Test Drive: Nikon Coolpix P7100 Part 2 – the photos

As you can see here, I had a LOT of fun with the Nikon P71oo this pas weekend. I really enjoyed it and think the camera is worth its $450-500 price-tag!

Here’s Part One of my mini-review.

If you’d like to download some full-res jpeg files, go HERE!

9mm bridge

42mm bridge

6mm downtown

42mm downtown

No Expo Comp

-1 Expo Comp

Test Drive: Nikon Coolpix P7100 Part 1 – the camera

This past weekend, I got to spend two days with the Nikon P7100, Nikon’s “pro” point-and-shoot camera. There was a lot of enjoy about this camera, particularly its size (nice for someone with bigger hands) and it’s 28mm/f2.8 end of a 7x zoom lens.

Here’s some snapshots of the camera itself, outlining what I enjoyed and didn’t enjoy so much about it. I will get “Part 2 – the Photos” up very soon!

Of course, if you’re interested, you can get the P7100 at Mike Crivello’s Cameras!

Cons

1. shutter is almost too sensitive. Easy to accidentally take pics.
2. seems to lean towards overexposure in many situations. Tends to benefit, in my limited experience, from a -.3 or -.7 of Exposure Compensation.
3. so many buttons on the right rear side of the camera, that while trying to work the camera one-handed, it is easy to accidentally press other buttons you didn’t mean to.
4. viewfinder – isn’t that accurate in its framing. You get at least 10% more in the photo than you see in the viewfinder.
5. It’s a small quibble, but I don’t like that the power button blinks when it’s in the “sleep” mode – it’s just mildly obnoxious.
6. I wish there was more information in the viewfinder besides “flash ready” and “focus locked”.

Pros

1. nice screen – bright, easy to see in playback mode or in shooting mode
2. easy to use controls – everything seems pretty well laid out
3. nice to have a viewfinder, even if it’s not that accurate.
4. nice to be able to capture RAW/jpg.
5. The menu is well organized and easy to go through
6. I like the option to easily set up user profiles
7. The “special effect” modes are unique, even if I personally wouldn’t use them much.
8. 7x zoom (28-112mm equiv.) is more than I’m used to having and was real convenient.
9. I LOVE the wide-angle end at 28mm/f2.8. LOVE it.
10. The features dial on the left side of the top panel is a nice way to cycle through common functions like ISO, WB, and so on.
11. Though I didn’t get to use them, I really appreciate Nikon including not one, but TWO “function” buttons, to which the user can assign their use.

 

New Gear: Nissin Di 866 Flash

I recently purchased aNissin Di 866 I flash for use with my Nikon D200. It’s been quite awhile since I invested in a hot-shoe flash, as I don’t often have need of one. Usually, for event coverages, I use my Quantum Qflash on a Stroboframe. Not every situation calls for that big of a flash, but many situations needs more than just the pop-up flash of the D200. So, it was finally time to get a new flash. The Nissin Di 866 seemed like a very adequate flash to me — it’s got a very easy-to-use interface, wireless TTL capability, sub-flash (for when I’m bouncing the flash), and is substantially lower in price compared to Nikon’s product. The Di866 runs around $320-$350, while the Nikon SB-900 is around $500.

I haven’t used my new flash too extensively yet, but wanted to share some photos I ‘d made with it at a recent Renaissance Theaterworks charity event I photographed. Most of these images were made with the D200, 24mm lens, and 60mm lens – ISO between 200-400. Since I’m used to working with my  Turbo Battery and Qflash with its very fast recycle time, I will definitely be getting a Turbo cable to use with my Nissin. The recycle speed wasn’t bad, but it’ll always be faster with the Turbo hooked up. This flash is available at Mike Crivello’s Cameras (where I got mine, and where I work part-time).

Madison, WI: Nikkor 18mm/f2.8

Just seems like this lens, the Nikkor AF 18mm/f2.8, doesn’t get enough love. I’d love to see it on a D700/D800, but for now I use it as a “28mm” on my D200. Lovely piece of wide-angle glass.

Here’s a view from inside the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, on Madison’s lovely State St.

A few photos from California

In March, my family – two parents, six sons, one daughter-in-law, and four girlfriends – all ventured to Los Angeles, California for a six-day vacation. Here’s a few of the first images I’ve printed up from the ten rolls of Ilford FP4/HP5 that I shot through my Leica M6ttl while we were out there. I was using either a ‘Lux 50/1.4 or ‘Cron 28/2. You can see some more digi-snaps here.

Derek and Molly: swing-time

Leica M6ttl and 28mm/f2.

Further play with the Mamiya DM28

A few weeks ago, I got another opportunity to play with the Mamiya DM28 and once again, I was impressed as heck with it. Actually, I should say, I was impressed when I used it in the ways medium format is meant to be used, and not surprised when it didn’t do great in areas I wouldn’t expect it to do well in (low light, primarily). The DM28 is a lovely camera back, with beautiful files from ISO 50-200…get above that and you should be using a 35mm DSLR. Like when I used my Leica R8+DMR, this camera excels when you play to its strengths. As with last time, here are a number of lo-res sample shots from this camera. I had a DM28, 55mm, 80mm, and 150mm lenses to play with.

This camera system can be rented from Mike Crivello’s; just ask for Jeff Dobbs – he’s the rental fellow.

Unscientific comparison: Mamiya DM28 / Nikon D800

UPDATE, 4-5-12: I added a few more DM28 full-res jpegs to the downl0ad-able gallery. Go check ‘em out! And, here is the last time I got to use the DM28. If you’re looking to rent this camera, Milwaukee, WI-area, I got it from Mike Crivello’s Cameras (Jeff Dobbs is the contact to ask for).

- – - -

Last night at the Open Darkroom class I facilitate, we took a decidedly digital turn for the evening. One of the participants had his new Nikon D800 with 50mm/f1.8 “D” lens on hand, and I had a rented Mamiya DM28 with 80mm lens. We did a brief comparison shoot with our willing friend, Terrence. Here’s some lo-res versions of the results, but really, you need to go HERE and download the sample files. Password is “Terrence”. Seeing both of these files at full-size is AMAZING!

Best wishes,

Troy

Midwest Editorial Photo

Dad at the Creek: Leica M6ttl 50mm/1.4

Leica M6ttl, with 50mm/f1.4. Shot on HP5, developed in HC110B, printed on Ilford RC paper.

Blooming

Nikon D200 and 70-210/f4.