Digital Camera Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Kodak Digital Cameras > Kodak DCS Pro 14n Digital SLR

Kodak DCS Pro 14n Digital SLR Kodak's latest digital SLR brings full-frame, 13.7 megapixel resolution to market for under 5,000. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Pro 14n Photo Gallery! Pro 14n Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on Pro 14n Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 03/23/2003

Optics

Free Photo Lessons

Learn how to use lens aperture to control depth of field - Visit our free Photo Lessons area!

Designed for Kodak by Nikon, the Pro 14n features the standard Nikon F lens mount, which accommodates a wide range of Nikon and compatible third-party lenses. The mount features a mechanical AF coupling for older lenses, and AF electrical contacts for the latest AF-IF or AF-S Nikkor lenses with internal focus motors. You can thus use the 14n with more than 90% of all F Mount Nikkor lenses ever made. (See the camera's manual for a list of specific lenses that aren't compatible with the 14n.)

Functions and exposure modes available with a given lens will vary with the type of lens in use. Most recent Nikkor lenses include a microchip CPU (central processing unit) that communicates focal-distance information to the camera. This suggests that non-CPU lenses wouldn't permit the "3D matrix metering" exposure mode, since that mode relies on distance information from the lens. The loss of functionality with non-CPU lenses goes quite a bit beyond that though: Non-CPU lenses apparently provide no aperture information to the camera either. This means that you can only shoot in full manual exposure mode, the exposure meter will be disabled, and you'll also have to set the aperture manually. (Bummer.) While you therefore can indeed take pictures with most Nikkor lenses made, using older non-D lenses would be a figurative step back to the stone age. Unless you really like fully manual cameras with no internal exposure meter, plan on using D- or G-type lenses with the 14n.

All the above said, I can't understand why Nikon and Kodak couldn't have come up with a way for the 14n's exposure meter to at least remain active with non-D lenses. While the metering system is set up to meter with the lens wide open, calculating what the exposure will be when the aperture closes for the actual exposure, I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to have a metering mode that tells the camera to ignore the missing aperture information, and simply report the exposure based on the amount of light currently falling on the AE sensors. How about it Kodak/Nikon? Perhaps a feature for the next version?

 

Compatible Lens / Accessories
Lens / Accessories		Focus Mode			Exposure Mode		Metering System
		Autofocus	Manual with electronic rangefinder	Manual	Any mode but M	M	Matrix		Center Weighted Spot1
							3D 10- segment	10- segment
CPU NIKKOR2	G-type or D-type AF NIKKOR3, AF-S, AF-1 NIKKOR	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	-	yes
	AF-I Teleconverter6	yes7	yes7	yes	yes	yes	yes	-	yes
	Non-D-type AF NIKKOR, (except AF NIKKOR for F3AF	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	-	yes	yes
	AI-P NIKKOR	-	yes8	yes	yes	yes	-	yes	yes
Non-CPU NIKKOR9	AI-S or AI type NIKKOR, Series E, AI-modified NIKKOR	-	yes	yes	-	yes	-	-	-
	Medical-NIKKOR 120 mm f/4	-	yes	yes	-	yes11	-	-	-
	Reflex-NIKKOR	-	-	yes	-	yes10	-	-	-
	PC-NIKKOR	-	yes5	yes	-	yes10	-	-	-
	AI-S or AI type Teleconverters	-	yes7	yes	-	yes10	-	-	-
	Bellows Focusing Attachment PB-612	-	yes7	yes	-	yes10	-	-	-
	Auto Extension Rings (PK-11A, PK-12, PK-13 and PN-11)	-	yes7	yes	-	yes10	-	-	-

 

Legend
1	Spot Metering area can be shifted with focus area selector with CPU NIKKOR lens
2	IX-NIKKOR lenses cannot be attached
3	Camera is compatible with the Vibration Reduction function of the VR NIKKOR lens
4	Camera’s exposure metering and flash control do not work properly when shifting and/or tilting the lens or when using an aperture other than maximum aperture
5	Without shifting and/or tilting lens
6	Compatible with AF-S and AF-1 NIKKOR except AF-S 17-35 mm f/2.8 IF-ED and AF-S 28-70 mm f/2.8 D IF-ED
7	With maximum effective aperture of f/5.6 or faster
8	With maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster
9	Some lenses/accessories cannot be attached
10	With Exposure mode set to Manual. The exposure meter cannot be used
11	With Exposure mode set to Manual and shutter speed set to 1/125 second or slower. The exposure meter cannot be used.
12	Attach the PB-6 vertically. PB-6 can be set to horizontal position after attaching
-	AS-15 must be attached in combination with Medical NIKKOR 200 mm f/5.6 for the lens to fire flash
-	Reprocopy Outfit PF-4 can be attached in combination with Camera Holder PA-4
-	Do not attach the following accessories to the lens as they might damage parts such as the lens CPU contacts (Auto Extension Ring PK-1, PK-11, Auto Ring BR-4 and K1 Ring)

 

Incompatible Lenses and Lens Accessories
-	TC-16A Teleconverter
-	Non-AI lenses
-	400 mm f/4.5, 600 mm f/5.6, 800 mm f/8, and 1200 mm f/11 with Focusing Unit AU-1
-	Fisheye 6 mm f/5.6, 8 mm f/8, and OP 10 mm f/5.6
-	Old type 21 mm f/4
-	K2 ring
-	ED 180-600 mm f/8 (No. 174041 - 174180)
-	ED 360-1200 f/11 (No. 174031 - 174127)
-	200-600 mm f/9.5 (No. 280001 - 300490)
-	80 mm f/2.8, 200 mm f/3.5, and TC-16 Teleconverter for F3AF
-	PC 28 mm f/4 (No. 180900 or smaller)
-	PC 35 mm f/2.8 (No. 851001 - 906200)
-	Old type PC 35 mm f/3.5
-	Old type Reflex 1000 mm f/6.3
-	Reflex 1000 mm f/11 (No. 142361 - 143000)
-	Reflex 2000 mm f/11 (No. 200111 - 200310)
-	PC Micro-NIKKOR 85 mm f/2.8

 

 

The 14n allows you to take advantage of either auto or manual focus via a small rotating control on the front of the camera, right next to the lens. Setting the switch to "M" puts the camera into manual focus mode, "S" places it in Single Servo AF (focus priority), and "C" puts it into Continuous Servo AF (release priority). Single Servo simply means that the camera sets focus only once, when the Shutter button is first pressed halfway, and is best for still objects. Continuous Servo means that the camera continuously adjusts the focus, as long as the Shutter button is halfway pressed, and is best for moving objects.

The AF Area Mode setting on the Exposure Mode dial lets you select between Single Area and Dynamic Area, both of which offer a Closest Subject Priority option. Single Area AF simply means that the camera judges focus based on one part of the subject. Dynamic AF employs all five of the autofocus brackets, or areas. The camera first focuses on the subject in the central focus area. Whenever the subject moves to a different AF area, the camera also shifts the focus to "follow" the subject. This is great for erratically moving subjects. The Closest Subject Priority option (enabled through the Custom Settings menu) means that the camera first focuses on the closest object that falls into one of the five focus areas and then tracks it as it moves. In Single Area AF mode, you can change the main focus area by unlocking the focus area selector (the four-way Arrow Rocker pad on the back panel) and then shifting the focus area using the up, down, right, or left arrow keys. Then, simply lock the focus area selection by sliding the switch back into place. By default, the 14n does not "wrap" the focus area selector as you scroll between focus areas. Through the Custom Settings menu, you can opt for a "Wrap" function, which hunts for the next area from top to bottom or left to right. What this means is that if you continue to press the right arrow key when the right focus area is selected, the selection will wrap around the display, jumping next to the left focus area.

There are two methods for using the AF Lock function. The first is to place the central subject in the selected focus area, halfway press the Shutter button, then realign the composition and fire the shutter. Alternatively, when using Single Servo AF, you can press the AF-L/AE-L button to lock focus (and exposure, unless set for focus only in the Custom Settings menu). Keeping this button pressed will lock focus and/or exposure, even if the Shutter button is not held down. This allows you to recompose the photograph without keeping your finger on the Shutter button, but on the AE-L/AF-L button instead. (Thereby resulting in less chance that you'll accidentally fire the shutter when you don't intend to.)