Nikon D6 - first picture
Click on the image for full resolution
-
Image is very grainy when looking at full resolution?
Hopefully not ISO 100? :-) .....more like 100k?
-
Image is very grainy when looking at full resolution?
Hopefully not ISO 100? :-) .....more like 100k?
The image looks fine to me, I don't see any grain or noise. It is ISO 100 according to data shown on flickr.
-
Strange......did you click twice on Flickr image to view image in 100%?
I see a lot of noise in the dark bottom part of the image.
-
Strange......did you click twice on Flickr image to view image in 100%?
I see a lot of noise in the dark bottom part of the image.
The image at the bottom (dark part) is covered by a sort of dark fabric veil, all what you see, the ironwork of the balcony, for example, is behind this veil; is it may be that what are you referring to ? Because I rechecked the image (on which no NR was applied), and I have no grain. ;)
The only thing my daughter noticed, is that I have to replace the flowers :D
https://mfloyd.prodibi.com/a/o5qq8jq9079k879
-
Thank you Wolfgang :)
A first picture. Btw, processed with the new version of LrC 9.3
Looks good to me on my calibrated display, no noise issue.
-
Looks good to me on my calibrated display, no noise issue.
Thanks, Carl. Herewith a link to Prodibi where you can display the image up to 100%
https://mfloyd.prodibi.com/a/o5qq8jq9079k879
-
The image at the bottom (dark part) is covered by a sort of dark fabric veil, all what you see, the ironwork of the balcony, for example, is behind this veil; is it may be that what are you referring to ? Because I rechecked the image (on which no NR was applied), and I have no grain. ;)
The only thing my daughter noticed, is that I have to replace the flowers :D
https://mfloyd.prodibi.com/a/o5qq8jq9079k879
Strange......I see noise in the dark blue areas.....also the dark blue boat. I checked with other images to see if my monitor was bad......but if it is only me that can see it then no problems :-)
-
Strange......I see noise in the dark blue areas.....also the dark blue boat. I checked with other images to see if my monitor was bad......but if it is only me that can see it then no problems :-)
Nobody is putting your good faith in doubt. ;) Maybe you have a sort of bionic eye / vision ;D :o
-
It seems the structure of the fabric is seen and may be mistaken for noise.
-
Nobody is putting your good faith in doubt. ;) Maybe you have a sort of bionic eye / vision ;D :o
I see the same - some noise to bottom corners. Looks like after vignette correcting... Did you? Or auto? LZ
-
I see the same - some noise to bottom corners. Looks like after vignette correcting... Did you? Or auto? LZ
Yes. This is embedded in my correction profile.
-
Yes. This is embedded in my correction profile.
I've watched the image before removing. No artificial noise at this time! Nice sensor, but, to my eyes, ISO 100 is not the best for this high-speed camera. One will be better at higher ISO, but it is just me, my own opinion, nothing else! Thanks for posting, please, do continue! LZ
-
I've watched the image before removing. No artificial noise at this time! Nice sensor, but, to my eyes, ISO 100 is not the best for this high-speed camera. One will be better at higher ISO, but it is just me, my own opinion, nothing else! Thanks for posting, please, do continue! LZ
Thank you LZ. I was not so sure whether a second image would help the purpose; this one has more dynamic range (shadows, and sunny).
I do a re-post:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50022687863_f6e758f94b_b.jpg)[/url]
_D600027.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jdkmkz)
Nikon D6 - bis
In car racing photography, I’m very often on the two extremes of the ISO spectrum: during the day, and as most of my pictures are long exposures (around 1/100 s), I have to lower the ISO to its minimum, during the night, I maintain my long exposures (*) and go up to ISO 25’000.
(*) for speed blur purposes.
-
Just to illustrate what I see on my monitor regarding noise in the blue channel I watched the last image in 100% view and took a picture of my monitor using my Z50 + 50/1.8 S.
You do not see the same on your monitors? ....or maybe you just look at the image at NikonGear and not in 100% view?
-
Just to illustrate what I see on my monitor regarding noise in the blue channel I watched the last image in 100% view and took a picture of my monitor using my Z50 + 50/1.8 S.
You do not see the same on your monitors? ....or maybe you just look at the image at NikonGear and not in 100% view?
Ok. But there you are at 300-400% enlargement, you can read the pixels. I don’t see really the purpose , or the point you want to prove.
-
Ok. But there you are at 300-400% enlargement, you can read the pixels. I don’t see really the purpose , or the point you want to prove.
The image is viewed in 100% on the monitor and yes.....when I take an image then it is enlarged a bit compared to 100% view.
I have never had a FX camera and D5, D6 is considered the "ISO monster" of what Nikon can deliver and I think it is state of the art what is possible today regarding noise performance for a FX sensor?
I am just a little bit disappointed by the performance and to me it looks like the camera has a fault?
I think your D5 images of car racing images on Flickr looks much cleaner on my monitor.
So it is more a concern.....than trying to prove something.
-
Just to illustrate what I see on my monitor regarding noise in the blue channel I watched the last image in 100% view and took a picture of my monitor using my Z50 + 50/1.8 S.
You do not see the same on your monitors? ....or maybe you just look at the image at NikonGear and not in 100% view?
Yes, I did see this. It is clear evidence of color noise. So that's why I am staying - this machine is created for speed. Let us wait and see! With all due respect, gentlemen! LZ
-
I notice the same before read the text, there is color noise in every dark area
Even in the dark clouds you may see it, check the row conversion
My monitor is an iPad
Very nice colors by the way!
-
Ok guys. Thank you for the feedback. My intent was to drop some first pictures. New Lr release, new camera. I thought this would be plain vanilla. I noticed that all my pictures are underexposed by 1 to 1 ½ stops. Let me dig into this further before I revert. Have a good one.
-
There are some D6 sample images here that can be downloaded in original size.
They look very clean in the dark areas as you would expect from such a top line camera.
I guess it must be something with the processing of the image file that have caused the color noise or if you say it is underexposed and then if you try pull more out of the shadows it usually looks "noisy".
https://www.photographyblog.com/previews/nikon_d6_photos
-
In the meantime, this will be my Saturday job 8)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50025094561_f879d70170_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jdxFLn)Nikon D6 - Lens calibration (https://flic.kr/p/2jdxFLn)
And for the zoom lenses, there are now two calibrations i.e. wide and tele ...
-
I have never had a FX camera and D5, D6 is considered the "ISO monster" of what Nikon can deliver and I think it is state of the art what is possible today regarding noise performance for a FX sensor?
I am just a little bit disappointed by the performance and to me it looks like the camera has a fault?
The D5 and D6 are optimized for high ISO (1600-). If you want Nikon's best base ISO image quality, then the D850 would be the camera to choose. These are complementary cameras optimized for different ISO ranges.
I don't usually apply 100% vignetting correction to images. Most typically I use 70% correction so as to leave a slightly darker outer area of the frame to "close" the image visually. But it depends on the subject matter.
-
In the meantime, this will be my Saturday job 8)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50025094561_f879d70170_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jdxFLn)Nikon D6 - Lens calibration (https://flic.kr/p/2jdxFLn)
And for the zoom lenses, there are now two calibrations i.e. wide and tele ...
There is no doubt you will be a master of this amazing machine very soon! Good luck! LZ
-
The D5 and D6 are optimized for high ISO (1600-). If you want Nikon's best base ISO image quality, then the D850 would be the camera to choose. These are complementary cameras optimized for different ISO ranges.
I don't usually apply 100% vignetting correction to images. Most typically I use 70% correction so as to leave a slightly darker outer area of the frame to "close" the image visually. But it depends on the subject matter.
Agreed, but want to add something. After keeping both of them, for 2 months, D850 and Z7, I stay with Z7. So high resolving sensor needs stable hands. So IBIS, plus fresh air without necessary of any FT, has turned the balance to the Z7. Plus way less weight and size. There was not fast jumping to the conclusion, but a very slow way. Thank you! LZ
-
Panorama shot with 9 vertical pictures taken with the D6. Yes, I know this is not the first purpose of this sort of camera ;). Without the new panoramic ballhead and tripod from RSR, would probably not be possible.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50026115883_c6c8ae9c38_5k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jdCVnn)
_D600067-Panorama.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jdCVnn)
Just a trial. Next time, I will leave some more headspace for the sky.
-
Panorama shot with 9 vertical pictures taken with the D6. Yes, I know this is not the first purpose of the type of camera ;)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50026115883_c6c8ae9c38_5k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jdCVnn)
_D600067-Panorama.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jdCVnn)
Just a trial. Next time, I will some more space for the sky.
Beautifully made, WOW! LZ
-
Beautifully made, WOW! LZ
Thx. No underexposure this time ... :)
-
Focus micro adjustment exercise of the Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E FL on the Nikon F6 body. The balcony ironwork is ideal for assessment of back- front-focus :)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50032036782_6df4e60ee7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jeagrQ)
Nikon D6 - tele focus calibration (https://flic.kr/p/2jeagrQ)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50032219807_d89fc8f99f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jebcRr)
Nikon D6 - super télé calibration process (https://flic.kr/p/2jebcRr)
-
https://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d4s_tips/af_fine-tuning/
Note the target should be flat, not a 3D shape. "The ideal target is flat and features sharply contrasting areas of solid black and solid white. The target in this example is a white stripe on a black background; the stripe should be about 1.5 cm wide. "
Anyway, how is the D6 AF? Have you had a chance to use it for some moving targets? Thanks.
-
https://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d4s_tips/af_fine-tuning/
Note the target should be flat, not a 3D shape. "The ideal target is flat and features sharply contrasting areas of solid black and solid white. The target in this example is a white stripe on a black background; the stripe should be about 1.5 cm wide. "
Anyway, how is the D6 AF? Have you had a chance to use it for some moving targets? Thanks.
I know, but should I say I know better. I don’t trust the automatic focus micro-adjustment for an inch. I prefer to do it Old School with a 3D object I can immediately see which of the vertical beams is sharp, and adjust accordingly to have the one aimed becoming the sharpest one. Also, I make my adjustments on the rather longer range; adjustments at a 5 meter range are not meaningful for my practice.
I did some opportunistic moving targets (birds, etc) in 3D AF, or Auto. Maybe to early to jump to conclusions, but I think we might have something exceptional; a complete different dimension compared to the already AF champion, the D5.
-
I agree, there are so many variables that influence the so called automatic focus calibration to make it reliable.
For some lenses it works quite well, but mostly it's a gamble.
-
The page I linked to was not about automatic AF fine tune (the D4S which the page is about, doesn't have that feature anyway).
If you use a 3D target then the phase measurement shows less clear peaks. The sensitive area of the individual focus points is also not necessarily accurately defined in the viewfinder and can include some sensitivity in a wider area than shown, so you might have two or three bars affecting the measurement.
However, what is good is that the lighting is bright, the distance is appropriate for your application, and there is high contrast.
Nikon warn against repeating patterns and against 3D subjects as focus targets, and you have both. That doesn't mean problems will automatically occur, but there is some risk. Of course, the risk can be mitigated by real-world testing and refinement.
-
Thank you Erik and Ilkka. Your remarks are 100% correct.
Let’s say, I iron out the variables by iterating many times my measures, rejecting the ones which I don’t feel; and then averaging, but not always, because there are sometimes measures I prefer. I takes me some time, but once done, it should normally stay valid for the life of the body.
-
Most noticed the « roof » on the prism house, as well as the much higher « command turret ». The roof appeared to me being metallic, so I was wondering if there was any antenna over there. Nikon answered me that the GPS receiver is indeed housed on top of the prism, while the WiFi antenna gear is housed in the control turret. Noteworthy to know. I guess this will not change your lives ...
And sorry for the build-in-flash-lovers: the answer is NO.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50031672707_8b3ce55797_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2je8pdF)
Nikon F6 - detail prism and turret (https://flic.kr/p/2je8pdF)
-
Awaiting real action, some further tests. Here a check for correct AF micro-adjustment, wireless image transfer, and color rendition. It’s a GO for me :) Although SnapBridge remains a monster in ergonomics. >:(
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50052721863_92ed7a6296_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jfZhpa)
Nikon D6 trial (https://flic.kr/p/2jfZhpa)
From Nikon D6 to Nikon SnapBridge to Lightroom Mobile to Flickr to NikonGear. Transfer to Lr in original non resized NEF format (possible now with the last SnapBridge release).
-
Following your test with great interest.
Thank you for sharing your work!
-
Following your test with great interest.
Thank you for sharing your work!
Thx Paco :) In two weeks from now, back to the racetracks, Circuit Paul Ricard, in the south of France. We will then see how the very promising new AF performs...
-
Looking forward to see some images :)
-
Looking forward to see some images :)
Sure. I’m member of a Danish team, High Class Class Racing, from Aalborg :)
-
Like Bent, I'm anxiously awaiting the results from your new D6 action work.
-
Like Bent, I'm anxiously awaiting the results from your new D6 action work.
Hi Carl, don’t be anxious. I can already say now that what I have read and viewed from professional click-baiters is complete b..shit. The acid-test is for within two weeks. But I’m feeling very confident. ;)
-
Hi Carl, don’t be anxious. I can already say now that what I have read and viewed from professional click-baiters is complete b..shit. The acid-test is for within two weeks. But I’m feeling very confident. ;)
I've not read any of that stuff, but, I have full faith that you will deliver excellent imagery!
-
Very interesting. Please show more of your results with the latest 'monster' ;)
-
Hi Carl, don’t be anxious. I can already say now that what I have read and viewed from professional click-baiters is complete b..shit. The acid-test is for within two weeks. But I’m feeling very confident. ;)
Thanks for sharing your findings.
Here's some recent feedback on the D6. A review by sports pro, Andy Chua in Singapore. He includes some testing of Nikon's completely new AF system, "Overall I was really happy with the improvement from the new D6, I would rate it as 15-20% improvement in tracking reliability from the D5..."
https://www.andychuaphotography.com/nikon-d6-review/nikon-d6-autofocus/
and there's more...
-
John, thank you for this review. I’m eager to read it. 15 to 20% improvement is more than I would have hoped for. :)
-
John, thank you for this review. I’m eager to read it. 15 to 20% improvement is more than I would have hoped for. :)
That's amazing. I find the D5's focus reliability excellent already, but it is straightforward to come up with a difficult enough scenario where some shots in a series turn out slightly out of focus (i.e. lit from the back, dark subject, fast movement, detailed background, lens wide open etc.)
-
I'm not sure how a 15-20% difference translates in practice. Unless one does replicated tests. However, this young chap obviously knows what he's talking about judging by his status and portfolio etc, and central experience with the D5.
According to the author's testing on flying birds: "....Although the camera might have maintain its focus sometimes its not 100% tack sharp in the previous D5. I was amazed in the D6 3D tracking reliability that all my shots in that sequence were tack sharp right in the eye of the bird."
The official documentation from Nikon of the D6 has said very little, if anything, about the new eye-recognition in the AFC. What might be going here is the 3D-tracking is working together with eye-recognition to tighten on a subject's eye. This is only my hypothesis, but it's testable on flying objects with/without eyes :-)
-
Well, there are other reasons why it might be able to keep the eye in focus than eye-recognition algorithms, if the photographer initiates the 3D tracking by pointing the initial point on the eye, pattern recognition may be able to do it well enough, depending on depth of field and such things. And as the electronics gets faster, and you have fewer gaps in the focusing array, 3D tracking should work better than it has in previous implementations.
If it did actually do animal eye-tracking, they'd no doubt say so. I suspect it's not doing that.
-
So far I did not consider 3D-Tracking AF to be useful for Birds in flight. Maybe the D6 is going to change that?
-
How is the D6 testing going on? Any remarks on real-world action performance (AF)? :-)
-
Last week I was covering the Official Training Sessions of the European Le Mans Series in the south of France, at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet.
During the two days I made about 2’000 pictures, of which a number at the end of the Mistral Straight where the cars are over 300km/h. Taken from the front is quite challenging for an AF system. The new AF system gives me indeed a 15 to 20% improvement compared to the D5. Something I never expected. Only for this sole element the D6 is worth of it’s number and is definitely not a D5s.
Hereunder à brief portfolio. You will notice a high number of pictures of the Number 20 of the Danish High Class Racing Team, but this is the team I’m part of....
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPwYum2
There are a lot of other features of the D6 which I would be happy to share in another post.
-
Very nice pictures, impressive blur, you are a master :)
-
+1.
Your panning is fantastic. Thanks for sharing your findings and your work
-
Very nice pictures, impressive blur, you are a master :)
Too kind Bjent :)
+1.
Your panning is fantastic. Thanks for sharing your findings and your work
Thx Paco ;)
During the shooting sessions I used the Bluetooth low energy communication feature to transmit 1’620 x 1080 px 1.1 MB pictures to the SnapBridge smartphone application. The resolution of these pictures is sufficient to be dispatched to social media. To be more precise, received pictures by SnapBridge are shared with Lr Mobile, eventually edited, and then broadcasted.
The original NEF pictures are then further processed, once in the media room, for publication and printing.
-
Stunning photos! This is what the D6 is made for.
-
Stunning photos! This is what the D6 is made for.
Thanks :). This the tool I need.
Some unissued ones:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50133420481_38ae9c8589_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jo7ThD)
_D600563.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jo7ThD)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50145177777_8e4f3dc291_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jpa9jD)
_D600926.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jpa9jD)
And some nice new features:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50098423292_760895b185_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jk2vQQ)
Nikon D6 (https://flic.kr/p/2jk2vQQ)
new menus
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50098244316_26fc3943d7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jk1AD3)
Nikon D6 - Kensington lock (https://flic.kr/p/2jk1AD3)
and a Kensington lock, useful for installing remote cameras (not my case) or unattended equipment in press rooms
-
Ill guess gps and lock are very practical for you, not a gizmo.
-
]
and a Kensington lock, useful for installing remote cameras (not my case) or unattended equipment in press rooms
It amazes me how few people seem to use these on laptops costing 10% of your D6.
This seems both practical and sensible design by Nikon (if you can find a suitable anchor point)
-
Ill guess gps and lock are very practical for you, not a gizmo.
GPS is a godsend; before I had to start (or finish) with a smartphone picture to pin the position; as the images end in the same Lr Album, there was a way to identify the location for the other pictures, as long as you don’t omit / forget to take the smartphone picture ...
With regard to the lock, I must admit that I haven’t used it, for the time being. There is very little people in the press room, in connection with COVID-19. Moreover, we have all lockers and we know about each person.
Not new, but I started to make voice notes, quite helpful. Before I used the « mike » button to attribute stars, but with the image « flick down or up » feature, I have now attributed a star rating there.
It amazes me how few people seem to use these on laptops costing 10% of your D6.
This seems both practical and sensible design by Nikon (if you can find a suitable anchor point)
Yeah, same conclusion. Only a very few cable-lock their laptop. The only thing I really care on computer stuff is my hard disk, which is always locked up during press room vacancies.
-
GPS is a godsend; before I had to start (or finish) with a smartphone picture to pin the position; as the images end in the same Lr Album, there was a way to identify the location for the other pictures, as long as you don’t omit / forget to take the smartphone picture ...
With regard to the lock, I must admit that I haven’t used it, for the time being. There is very little people in the press room, in connection with COVID-19. Moreover, we have all lockers and we know about each person.
Not new, but I started to make voice notes, quite helpful. Before I used the « mike » button to attribute stars, but with the image « flick down or up » feature, I have now attributed a star rating there.
If you're not careful, some here will get the idea that you like the new D6. ;)
-
If you're not careful, some here will get the idea that you like the new D6. ;)
Hi Carl. Yes, I have the temerity, or should I say, recklessness, to admit that I adore this camera. For what I’m doing, it’s perfect. The poor D5 with whom I shared four years of my photographic life feels completely abandoned ;D
-
Hi Carl. Yes, I have the temerity, or should I say, recklessness, to admit that I adore this camera. For what I’m doing, it’s perfect. The poor D5 with whom I shared four years of my photographic life feels completely abandoned ;D
I'll take it... ;D
-
Hi Carl. Yes, I have the temerity, or should I say, recklessness, to admit that I adore this camera. For what I’m doing, it’s perfect. The poor D5 with whom I shared four years of my photographic life feels completely abandoned ;D
Good that I never bought the poor D5 and will be leap-frogging from D4S to D6 ;-)
-
I watched Steve Perry's D6 review on youtube.
There have been some claims that the D6 burst depth was slightly reduced from the D5. However, Perry reports D6 can do up to 200 shots at 12 fps in 14-bit mode on both CFexpress and XQD cards, so that is similar to D5. At 14 fps 14-bit mode it does 171 shots on CFe and 129 shots on XQD. Large enough for any practical use I guess. ;)
He mentions that viewfinder blackout in the D6 is reduced in high-speed continuous shooting.
He talks about the customisation in depth. Nice improvements.
-
Christian,
>> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPwYum2
Outstanding set of photos. I especially like the compositions with the cars above the blue and/or red striped foregrounds. Great panning, knowing the speeds involved. Cheers, John
-
Christian,
>> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPwYum2
Christian,
>> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPwYum2
Outstanding set of photos. I especially like the compositions with the cars above the blue and/or red striped foregrounds. Great panning, knowing the speeds involved. Cheers, John
Thank you John :) I like to play with the red and blue abrasive strips of the Paul Ricard circuit. These strips replace the traditional gravel traps encountered on other circuits. What’s noteworthy are the front and ¾ views at very high speeds, particularly difficult for AF systems
Here some more, although not with the D6.
https://crvermeulen.myportfolio.com/pf-elms-2019-le-castellet
-
This answer from Nikon caught my eye ;) ;)
How did you manage to integrate Eye AF into the optical viewfinder of the Nikon D6?
Nikon Corp: A new algorithm for the EXPEED 6 image processing processor and high-resolution images made possible by the 180K pixel RGB sensor have developed eye detection technology that also works with the camera view in the viewfinder.
https://phototrend.fr/2020/05/interview-nikon-roadmap-z-japon-2020/
-
It would be nice to test the D6 ingluding its eye-AF. I am on the waiting list since beginning of the year but so far Nikon was not able to deliver.
Appears to be a bit like with the D850 release when the demand was higher than Nikons output for a long period of time (until the Z7 came out and then the prices dropped)
-
It would be nice to test the D6 ingluding its eye-AF.
There is no mention of eye detection in the D6 manual, at least not one that I could find with the search function.
I am on the waiting list since beginning of the year but so far Nikon was not able to deliver.
Appears to be a bit like with the D850 release when the demand was higher than Nikons output for a long period of time (until the Z7 came out and then the prices dropped)
I'm sure that the sales are not as good as the D850, but the D6 could be affected by manufacturing delays due to the pandemic.
I'm a bit surprised that you'd have to wait so long, when I contacted a local store they said it would take weeks, not months to get one, if I place an order.
-
There is no mention of eye detection in the D6 manual, at least not one that I could find with the search function.
You are probably right, maybe i was confused by the intervie statement above?
I'm sure that the sales are not as good as the D850, but the D6 could be affected by manufacturing delays due to the pandemic.
I'm a bit surprised that you'd have to wait so long, when I contacted a local store they said it would take weeks, not months to get one, if I place an order.
I do not expect the D6 to sell in numbers like the D850, but this Camera was planned and scheduled for the (now postponed) Olympics, there should have been some substancial production runs. Maybe it is affected by the pandemic but I dont see the reason why the D6 should be special in this respect. BTW the 70-200 f/2,8 Z lens is actually also not available
I said to my dealer "please put me on your waiting list for the D6 " in January or February and there is still no movement, today I heard that it is expected to be delivered in September, we will see.
-
The D6 brochure also mentions eye-tracking, I am just curious why they do not describe it in the manual. Maybe it is just integrated into 3D tracking / auto-area when face-priority is on?
-
I have mine since mid June 18, exactly two months, and about 6500 clicks on the counter. Eye-focus works when setting face priority. But before having the marketing name of EF, in most cases Face Priority put its focus already on the eyes even with the older models.
Eye focus with D6:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50214232523_ccbd4a6ed6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jvg4TH)
_D604310.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jvg4TH)
I made 3 car racing reportages, of which the two last ones in in Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps, during the last fortnight:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPSbgoG
European Endurance Championship
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQ2bsnX
World Endurance Championship
Both reportages are a mix of Nikon D6, for the action pictures, and D850 for the more still ones. As already mentioned, the D6 is an outstanding machine, well worth his single digit « 6 » attribute. ;)
PS: I was one of the only 15 accredited photographers, and yes, no public. :-[
-
recent D6 review on UK ospreys and hares
https://gjwp.co.uk/nikon-d6-review/
and the latest D6 promotional from Nikon Europe
https://youtu.be/q6VrVHBXh8Q
https://blog.nikoneurope.com/en_gb/2020/08/nxnw-meets-sxsw-nikon-ambassador-david-yarrow-recreates-iconic-hitchcock-image/
-
Thanks for the links.
-
https://blog.nikoneurope.com/en_gb/2020/08/nxnw-meets-sxsw-nikon-ambassador-david-yarrow-recreates-iconic-hitchcock-image/
Promoting a brand new camera using a lens (the main shot was made with the VR 200/2 II) that has recently been discontinued? I hope they make an updated FL version soon. :-)
-
Last photo report in the south of France. Noteworthy are the night pictures:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50280108642_eafb4cd420_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jB5GyS)
_D608395.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jB5GyS)
The album:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQjC7xy
-
Brilliant.
-
i noticed that there are no big changes from the D3s up to the D6 apart from the LCD technology :o :o :o
all we get are incremental upgrades on ISO, megapixel and performance, some ergonomic changes here and there.
do you think that camera technology has stopped advancing in the past couple of years? ::)
-
Promoting a brand new camera using a lens (the main shot was made with the VR 200/2 II) that has recently been discontinued? I hope they make an updated FL version soon. :-)
I like the whole set, Christian!
-
I like the whole set, Christian!
Brilliant.
Thank you. Too kind :)
i noticed that there are no big changes from the D3s up to the D6 apart from the LCD technology :o :o :o
all we get are incremental upgrades on ISO, megapixel and performance, some ergonomic changes here and there.
do you think that camera technology has stopped advancing in the past couple of years? ::)
I’m not sure that I get it re LCD technology.
Yes, I have the same feeling that the actual photo technology is somewhat stalling. But I have no idea what quantum leap technology could be in the pipeline.
-
Fantastic set of images. Great work! That night shot is outstanding
-
Fantastic set of images. Great work! That night shot is outstanding
Thank you Paco :) since June 18,
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50020290003_a2c5563b49_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jd84xa)
about 2 ½ months ago, and close to 10’000 clicks further down, I can reasonably ascertain that this is an outstanding camera, well worth it’s « 6 » digit; perfectly suitable for my photographic activity i.e. sport & action. The main improvement being a even better AF - improved by, I would say, 15-20 % -; it’s excellent overall (color) rendition, requiring minimal or no post processing; and it’s easy to use wireless link to the outside world, where, for once, SnapBridge seems to work seamless. GPS localisation is very welcome. And quite unexpectedly, the GPS time stamps proved to be an asset in syncing image with other technical data collected by the race engineers of my team. :)
-
i noticed that there are no big changes from the D3s up to the D6 apart from the LCD technology :o :o :o
all we get are incremental upgrades on ISO, megapixel and performance, some ergonomic changes here and there.
I'm not sure what you mean by the LCD technology? Has there been big improvement in displays? I suppose it has been so gradual that I haven't really noticed.
Or, do you mean the features in live view?
do you think that camera technology has stopped advancing in the past couple of years? ::)
Yes and no. I don't have a D6 but the D5 AF is quite dramatically better compared to its predecessors, especially when photographing approaching subjects using some of the peripheral focus points (with fast enough lenses to support them as cross-type, mostly this means f/4 or faster). The resolution has gone up and fps rate too (especially in the D6). In my D3, I couldn't really use the continuous shooting feature because so many shots would be out of focus e.g. photographing vertical images of runners, using the linear points placed on the face. Most shots would be out of focus in this scenerio. With D5, most shots in the same situation are in focus. In Multi-CAM 3500 series bodies, the focus points were also larger in their sensitive fields and backlit subjects would be most of the time focused on the hair that is lit brightly from behind, and not the eyes. Multi-CAM 20k - pinpoint focus on the eye. However, results still vary from lens to lens and latest lenses focus more consistently than many older lenses. Partly I think because they're optically better corrected and so the focus is clear to see where it is, but it seems the motors have improved as well. So, I would say that the development in the past 10-12 years has been rapid and remarkable.
However, sensor side doesn't seem to be improving rapidly any more in terms of image quality; it seems that rather than absolute still image quality, the focus is now on the speed of reading the data from the sensor. This helps video, live view, EVF (for mirrorless) and allows features like 45 MP 9 fps in the D850. To me the sensors are good enough now, and from my point of view autofocus is where the biggest improvements have taken place in the last eight years or so.
To me one area which I think is of great importance is the viewfinder. I noticed a distinct drop in viewfinder quality and my ability to focus using the matte screen between the F5 and D3. I did some testing of the same subjects and was shocked at how much better I could focus manually using the F5. This was a great disappointment to me at the time. However, in the D810, Nikon improved the clarity of the OVF (new coatings) and I was relieved (maybe the D4s got this too?), and with the D850/D5 the viewfinder is again a delight to use, though eyepoint has shortened in the D850 and this is mildly annoying as I have to use certain kind of glasses to maximize the shooting comfort and I would have preferred greater eyepoint.
In the D850 Nikon implemented EFCS that is available also in viewfinder shooting (Q/Qc modes), and the D780 and D6 also have this feature. On the D850, I've noticed a distinct benefit to using EFCS with my 500 mm PF in the sharpness of hand-held photographs, though this is limited to 3 fps (on the D6, I recall Qc allows up to 5 fps). I find this feature very invaluable.
There is also new customisation features which have made the cameras more user-friendly, though Nikon unfortunately seem to concentrate them to the top models.
Snapbridge was terrible when it first came out in 2016 but nowadays it seems to work OK and I often use it to send images to friends and colleagues when I'm out shooting, trying to spread the excitement that I have of the subjects. However, it's still slow in the D850, and my understanding is that newer cameras transfer images faster than the first models. I would eventually like to see images pop up on my iPad or laptop as I shoot during portrait shooting, so people that I'm working with can see what I'm shooting and be more part of the process. This is now possible using a cable but I'd rather not have cables everywhere as they cause some hazards for equipment and people. So, better wireless functionality is very much desired. D5/D6 can use the WT-6 but I am reluctant to pay so much money for an accessory that cannot work with my high image quality camera (D850). Incompatibility between accessories and camera models is very annoying.
-
Thank you. Too kind :)
I’m not sure that I get it re LCD technology.
Yes, I have the same feeling that the actual photo technology is somewhat stalling. But I have no idea what quantum leap technology could be in the pipeline.
Some would argue the D3 represents a major set of innovations. https://www.dpreview.com/articles/3658529591/the-gear-that-changed-my-photographic-life-the-nikon-d3
On the other hand, each of the subsequent Pro DSLRs have inaugurated their respective set of key innovations. these have included improved sensors in lowlight, Autofocus, and Haptics/Ergonomics. Wireless/digital image transfer has also improved significantly. Looking back to advances since 2007, Nikon has extended the diversity of new features across the D8*0 as well as the D* cameras. Key features have also been "cloned" laterally, as in the AF engines: notably the D5 AF into D500 and D850.
-
Wonderful images, super impressed and agreed the night shot is outstanding!Yes there has been a gradual performance increase in all of the Pro cameras always, for every new camera, not just LCD :o ;D
The D3 vas really a milestone, just as the D1 was! with FX all of the Nikkor F where liberated and a joy to use. IMHO the DSLRs from Nikon are as good as needed for 98% of Pro shooting - There will always be niche 2% that can find something they can complain or wish to be better about ;)
The new Z series will for sure take the same steps of evolution but that is another story,,,
-
i noticed that there are no big changes from the D3s up to the D6 apart from the LCD technology :o :o :o
all we get are incremental upgrades on ISO, megapixel and performance, some ergonomic changes here and there.
do you think that camera technology has stopped advancing in the past couple of years? ::)
I think that the D6 is similar to the F5 or F6, approaching the limits of the technology line.
The Z line of cameras has a long way to go.
I would categorize improvements in low light capability, resolution, AF performance as being technology advancements.
What would you consider to be a "big change"?
-
Wonderful images, super impressed and agreed the night shot is outstanding!Yes there has been a gradual performance increase in all of the Pro cameras always, for every new camera, not just LCD :o ;D
The D3 vas really a milestone, just as the D1 was! with FX all of the Nikkor F where liberated and a joy to use. IMHO the DSLRs from Nikon are as good as needed for 98% of Pro shooting - There will always be niche 2% that can find something they can complain or wish to be better about ;)
The new Z series will for sure take the same steps of evolution but that is another story,,,
Too kind Erik. :D
-
Too kind Erik. :D
What kind of battery life are you getting from the D6? Does it work ok with the earlier versions of the EN-EL18?
-
What kind of battery life are you getting from the D6? Does it work ok with the earlier versions of the EN-EL18?
Difficult to say; on the D6 I permanently use GPS and Bluetooth connection with SnapBridge. My guesstimate is about 10% extra consumption. Doesn't impact on my workflow which is within the 1500 clicks a daily session. :)
-
D6 in hand. :)
The customization is amazing. I love the pattern of focus points in a rectangular grid with straight lines and columns and even spacing between columns.
Auto fine tune now also easier to find. No need to find the almost undocumented two-button magic code; auto afft is activated with a single button press now. For 500 PF it resulted in 0 fine tune needed. A good start, I would say.
I will now go and try to find some animals. :)
-
Congrats Ilkka
Still waiting for mine (hope i will get it soon) - I have heard that so far whole Austria has received a total of five D6 cameras all for a sports press agency
-
D6 in hand. :)
The customization is amazing. I love the pattern of focus points in a rectangular grid with straight lines and columns and even spacing between columns.
Auto fine tune now also easier to find. No need to find the almost undocumented two-button magic code; auto afft is activated with a single button press now. For 500 PF it resulted in 0 fine tune needed. A good start, I would say.
I will now go and try to find some animals. :)
Congratulations! Please enjoy and share some images! Thx ;)
-
Welcome to the club, Wolfgang and Ilkka :)
A couple of night pictures taken at the 2020 24h of Le Mans, two weeks ago:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50416306902_5da2188511_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jP7KyJ)
_D621990.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jP7KyJ)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50415449323_3d2fe9e40f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jP3mCT)
_D621847.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jP3mCT)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50416307262_121db64a83_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jP7KEW)
_D621999.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jP7KEW)
click on image for HR picture
Some more over here.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQKTkY1
Of which some taken with the unbelievable fast Auto AF, with the “where to start tracking” pre-positioning.
-
Welcome to the club, Wolfgang and Ilkka :)
A couple of night pictures taken at the 2020 24h of Le Mans, two weeks ago:
Some more over here.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQKTkY1
Of which some taken with the unbelievable fast Auto AF, with the “where to start tracking” pre-positioning.
Excellent, as usual, Christian!
-
I am a bit rusty with regards to photographing people, as I have only had a couple of situations where I've done that since the beginning of the pandemic in March. (I've mostly hid myself in nature and at work.)
I wanted to go out and document the people on the streets in this time. In the spring the streets of Helsinki were basically empty. Now there are people with many wearing masks.
There was a group of skateboarders doing their tricks near the railway station. They didn't mind me taking photos.
I'm only getting used to the capabilities of the camera, but so far it has impressed me. The 3D tracking is really sticky and it's much harder to get it fooled. It feels quieter than the D5 (one of my complaints about the older camera is that it's really quite loud) and even 14 fps mode doesn't seem to be much of a ruckus. The viewfinder visibility at 14 fps is excellent, the blackout is less of a problem than it was in the previous model.
This is with 70-200/2.8 FL, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/5000s, 82 mm and cropped somewhat.
-
When the D5 got the horizontal line (and vertical) group area mode, I wanted to use it in such a way that I could move the subject's position in the frame and just hold it on the line and it would keep it focused, but the gaps in the sensor array made this less practical than I hoped. In the D6, the gaps are narrower and there are fewer of them, basically there are three groups of five columns of sensors, and the groups are virtually gapless, but it's possible for the subject to fall within one of the two gap columns between groups. I played with this when photographing deer hanging out in a field, and basically as long as one is aware that these two gaps exist, it is easy to use the custom group modes and it does as you'd expect, focusing on the closest subject.
In the D6, the single-point AF has the choice of wide and normal coverage, and I wondered if this setting could be used to cover the gap columns in group-area mode, but it can't. According to the manual, the single point watch area setting affects single point and dynamic area modes, but no mention is made of its effects on group-area AF. In my testing I was able to confirm the wider and narrower single-point areas have a real difference; basically in the wide watch area setting, one can assume the camera will focus on detail that is just outside of the single-point brackets reliably if there is nothing clear to focus on within the brackets themselves (which is the normal watch area). However, in dynamic-area the difficulty is that it's dynamic, so it's more difficult to demonstrate the difference. I believe it is there as indicated by the manual. In custom group area mode I wasn't able to see a difference due to the single-point watch area setting, which is consistent with the reference manual's description. Nikon suggest the wide setting should be used for fast-moving subjects.
What I like about the custom group area setting is that it allows me to accommodate a deer or bird who changes direction or orientation and maintain good composition without necessarily moving the focus area. I typically use horizontal lines when photographing deer on the move, it gives me some forgiveness for not being able to hold the subject's eye perfectly under the selected focus point but is less likely to focus on background or grass than dynamic-area modes. Group area focusing has closest-subject priority built in and this is true of custom group area as well as the standard one. I felt that custom group area with a horizontal line worked really well for photographing flocks of birds at distance, as it reliably allowed me to avoid focusing on grass and gave enough focus points (adjustable!) so that I could be sure that at least one point was on a bird, so I avoided both focusing on foreground grass as well as background trees behind the birds. But, when using this technique it is good to remember the two gaps even though they are narrow, they are still there.
For photographing a single subject at close distance, dynamic area is probably better as one can apply it with greater precision on the eye, but for distant animals, custom group area is my favorite mode now. When using dynamic area on distant animals, often the depth of field is such that the system can pick up on background objects instead of the main subject and this was a common problem when using dynamic area with Multi-CAM 20k bodies. Now there are more options to work with. I think the custom group-area is likely to become quite popular when the system is adopted into less expensive camera models. I will try to make some screen shots from Nikon ViewNX-i that show the custom groups in action so you can get an idea of how they can be used.
3D tracking now shows multiple focus points in use over the subject, this is seen in the viewfinder as well as in ViewNX-i if settings to display focus point are turned on. Previously the 3D tracking showed only one active focus point. I think the new system is clearer as it shows what the camera considers to be the subject (often in the previous cameras the selected point seemed to be outside of the subject even though focus was correct! This is probably because of the 153 focus points, only 51 were displayable so the camera and browser would show the closest match but it sometimes wasn't the actual focus point the camera had used if it used one of the in-between points that are invisible). The D6's way of showing what the camera focused on is much more clear and believable. 3D tracking seems to now able to overcome the situation where the selected subject that is being tracked is temporarily occluded by a subject going across the line of sight, and can maintain focus on the selected subject. In the previous models, if I was using 3D to focus and track a person, it would almost always lose the subject if another person walked across the subject. 3D now works much better in the D6. I did manage to get it confused when a skateboarder in black clothes went behind a black lamp pole and the camera did get confused and stuck to the lamp pole. However, in most cases it worked perfectlỵ.
There is now a setting if activated, your selected point guides auto-area AF to start from focusing on the selected point and then it continues doing its auto-thing. What's more you can have the camera switch from 3D or auto-area into single point and it retains the automatically tracked subject as the selected point in the mode where one can manually move the focus point around. This seems very fluid. I will test to see how easy this is to use in practice.
In the D850, I've found I get noticeably sharper results hand-held with my 500 PF when using EFCS with Qc rather than normal drive mode (S or CL/CH). The D6 has Qc with 1-5 fps (user selectable) and it supports EFCS. However, I haven't been able to see a clear improvement by using EFCS in these hand-held situations with the D6, it's possible that the camera's normal drive modes are sufficiently well-damped, or it could be the lower-resolution sensor. I will try to more to see if the difference from use of EFCS is visible at some shutter speeds and conditions.
Overall, I am very pleased with the new camera. The customizability of controls and level of refinement especially in the autofocus are great. I hope Nikon puts out updated D850 and D500 models with as much of these features imported as possible so that more people (and those who prefer high-resolution sensors) can take advantage of the development.
-
Here is an example of how I use the custom group-area AF mode. I select a horizontal line which is short enough to cover one deer and long enough to give some compositional freedom. It is one sensor array row high so that I minimize the chances of the camera catching onto foreground or background details. You can also see the "gap" between major blocks of sensor columns.
The weather is getting darker and there is cloud and rain. This weekend it may be first snow in some places in Finland. I look forward to making the most of what winter there may be, as last year reminded me that having a winter is not a given!
-
I am a bit rusty with regards to photographing people, as I have only had a couple of situations where I've done that since the beginning of the pandemic in March. (I've mostly hid myself in nature and at work.)
I wanted to go out and document the people on the streets in this time. In the spring the streets of Helsinki were basically empty. Now there are people with many wearing masks.
There was a group of skateboarders doing their tricks near the railway station. They didn't mind me taking photos.
I'm only getting used to the capabilities of the camera, but so far it has impressed me. The 3D tracking is really sticky and it's much harder to get it fooled. It feels quieter than the D5 (one of my complaints about the older camera is that it's really quite loud) and even 14 fps mode doesn't seem to be much of a ruckus. The viewfinder visibility at 14 fps is excellent, the blackout is less of a problem than it was in the previous model.
This is with 70-200/2.8 FL, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/5000s, 82 mm and cropped somewhat.
Stunning Skater Shot
-
Stunning Skater Shot
Thanks, Frank. :-)
-
Thank you for sharing all this detailed information on the AF! Your evidence suggests Nikon engineers have succeeded in refining the pattern recognition in the D6 - its Stickiness! The official documentation and brief videos cannot reveal / test such complexity. We can infer it's all the more remarkable how the camera is processing information so effectively tracking a fast moving subject. This really is most impressive.
It will be interesting to to try and confuse the D6 with other colours eg white clothing against a white pillar etc. I'm wondering if the D6 AF is able to track a fast moving animal which appears camouflaged against clutter. It will be fascinating to test if the camera is able to "see" through such challenges.
Such a pity the D6 came out during the pandemic, and has missed intensive testing at big sporting events, the Olympic especially.
" In the previous models, if I was using 3D to focus and track a person, it would almost always lose the subject if another person walked across the subject. 3D now works much better in the D6. I did manage to get it confused when a skateboarder in black clothes went behind a black lamp pole and the camera did get confused and stuck to the lamp pole. However, in most cases it worked perfectlỵ...."
When the D5 got the horizontal line (and vertical) group area mode, I wanted to use it in such a way that I could move the subject's position in the frame and just hold it on the line and it would keep it focused, but the gaps in the sensor array made this less practical than I hoped. In the D6, the gaps are narrower and there are fewer of them, basically there are three groups of five columns of sensors, and the groups are virtually gapless, but it's possible for the subject to fall within one of the two gap columns between groups. I played with this when photographing deer hanging out in a field, and basically as long as one is aware that these two gaps exist, it is easy to use the custom group modes and it does as you'd expect, focusing on the closest subject.
In the D6, the single-point AF has the choice of wide and normal coverage, and I wondered if this setting could be used to cover the gap columns in group-area mode, but it can't. According to the manual, the single point watch area setting affects single point and dynamic area modes, but no mention is made of its effects on group-area AF. In my testing I was able to confirm the wider and narrower single-point areas have a real difference; basically in the wide watch area setting, one can assume the camera will focus on detail that is just outside of the single-point brackets reliably if there is nothing clear to focus on within the brackets themselves (which is the normal watch area). However, in dynamic-area the difficulty is that it's dynamic, so it's more difficult to demonstrate the difference. I believe it is there as indicated by the manual. In custom group area mode I wasn't able to see a difference due to the single-point watch area setting, which is consistent with the reference manual's description. Nikon suggest the wide setting should be used for fast-moving subjects.
What I like about the custom group area setting is that it allows me to accommodate a deer or bird who changes direction or orientation and maintain good composition without necessarily moving the focus area. I typically use horizontal lines when photographing deer on the move, it gives me some forgiveness for not being able to hold the subject's eye perfectly under the selected focus point but is less likely to focus on background or grass than dynamic-area modes. Group area focusing has closest-subject priority built in and this is true of custom group area as well as the standard one. I felt that custom group area with a horizontal line worked really well for photographing flocks of birds at distance, as it reliably allowed me to avoid focusing on grass and gave enough focus points (adjustable!) so that I could be sure that at least one point was on a bird, so I avoided both focusing on foreground grass as well as background trees behind the birds. But, when using this technique it is good to remember the two gaps even though they are narrow, they are still there.
For photographing a single subject at close distance, dynamic area is probably better as one can apply it with greater precision on the eye, but for distant animals, custom group area is my favorite mode now. When using dynamic area on distant animals, often the depth of field is such that the system can pick up on background objects instead of the main subject and this was a common problem when using dynamic area with Multi-CAM 20k bodies. Now there are more options to work with. I think the custom group-area is likely to become quite popular when the system is adopted into less expensive camera models. I will try to make some screen shots from Nikon ViewNX-i that show the custom groups in action so you can get an idea of how they can be used.
3D tracking now shows multiple focus points in use over the subject, this is seen in the viewfinder as well as in ViewNX-i if settings to display focus point are turned on. Previously the 3D tracking showed only one active focus point. I think the new system is clearer as it shows what the camera considers to be the subject (often in the previous cameras the selected point seemed to be outside of the subject even though focus was correct! This is probably because of the 153 focus points, only 51 were displayable so the camera and browser would show the closest match but it sometimes wasn't the actual focus point the camera had used if it used one of the in-between points that are invisible). The D6's way of showing what the camera focused on is much more clear and believable. 3D tracking seems to now able to overcome the situation where the selected subject that is being tracked is temporarily occluded by a subject going across the line of sight, and can maintain focus on the selected subject. In the previous models, if I was using 3D to focus and track a person, it would almost always lose the subject if another person walked across the subject. 3D now works much better in the D6. I did manage to get it confused when a skateboarder in black clothes went behind a black lamp pole and the camera did get confused and stuck to the lamp pole. However, in most cases it worked perfectlỵ.
There is now a setting if activated, your selected point guides auto-area AF to start from focusing on the selected point and then it continues doing its auto-thing. What's more you can have the camera switch from 3D or auto-area into single point and it retains the automatically tracked subject as the selected point in the mode where one can manually move the focus point around. This seems very fluid. I will test to see how easy this is to use in practice.
In the D850, I've found I get noticeably sharper results hand-held with my 500 PF when using EFCS with Qc rather than normal drive mode (S or CL/CH). The D6 has Qc with 1-5 fps (user selectable) and it supports EFCS. However, I haven't been able to see a clear improvement by using EFCS in these hand-held situations with the D6, it's possible that the camera's normal drive modes are sufficiently well-damped, or it could be the lower-resolution sensor. I will try to more to see if the difference from use of EFCS is visible at some shutter speeds and conditions.
Overall, I am very pleased with the new camera. The customizability of controls and level of refinement especially in the autofocus are great. I hope Nikon puts out updated D850 and D500 models with as much of these features imported as possible so that more people (and those who prefer high-resolution sensors) can take advantage of the development.
-
Excellent ! horizontal row, and diamond shape are the most frequent ones I use in motorsport photography; the shapes are easy to move without having to plunge into menus. Beside that the second more frequent used are 3D and Full Auto.
-
I don't know how 3D tracking would work in a wildlife situation with the subject moving fast through line-of-sight obstacles. I suspect that it wouldn't, unless the animal is "large" in the frame. 3D seems to catch onto objects that are several focus points in size in both x and y dimensions.
I'm surprised by the amount of color in the landscape at this time of year, it has been a really warm September and October. D6, 500 PF, f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 2000, single point AF.
-
One thing that I can't understand is why drive mode can't be assigned to any custom function; it is on the dial by default, and there is a setting on the dial that allows assigning it to another button in the lower back under the back LCD. But it can't seemingly be assigned under a custom function button or under the recall shooting functions feature. Almost everything else imaginable can be assigned.
I would like to have the following configuration:
A) Normal operation for moving subjects: AF-ON activates autofocus (AF-C), shutter button takes pictures. Exposure set so that I have aperture prioirty and auto ISO with minimum shutter speed of 1/1000s. Exposure compensation set using main command dial (easy exposure compensation). Drive mode set to CH or CL.
B) Recall shooting functions assigned to Fn1 (middle front button so it is easy to reach either in vertical or horizontal orientation). The functions set are exposure mode manual, shutter speed 1/200s, and auto ISO. I would then prefer to have the drive mode temporarily switch to Qc mode so that I can access a low frame rate with EFCS. This would be used when the subject is still.
If the animal is standing, I can choose between medium ISO with slow shutter speed and high ISO with fast shutter speed basically by selecting A or B. I will usually choose B if I have time to think about it. When the animal starts moving quickly, I let go of Fn1 and turn the mode dial to CH but often the situation is progressing so quickly that I miss the beginnings of the fast movement. I don't want to fire at 14 fps when the subject is still as it would be wasteful.
Anyway this is a minor complaint. But it is major in that it affects how many shots I end up with from an encounter with a subject and especially how many repetitive shots I get, which just take hard drive space and time selecting the one shot, when there are often multiple identical frames. I guess a reasonable compromise is to use an intermediate drive speed that would allow me to minimize the extra frames but still capture key moments of the action.
I've now concluded that Qc with EFCS does give higher sharpness with the 500 PF used at medium shutter speeds, and that it's worthwhile to use when the subject is not moving or is not moving quickly. With the D850 the difference due to EFCS is perhaps more obvious but it's still clear with the 20 MP of the D6, after gathering enough material. Qc in the D6 can be adjusted to 1,2,3,4, or 5 fps so it can be customized to the user's requirements. I'm very happy about this feature. As with the maximum aperture of the lens being f/5.6, I'm not easily able to reach 1/2000s without high ISO degrading image quality, so I'm glad that I'm able to optimize image quality at slower shutter speeds. With shorter focal lengths (e.g. 70-200mm) I can more easily reach fast shutter speeds and the camera shake from mechanical shutter use is less of an issue.
I think I will submit a request for Nikon to allow assigning drive mode settings to Fn buttons via recall shooting functions. It shouldn't be outside of the reach of a firmware update.
-
The lack of possibility to assign drive mode to a function button is also present in the Z series - so it is not accidentially but on purpose, a feature so to say (one of the not so good things on my Z6 besides a few others). The difference is that the D6 still has the old standard dial that is easi to access, whereas with the Z6 it is a rather misplaced button backwards on the right side. I think I shall write Nikon too.
-
I'd like to add that the D6's old style drive mode dial is still present but not highlighted any more in the manuals graphic scheme of the camera. unfortunately there is no more Qc on it (different to the D500, D850 and probably D5) and the place was wasted to activate a different setup mode with a Button on the back (like the Z6 but on the left side) which enables Fps changes and could have left as well to the Menu (as speed shooting imho does not require quick changes of thes e parameters. It is a real pity that configuratoins do not allow assignment to one of the function button or if present to one of the buttons on the lens. The idea ist that you are holding the camera on the eye the right hand on the camera and the left on the lens and should still be able to change these settings. Neither the button on the back, nor the dial wheel on the top left side do allow that. The F4 camera had a better placed dialer but you needed a second hand to unlock before changes so it was a misconceptoin as well.
Workaround until Nikon improves that: Stay at CH all the time and take into account that you get at least two shots even if you press the shutter shortly or be very quick when it is required to go more silent and vice versa
-
Also on the D5 the Q setting on the release mode dial covers both Q and Qc. The actual fps rate is set using the button under the back LCD and turning a dial.
-
I sent my proposal to Nikon regarding programmability of a custom function button to change release mode using only the controls accessible to the right hand. I also suggested the recall shooting functions functionality to be implemented in the D850.
It's interesting how much has been left out from the user's guide and is in the various extra manuals available online (refernce manual, setting guide sports AF edition, and technical guide (useful features). It's quite a chore finding all the details from the manuals. I do particularly appreciate the latter two guides, they are compact and contain useful information indeed.
-
Got my sampleof the D6 finally. I am right in the process of configuring it for my needs and getting familiar with its specialities and consider what I am going to do with the new Group-AF options.
One of the new things (that has been reoorted by Brad Hill) is the option to assign a whole exposure setup to one of the Functoin button- fine. Sadly instead of having this as an added feature it has replaced other options. So it is not possible any more to assign a exposure metering mode to a button.
(UPDATE: its not possible directly but via Recall shooting functions, which i misunderstood - see post below)
I am used to give Fn1 the option to quickly switch to spot metering (and PV to Group AF), the first one is not possible any more although In some situations i want to keep all other settings and just go from Matrix metering to spot metering (Birds against the sky mainly ). It can be worked around but I don't see the reason to remove the option.
If I havent overlooked something, it is still not possible to get a whole predefined Setup (exposure and AF) by just pressing one button
(UPDATE: it is possible)
FN3 options are still very limited BTW
-
I sent my proposal to Nikon regarding programmability of a custom function button to change release mode using only the controls accessible to the right hand. I also suggested the recall shooting functions functionality to be implemented in the D850.
It's interesting how much has been left out from the user's guide and is in the various extra manuals available online (refernce manual, setting guide sports AF edition, and technical guide (useful features). It's quite a chore finding all the details from the manuals. I do particularly appreciate the latter two guides, they are compact and contain useful information indeed.
Great that you sent it already, Nikon could do a lot more via Firmware updates if they want to
For instance the D6 still has got just 9 memory places for non CPU- lens data as all the others back to the D700 that could have been updated in between, The Z6 now has 20 - this should not be too much of a problem given the computer capacity built in. The Cameras still have just a 4 digit image numbering instead of 6 which gives a unique number and should cover the whole lifetime of the shutter.
I still have to dig my way through all the guodes and manuals. The paperback version that comes with the camera is rather limited
-
I am used to give Fn1 the option to quickly switch to spot metering (and PV to Group AF), the first one is not possible any more although In some situations i want to keep all other settings and just go from Matrix metering to spot metering (Birds against the sky mainly ). It can be worked around but I don't see the reason to remove the option.
Metering pattern can be programmed to Fn1 via Recall shooting functions.
If I havent overlooked something, it is still not possible to get a whole predefined Setup (exposure and AF) by just pressing one button
You can do this with Recall Shooting Functions. There are check boxes for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, metering pattern, AF area mode, white balance and AF-ON among other things. You check the boxes which you want the control to remember and the settings stored under each category. Note that if you are making adjustments while the button assigned to recall shooting functions is depressed, those altered settings are stored under the button then! So you can adjust the stored setting while being in that mode, or by going to the custom settings menu.
FN3 options are still very limited BTW
I use it to open My Menu.
-
Thanks for your input
I use it to open My Menu.
Probably the best option, yes
-
Unfortunately, only one set of settings can be remembered by Recall shooting functions. You can assign it to multiple function buttons but they'll all remember the same settings. Fortunately this isn't the only function that one can program to a function button. :-)
I noticed an interesting feature in the technical guide. If D6 GPS logging is on and you are shooting with other cameras along with the D6, one can copy the location data from the D6 log to photos taken with other cameras (ones that don't have GPS) based on the time of capture (assuming that the clocks are synchronized). This sounds very useful.
-
Unfortunately, only one set of settings can be remembered by Recall shooting functions. You can assign it to multiple function buttons but they'll all remember the same settings. Fortunately this isn't the only function that one can program to a function button. :-)
I have detected that already. It would be more advantageous if at least each of the four individual configurations could have different settings
I noticed an interesting feature in the technical guide. If D6 GPS logging is on and you are shooting with other cameras along with the D6, one can copy the location data from the D6 log to photos taken with other cameras (ones that don't have GPS) based on the time of capture (assuming that the clocks are synchronized). This sounds very useful.
So far I am no GPS- User, interesting though
-
Forget everything I wrote about the metering mode above
What I did not get was:
1st: The second page with options including AF and white balance
2nd: that i dont need to chose a full set of options but just enable or disable those I want to be applied and may it be just one
hard to understand but missed that somehow
-
This isn't quite on-topic but I downloaded the latest DxO Photolab 4 and tested it's "DeepPRIME" raw conversion and noise reduction algorithm on some D6 images, and was pretty impressed. The software has come a long way from what limited features it offered in its early versions, to a more fully-featured editor. I think for getting the most out of very high-ISO images, this is a worthwhile option. I will post some comparisons with Nikon converter, ACR, and DxO later. I posted this on this thread simply because I felt D6 users might be inclined to shoot in ridiculously low light where also the best algorithms may be worthwhile.
Interesting how the camera industry seems to be on a decline in terms of volume but both the camera technology itself and editing software are both rapidly improving.
-
Today I got to test Glove mode for the touch screen as weather was near zero C, and to my astonishment it works with my leather gloves on. It would be nice to have gloves that are tight to the skin but the ones I have that are tight also spread some fibers so I don't like to use them for that reason, and leather gloves tend to have some "air space" which is great for warmth but not as much for precise control. But it seems to work surprisingly well.
-
Looking forward to see some pictures now. :)
-
Got some time to bring the D6 to its first outdoor use last Sunday. Found some two remaining European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) still moving around.
Here is one -taken with the AF-S 80-400 f/4,5-5,6
-
Nice. Cute. :)
-
Got some time to bring the D6 to its first outdoor use last Sunday. Found some two remaining European hamsters (Cricetus cricetus) still moving around.
Here is one -taken with the AF-S 80-400 f/4,5-5,6
Very good. I like the way the animal is behind some grass but the viewer can still make eye contact with it. Handling distractions in the foreground can be a challenge in nature.
-
Very good. I like the way the animal is behind some grass but the viewer can still make eye contact with it. Handling distractions in the foreground can be a challenge in nature.
Fine that you like it Ilkka. Placing an animal abssolutely free and isolated can also be good, but sometimes it is a temptation to show animals integrated in their natural habitat and partially hidden - and if there are some branches or some grass in front - then may be it.
For doing I have set up my camera on single field AF (AF-C of course AF-S is disabled), AF is active only when AF-ON is pressed, so i can do selective focussing trying to get the eyes, and (with AF-S lens) i can manually override it without the AF being able to interfere in a negative way. This does not show the special AF- advantages of the D6 which will shine more when there is more action ongoing.
-
It looks like the tint in the WB is not read correctly by DxO PhotoLab 4. The color temperature is read almost correctly. Odd. The Nikon AWB converted through NX-D looks better than DxO's interpretation. Also at ISO 102400 DxO's new DeepPRIME noise reduction algorithm produced quite blotchy results. I actually like best NX-D's interpretation with Natural Light Auto and Standard picture control with NR OFF. It's not noise-free but it doesn't look artificial, either. This is cropped from the left but otherwise full frame. I would like the image to look more lively but on the other hand how to depict the darkness in the forest? ISO 102400, f/5.6, 1/640s.
-
By contrast, ISO 12800 is quite comfortable with the camera. This is f/5.6, 1/200s, ISO 12800; 500 PF. Capture NX-D conversion. For some reason Adobe's and DxO's interpretations of the white balance are quite different from Nikon's which is more neutral. I'm pretty shocked to notice how much the difference is.
I have to say that the end of October and beginning of November is quite hard a time to photograph outdoors in Finland. :-) A shorter focal length with wider aperture would make it easier to keep ISO in reasonable limits, but then I am not often as close as I'd like.
-
it is indeed a hard time for outdoor animal photography now but well done Ilkka - i like the High ISO look and feel
Unfortunately there is just one programmable "Recall shooting function" but at least one different for each of the four individual modes
-
Last week was probably my last outing with the D6 for this year i.e. in the south of Portugal, Portimão. Next one will be in January, in Daytona (USA) if COVID-19 permits. Time now do to some other subjects. D6 has 16'000 clicks on its counter from last June. Best sports camera I ever had. ;)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50572528688_66f08dea7a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2k3VqRN)
_D626410.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2k3VqRN)
D6 portfolio link here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmRXx4t7
BTW, I have a D5, in nearly new state, for sale.
-
Very nice with the disturbed air flow and lines in the back ground makes the car stand out in a very unique way!
-
Very nice with the disturbed air flow and lines in the back ground makes the car stand out in a very unique way!
Thx Erik :) The background consists of solar panels.
-
I had my first chance to use the D6 for sports today at the first qualifiers for synchronized skating in Finland.
At first (years ago) I was shooting figure skating with single point as there was no other mode I could really trust to do a logical thing. ;-) In the D5 generation I followed Nikon's advice and shot 25-point dynamic for most things and group area for distant skaters (group area focuses on the closest subject within the area). Dynamic area in D5 is quite demanding as it only gives a short grace period where it will use the supplementary points if there is nothing focusable under the primary point, so it's easy to get the system to focus on background if one is not paying close attention to what is happening. With the D6, there are other options that one can use. I was shooting with 7x1 horizontal row of points in custom group mode 1 and turned face-detection on since the subjects now are human. I thought it worked well but occasionally there can be a little jitter as the subject moves over a gap and by increasing the size to 3 rows (7x3) this seemed to disappear, but of course some precision and control may be lost because the area is enlarged so one may not be always aware of what it'll focus on. But it mostly focused on the closest face within the custom group area, which was what I wanted.
I almost didn't have to move the focus area at all as I found these settings that worked well for almost all the situations I encountered in synchronized skating. Typically I would keep the group area as high as it can go, in the center. In death spirals I wanted to move the horizontal row or 3-row area to a lower position and that required me to manually move it with the joystick or multi-controller. However, generally the custom group area makes many times of action shooting much easier.
One now has a number of different sizes of dynamic area (where there is no closest-subject priority but perhaps in some situations more control as it allows one to focus on other things than the closest subject within the area, but it requires more skill and precision from the user) as before, and different sizes and shapes of group-area which has closest-subject priority built into the algorithm, and now it can also be selected to prioritize faces (or not). This worked very well today.
I used the 300/4 PF. 1/1000s, f/4.5 (increases contrast as the white background tends to produce slight flare so I noticed stopping down slightly improves the result), ISO 5000.
-
This photo shows the focus points of the group and how it focuses on the closest face within the designated region. Very convenient and easy to use. Selecting a row of seven points works well for me as it allows me to position the in-focus face laterally at a convenient position without having to move the group around often (which I previously did a lot). Here I get some compositional freedom in the direction of the long axes of the frame but I can dictate the height of the focused face by positioning the row in the place where I want it to be. This means when the skater changes direction I can just think about the composition (usually I want the direction of travel to be towards the center of the frame, not away from it, but it depends) and not have to do so much joystick/multi-selector action. But it restricts the autofocus to a narrow slit horizontally so I maintain sufficient control over which skater is to be in focus.
To what extent turning face-priority in group area on affects the behavior of the algorithm, I will try to investigate. I think closest-subject priority is strongly ingrained in group area AF, it'll be interesting to test it out with faces and non-faces in some semi-rigorous way.
-
Great Ilkka ! An alternative way to use AF Group. Happy to have a “D6 buddy” :)
-
It's just amazing how easy the custom group-area is to use for sports. I first was skeptical about the idea of expanded group-area with closest-subject priority but with the face-weighting it seems to work really well and make it a rare event when I have to juggle the focus area to a different position (in this case the death spiral is one such case where I moved the 7x3 group-area to the lower part of the frame). Pin-sharp focus on the face with 200/2 II at f/2, 1/1250s, ISO 1250.
-
Glad the D6 seems to work out very well for the both of you!Nice sharp images!
My guess is that the (any) face detect system is very challenged with the faces being a very small area of the frame, there are very limited data for the system to work with.
-
Noteworthy is that for changing the Group Area dimensions, you have not to dig into menus, but you can simply adjust the size by pushing the AF side button and by using the the Multi Selector.
-
Glad the D6 seems to work out very well for the both of you!Nice sharp images!
My guess is that the (any) face detect system is very challenged with the faces being a very small area of the frame, there are very limited data for the system to work with.
Right, as far as I can tell, it won't tell the user whether a face was recognized or if it just did the regular group-area which focuses on the closest subject within the group area. What it can likely do is recognize what appear to be human bodies (based on the matrix meter RGB images) and then estimate where the face would be and if there are any group area focus points in that area. I haven't used the regular group area much in the D5/D850 as it seemed to have a high propensity to focus on whatever is closest: hat rim, arm, or in the case of facial close-ups, the nose. So with these cameras I mostly used 9- and 25-point dynamic area. It doesn't prioritise closest subject so it is easier to avoid arms, noses and subjects cutting the line of sight, but it also has the downside of high probability of slipping to focus on something in the background if the photographer is not able to hold the primary point on the subject. For a subject that is small in the frame the old group area worked well but was fixed size. These modes required a lot of juggling the focus point around manually. The new custom shaped and sized group area with face priority on produces a high rate of keepers for me while not requiring a lot of work in moving the focus point around depending on which way the skater turns. I don't really know how much effect the face priority has (it doesn't always find a face even when present, that much is clear) but I am happy with the results and will try to do some tests to see what it is doing.
The focus with the 200/2 II is very fast but it used to run around a lot when using older cameras (it would always be going somewhere, following some small changes in focus sensor data) but it's very stable with the D6 when using custom group area of sufficient size, very accurate and no restless behavior. I think it's the nicest lens I've used in terms of how the images look. Of course, too much of a good thing, and Nikon seem to have discontinued it. I understand it is not a long lens and it is heavy but in terms of results it delivers a unique look. I read that Nikon justified that with the high iso capabilities it is no longer needed for photojournalism. This isn't about a "need" in terms of getting "a picture" - no, a 200/2 is not "needed" for that but it does deliver results that differentiate from the many 70-200/2.8 lenses that are everywhere. Why then make the 58/0.95 if they only want to make lenses that are "needed"?
105/2 DC, 135/2 DC, 180/2.8, 200/2: discontinued, what is in their place? 70-200/2,8, 70-200/2.8, 70-200/2.8 and 70-200/2.8. How is one supposed to make images that don't look like everyone else's, if only one option is provided?
-
Thx for elaborating!
Yes, four very nice lenses, I settled for keeping the 105 f/2.0 DC AF-D and 180 f/2.8 AF-D because of that fact.
I agree on all your points on the 200mm f/2.0 AF-S re ISO, cameras and uniqueness!
-
Time to stock up on those unique lenses while supplies last, apparently. With the exception of the low-volume runs of the AFS 200/2, availability of the others should suffice at present. How long this state of bliss will remain is anybody's guess.
The position of the 58/0.95 is an enigma considering what other lenses are being discontinued at present. Perhaps I'd should close my eyes to its costs and just get myself one of them??
-
But is the 200/2 really discontinued? It is still listed on global and local Nikon sites without mention of being discontinued, and the lens is on stock at some of the bigger outlets here in NL.
-
But is the 200/2 really discontinued? It is still listed on global and local Nikon sites without mention of being discontinued, and the lens is on stock at some of the bigger outlets here in NL.
Here it is listed among these discontinued lenses:
https://www.nikon-image.com/products/nikkor/discontinue_fmount/
I asked the company who does Nikon repairs in my country about spare parts (especially the SWM motor) and they said they do sell them. I also asked my local store about this. Apparently the motor stays in better condition if it is regularly in use. These spare motors have never been used and they have just been sitting in storage, so it's possible that they might not work at the time when I would like to use them. So, I could buy the motor, but there is no telling if it will work when I need it. They said that spare parts for the 200/2 II have been readily available and they don't know when the parts might become scarce. So it is a little hard to prepare for this.
When (if) the motor stops working, is it the motor itself that fails, or some other parts of the electronics that control it? If I could know this, I could better prepare on what to stock up on. I can buy a motor if that increases the probability of a long life for my lens. Of course, by using the lens regularly I will get more results out of it (and the motor stays in good condition), so I should probably keep this in mind. :D
-
Fine D6-Shots Illkka and MFloyd have presented here recently, I like the density of the heat wave shown behind the cars and the approach to group ice-skating photography - watching this not being involved in sports-photography at all.
-
Discontinuing the 200 mm f/2 VR-II means the maybe best and unique lens will become even scarcer than italready is (have only once seen a second-hand offer (besides online) and immediately took it. There are a few reasons for justifying this - limited sales and demand, Market saturation, high production costs, market situation gone worse, need to cut costs - or bringing a new FL Versoin as it appeared to have been planned.
But arguing that the fast f-Stop is no more needed to get Shutter speeds fast enough because of high ISOSensors does not nail the point in any way- Would that be a reasonable justification then this lens linewould have to be removed when the D3 came out.
The advantage of this lens is that besides being sharp it has an absolutely unique and i'd say ethereal rendering, it is long and fast enough to use narrow DOF and selective sharpness it has one of the best bokehs and a stellar treatment of out of focus Highlights. It has personality and amongst other gems it is the nikon lens with even the most of it. For me it is the best portrait lens, can do night photograpy, landscape but also fast action like Illka just showed us together with his D6.
The "holy trinity" of zoom lenses is good to stellar performance but somewhat boring nevertheless. 70-200 is not the most used zoom lens but the recent FL design now has bevcomevery fine (so does the Z lens) despite the misplaced zoom ring - but noreplacement for the 200/2
I do say that the rather new 105 mm f/1,4 was and is an impressive new introduction butcant replace the 200/2 as well
Good approach to get hands on this or other lenses like the two DCs as well
-
Fine D6-Shots Illkka and MFloyd have presented here recently, I like the density of the heat wave shown behind the cars and the approach to group ice-skating photography - watching this not being involved in sports-photography at all.
Thx Millirehm :)
I heard that the 200mm f/2 is very similar in design compared to the 300mm f/2.8.
With regard to the 70-200mm f/2.8E FL, it’s my lens which shows the most clicks in my statistics. It’s probably one of the best zoom lenses made by Nikon. Even with my TC-2.0 III it performs superbly.
Another shot with the D6 and the aforementioned lens of two of my colleagues, at Le Mans, taking a break from the hot sun. Having taken shots on the burning asphalt of the track.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50371645618_dc133b6702_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jKaRjA)
_D620243.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jKaRjA)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50428439813_fda734f360_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jQbWfR)
_D620282.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jQbWfR)
-
I have the AF-S 80-200 mm F72,8 which is good but has some weaknesses and was not too impressed by the first 70-200 F72,8 versions. Finally I waited for the FL version to buy in -it is very sharp and shows stellar performance - for many of mypurposes it is just too short and I prefer something like the 80-400
Havent analyzed the comparison between the 200/2 and the 300/2,8 in details. The evident difference is thath the 200 has got Super-ED glass and the 300 has not (I have got the AF-S I version of the 300 which I like- but i consider the rendering of these two lenses very different
-
As far as I know, the 300mm has 3 lenses made of ED glass. Or do we have also “super” ED ? I checked: YES
-
As far as I know, the 300mm has 3 lenses made of ED glass. Or do we have also “super” ED ? I checked: YES
The 300 mm f/2,8 VR II has 3 ED lense elements and no Super-ED, the 200 f/2 VRII 3 ED lens elements and 1 Super-ED being the first and (for years) only lens including this (probably very heavy) glass - later the AF-S 80-400 mm was the second (and so far last) with Super-ED. All form very good couples for our D6 bodies.
-
To try and have your own inventory of spare parts for lenses is quite an undertaking.So many things can degrade over time that will be very difficult to predict, and buying one more lens, well,,, that lens could have/develop the same part failing.Obvious fails;
The motor, the sliding pick-ups with tracks and the tracks for zoom and focus, the wiring and components on the prints also flex prints, the F-mount wear, guide-pins and guide tubes for IF, rubber, lock- screw for lens foot the list goes on,,,
Such is life; Impermanence! Accept it and relax ;)
-
Such is life; Impermanence! Accept it and relax ;)
Life is indeed impermanent, but industrial products, if they are not self-decomposing, after they can no longer be used, become potentially harmful waste so a long usable life is important to reduce the accumulation of waste on the planet. I guess I grew up thinking that unless misused, products should work for many decades if not a lifetime. That should be the goal. But for many companies in industry (not saying this about Nikon), the goal seems to make them last such a short life that new money can be periodically extracted from the customer. I think some legislative regulation may be needed to bring sensible priorities. A subscription model might actually be a good idea now that I think of it, as it would motivate the service provider to develop the service and yet reuse what can be reused until it truly cannot be used.
At work, data-acquisition cards that we have been using are starting to become outside of their service lives and newer generations of cards may not in all cases work with the drivers that are required for the older generation, so if a suitable driver that will allow mixed use cannot be found, replacing everything may become necessary at some point. I'm still hoping this can be resolved with the manufacturer. No, I don't want to write my own driver for the cards. ;-)
-
I agree that it is a nice goal to have ;)
Planned obsolescence - I would not claim Nikon has this as a business goal, so we are good.
Many products wear out, that is quite obvious also the case for modern lenses! They are much more vulnerable than old school MF lenses in most regards.
We seek cameras and lenses that can do this and that via electronics, VR, E aperture buttons, faster better,,, Constantly seeking better performance seemingly ignoring the consequences.
Cost goes way up as soon as you require uninterrupted long service life for products so it will always be with a balance with regards to how important is it the product fails, is it really life threatening, business critical, environmental concerns.
Life-cycle management is indeed important I agree!
-
The Nikon D6 FW update v.1.11 has been published this morning.
See this link: https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/379.html (https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/379.html)
Fixed the following issues:
- In the case of zoom lenses for which no previous saved values existed, performing auto AF fine-tuning at one focal length (minimum or maximum) would result in the value for the remaining focal length failing to save correctly. This fix was accompanied by changes in the workflow.
- When radio-controlled AWL was used with two or more remote flash units, flash output for i-TTL flash control would not be adjusted to reflect the values chosen for:
▹ flash compensation,
▹ exposure compensation (Entire frame selected for Custom Setting e3 Exposure comp. for flash in the CUSTOM SETTING MENU),
▹ the flash bracketing increment, or
▹ the exposure/flash bracketing increment
Ciao from Massimo
-
The D6 shows a white square on the face if it found a face within the custom group area. This is displayed only when in playback and pressing the zooming in button (for a couple of seconds). I have been testing it on singles figure skating today. Basically the group area (with face priority turned on) focuses on the closest face if it can identify faces and if not, it focuses then on the closest part of the subject within the group area. When the skater's arms are extended and she is spinning, previous implementations of group area would often focus on the arms or nose instead of face or eyes. It is bizarre how Nikon can implement this great functionality and doesn't properly document it for the user.
I would say that this makes a world of a difference in sports photography. Or it would, if the cameras were out there. :/ I tried for reference shooting in 25-point dynamic area which was my previous go-to mode for figure skating and I got lots of shots focused on the background because it's so unforgiving. I can work with it but it really needs to be used like single point, the grace provided by the surrounding points is so short-lived. Shooting with dynamic area requires constantly moving the selected point around whereas custom group-area allows me to select a range of points within which I will compose the face and it does the rest with a much lower error rate than I could with 25-point dynamic. And when the skater is close and fills the frame it allows me to use the frame fully so that I don't crop a limb trying to keep the primary point on the face. It doesn't always recognize the face (the skaters can have obstructions in the line of sight and expressions can be quite different from those in typical portraits). Still a lot of the time even when the face is not designated by the white square, it's nonetheless in focus. Maybe the camera has criteria for displaying the box that the focus has to be within tolerance but since the phase-detect sensor doesn't see anything when the actual picture is captured, it is not the ultimate judge, predictive algorithms can sometimes nail the focus even when the camera thought it is not in focus.
In auto-area AF, the faces are detected (and displayed with white boxes when zooming in playback) also outside of the autofocus sensor array. I suppose the camera then uses the RGB matrix meter image to determine where the rest of the subject is within the AF sensor array and then focuses on that. In some cases the camera shows a face but focused elsewhere. I think there is some kind of balance between straight closest-subject priority and face-priority and the camera makes a decision on which is more important. It would be nice to know the algorithms in more detail and how they justify the decisions made by the camera. It does work well, but in order to apply the correct focusing mode in different situations, more explanation of the implementation would be helpful.
I'm happy with the general performance, I gather that if I allow the camera to make more decisions, the results on average are now better than they were in past models, but there are still some situations where tighter control over the focusing is needed, if the photographer has time to exercise that control. I will try to post some screen shots and examples later though I will need to take photos of the back screen of the camera to do that. It seems ViewNX-i is currently not able to display the information that the camera shows in playback and zoom; it just shows all the focus points within the group area rather than giving additional information of which focus points were actually used to focus and where the faces, if any, were detected. I am sure this information is in the raw file, as the camera is able to display it, but it would require some additional work investigating the EXIF to find out how they are encoded.
-
This is what the back screen zoom-in view looks like when the camera has found some faces. If no faces are detected, when zooming-in, the camera will still show where it was focusing but no white boxes are displayed.
I think the face detection can still work at a bit further distances but when the subjects are so distant that to bring them in full-frame tightly composed view would require a 2x crop or more, then the faces are too small for it to detect them. But there is also a lot of depth of field at such distances so in practice the focusing using group-area AF works fine without the assistance of face-detection in those cases.
If one touches the face icon on the lower left corner, it cycles through the different detected faces and shows enlarged views of them, so one can check the focus.
-
Thanks for detailed feedback on Nikon's new AF system in the D6. The AFC performance sounds most impressive for challenging action - especially of athletes/performers!
One tradition among Nikon's many strong traditions is their habit of cloning the core attributes of their AF system(s) into a family of cameras. So hopefully the rumoured D880 will indeed come to life in the new year... D6 AF, Z7 sensor, i-Menu etc. It will probably integrate many useful mirrorless features ie a hybrid DSLR, and will have much "higher" specifications compared to the D780. I recently rewatched Steve Perry's review of the D6, which provides more than sufficient evidence to justify owning a D6 for wildlife, but besides high cost, I will wait and see what unfolds with a D850 upgrade.
It is surprising to learn the custom options in the D6 does not allow assigning different metering modes to Fn button(s). Let's hope this reverse is not yet another example of Nikon's frustrating practice of removing what works from its Custom menus. It is equally strange how Nikon also persists with weird foreclosures; some controls of its top level cameras (especially Fn3) allow very few functions! (the Z cameras are also hamstrung for key Custom features.) I couldn't agree more with Thom Hogan the "ideal ILC" should package Nikon's menus with the full scope of Sony's Customization https://www.sansmirror.com/newsviews/2020-mirrorless-camera/how-to-design-a-perfect.html (https://www.sansmirror.com/newsviews/2020-mirrorless-camera/how-to-design-a-perfect.html)
Anyway, hopefully, this time Nikon will be generous in the menu options of the D880, and it will be enabled by powerful features including Recall Shooting Functions. The latter feature has long been MIA in the D500 and D850 - despite Nikon rating both models as pro cameras.
-
...
It is surprising to learn the custom options in the D6 does not allow assigning different metering modes to Fn button(s).
---
You have already one specialised button in the command turret. May be, for some users, this is not sufficient.
-
The metering pattern selector can be assigned under custom function buttons (push button + rotate dial) and a specific metering pattern can be stored under recall shooting functions. However, assignment of different metering modes to multiple different function buttons (without dial rotation) does not appear to be available in the D6. Interestingly, the D780 does allow such assignments. I don't generally change the metering pattern as I find it easier to get familiar with one mode and work with that, but when I was shooting film, I did switch between spot and matrix metering a lot.
Fn3 can be used to open MY MENU or the top item in MY MENU in the D6. This makes it very useful.
Because of the varying range of customization options in the different Nikon cameras, using mixed cameras can become quite confusing after each has been customized. I think Nikon should clean up this by offering a set of firmware updates which unify the feature sets available from each button in each camera model. This would make it easier to work with multiple different camera models.
-
Some of the Functions of the D6 are indeed a step backwards. I cant assign Spot metering to a button (as i am used to) i can do this with recall shooting functions but ther is just one set of shooting functions per individual menu. (On the other hand there are two custom Group AF menus althought the Group setup easily can be changed with AF- Function button and multi-selector - thanks MFloyd for pointing that out).
I am still hoping that this willbe subject to a Firmware upgrade
Wasting a slot on the shooting mode wheel for pointing to a (here) useless button copying the (imho failed)Z button dedicated to the same function is a misconceptiona s I already have written. Leaving the Qc here and doing the detailed setup via menu would have been the better option
-
Having two stored custom group settings is very useful so that when switching between horizontal and vertical orientations the camera can switch automatically between the two patterns and one does not have to reshape the group array every time. I use one or three horizontal rows for horizontal shooting and one or three columns for vertical shooting and they're positioned in the upper part of the frame to facilitate focusing on faces while giving sufficient compositional freedom to place the subject's face on the left, right, or middle of the frame laterally.
-
There seems to be increasing discussion around the fickle arena of camera controls/customization/ergonomics/haptics. This will always be complex and controversial and must present daunting challenges for engineers who design modern cameras (!) One factor is the diversity of genres and photographers. The other is modern AF systems in advanced cameras ie D6 have become more complicated with each upgrade. Where there is sufficient time between shots and for evaluation, some design layouts and glitches can be tolerated. But time is the critical variable when using a camera for action. So the more Custom options that are provided the better.
Nikon get a great deal correct IMHO. To try and avoid going off topic, I'm trying to focus on action shooting and Custom controls to this end - ie the D6, D5 and related high end Pro DSLRs. I have distilled my experiences into 2 complementary Rules:
#1 - Maximize Options - "The more high performance hardware built into the camera; the more comprehensively Custom settings should maximize said Camera's options to leverage selected hardware/software functions for particular imaging demands."
#2 Enable Right-handed Access - Maximize the options to customize key settings to switch selected settings solely with the Right Hand when shooting. Facilitating #2 applies especially for active subjects.
The ability to assign AFOn+AF mode to a Control (eg Single-point to Pv) in the D5/D500/D850 cameras confers excellent flexibility to rely solely on muscle memory to switch between AF modes eg a25 to S-point, with auto-AF assigned to the AF Subselector. This ability is adjust settings to rapid changes in subjects can be extended by assigning a Metering setting (eg Spot or AE Lock) to Fn1 etc. Nikon have killed off the latter option in the D6. Paradoxically, it is possible in the D780 but this camera's Custom menus do not include options to assign AFOn+AF mode (same problems hamstring Nikon's Zed MILCs) . Nikon's marketing of the D780 for shooting action compounds this paradox.
A powerful Custom setting with Pro DSLRs using the Custom and Photo Shooting banks is to assign scrolling with the Red-Record button to switch Photo banks with only the right thumb+forefinger. It is just Bizarre (best of my knowledge) that none of the existing menus permits scrolling Custom banks on the front wheel?!? A bonus of the D6 is it now permits changing AF modes using a similar Custom setup with right hand only (ie obviating pressing the AF selector button (camera-left). Depressing-button+scrolling is never as near instant as a single control option, but it is still a major help (ie Rule #2). The established controls might work fine for action with the rig on a tri/monopod but almost impossible if the left hand is supporting the lens shooting action.
This is why I cited Hogan's recent exploration of the "Ideal Mirrorless Camera" (see above) where the ideal of combining Nikon's menus and physical controls with the generous scope Sony's customizations. As Ikka has suggested, it will benefit all stakeholders if Nikon extended the Custom options to all relevant controls, and standardized th menus across current cameras.
-
Do you need more than two metering patterns? Recall shooting functions can facilitate switching between two, but then you can't use it independently for other things (without also changing the metering mode). If you need three or more metering patterns on a regular basis, how would you configure the camera in that case (if there were no limitations), and what would the configured modes be used for?
Since I often shoot both horizontals and verticals, I find it easiest to copy the configuration of the front side buttons to each other so that I am able to reach them in either orientation.
-
I need a Fn button switching from Matrix- Metering to Spot Metering and another one switching From Single shot af to Group AF independently and with two buttons I can combine that. Now i have configured recall shooting function to do just this switch to spot metering plus (now thats a small
advantage) setting exposure compensation to +0.7 EV. It would be fine to have a third button enabling the switch to a more sophisticated recall setup
-
I need a Fn button switching from Matrix- Metering to Spot Metering and another one switching From Single shot af to Group AF independently and with two buttons I can combine that. Now i have configured recall shooting function to do just this switch to spot metering plus (now thats a small
advantage) setting exposure compensation to +0.7 EV. It would be fine to have a third button enabling the switch to a more sophisticated recall setup
I tested setting up recall shooting functions under Fn1 (with just spot metering) and set Pv to group-area AF + AF-ON. This worked fine but if I wanted to press both buttons at the same time, it required first pressing and holding Fn1 (Recall shooting functions) and then pressing and holding Pv to get the group-area AF to activate. If I pressed and held Pv it did focus using group-area AF but it didn't allow me to switch metering mode by pressing and holding Fn1 down after Pv had been depressed. So this should achieve roughly what I understood what you want to do, but it requires a specific order of pressing the controls. And it uses up the Recall shooting functions functionality so it can't be used for something else.
Anyway, it's always good to have some improvement suggestions for firmware update or successor model. Maybe you can send Nikon a message about the changes that you'd find helpful. I already sent a suggestion to allow release mode to be included in recall shooting functions. I don't know if they will implement it but often things that are talked about, do get implemented.
-
Using the D850 for wildlife, my ideal would be to hot-switch between 1 of 2 metering modes together with one of 3 different AF mode(s). The camera uses Matrix metering as default - so effectively this totals 3 options. The current options allow BBAF > a9 or a25 (usually), Pv > single-point AF; and the AF Joy-stick/Subselector > AutoAF (or GroupAF). Currently, depending on the selected Custom settings bank, one of 2 metering modes is assigned to Fn1: usually I use spot-mode, but AEL is also very useful in backlit situations. Ideally, these respective metering modes would work better as instant options.
Switching Pv on Single-point AF, I also press the metering mode with the ring finger; as one's thumb drives BBAF or the Joystick. Depressing the joystick is fiddly but it's the only control available).
As we know Nikon designed the D850 and D500 without the Fn pair (Fn2 and Fn1). This absence limits customizing these cameras, and obviously cannot be upgraded with Firmware. A firmware fix on the D5 and D6 would allow assigning a hot-switching 2nd metering mode to camera-front (ie Fn1 and Fn2 working the alternative modes). Ideally, it would be useful if Nikon added an extra control on the rear-plate of all their Pro cameras. Adding an AE D780-style control would work, and even better if it worked as a switching toggle labelled "Alt- AF" to toggle between 2 AF modes under one's thumb(?) - thus Left vs Right press. There is sufficient space, and this would free up the front controls for choices of metering modes etc. A less ideal solution might be to improve the AF Joy-stick to work better in its 2 distinct modes (lateral / depressing), but still only able to assign the choice of one AF mode.
-
I tested setting up recall shooting functions under Fn1 (with just spot metering) and set Pv to group-area AF + AF-ON. This worked fine but if I wanted to press both buttons at the same time, it required first pressing and holding Fn1 (Recall shooting functions) and then pressing and holding Pv to get the group-area AF to activate. If I pressed and held Pv it did focus using group-area AF but it didn't allow me to switch metering mode by pressing and holding Fn1 down after Pv had been depressed. So this should achieve roughly what I understood what you want to do, but it requires a specific order of pressing the controls. And it uses up the Recall shooting functions functionality so it can't be used for something else.
It worked with PV and Fn1 on the D500 and D850, did not check the possibilities of simultaneous use or requirement of a pressing order when involving "recall shooting functions" on the D6 so far - hell of a lot of work going on currently, but thanks for the hint.
Anyway, it's always good to have some improvement suggestions for firmware update or successor model. Maybe you can send Nikon a message about the changes that you'd find helpful. I already sent a suggestion to allow release mode to be included in recall shooting functions. I don't know if they will implement it but often things that are talked about, do get implemented.
I will do. Is there a specific "channel"/E-Mail-Address where the chances are higher that someone there will actually read suggestions and think about it?
-
I will do. Is there a specific "channel"/E-Mail-Address where the chances are higher that someone there will actually read suggestions and think about it?
I've sent my feedback and improvement suggestions using the contact form Nikon's local web site. Many of the issues that I've reported have been addressed over time. I always try to be polite and as clear as I can in the feedback. If there is a response from their side, it is often justifying how the product works but they do say they pass the feedback on to the relevant department.
-
A few more figure skating pics from the past two weekends. Unfortunately, the next event I was planning on photographing is likely to be cancelled due to the rapid worsening of the coronavirus situation and increasingly strict regulations. I'm glad I got to enjoy two events during this season. muokka 1,2, and 5 were taken with the 300 PF and the others with the 200/2 II.
-
Excellent !
-
Excellent !
+1 ;)
-
A few more figure skating pics from the past two weekends. Unfortunately, the next event I was planning on photographing is likely to be cancelled due to the rapid worsening of the coronavirus situation and increasingly strict regulations. I'm glad I got to enjoy two events during this season. muokka 1,2, and 5 were taken with the 300 PF and the others with the 200/2 II.
Ilkka, this series looks particularly nice. Thank you for sharing!
-
Ilkka, this series looks particularly nice. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
-
Excellent !
Yes!
-
indeed an impressive series Ilkka!
-
Very much so! I hope that conditions allow another event or two.
-
I found another little downside of the D6. If you switch to a smaller Format, say DX the remaining viewfinder parts are masked with grey overlay. With my D850 (and so with the D800E) i could switch off this masking. Then i can see better what is around and moving towards the frame and gives me an anticipation i cant get with the masking. When the shutter is pressed down the frame is highlighted - this is enough assistance for me. Now I have found out that the D6 is not capable of being configured like that. Switching to DX is not as important as it is for the D8xx cameras but nevertheless I will put that on my list that will be submitted to Nikon in the near future. It should be easy to reintroduce a feature that has been removed for no reason by a Firmware update.
-
The viewfinder mask display on/off choice seems to be available only on the D850. Other cameras either have just the outline, or a masked area but not a user choice of which to display.
-
Yes, I was wrong with the D800E - it offers no choice but provides the frame in the viewfinder I prefer to use over the masking
-
Back in business. Here this weekend at Daytona (FL) for the prologues. The 24h of Daytona coming coming weekend.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50866141282_b06a92e824_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuSgDU)
_D628481.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kuSgDU)
24h of Daytona 2021
Nikon D6
Nikkor VR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL + Nikkor TC 20E III
ƒ/5.6 400.0 mm 1/160s ISO 280
Always surprised by the quality of the 70-200 mm f/2.8E FL and the TC-20E III
-
Your panning are fantastic, once more.
-
Yes, great shot.
-
Your panning are fantastic, once more.
Yes, great shot.
Too kind :), Covid-19 contingencies don’t make things easier. And an oval track is new to me. A lot of things to learn.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50866098827_0ca96905b8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kuS42V)
_D628682.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kuS42V)
High bank overtaking. Car 20 is « mine ».
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50869959872_9827416f68_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kvcQME)
_D629348.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kvcQME)
Night shot.
-
The D6 got new firmware, US link https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/545/D6.html
Updates “C” Firmware Version 1.11 to 1.20:
"A Recall shooting functions (hold) item has been added to Custom Setting f3 Custom controls. Assigning this role to a control lets you recall previously-saved values for settings such as exposure and metering by pressing the control once during viewfinder photography. The previous values can be restored by pressing the control a second time. Recall shooting functions (hold) can be assigned to the Preview button, Fn1 button, Fn2 button, Fn button for vertical shooting, AF-ON button, Sub-selector center, AF-ON button for vertical shooting, Movie record button, or Lens focus function buttons.
• A new option, Prefer sub-selector center, has been added to the Custom Settings menu at position f13. Although at default settings the sub-selector cannot be used to position the focus point while the center is pressed, selecting Off for Prefer sub-selector center lets you hold the center and still position the focus point by pressing the sub-selector up, down, left, or right. You can, for example, assign AF-area mode to the center of the sub-selector and then use the sub-selector to position the focus point while the center still serves in the AF-area mode role.
• A Focus point selection speed item has been added to Custom Setting a17 Focus point options. The speed at which the focus points for viewfinder photography can be cycled by holding the sub-selector or keeping the multi selector pressed up, down, left, or right can be chosen from Normal, High, and Extra high.
• Ratings are now displayed at all times during playback zoom, even when None (image only) is selected for playback display options.
• The camera can now more reliably focus on poorly-lit low-contrast subjects when dynamic-area AF is selected for AF-area mode."
I will personally appreciate the first one a lot, as I use recall shooting functions to switch between settings for a slowly moving subject and a fast-moving subject and I always found it awkward to have to hold the button down, I'm getting used to it but this "hold" function will presumably allow one to use this custom function as a toggle. This will help a lot.
Dynamic area AF improvements in low light are also welcome; in low light sometimes there is a "wait while it figures out what to do" kind of delay in very low light in dynamic-area modes, now they seem to have made improvements into this area, hopefully significant ones. ;-)
Improvements to the joystick function should make it easier to use multiple different focus area modes fluidly.
-
Installed yesterday. I reprogrammed my Recall function to Hold. Some interesting additions, and improvements.
-
Brad Hill latest blog (16 April) discussed these fixes with respect to his particular Customs uses. Hopefully, Nikon learns they are widely appreciated - indeed hoped for - beyond the D* flagship cameras. (see recent thread on Fredmiranda)
For how else to optimize the impressive potential of the D500/D850/D780 tier DSLRs, and Z6 and Z7 Series? They each present with a 1/2 dozen and more AF modes/options, plus exposure settings, alternative frames, and more.....
Standardizing a Recall Shooting Function, ie C3 settings, will ultimately sell more cameras.
http://www.naturalart.ca/voice/blog.html#500mm_wars_1
-
After using the new firmware for a few days, I noticed a few things.
When using the sub-selector center to switch focus-area modes, turn on focusing, and at the same time, move the focus point around requires a certain amount of finger dexterity and I eventually turned this feature off for the time being. I may start using it at a later point but I found it requires some practice which I don't have time to do right now.
The "Recall shooting functions (hold)" feature is something I really like but it too has a minor glitch. It's not like the recalled settings are held indefinitely. If you turn the camera off, the recalled settings are not in effect and the function needs to be reactivated by pressing the programmed custom function button (the settings themselves are remembered). Also, if you adjust exposure compensation by pressing +/-, again the recalled settings are not held active. It's a bit difficult for me to remember which operations cancel the "holding" of recall shooting functions, so I have to keep looking at the screens to see which settings are in effect.
I'll try to figure it out. In any case I am definitely using recall shooting functions (hold), it is just not as persistent as I would like.
-
New firmware v 1.40 available.
https://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/fw/433.html
• Added a Select all to send (wired LAN/WT) item to the playback “i” menu that can be used to mark for upload all pictures that meet the criteria currently selected for filtered playback.
• Changes have been made to the buttons used to mark pictures for upload when the camera is connected to a computer or FTP server:
- Pictures can now be marked for priority upload by holding the OK button and pressing the multi selector left.
- Holding the OK button and pressing the center of the multi selector now marks pictures for non-priority upload.
• Fixed the following issues:
- Auto white balance would not perform as expected if (a) white balance was not among the settings recalled via Custom Setting f3 (Custom controls) > Recall shooting functions or Recall shooting functions (hold) in the CUSTOM SETTING MENU or (b) a Recall shooting functions or Recall shooting functions (hold) operation was performed while exposure and white balance were locked using a control assigned AE/AWB lock (hold) via Custom Setting f3 (Custom controls) in the CUSTOM SETTING MENU.
- Aperture would be reset when the preview button was pressed to zoom in on the live view display at maximum aperture
Not downloaded / not tested yet.
Download is relatively long, but no problems occurred.
-
This promo clip was published recently by Jeffrey Wu on his youtube channel
Hunting cheetah - exemplifies improved 3D Tracking of the D6 AF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLnOVoXgixE