It is true that 99.9% of us have not even got hold of the latest mad incarnation of Nikon - D800, and I will not be surprised many more has began wondering to what occasion that much resolution be called for.
I can quickly say, if the above question did pop up over you at some point in time, the Nikon D800 is actually not made for you. Period. But for the rest who insist on justifying getting such a beast, do allow me to stand by your side in full empathy.
May I first say that most people shoot to keep their pictures on their computers, never planning for those images to see light a few weeks after. A fraction of us do brave beyond that notion to own a blog or two, where their works actually get seen by others. And yet far lesser sells their work online, while a tiny crowd is what remains who makes a living from it.
At 7360 pixels, you can be looking at your image at a massive 1.25 breadth meter long (150dpi print resolution). Now, here’s the biting point - how often will you ever need to go there? In other words, not that often unless your staple work revolves around the fashion cycle or commercial banners (my last shoot for commercial banners was actually done at 12/16 MP!)
The Nikon D800 was specifically designed for medium-format shooters and for those looking to print/show their work in a big way (not necessarily better quality), and the sooner one realize this, the better off we will be in firming up our stand.
A mini disaster that turned out to be a little blessing in disguise - New Theme for Nikon Studio launched, in preparation for an overhaul of site!
Welcome to the new Nikon Studio!
Highly recommended!
Truly makes DSLR optional if you hope to travel light and shoot all day long.
My experience with this petite camera, however, is marred by her occasional jams of her built-in lens door. And if you can get over that, it’s a sweet performing tool that allows you to grab moments any, everywhere.
It’s slow and steady and will require, as previously shared, good lead time to get it ready for the shot you wanted captured. Move with it, not against this and you’ve got yourself a fairly versatile tool.
(ALL shots for this trip was all delivered from the Nikon P7000)
Work schedule resumes here in the West Coast.
Just got firm feedback on the delivery date for my Nikon D800E from the supplier…not looking good. Two more months of wait and suspense in what I can shoot with until that day.
Well, to say the lease, the Nikon D3100 and Nikon 1 combo has really hit it off alright for me thus far for travel photography and should remain relevant till whatever rocks the boat again.
The Nikon D3200 may become a distraction as a side purchase as I reach State side this weekend but nothin’s gelling at the moment.
What a boring, dry cycle this is turning out to be for Summer 2012.
It’s anyone guess (In context of new gears to purchase for 2012)! But hopefully it would be in line with what I’ve preached thus far!
Small is in, big is out. Quality is measured in equal weight against quantity.
Let’s play!
Been sloppy(zapped by workload actually) lately and has been unable to shoot properly while back in town. But as things turn out, there’s been two major backlog shoot I have yet to get it going - Far East Organization’s Seahill SOHO and Sony Singapore.
So, let me get to it and share before I fly this Saturday to Los Angeles.
Stay tune.
Well, with Vietnam previewed and visited, it’s time to turn back to America!
Stay tune as this should be an equally interesting one…
Its an open secret that’s been realized in every photographer, that the weight of your camera gear DO inhibit where and when you are more likely to capture your life’s moments with your photographic gear.
Lugging the pro lens amounting to kilos and kilos of metal and glass just ain’t cool as you progress from each birthday to the next (unless it is career for you). You want something that you can carry all day without hassle.
Mind you, if a decent financial resource is not a constrain, there are indeed open options to take on this road of mobility, while maintaining the joy of shooting. As you can clearly see from my last three trips to Ireland, China and Vietnam, ability to churn out decent travel photographs can be achieved with lighter, cheap and cheerful Nikon 1s and Nikon D3100!
Nikon 1s are perfect mates to fulfill just that, but better (but more expensive) alternatives like the Leica X/M series or Fujifilm’s X-Pro 1 remains as the next natural progression in this direction.
A holiday that ended up as a typical work day…
I reckon architectural and street photography will take dominance in Saigon while interesting landscape pretty distant from existence. And with all the motorcycles, crowd and pick-pockets, it will be foolishness to lug around a big camera as a target board.
Besides, the threatening wet weather being foretold seems to imply that I would be storing my camera gears in and out of the All-weather Lowe Pro sling bag very regularly. In addition, the petite-sized Nikon 1 should minimize my surface area as a snatch target. I think Saigon is not that bad, and perhaps I am greatly exaggerating it.
Now, to grab the moments off the streets, a telephoto lens will come in handy as candid takes become more natural. A 35mm DX glass will function perfectly as the 95mm I need from the Nikon 1. And did I say shoot day would involves crawling in dirt tunnels and watery rivers?
Let’s begin!
Was just catching up with friends who bagged professional photography titles and awards as lengthy as their long sleeves, and here’s what was our conclusion - authenticity in photography is dead.
By elaboration, that simply implies that the purposeful manipulation and enhancing of digital images are now part and parcel of any photographer and that the real, unadulterated motion of dishing out images straight from a camera has become irrelevant.
Well, of course, one can still choose to follow the school of old, but a new emerging standard of measurement seems to govern the way an image is being weighed these days, and that is, I must say, clearly not in favor to the meaning of authenticity.
It’s more of what you can put in to an image that caused a wow - in colors, dynamic range and sharpness. And that is rather sad but true…
Both being equal in importance, despite the fact some claims otherwise, its this two hands that will actually enable us shooters to land our prized shots. And with the recent storm being cooked up in both the availability and up-size prices of the newer pros bodies, one can’t help but contemplate if its an opportune time to revisit your closet of lens instead.
And that’s exactly what I have doing lately - a refresh and repositioning exercise of glasses. Yes, the Nikon 1 with her FT-1 kit has somewhat done that earlier this year for me, and was proven in Ireland last month. But what’s not being filled in the arsenel of capability remains in both the perspective control and fish-eye department, which I initially wanted Canon Studio to fill.
But with Canon suddenly swinging everything she’ve got into videography, I guess my review work will revert back to Nikon’s equivalent instead. O well, that’s what life is all about!
Its pretty much a wrap here, as my preparation now turns to my next stop - Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon).
90% of my shots this trip round are strictly classified shots, meant strictly for the client only, hence not publishable here. And to add to that, a Canon DSLR was used instead for that, so do drop by Canon Studio for shots derived from that platform.
Stay tune!
