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Showing posts with label Nikon D5 officially announced. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nikon D5 officially announced. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Nikon D5 Camera - 'Hands On' First Impression




Nikon announced the D5 camera in January. The 'silly' video below from DigitalRev showing off the D5 is just a step above a commercial and shed little light on the performance of the new body.

You can read my post on the comparison between the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5 and see how the D5 'shoots at ISO 3280000'. I am expecting delivery of my Canon EOS-1D X Mark II in late April. Will be taking it on a few real world wildlife photo shoots around the globe and writing a comprehensive review soon. I have little doubt it will be a worthy successor to the venerable EOS-1D X camera.


Monday, March 28, 2016

Nikon Professional Services Offers Tips on D5 Camera


Nikon D5 full frame camera

Nikon Professional Services released a Technical Solutions Guide with tips for the recently announced D5 camera. For a comparison of the Nikon D5 and Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, click here.

Topics Include :

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Nikon D5 Camera Shoots at ISO 3280000. Really?


Nikon announced their top-of-the-line DSLR recently. The 4K video equipped D5 camera claimed it can shoot at ISO 3.28 million. Of course, this is to chase (at least on paper) the remarkable Canon ME20F-SH camera that can see in the dark and shoot at over ISO 4 million plus. By the way, if you want to see how good the Nikon D5 shoots in 4K video, click on this post.

Canon is expected to announce their EOS-1D X Mark II camera next month. You can see a comparison between the Nikon and the highly anticipated Canon camera here.

See what shooting with the Nikon D5 at ISO 409600 and 3280000 look like in the photos below. Frankly, I am embarrassed to even show the images. Both photos are grainier than looking into a salt shaker. No one single number can make one piece of equipment superior to all the rest.

In my opinion, in wildlife photography, a weather sealed camera with a full frame, mid 20MP sensor that can shoot in native ISO 12800 with little noise, an advanced AF system with all cross-type 75 focus points and 12 AF points @ f/8, plus a burst rate of 12 fps is adequate. Anything more than that is expensive hype. After all, the most important criterion for a successful shoot is - luck, skill and equipment, in that order. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com





Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon D5 Camera Comparison


Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Nikon D5 cameras 
Nikon announced their long awaited D5 camera just in time for the CES 2016. Almost 4 years to the day when they announced the D4 back in CES 2012. Canon released their EOS-1D X Mark II camera on February 1, 2016. Below is a brief comparison of the main specs between the two cameras. The EOS-1D X camera was announced back in October 2011 and my readers know I have picked it as the best DSLR for sports and wildlife photography four years in a row.


Nikon D5 main specifications :
  • Two D5 bodies - D5 XQD and D5 CF
  • New 20.82 MP CMOS sensor
  • EXPEED 5.4K processing engine
  • 153 AF points, 99-point cross sensor, f/8 corresponding 15 points
  • Continuous shooting (continuous shooting up to 200 frames in 14bit lossless compression RAW) -12 fps in the AF / AE tracking
  • Continuous shooting speed with mirror lockup, 14 fps (AE / AF fixed)
  • 4K UHD video at 30fps
  • ISO 100-102400. Extended to 3280000
  • 3.2-inch 2.36 million dots LCD touchscreen
  • Memory card slots - dual XQD or CF slots
  • Shutter speed - 30 seconds to 1/8,000 sec
  • Finder coverage - 100% (FX), magnification: 0.72x
  • SuperSpeed - (USB 3.0 Micro-B terminal)
  • Battery - EN-EL18a
  • Weight (battery and cards) - XQD : 1405g. CF : 1415g
  • List price - $6,500 in the U.S.A.
  • Shipping starts in March, 2016




Canon EOS-1D X Mark II specifications :
  • New 20.2 MP Canon sensor 
  • ISO 100-51200. Expanded to 409600 
  • New sensor technology subdividing high and low sensitivity pixels
  • One slot for each card - CFast and CF memory slots 
  • New, 61 point AF system 
  • Dual DIGIC 6+ processors
  • 15 stops of dynamic range
  • Maximum burst rate 16 fps (14 fps w/o mirror lockup)
  • 4K UHD video at 60fps
  • 3.3 inch Super high resolution LCD
  • USB 3.0 Micro-B terminal
  • Finder coverage - 100%, magnification : 0.72x
  • GPS and Intervalometer
  • New LP-E19 battery
  • Unmatched weather sealing and ergonomics
  • List price - $5999
  • Announcement date : February 2016
  • Shipping date : April 2016 


The Nikon D5 camera specs look good at first glance. The burst rate of 12 fps and 14 fps with mirror lockup and matches the Canon EOS-1D X but the Mark II exceeds with 14 fps and 16 fps respectively. 

Shooting at ISO 3280000 is playing the marketing numbers game but suffice to say the camera should have excellent ISO performance and both cameras are evenly matched at high ISO. Being a wildlife photographer, I hardly ever use ISO higher than 6400 out in the field. The noise level is simply unacceptable beyond that. Check out the the two cameras' ISO performance comparison.  




The Nikon D5's 153 AF points is just another big number designed to grab attention. The dedicated processor for AF is good and the 15 AF points usable @ f/8 is a more meaningful number. All of the EOS-1D X Mark II's 61 AF points are accessible @ f/8.  

Offering a QXD or CF memory card version is a good idea because not many photographers shoot enough 4K video to justify buying a collection of new and expensive memory cards, but the downside is having two separate cameras. Sadly, the Nikon D5's 4K video capability is another marketing also-ran. Canon offers one slot each for CFast and CF memory card in the same camera and its 4K video capabilities are at least worth having.




The Nikon D5's list price of $6,500 is slightly over-priced. I still remember paying $8,000 for the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III back in 2008 and now the EOS-5D Mark III, with a list price of $2,499, beats the old champ's performance in so many ways. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II's list price of $5,999 is simply a 'bargain'.

You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com. I will be getting my EOS-1D X Mark II very soon and taking it around the globe for real world wildlife photo shoots to test the camera. Keep checking back for the latest photos and review of the new body. More to come . . . . . .



Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Nikon Officially Announced the D5 Camera


Nikon D5 20MP full frame camera
Nikon finally announced the D5 camera, almost 4 years to the day the D4 was announced. The list price is $6,500. They have also announced the D500 DX camera. Now I am waiting for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera. It should be announced next month. See how the two cameras stack up against each other. Ready for my pre-order. More to come . . . . .
















TOKYO - Nikon Corporation today announces the new D5, a FX-format flagship digital SLR camera that challenges photographers to outperform their highest standards, and set new benchmarks for speed, accuracy and image quality. Expanding the possibilities of image capture for professional photographers, the new D5 places the needs of the professional at the centre of innovation with features that enable smooth and reliable responsiveness to a wide variety of scenes and subjects.

From the refined acquisition of subjects in motion, to 4K video in UHD, the D5 creates opportunities for dauntless photographers working in demanding shooting environments to push their gear to new limits. With a next generation AF system the intelligent and versatile tracking of moving subjects enables the richness and realism of every split-second moment to be captured. The D5 boasts a wide range of ISO sensitivity up to 102400, expandable to Hi 5 (ISO 3280000 equivalent) — the most expanded sensitivity range in Nikon history — for astronomical twilight with minimum illumination, capturing details and colors beyond the limits of the human eye.

"The Nikon D5 is not just about technical excellence, but the marriage of elegant technologies. Speed and refined image quality have never converged so extensively, making it truly the camera that the industry has been waiting for," said Tadashi Nakayama, Corporate Vice President, Sector Manager of Marketing Sector, Imaging Business Unit. "The D5 represents what we are trying to do for the entire digital SLR category: Bringing technologies together to meet and anticipate the demands of professional photographers, empowering them to push the boundaries of their craft," he continues.

Outperform, Outdo, Outlast: The Pinnacle of Digital SLR Engineering for Professionals

The D5 enables the precise capture of subjects under the most demanding conditions with a new-generation 153-point AF system and a stable viewfinder image that makes tracking moving subjects easy, even during high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 12 fps*1, making the camera ideal for photojournalists capturing heart-racing sporting action and majestic animal migrations. Image quality is further enhanced by the pairing of the new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and the brand new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine, for the most vibrant, true-to-life colors and sumptuous details. Together with the highest standard ISO sensitivity in Nikon history, up to102400, photographers are liberated from the challenges of shooting in low-light environments whether covering evening events or shooting indoors. In another first for the FX-format range, the D5 takes movie-making to new cinematic heights with the ability to shoot in 4K UHD 2160/30p format, in-line with the increasing appetite from professionals for the production of high quality video content.

Convenient Connectivity, Simplified Workflows

In addition, new and improved features and functions, such as a high-resolution touch screen LCD monitor, faster wired networks (via built-in Ethernet connector) and wireless networks*2, and double memory card slots*3 that use the same type of media, to simplify and speed up the professional photographer's workflow, while placing the D5 in the center of the connected ecosystem for visual communication.

Designed for the Field and the Studio

The camera's Advanced Scene Recognition System, which has adopted a new 180k-pixel RGB sensor, contributes to greater AF, AE, and AWB performance. This, along with a design that consumes less power and adoption of a highly precise and durable shutter, ensures durability, and gives photographers greater control over their gear as well as image quality. The D5 also completely integrates into any professional photographer's comprehensive ecosystem of Nikon accessories. Compatibility with the new Nikon Creative Lighting System functions, radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting (AWL) and unified flash control, all work to ensure the production of superlative image quality and a seamless studio workflow*4

    *1Possible in Continuous high speed (CH) release mode with shutter speeds of 1/250 s or faster
    *2When used with WT-6/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter (available separately)
    *3The camera is available in two versions, two XQD cards or two CompactFlash cards
    *4When used with Speedlight SB-5000 (available separately)

Primary features

Next-generation Intelligent AF System

The entire AF system has been completely re-vamped with adoption of the Multi-CAM 20K autofocus sensor module. This sensor module offers 153 focus points (99 of which are cross-type sensors) for broad and dense coverage of the entire image area. The center focus point has a detection range beginning at an incredible -4 EV, and detection with other focus points begins at -3 EV*, enabling autofocusing even under extremely dim lighting, and with subjects exhibiting very low contrast. In addition, equipping the camera with a dedicated AF engine capable of high-speed calculation and collaboration with the 180K-pixel RGB sensor have ensured that extremely reliable AF performance is demonstrated with a variety of scenes.

        *At ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F

High-speed continuous shooting at approx. 12 fps with swift subject tracking

The D5 is capable of high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 12 fps*1 (w/ AF and AE tracking) in all image quality modes and at all ISO sensitivity settings. What's more, adoption of a new mirror drive mechanism achieves a more stable viewfinder image that makes continuous tracking of rapidly moving subjects easy, even with high-speed continuous shooting. Further, up to 200*2 12-bit lossless compressed RAW images can be captured with a single burst of continuous shooting.

        *1Possible in Continuous high speed (CH) release mode with shutter speeds of 1/250 s or faster
        *2When Lexar Professional 2933x XQD 2.0 memory cards are used

Exceptional ISO sensitivity

Collaboration between the new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and the new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine, both developed by Nikon, have enabled the highest standard ISO sensitivity in Nikon history, that of ISO 102400. High-sensitivity image quality at these never-before-seen levels achieves superior imaging quality, even within the high ISO 3200 to 12800 range often used with sports photography and the like. In addition, the image sensor's broad dynamic range enables rich and natural expression of tones for accurate reproduction of the finest details, even with extremely vivid subjects with which the expression of textures is especially difficult.

Cinematic brilliance with 4K UHD (30p) movie capability

The D5 supports movie creation in 4K, which offers a resolution higher than HD or full-HD movies, an indispensable feature for professionals involved in film-making and video content creation. High-resolution 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)/30p, 25p, 24p movies can be recorded to a memory card inserted in the camera, or, with simultaneous HDMI output, they can be displayed on an external monitor or recorded as uncompressed video to an external recorder. With support for the maximum standard sensitivity of ISO 102400, as well as even higher sensitivity settings up to Hi 5 (equivalent to ISO 3280000), even movies recorded at these high sensitivities will exhibit superior picture quality. 4K UHD time-lapse movies can also be generated in-camera.

Improved functionality and streamlined workflows

A high-resolution 3.2-in., approx. 2,359k-dot touch screen LCD monitor

Adoption of a touch screen for the display monitor enables nimble confirmation and high-speed navigation of a large number of images using a frame advance bar, and supports an efficient workflow with text input and the like. The large 3.2-inch, approximately 2,359k-dot high-resolution monitor enables extremely clear display with live view photography, even when the display is enlarged, for fast focus confirmation.

Connect through wired and wireless networks

The communications system has been significantly improved to support communications twice as fast as with the D4S, with both wired networks using the Ethernet connector built into the D5, and wireless networks when the new Wireless Transmitter WT-6/A/B/C (available separately) is used with the D5.

Versatile image storage options

Two versions of the D5 are available. Both are equipped with double memory card slots supporting a single media type; one XQD cards and one CompactFlash cards.
Accessories for high-speed connected convenience: WT-6/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter(available separately)

When connected to the D5, the high-speed transfer of image data to a computer*1 or an FTP server over a wireless network is possible. The maximum range is approximately 200 m*2. Communications are significantly faster with support for the new IEEE 802.11ac (2x2 VHT80) standard. Wireless control over the camera from a computer is also possible using Camera Control Pro 2 (available separately). A D5 to which a WT-6/A/B/C is connected may be used as a wireless LAN access point, and a direct connection to a computer or smartphone is also achievable.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Canon EOS-1D X Mk II vs Nikon D5 Camera Comparison


Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera


Nikon D5 camera





Canon and Nikon are both expected to release their respective top-of-the-line camera - EOS-1D X Mk II and D5 some time in late 2015 or early 2016. I have written about the upcoming EOS-1D X Mk II but so far there is no real specific information about its capabilities.

Nikon Rumors claims the new Nikon D5 will have 4K video, 20MP full frame sensor, native ISO of 102,400, 15 fps and 173 AF points. The first three features sound plausible but the last two sound like a wish list. I will be very surprised Canon will let Nikon trump their Mk II camera.

My guess is Nikon will announce first, follow by Canon and delivery will start some time in Q1, 2016 for both cameras. My readers know I have picked the EOS-1D X as the best sports and wildlife photography full frame camera 3 years in a row. I expect the Mk II to keep that title again in 2016.