Some impression of the D2H and the state of the art
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2005 10:17 pmBirddog was gracious in lending me his D2h for a week and I have now used the camera in a number of situations where I feel I can make some comments in regards to its general performance. I certainly won't parrot the kudos that others have heaped upon it but it is a supurb photographic tool. The digital revolution has reached a level of maturity where, for most purposes, film is no longer a viable option. It is no longer an option because the sophistication of professional digital cameras does the job better and produces a higher quality image. This sophistication encompasses not only the camera, but also the flashguns, lenses, batteries and printing tools.
On Anzac day I used the camera to capture the parade in the CBD and I recorded 240 RAW image files over a 3 hour period. I used fill flash for every shot. I did not have to replace the batteries in either the camera or the flash. The auto-focus worked reliably and rapidly as did the matrix metering. I did not have to stop and replace over 7 rolls of 36 exp film. I altered the ISO as I saw fit in order to maintain shutter speed and I was able to monitor the exposure via the histogram and the composition and sharpness using the image review as I worked. This maintained my confidence as I worked. The camera fits the hand like a glove with all controls and menus exactly where they should be. The camera is heavier than the D70 but in operation it is not distracting or noticeable.
When I downloaded the images and examined them only 3 or 4 were unusable due to technical faults. This is an amazing hit rate of nearly 100% The 4 MP images look a little more fragile than those from a D70 but they held up well as long as I didn't crop in too deep. I suspected that the image quality would not hold up printing at A3 so I printed off a few and the quality stunned me. If I mixed them in with prints from the D70 then only an experianced eye would detect the lower pixel count. You could frame them and sell them as fine art because they give almost nothing away in colour, resolution or image impact. The camera is so responsive that it almost becomes an extension of the eye. The interaction is seamless. If the cameras keep improving at this rate then the next few years are going to be the golden years of photographic technology. And lastly...the camera is so well constructed and designed that I would rather hold it then a Leica.
Comments welcome. PS I won't cry when I give it back because I don't have to own everything I love.
On Anzac day I used the camera to capture the parade in the CBD and I recorded 240 RAW image files over a 3 hour period. I used fill flash for every shot. I did not have to replace the batteries in either the camera or the flash. The auto-focus worked reliably and rapidly as did the matrix metering. I did not have to stop and replace over 7 rolls of 36 exp film. I altered the ISO as I saw fit in order to maintain shutter speed and I was able to monitor the exposure via the histogram and the composition and sharpness using the image review as I worked. This maintained my confidence as I worked. The camera fits the hand like a glove with all controls and menus exactly where they should be. The camera is heavier than the D70 but in operation it is not distracting or noticeable.
When I downloaded the images and examined them only 3 or 4 were unusable due to technical faults. This is an amazing hit rate of nearly 100% The 4 MP images look a little more fragile than those from a D70 but they held up well as long as I didn't crop in too deep. I suspected that the image quality would not hold up printing at A3 so I printed off a few and the quality stunned me. If I mixed them in with prints from the D70 then only an experianced eye would detect the lower pixel count. You could frame them and sell them as fine art because they give almost nothing away in colour, resolution or image impact. The camera is so responsive that it almost becomes an extension of the eye. The interaction is seamless. If the cameras keep improving at this rate then the next few years are going to be the golden years of photographic technology. And lastly...the camera is so well constructed and designed that I would rather hold it then a Leica.
Comments welcome. PS I won't cry when I give it back because I don't have to own everything I love.
) I now want a D2x and only have to convince myself - good job I'm lacking in major funds at the moment 
