Since the birth of mirrorless interchangeable cameras a few years ago, many new system cameras has been born. Micro four thirds, Sony NEX, Samsung NX etc. And it might be more to come (Canon, Ricoh Pentax.. etc).

Before, high quality camera market is dominated by DSLR cameras. Now, we have many systems to choose from high to low quality.

In the left part (conservative) resides DSLR Cameras. These cameras are relatively bulky and heavy, but it is trusted and have a long history and complete collection of lenses and accessories.

In the right side there are plenty new breed of mirrorless interchangeable system cameras a.k.a compact system camera. There are plenty of variations among these cameras. In the low end, we have Pentax Q, which has very tiny but solid built. We has Leica M9 and new Fuji XPRO-1 system which is both stylish and high quality.

Today, majority of consumers are still in the left side, but as time progressed and the price is getting cheaper, there is huge probability that more people will get either one of the right side of chart.

In advanced fixed lens compact camera market, we usually have compact camera with relatively small sensor and bright lenses. Today, we have a few cameras that has relatively large sensor such as recently announced Canon G1 X, the stylish Fuji X100 and X10, and the old Sigma DP. Consumers that doesn’t want to carry bulky camera & lenses but want high quality cameras will be happier.

Nikon announces Nikon D4 yesterday which is the new Nikon flagship full frame DSLR camera aiming for sports and wildlife photographers. D4 will replaces Nikon D3 & D3S. Nikon D4 are improved in many ways compared to Nikon D3S. Let checks on its advantages:

1. New 16 MP full frame sensor
It has 4 MP more than Nikon D3s, which means it is slightly bigger. It also has expanded ISO (50-204800). However, I predict the best images will be produced between ISO 100 to 6400, the same as what Nikon D3s can offer.

2. New EXPEED 3 sensor and fast continuous burst
EXPEED 3 sensor aids in overall performance such as camera responsiveness, AF speed, in camera processing, etc. It also allows for faster continuous burst (up to 10 fps and 11 fps (with exposure and focus locked).

3. Two joysticks
Nikon replace traditional AEL-AFL button and gives way to two joysticks that appears similar to Canon EOS cameras system. With the joysticks, changing setting like AF points will be a lot faster because it allows diagonal moves.

4. Compact Flash & XQD memory card slots
D4 will have the new XQD memory card slot which is a new memory card standard that has faster transfer rate & capacity compare to CF&SD. XQD card is relatively new. It is smaller in size than CF card but bigger than SD card. Sony launches first XQD card with 32 GB capacity and 125mb/s write speed.

5. Enchanced durability
Shutter durability has been tested for 400,000 counts, an 100,000 improvement over Nikon D3S, and 250 better than D700. Like its predecessors, D4 will be a tough camera, completely weather-sealed.

There are some minor improvements/feature that you might like, for example built-in auto HDR, backlit illuminated buttons, compatibility with Many Nikon legacy lenses and DX lenses, 2.7x Crop in video recording, improve 51 AF points auto focus with face recognition capability.

D4 backlit illuminated buttons - great for night photography

Nikon D4 is a great camera for people who is looking for the best camera for sports, photojournalism, wildlife who wants fast cameras that do well in high ISO setting and harsh environmental condition. For existing D3s & D700 users, you will get a slightly higher image resolution and a faster camera. For D300 or D300s users, it will be a great upgrade.

Nikon D4 MSRP is $5999 will be available on Amazon.com

PS: Nikon launches D4 with Nikon new 85mm f/1.8G lens ($500 MSRP)

In this post, I would like to share about my regular travel gears. I use these gears on my trip to Cambodia on September 2011 and get a good result on it. Check out my photo gallery here.

For the camera, I use Nikon D700. This full frame camera has full frame sensor that deliver great images even in low light condition. It is relatively small compared to other Nikon full frame camera such as D3s. I didn’t use the battery grip because I want to travel as light as possible without sacrificing much image quality. (Canon counterpart is Canon 5D mk II)

Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR is my main workhorse lens for travel photography. It is a wide zoom lens that can capture stunning landscape, environmental portrait and culture. It has VR which is very helpful in low light condition indoor. VR allows me to use slower shutter speed, therefore I can use smaller aperture or lower ISO setting. (Canon counterpart is Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 or 17-40mm f/4)

Note: to achieve similar field of view in DSLR camera with APS-C sensor, you can use wide angle lens such as Nikon 10-24mm or Canon 10-22mm.

16mm, f/5.6, 1/30, ISO 800

I use Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM for Nikon when I can’t get close to the subjects. For example, when I was in a boat. Sometimes, I add Sigma 1.4x extender to get longer reach. In full-frame camera, 70-200mm is quite short compared in APS-C sized DSLR camera. I also use this lens for close-up portraits or performance. The lens does not has image stabilization, but it is fine to use in outdoor or when capturing fast action. I usually raise ISO to compensate for the lack of stabilization. (Canon counterpart is Canon 70-200mm f/2.8)

ISO 1600, 1/200, f/5.6, 240mm (Sigma 70-200mm with 1.4X teleconverter)

I also bring Nikon 50mm f/1.8D & my favorite lens 85mm f/1.4D for photographing food, details and portrait.

Accessories

• Three camera’s battery and charger – To make sure that I won’t run out of power in a long day
• Memory cards, 32 GB total – I usually shoot in RAW format, so I need plenty of storage. Every day I transfer the files to my notebook
• Induro travel tripod – To shoot in a dark places and landscape such as waterfall, or sunrise/sunset.
• Rocket blower and micro fiber cloth – To clean front element of lens from dust and water.
• Circular polarizer filter dan ND8 – To shoot waterfall and to eliminate reflection and enhance blue sky
• Flash Nikon SB900 – Use to illuminate extremely dark interior

Clothing and Misc.

• Hat – To protect my head from the sun and light rain
• Umbrella, raincoat, plastic and raincover – So that I can shoot in the middle of the rain
• Backpack – To store equipments. Backpack is more versatile than other kind of bag because you can carry it around for a long time comfortably and both of your hand free for other stuff.
• Modular set – I use ThinkTank modular skin set so I can store and change my lenses and accessories faster without having to access my backpack.
• Spider holster – So I can free my neck and shoulder

That’s pretty much what I use when I am out traveling. Hopefully it is helpful for you and good luck for your next trip. If you prefer lighter equipments, I suggest you to read traveling light with DSLR camera system.

Nikon D4 specs rumor is out! According to Nikon Rumors, the D4 will has the same philosophy as the previous D3 and D3s. It is designed for sports and wildlife photography.

The specs are as follows:

• New 16 MP full frame sensor
• 11 fps continuous shooting
• 100-12800 native ISO range, expandable to 50 and 204,800
• Compact Flash (CF) and XQD memory (fast, new standard)
• Improved 51 AF points, 9 cross type
• Face recognition
• Full HD video

Nikon D4 will be the natural upgrade for Nikon D700 or D3 users, while “rumored” Nikon D800 is more geared to travel, landscape and studio photography because it has smaller form factor and higher resolution (36 MP).

I hand-picked some best value DSLR cameras this year. This year, there are only a couple DSLR camera has been announced, so today selection includes last year model. Click the picture for more info and comments.

Canon T3 with 18-55mm IS lens : at $499, this beginner camera is easy to use and the most affordable  DSLR camera at the moment

Canon T2i with 18-55mm IS lens : at $619, T2i is a full-featured beginner DSLR camera that is easy to use and inherit many features from more advanced cameras. It shoots 18 MP picture and FULL HD movie.

Nikon D5100 with 18-55mm VR lens : at $799, D5100 has the same excellent 16MP CMOS sensor like D7000. It performs very well in low light condition. It also has great dynamic range for landscape. Furthermore, D5100 has swivel LCD sreen and record full HD movie in a light package.

Canon 60D with 18-135mm IS : at $1094, Canon 60D is a multipurpose camera. When it is equipped with versatile 18-135mm IS lens, it is suitable for any kind of photography, from casual snapshot to serious sports photography.

Pentax K5 with 18-55mm WR lens : at $1150, K5 truly a bargain. It is advanced camera with water resistant lens, ready to take with you in exteme places. K5 is compact, tough and produces great images even in low light condition.

Nikon D7000 + 18-105mm VR : at $1499.5, D7000 is relatively expensive, especially if you compare it with the recent Pentax K5 price drop. However, this package has more versatile lens and slightly better for action and sports photography. It also has access to greater Nikon lens colleciton.

Yesterday, NikonRumors posted shocking Nikon D800 and updated specs. The camera picture and specs looks real to me, and it seems like Nikon will announce it soon.

Nikon D800 spec is shocking because it departs on what Nikon philosophy in the past few years. Nikon usually prioritizes on image quality in high ISO instead of image size (resolution). Nikon D800 is rumored to have whoopping 36 MP compared to Nikon D700’s 12 MP. And it will be the first DSLR camera that reaches 36MP.

The big resolution does not mean that image quality in high-ISO setting will be worser, because ISO range will be about the same, 100-6400 expanded to 50 and 25600.

However, continuous shooting will be slower at  4 fps (full-res) and 6 fps in DX mode + battery grip.

Because of that, Nikon D800 won’t be ideal for sport or action oriented photography. If you’re action photographers, Nikon D3s will fill that place. D800 will be ideal for studio photos, travel (because of its relative size), still life, portraitures or commercials.

Some leaked Nikon D800 specs:

• Resolution: 7360×4912 (36MP)
• Video modes: 1080p/30/25/24 and 720p/60/30/25/24
• ISO range: 100 – 6400, ISO LO @ 50 and ISO HI-2 @ 25600
• 51 points AF with face recognition
• Expeed 3 processor (new generation)
• Continuous shooting speed 4 fps, 6 fps in DX mode (approx. 16MP)
• 100% viewfinder coverage
• CF-SD memory card slots
• support USB 3.0 connection
• Slightly smaller and lighter than D700
• Slightly bigger LCD display
• 200k shutter cycle
• Price: Approx. $3200

For action shooter or Nikon D700’s owner looking for replacement, Nikon D800 might not an ideal choice. Instead, it is a complementary camera.  For DX camera owners, D800 will be well-suited upgrade. D800 will have significantly higher image size and quality.  You will be able to use DX lenses and crop for longer reach (1.5x) and still got approx. 16 MP, which is bigger than D700’s 12 MP.

Panasonic GX1 is recently announced. GX1, is very similar to 2009’s Panasonic GF1 with some upgrades. GX1 is aimed for photography enthusiasts who wants a compact system but with enhanced control and great image quality.

Panasonic GX1 certainly ticks most of the boxes:

1. It is relatively compact compared to entry level DSLR camera
2. It has very fast auto focus speed (0.09 second)
3. Tough alumunium casing and more comfortable to hold (thanks to new rubberized grip)
4. Bundled with Panasonic new X lenses (very compact)
5. Improve image quality and size (16 MP)
6. Improve noise handling in high ISO setting (about 1 stop)
7. Optional hi-res Electronic viewfinder is available (optional purchase)
8. has hot shoe for external flash

Other improvements : Touchscreen LCD screen, record full HD movie at 60i

However, there are still some points that enthusiasts don’t like about this camera

1. LCD resolution is still 460k (while competitors has around 900k-1 million dots resolution). Better resolution screen is important to judge exposure or sharpness better. No tilt LCD screen.
2. No built-in viewfinder like Sony NEX7 or Fuji X100
3. Only has one command dials, most of competitors has two dials. (more dials makes easier to change setting).
4. No weather seal, not magnesium alloy (lightweight but ultratough casing which usually find in high-end DSLR cameras)

Despite its shortcoming, Panasonic GX1 has a friendlier price tag for photo enthusiasts. It is $699 body only and $949 with 14-42mm retractable zoom lens.

Competitors :

• Olympus E-P3 – has retro style and better LCD screen, but worst image quality and performance
• Sony NEX-7 – has built-in electronic viewfinder, bigger sensor and image resolution, plenty control dials, tilt LCD screen, significantly more expensive.
• Panasonic G3 – has built-in viewfinder, designed more for mass market rather than enthusiasts, has similar image sensor (same 16 MP).
• Panasonic GH2 – designed for serious photographers, has better control, built-in viewfinder and better control for video shooting.

Nikon D5100 & Nikon D3100 are designed for casual shooters. It is small and lightweight. At a glance, the main difference is Nikon D5100 has swivel LCD screen and Nikon D3100 has fixed LCD screen. If you look a closer to these cameras, D5100 has significant advantages compared to Nikon D3100.

Top: Nikon D5100, Bottom: Nikon D3100

Nikon D5100 advantages

• Higher image quality (16 MP sensor vs 14 MP sensor)
• Swivel LCD screen
• Hi-res LCD screen (920x vs 230k dots)
• Shoot slightly faster (4 vs 3 fps)

Nikon D3100 advantages

• Slightly smaller and lighter
• Bigger buttons and better layout
• Cheaper by approx. $200

In conclusion, Nikon D5100 is a better camera for still and video. The flip-out hi-res LCD screen is nicer to look and use to compose still and videos. It also better in low light photography and landscape. D5100 is a great bargain because it has the same sensor as Nikon D7000 which is $400 more expensive. Because D5100 has swivel LCD screen, its  buttons are smaller and the layout is more awkward than Nikon D3100. But this might be the only disadvantage of D5100.

Note: Both cameras do not has built-in motor focus, therefore, you can only auto focus with lens with internal AF motor. Check out my lens recommendation for D3100 & D5100 here.

Top: Nikon D5100, Bottom: Nikon D3100

]]> http://www.radiantlite.com/2011/10/nikon-d5100-vs-nikon-d3100.html/feed 0 http://www.radiantlite.com/2011/10/canon-60d-vs-canon-t3i-600d.html http://www.radiantlite.com/2011/10/canon-60d-vs-canon-t3i-600d.html#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:38:56 +0000 Enche Tjin http://www.radiantlite.com/?p=5141

At a glance, Canon EOS 60D looks very similar to Canon T3i (600D) It has flip-out swivel LCD screen and rubbery grip. Both cameras also has the same image sensor which means they can produce the same image quality. Their main difference is body design and responsiveness.

Let’s take a look on what Canon 60D advantages

Canon 60D advantages

• Shoot 5.3 fps vs 3.7 fps
• Faster and accurate auto focus (9 cross type vs 1 cross type)
• Longer battery life
• Slightly bigger and brighter viewfinder
• More dedicated buttons
• Top LCD screen
• Dual command dials

Top: Canon 600D, Bottom: Canon 60D

But 600D also has some advantages:

Canon T3i / 600D advantages

• Lighter and smaller
• Cheaper by approx. $200

In a nutshell, Canon 60D is more suitable for action oriented photography because it has faster, more accurate autofocus, shoot faster continuous shooting and has more dedicated buttons so you can change setting faster. Battery life is also longer, ideal for serious shooting for a whole day. For people for look for lightweight and cheaper solution for casual vacation shooting, 600D is more than enough.

Nikon D7000 and D5100 has similar image sensor, so both can produce similar image quality. Both also has high-resolution LCD. They also shoot Full HD video. However, Nikon D7000 has better body and features. Let’s take a look of their strengths and weaknesses.

Top: Nikon D5100, Bottom: Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000 advantages:

• Sturdier body with second top LCD screen
• Many direct buttons
• More auto focus points 39 vs 11 pts
• Bigger and brighter viewfinder
• Shoot faster continuous shooting 6 fps vs 4 fps
• Dual SD memory card slot
• Longer battery life
• Has built-in auto focus motor (compatible with AF/AF-D lenses)

Nikon D5100 advantages:

• Lighter and smaller body
• Flip-out swivel LCD screen
• In-camera HDR (high dynamic range)
• Less complicated user interface and menu items
• Much cheaper (approx. $400)

For fast action photography, Nikon D7000 is a better camera because it’s auto focus system are faster and more accurate however, for casual shooting, light travel, shooting video clip, and for beginners, Nikon D5100 is a more suitable camera.

My only concern for D5100 is it does not has auto focus motor. Therefore, you can’t auto focus using Nikon older lenses (AF/AF-D). If you have plenty of those lenses, you might want to get D7000 instead.

Top: Nikon D5100 vs Bottom: Nikon D7000