All pixels are not the same
 

The following is excerpted from this article.

Mike,

You are right. That's why I suggested (in my Introduce Yourself thread) comparing a Nikon D70 SLR at 6 megapixels with any of the new smaller 8 megapixel cameras. The pixels are so much bigger in the D70 that ISO 1600 looks much cleaner and less noisy than ISO 400 on the 8 megapixel cameras. That's one reason for bigger pixels.

This is great you guys. I'm still shopping for my first digital. My old favorite film camera of choice has been my "used to be trusty" Canon A1. It's an ol' 1978 body....basically the same as an AE "Program" w/ a couple more bells and whistles.

At any rate, this is so enlightening about the "big pixel/small pixel" thing. I had in my own ignorant head that BIGGER pixels meant a WORSE image. What the heck? Please explain, for my ignorance is only outmatched by my laziness to look up the answer on the internet. :o

I was looking at the new Rebel Digital as a strong contender. I'm really sporadic about what to get.

Gear

Geary,

I don't want to come down too strongly on one camera over another, but I would offer the following links which have had some sway on my thinking of late.

Comparison between the Nikon D70, Nikon D100, Canon Digial Rebel

Ken Rockwell review

I used to have an A1 and loved it. The good thing about the old film cameras is that the film they shot was always state of the art.

Personally, I try not to get too deep into the technical stuff. My MO has always been to do a flurry of investigation every decade or so and then read a few pages of the manual and get on with it. As with any type of technology, he who buys last wins.

D-70
 

G'mornin Mike,

Back to camera shopping this fine day. :)

I'm really liking the D-70.........today. <sigh> Lordy I hate fluctuating. However, my fluctuation is now in the range of the ONLY two contenders in this "under a thou" ring. But, for the bucks mentioned, I think the Nikon is SO strong. I mean the ability to have RAW+Jpeg at the same time, even less "shutter lag" than the D100, 1/8000 th shutter speed (over Canon's 1/4000), and the fact that it's got a stainless steel chasis w/graphite wrapped around it makes it pretty hard to not seriously consider the investment. I know, it is a few bucks more than the Canon.....but..... I guess it's especially hard for me to choose, since I've never owned any auto focus lenses. So....all of this will be a MAJOR step up for me.

Any further thoughts from your snooping around this one?

Thanks,
Gear

One other thing which seems to be a quantum leap is that the D70's flash will sync at 1/500 of a second compared to the D100 at 1/180. The quickest I have seen historically have been 1/250, and the majority at 1/125.

I don't know for sure what this will do for me since I try and swear off flash, but, maybe this very quick flash sync will open up other possibilities. I'll have to read the manual I suppose, I hate that.

Of course to get one you'll have to go on someone's wait list.

Okay, I'm trying to figure out what size pixel I have (coolpix 5400) and am now totally confused. I've read the articles referenced and gone to dpreview for more info on my camera and still don't really know what I have. I even read the book, help!

Jean

Geary, I'll be so jealous of you if you get the D70. I love my D100, it's one of the best investments I've ever made. 50,000 pictures in a year and a half, and I'm still learning new ways to use it. A main reason I got it was the incredible absence of shutter lag. I have NEVER detected any!

At half the price a D100 was, and so many upgrades and improvements -go for it!

Garth

I can't afford it myself, but my dad's Olympus E1 is so awesome, I use it instead of my own E20, which is just the version older. The best part of the E1 is that it can take 12 - TWELVE! - continous shots before having to stop to put them into memory, and usually it has already put half into memory before you're done shooting the 12, so you can actually shot 15 or so shots in rapid succession. It's just great for capturing the right expression and keeping the situation relaxed.

Digital rocks.

Jean,

You might try the Nikon home page .

Linda,

I've held the Olympus E-1 in my hands and it is a serious piece of machinery. It has a lot of heft and doesn't feel plastic and light like some of the new cameras. However, I think it's going to have a hard time competing from this point on because it's price is $1799 body only.

The new competition D-SLR's with comparable features, like the Nikon D70 is $999 body only. And the Digital Rebel by Canon is $999 with a lens. The Nikon also comes optionally as a kit that includes a very fine zoom lens for a total of $1299.

This stuff is always in a constant state of flux.

Thanks Mike, I went there earlier and got lost in the maze of info, I'll check again when my brain is clearer (if ever)!

Jean

A note of caution on the Canon Digital Rebel: if it's the "EOS" model you're looking at, check and see if it comes with the spot metering function. My sister just bought one (she's a pro landscape photographer) but hers doesn't have spot metering. (She doesn't use that feature.)

I find that the spot metering function is essential for metering off of a subject's face when they're standing in front of sky, water or when the subject is dramatically lit in a dark room.

I completely agree with that Michele. I assumed all cameras of of that caliber would have that feature. I wouldn't want to conduct business without a spot meter.

I should let you know that I don't have first hand experience with the Canon Digital Rebel EOS in this matter, though my sister (who is a professional landscape photographer) just bought one.

My sister's husband is also a photographer, and a real electronic gadget guy. He did all the camera research (on dpreview.com) when they bought their EOS. He told me that Canon put the spot metering on the next model up in price to give people a reason to upgrade. Otherwise all their customers would just get the EOS, if it had everything on it. I'm basing my comments about this model on what he told me.

He said that competitors to the Canon Digital Rebel EOS that do have spot metering are the Nikon D-1 and the Pentax "First D", though they are slightly more in price.

Another artist friend of mine is currently researching the Canon Digital Rebel EOS and just dowloaded the manual. She is specifically intererested in their different metering options. I'll let you know what she finds out.

When I tried out my sister's Canon Digital Rebel EOS I liked everything else about it: no shutter release delay, fast focusing time in low light, fast "motor drive" in taking lots of images in rapid succession, large image sensor for good quality, etc.

Michele; All the Nikon digital SLR's have spot metering, including D70, D100, and D-1 series. On the D70 the spot metering is 1% of the frame through which ever focusing segment you have selected.

Michele I am not sure but I think the Canon EOS comes in a few models. Mine is a 300, and like most of the SLR type digitals, has three metering modes - like the SLR's, you need to set your preference for the one you prefer, I believe there is a default which is typical to most 35mm cameras.

Geary no one would know it here, but photography was my major interest when I did my post graduate work, and I have to tell you - do NOT by a high end digital with this mindset. That is what I did. After I had to re learn the SLR concepts since most of my cameras have had auto features, I then had to learn the "computer" in the body. Fortunately there is a good amount of help out there.

I am not sure where my camera falls in the ones mentioned here, but just a few thoughts.

The more expensive the camera, the more you will not find any reference to "mega" pixels, but you will learn about pixels per inch (something like that), I think this is what Mike is talking about, and he is right that most sales people have no idea what this means.

I think if you like your Canon film camera, you might consider a Canon digital, simply because your lens' will work with it, this is the same thought as a Nikon.

I think the lag on the shutter is not so much a function of the camera, but the memory card you are using. There are cards that function as "fast" flash cards if you want to fire off shots.

The auto focus (I have talked with Mike on this) on my camera is not a good thing because of what I am shooting. For the lens to be able to register the focal length it needs to see its subject, meaning it will flash if needed. If you are using more dramatic lighting for portraits, a flash is not a good thing, nor is it for documenting your work when finished. Mine is almost always on manual focus.

I think one of the greatest things about my Canon, is with the "flash" memory card, I am able to set the preferences to range on the white balance and exposure, meaning each shot gives me 9 images. I set the multiple shots with my time release option so it acts like a shutter release cord and keeps me from touching while shooting.

I am still trying to figure it all out, then add PhotoShop on Panther...

;) Beth

Jean et al,

I spoke to my camera salesman today about pixel size, this is what I comprehended before my brain seized.

Generally speaking, the fixed lens cameras like the coolpix 5400 that you have Jean, the new coolpix 8700, the Minolta Dimage A2, and similar non SLR types (also to include all the consumer point and shoot digitals) have a smaller, albeit sometimes more, pixel. The digital SLR's (digital camera, interchangeable lens, (single lens reflex - SLR)) such as the Olympus E-1, Nikon D models, Canon digital rebel etc. have larger sensors and have larger pixels. Larger pixels can contain more information and it is generally accepted that 6 mega pixels with the larger pixels is preferable to 8 mega pixels with the smaller pixels.

My on order Nikon D70 was shipped Tuesday and will arrive tomorrow! I am approaching digitalia.

Congrats Mike! I can't wait to hear you expounding away on this new toy.

Jean

Congratulations, Mike! I'm jealous already.

Garth
Nikon D100 (2002)

Mike You Dawg!! :exclamati :thumbsup:

I'm right behind you bro! (a few weeks, though :( )

-Gear

The ladies of OK are really in trouble now Mike! Have fun. ;)

You all can evaluate its value for yourself, but I have a friend that really likes this site for camera reviews: http://steves-digicams.com/