Camera Labs

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After careful hours of thought I've decided that, for this class of camera, "evolution is infinitely preferable to revolution."

Yep, that's all I have to say. Just goes to show that, being long past my forty-fifth birthday, the article Brain function can start declining 'as early as age 45' must have merit!

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Personally, I do like "translucent" (sic) technology. With the latest generation of translucent mirrors, there's no ghosting or anything anymore.

The only disadvantage those cameras have, compared to a DSLR or compact system camera is noise performance, because the sensor has to compensate for the translucent mirror.

That's why I think on-sensor AF might be a (much ?) better solution.

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Sony α77V/VG-C77AM/α350/18-70/70-400 G SSM/NEX-5/18-55 OSS/Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW/CompuTrekker AW/Nova 140 AW/Street & Field gear/Toploader Pro 75 AW. And a huge wishlist...

My photos on Flickr...

Jiko,

When I mentioned "useable ISO" I was referring to the "native ISO" range. Maybe the term "useable ISO" isn't used in Europe.

Looking forwards to Gordon's testing for the D4 (and the Canon 1D-X).

Muhaha: back-illuminated, glows in the dark

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

beren, mirrorless cameras do have significant limitations when you get them to do high speed bursts. The only thing they're good at it getting a nice big number for marketing. For any half serious use a slower DSLR would likely be more functional. The only thing close to beating a SLR in that area is the SLT.

Joris, main sensor phase detection may sound like the holy grail merging of phase AF and mirrorless imaging, but practically you're still going to have to share space between both, and that will inevitably result in compromises in image quality or AF capability. While I still haven't used one yet, the Nikon 1 series is the closest thing we have to making that work, and at least from reports it isn't going to replace DSLRs in that respect any time soon.

Vaguely swinging back on the main topic, I'm sure the D4 will do well in its high end niche as similar previous models have done previously. Lit buttons sound good, for those times when you wonder where the button you can't see is. And more auto-ISO options can only be good!

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Popo, they sure do have limitations, but are they more related to their electronics (harware performance, buffer size...), or is it more of a mechanical issue like in DSLRs? My point is that ditching the mirror leaves more room for improvement in that department and all others where the presence of a mirror is an impairment. What I wonder is, if the day when it will be more advantageous to ditch the mirror instead of keeping it is getting closer, maybe, maybe not.

Of course, as of today, no pro will ever switch a D4 for any mirrorless camera for a miriad of reasons, it's a beautiful and surely outstanding piece of kit that by now it surely is the dream of all Nikon pro shooters.

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Nikon D90 | AF-S 18-200 VR II | AF-S 35mm f/1.8 | Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 | SB-600 | Gorillapod + Manfrotto 484RC2

Some high ISO examples:
http://www.bezergheanu.com/TestNikon/Ni ... 71_7Zh4Z2p
Unfortunately there's no indication whether this is final production quality and I can only assume that this is jpg straight out of the cam.

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

First two listings by German online shops are at 5929 EUR incl. 19% VAT
Btw. D3s prices seem to have risen in the last few days

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Listed at £4799 in the UK. (£100 less than a D3x)

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Nikon D800E & D700 bodies + Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

$6300 CAD at local stores here in Toronto...availability Feb 16th if you had pre-ordered yours. And if you are a working photographer. Costing a lot more than the D3s (or D3) when it was first released.

http://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoDigi ... -body.aspx

Should drop to below $6000 in 6 months or so. "Just" $700 less than a Canon 1D-X.

Just watched a demo by a Nikon employee where he mentions ethernet connectivity. The option to control the camera via a web browser is quite interesting.

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Graham
Flickr

Interesting pro feature. Control via the internet.

estimated 400,000 cycles, like the 1-Dx

I'll be in when the availability is there and prices settle

That's not going to be for at least a year or more DubaiPhil.

By then there should have been many head-to-head comparisons with the 1D-X. Which will be the pro camera to own? D4 or 1D-X? On paper it looks to be the 1D-X. In real world use...

http://nikonrumors.com/2012/01/07/nikon ... more-30564

I do like the ergonomics on the 1D-X a lot better on the back and the 2 assignable function buttons that are repeated on the front when holding the camera for portraits. Something Nikon neglected to do with the D4.

Nah - D4 for me, sooner rather than later. Autofocus updates, plus the high ISO, definable auto ISO for different lenses, all point this way.

Plus there's no way I'm changing out my Nikon glass!