Category: Nikon

Top 4 Lenses For Nature Photography

The Nikon AF-S 600mm in the wild with photographer Al Haley
In nature photography it’s not unusual to see someone drive up in a beater car that barely runs only to have the shooter pull out an $8,000 lens.  It is not a hobby for the financially faint of heart.
Getting enough light at those magnifications means a big barrel, and a big barrel means a lot of expensive glass.  For these lenses most photographers buy a dedicated body to use with them.  The cost of the camera is almost inconsequential compared to the lens.These are my four picks for the best in nature photography.

 

Quick and accurate auto-focus driven by high precision, ultra-quiet motors.  You’ll need a quality tripod to hang this bad boy but it’s worth it sit at a comfortable quarter mile away to get your shots. The color and clarity can only be described as amazing.

Canon ef 500mm
With ultra-fast and rock steady focusing that almost jumps to the subject, you’ll see this lens on a lot of the sidelines of sporting events as well as nature photography.500mm with a 4.1 degree horizontal angle of view for full frame sensor models like the 5D MKII.
If you’re not into brand names, you can save some money looking at brands like Sigma, which run closer to half what the Canon and Nikon glass costs.  There are concessions like weight and weather proofing you’re giving up, but you won’t have to trade your car for one, either.

Sigma 500mm
A little heavier than its more expensive cousins, but not that difficult to pack around and still delivers high quality images.  You’re giving up weather sealing at the lower price point, so carry a bag cover with you at all times.

Sigma 50-500
This zoom is heavy, but offers a long, flexible zoom range.  You are giving up a fixed aperture on the zoom, but considering the price point, that’s an inconvenience I can live with.

Nikon shows off some new concept cameras

Earlier this year a video circulated around, showing off a new camera from the Consumer Electronics Show. The camera was called the WVIL camera, it turned out to be fake, but sometimes fiction is closer to reality.

This week Nikon is showing off a few concept cameras at the Hello Tomorrow exhibition in Paris, France, and one of them looks remarkably similar to the WVIL concept.

The Nikon Modular Camera appears to have a LCD screen that wirelessly connects an interchangeable lens and grip.

Some photos taken by montie_j:

The Nikon Multi-Ball appears to be a 360-degree panoramic camera, perhaps something similar to the Lytro Camera that we talked about last week.

Lastly is the Nikon i-Ball, we are not really sure what these are for, but it reminds me of the GoPro HS helmet cameras that have become very popular as of late.
What do you think, are these just fun prototypes or the future of photography?

Equipment for Low Light Photography

Taking photos in low light takes some practise to perfect, we have put together a great guide to help you master the art of low light photograph. Tips for taking low lights shots, fixing underexposed photos and even a infographic on low light photography tips to bring it all together. We hope you enjoy.
Citrus shot with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi using a 50mm f/1.4 lens. 1/100, f/2.0, 50mm, ISO 1600.
Citrus shot with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi using a 50mm f/1.4 lens. 1/100, f/2.0, 50mm, ISO 1600.

Make the most of this list of recommended photography equipment for successful shooting under low lighting conditions.

Camera – The best DSLR cameras for low light photography posses a high maximum ISO, burst shooting capabilities, exposure compensation capabilities, RAW file format capabilities, and multi-point auto-focus. The Nikon D7000 is an excellent choice, as is the Canon 5D Mark II and the Pentax K-5. For more entry-level photography, choose a Sony Alpha A580 or a Canon Rebel T3i.

Lens – A lens is considered “fast”, or most capable in low-light photography, if it has a very low maximum aperture. Anything below f/2.8 is fantastic for photography in dim settings. Also, look for a lens that has image stabilization or vibration reduction capabilities. Many Canon fans swear by the 35mm f/1.4L or the 50mm f/1.4 prime lenses. The Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS is a great walking-around zoom lens with image stabilization capabilities. For Nikon enthusiasts, the equivalent prime lenses are the (expensive!) Nikkor AF-S 35mm f/1.4G and the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G. For a great walking-around zoom lens, choose the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G.

Tripod or Monopod – Choose a quality, sturdy tripod with a ball head and quick release to provide excellent support and flexibility for low light photography. Grab a monopod for functional stability while on the go. Personally, I am a big believer in Manfrotto products.

Remote Shutter Release – Use a remote shutter release with a tripod-mounted camera to eliminate any potential for camera shake while photographing.

External Flash – Speedlites are all the rage for providing off-camera flash that is flexible and portable. Canon’s lineup of Speedlite flashes offer a range of functionality and affordability. Nikon has their own lineup of speedlights as well.

Reflectors – Reflectors work great for capturing and directing even the smallest amount of ambient light. Choose a reflector that is silver on one side and gold on the other in order to provide cooler or warmer light quality. Lastolite has a great lineup of quality products at affordable prices.

Nikon D5100 leaked by Nikon Romania, ME-1, ISO up to 102,400

We previously summarized some of the rumors around the new Nikon D5100 that will be announced this week.

Today it looks like Nikon Romania accidentally leaked details including:

  • The D5100 will have the 16.2MP sensor from the D7000, awesome!
  • It will support ISO up to 102,400, this has been called night vision 🙂
  • There is some info about a microphone, ME-1, a unidirectional stereo microphone, for around USD $200
  • It will feature a new HDR feature, this will be a first for a Nikon DSLR (some Pentax and Sony DSLRs have built in HDR features already)
  • Stereo mic input
  • Side swivel LCD
  • EN-EL14 battery

We’ll keep you updated!

Here is a picture of the microphone:

Nikon ME-1 microphone for Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100 specs and comparisons

There are a lot of rumors circulating that there will be a new Nikon entry level DSLR released shortly.  Nikon is rumored to be announcing the D5100 on April 5th. The D5100 will be the successor of the Nikon D5000 and is expected to have a similar size and body but with many of the features that has made the Nikon D3100 so popular.

Snapsort has compiled some of the rumors and put together our best guess of the full specs of the Nikon D5100.

  • 14 megapixel APS-C CMOS Sensor – the same sensor that is in the D3100
  • A swivel or flip out LCD screen – unlike the flip out screen on the D5000 this one might flip out to the side instead of down
  • Full 1080p video – similar to the D3100 and D7000
  • Contrast detection autofocus – autofocusing while recording has almost become standard on the latest line of Nikon’s
  • 11 AF focus points

Snapsort’s guesses:

  • 3” LCD screen
  • 4 fps
  • 3,200 ISO
  • 12,800 ISO (boost)
  • Price $850 with a lens and around $730 with body only

You can now compare the D5100 to any camera on Snapsort. Here are some comparisons to get you started:

We will update our specs as soon as we learn more about the D5100. What do you think, is it worth waiting for the D5100 to be released?