Jewish World ReviewDec. 6, 2002 / 1 Teves5763
By Mark Kellner
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
Those old enough to remember will recall when a catchy little tune, one with
words that actually meant something (as opposed to the now-hot "Ketchup
Song"), paraded across the FM and AM dials. The song, "Kodachrome," by Paul
Simon, was an ode to the vivid memories of youth, and included what may have
been the first product placements in a Top 40 hit: "I got a Nikon camera/I
love to take a photograph/So mama don't take my Kodachrome away."
The world has, of course, changed. Kodachrome still has a meaningful place
in photography, but film-wise Kodak is heartily challenged by Fuji Photo
Film of Japan. And Nikon, whose name and reputation was built on excelling
at film photography, is triumphing in the digital realm, just as it has with
conventional film.
Recently, Nikon Inc. loaned me one of its higher-end digital cameras, the
D100, along with a AF-S Zoom-Nikkor (stet) 24-85 mm lens. The combination
lists for $3,000. The pricing means this isn't a low-cost device for the
neophyte, but rather a professional-level tool for the dedicated user.
I'm not a professional photographer, but the D100 made me feel rather close
to one. From the start, getting good pictures seemed a rather easy matter:
the through-the-lens viewfinder showed the sharpening image as I adjusted
the focus ring on the Nikkor lens. (Though the lens is an "auto-focus" lens,
I found it helpful to make minor adjustments before shooting.) There's a
built-in flash that worked well in many indoor situations; getting a more
traditional flash unit, which can be attached to the camera via a "hot shoe"
connector, is probably a good idea.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of the D100 is that it really feels like a
SLR film camera. Those accustomed to using the larger cameras, with their
interchangeable lens systems and other accessories, will feel right at home
with the D100: this is a professional-grade system that has the heft and
bulk needed for comfort and control when out shooting pictures.
Of course, the difference here is that the camera records the images
digitally, on a Compact Flash (or CF) compatible memory card; the D100 also
supports IBM Corp.'s Microdrives, offering a vast number of images on a
single micro-sized hard disk. Currently, the IBM Microdrive can be had with
as much as 1 Gigabyte of storage, and even the smaller 340 MB Microdrive I'd
used was more than adequate. The actual number of pictures stored on a given
memory device varies both by size of the device and the resolution of the
pictures. If you shoot at the lower JPEG resolutions, more than enough for
the Web or e-mail, you can store hundreds of pictures easily. Go for the
maximum resolution of 6.1 megapixels - a quality that could create a
magazine cover - and the larger storage devices can hold a fair amount; that
small Microdrive registered around 141 of the ultra-high resolution shots,
as I recall. (Even regular CF cards are helpful, with a 64 MB card holding
more than enough pictures at basic or standard resolutions.)
Transferring the photos to an Apple iMac involved no more than connecting
the USB cable to both camera and computer, then powering on the D100.
Apple's iPhoto software ably handled the rest, although Nikon includes its
own software suite for Windows and Mac systems, which can also be used to
remotely control the camera, say in a studio setting.
The proof of the camera, of course, is in the images, which are extremely
clear, detailed and of a quality - even at the lower resolutions - that is
tough to beat. If it can be said of some exemplary people that they make us
want to strive to achieve more, then Nikon's D100 makes me want to apply
myself more to the study of photography, to make myself a better shutterbug.
For those with a taste for the best in digital photography - and the bank
account to match - the D100 is a great camera. For the rest of us, we can
only await more and more of this advanced technology to move through the
digital camera world.
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JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
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