Nikon D2HNikon introduces an 8 frame/second speed demon, with WiFi connectivity and an amazing new flash system to boot!<<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:OpticsReview First Posted: 12/18/2003 |
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Optics
In this section, I usually discuss the lens characteristics of the camera
I'm describing. In the case of the D2H, you can attach pretty much any lens
you want, as long as it uses the Nikon F mount. The D2H features the standard
F mount, with both mechanical AF coupling for older lenses, and AF electrical
contacts for the latest AF-IF or AF-S Nikkor lenses with internal focus motors.
With very few exceptions, you can use the D2H with any F Mount Nikkor lens ever
made. (Actually, I'm not personally aware of any F-mount lenses that *wouldn't*
work, but do know that some of the really unusual Nikkor lenses from the past
[full-frame fisheyes?] had problems on some camera bodies, requiring mirror
lockup to function properly. This is a vanishingly small percentage of the possible
lenses that could be used with the camera though, so you can safely assume that
most any F mount lens in your camera bag will work just fine with the D2H.)
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Functions and exposure modes available with a given lens will vary with the
type. More recent Nikkors (the D-type and G-type models) include a microchip
that communicates focal-distance information to the camera. Lenses without the
microchip used in the "D" and "G" types won't support the
"3D color matrix metering" mode. Here's a table giving a brief idea
of the functionality available with different Nikkor lens types (abstracted
from the D2H's manual).
| |
|
| Type G or D AF Nikkor
Lenses (except IX models), AF-S and AF-I Nikkor |
|
| PC Micro Nikkor 85mm F/2.8 D | |
| AF-I Teleconverter | |
| Other AF Nikkor Lenses (Excluding F3AF) |
|
| AI-P Lenses | |
| Other Lenses (Non-CPU) | |
Given that the optical characteristics will depend entirely on the lens attached,
I'll instead concentrate here on the focusing options and modes. There's
a lot to talk about here, given the exceptional control and flexibility afforded
by the D2H's autofocus systems. The D2H allows you to take advantage of auto
or manual focus via a small dial on the front of the camera, right next to
the lens. (This dial was redesigned from the D1H model, so that it's less
likely to accidentally change the focus mode while holding the camera with
two hands.) 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.
You also have the freedom of setting the autofocus area on the D2H. A dial
on the camera's rear panel selects between Single Area, Dynamic Area, Group
Dynamic Area, and Dynamic Area with Closest Subject Priority modes. Single
Area AF simply means that the camera judges focus based on one part of the
subject, while Dynamic AF employs all 11 of the autofocus brackets, or areas.
(Both modes allow the user to manually select the main AF area.) 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 irregularly moving subjects. Group Dynamic
AF mode is a new feature on the D2H, and lets you manually select a group
of five AF points in any section of the frame, from which the camera automatically
focuses based on the portion of the subject closest to one of the selected
points. This is good for moving subjects that remain within the same general
area of the frame. Finally, the Dynamic Area with Closest Subject Priority
option means that the camera first focuses on the closest object that falls
into one of the 11 focus areas and then tracks it as it moves. (Note that
no focus area brackets are illuminated in the viewfinder with this mode and
that this mode doesn't work well with telephoto lenses or poorly lit subjects,
according to Nikon). In Single Area and Dynamic Area AF modes, you can change
the main focus area by unlocking the focus area selector (the Four-Way Arrow
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
D2H 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 jump to the left focus
area next, rather than remaining on the rightmost focus area setting.
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 released. 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.) The AF-On buttons on the rear panel set focus without needing
to half-press the Shutter button. The purpose of the AF-On buttons is to
allow you to lock focus independently of exposure, if the AE-L/AF-L button
has been set to lock exposure only. Thus, you can lock the focus for one
section of the frame, and the exposure for another.
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