Nikon D2HNikon introduces an 8 frame/second speed demon, with WiFi connectivity and an amazing new flash system to boot!<<Video, Power, Software :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results: Noise>> Page 12:Test Results: OverviewReview First Posted: 12/18/2003 |
Test Results: Overview
This is going to be a somewhat more involved "test results"
section. As always, check out the D2H's Sample Pictures
page for a detailed look at the standardized test photos I shot with
the D2H. - And also be sure to check out the Gallery
page for a set of random photos (that is, less boring, non-standardized
ones), including shots captured by pro photographers Gibbs Frazeur and Stanley
Leary at local college sporting events.
Given the furor that was raised over early sample images from the D2H though,
I'm going to look at issues of image noise, color rendition, and resolution
in quite a bit more depth than usual. Regular readers will recall that I
and a number of other journalists had an opportunity to shoot with what were
supposed to be late-model preproduction samples of the D2H. I unfortunately
was the first to post sample photos from that shoot. - I say "unfortunately,"
because Nikon subsequently determined that those cameras had image-quality
problems, particularly in the area of image noise, and therefore asked me
to take down the images I'd posted. (By that time though, something on the
order of 100,000 people had read my preview and downloaded multiple image
files, putting my bandwidth costs through the roof for the month.) Rob Galbraith
later discovered that at least part of the problem appeared to be caused
by the prototype cameras shooting at higher ISO levels than indicated: A
setting of ISO 800 on the preproduction cameras apparently corresponded to
an actual ISO level closer to 1250. (Read Rob's comments on his experience
with the D2H to date here.)
Rob and others attributed the noise levels seen in the preproduction samples
of the D2H to largely be the result of the errant ISO settings, and I'm sure
it was at least a contributing factor.
Upon close examination though, it's now clear that false ISO readings accounted
for only part of the elevated image noise, and in fact, the photos Nikon
had me pull down may actually have been more fairly representative of production-model
noise levels than was supposed. (Rob Galbraith has also come to the conclusion
that the D2H has a noise problem, calling noise levels in the midrange of
ISOs from 400-640 "unacceptable" in an update to his article,
dated 12/9/2003.) Given the level of foment that has come to surround the
D2H's image noise levels, I wanted to take particular pains to be as carefully
analytic in my approach to it as possible, so there'd be no question of the
objective validity of my results. There also appear to be issues with the
D2H's color, particularly when the ISO is cranked up. - So I've likewise
devoted a fair bit of attention to that parameter as well. Finally, in their
presentations to the journalists at the D2H rollout event, Nikon seemed to
make a particular point about the D2H's resolution, suggesting that characteristics
of the LBCAST sensor would translate into greater ability to resolve fine
detail than conventional technologies. I therefore expended a bit more effort
in the resolution/detail area as well. (Happily, there are no negative results
to report in the resolution area, but there also don't seem to be any anomalously
positive ones either: The D2H behaves very much as a 4.1 megapixel camera,
delivering very equivalent resolution to competing models with similar pixel
counts.)
So, on the next few pages, we'll take a closer look at the D2H's noise, color,
and resolution characteristics, followed by a brief summary of other camera
characteristics I commonly comment on.
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