Has Nikon Developed this technology?

[Horoscope Fish]

I agree, Fish...with one glaring exception: the Fuji x100s...

I'm looking at the Fuji online right now... I must say, it's impressive. I'd still like the op' to actually take one out on "safari" with me in the back-country...

Cameras talking to phones, good grief. Is this really next?

Would you settle for a voice-activated gas grill that sends you a text message when your food is properly cooked, or needs to be flipped?

...

 

[STM]

I'm looking at the Fuji online right now... I must say, it's impressive. I'd still like the op' to actually take one out on "safari" with me in the back-country...



Would you settle for a voice-activated gas grill that sends you a text message when your food is properly cooked, or needs to be flipped?

...

I would settle for a gas grill that just cooks my food. It works great for me right now!

 

[AC016]

On a DSLR, focus points are special phase shift hardware sensors in the viewfinder. On mirrorless (no viewfinder), it can only examine ordinary image pixels in the digital image, and a computer has to experiment with focus looking for contrast differences.

And if without an honest focal plane shutter, I would image blooming would be an issue again.

Mirrorless cameras do have PDAF. In regards to blooming, never experienced it and i have shot into the sun. I have never read anyone in the Fuji community complaining about it either. The X-Pro1 has a focal plane shutter. You have to stop thinking that the DSLR is the "Be all, end all". In the end, it comes down to using the right tool for the job.

 

[Browncoat]

I've seen images produced by the Fuji x100s and they are jaw dropping. It's the price I baulk at.

Depends on your perspective. If you label the x100s as a mirrorless camera, yes it's expensive. Comparatively. But if you put that camera up against a DSLR, or consider it a replacement for your current body + lenses, then $1,300 is practically a steal.

 

[AC016]

I'm looking at the Fuji online right now... I must say, it's impressive. I'd still like the op' to actually take one out on "safari" with me in the back-country...



Would you settle for a voice-activated gas grill that sends you a text message when your food is properly cooked, or needs to be flipped?

...

The X100s being the DSLR killer.... hmmmm, i would have to somewhat disagree. In some areas yes, in other areas no. Aside from both being capable of taking photos, they are different tools. Could you take a X100s on safari? Most certainly you could. However, you would be limited when it comes to focal range (X100s has a converter that can turn it's lens into a 50mm). Aside from that, it would be able to take beautiful photos of anything that you could set that wonderful 23mm lens on. Fuji has not gone beyond 230mm in it's X mount lenses, YET. You have to keep in mind that the whole Fuji X system (the interchangeable lens cameras), started with the XPro1 back in 2012. In the 2 1/2 years since, they have developed 13 different lenses, all of which are stellar performers. What i am saying here, is the X system as a whole (interchangeable & fixed), is just under 4 years old. The DSLR is what... 15 years old? - let's not forget a lot of the tech was borrowed from the SLR days. As a whole, mirrorless cameras have plenty of room to grow and yes, i do believe that one day, the DSLR will go the way of the Dodo bird.

 

[AC016]

I agree, Fish...with one glaring exception: the Fuji x100s.

I've been admiring it from afar for awhile now, but finally had a chance to shoot with one for a few days. If I'm being perfectly honest, the Fuji x100s leaves me with some serious doubts about my future with Nikon. Let me put it this way, if I were just starting out today, this is the camera I would buy.

Some have labeled the x100s as the "DSLR Killer", and there is some merit to it in my opinion. It is an outstanding camera.

I know i am poking the bear here, but KR loves his X100s as well. Proceed to be turned off, lol

 

[STM]

I need to check out Adobe Camera Raw, it is a free download. How do you insert plugins into Photoshop? I have never done it before.

 

[Horoscope Fish]

I know i am poking the bear here, but KR loves his X100s as well. Proceed to be turned off, lol

*slaps your wrist*


I think the issue for me with mirrorless is that while going from film to DSLR was pretty much a revolution, going from DSLR to MDF (Mirror-less Digital Format (and yes, I'm coining that abbreviation)) seems like an increase, mainly, in convenience. Yes, there's some new whizz-bang cool stuff going on with MDF that DSLR just can't match but it's not the same sort of total, all-encompassing leap in innovation we had in going from analog (ne, film) to digital. To borrow another technology, I had no trouble dumping VHS tapes for DVD's because it was a massive technological leap that was just jaw droppingly awesome on all fronts: smaller, lighter, better picture by far, so yeah, VHS to DVD: HUGE IMPROVEMENT. I'm having more trouble getting on-board with Blu-Ray over conventional DVD because the change seems more incremental. Hence, DVD to BluRay: NOT SO HUGE. And when it comes to complete changes in format there has to be some pretty freakin' huge payoff before I'm going to be willing to get fully on-board with it and for many reasons. Not the least of which is cost, duh, but also the new learning curve that, typically accompanies any new technology. I guess, soon enough, I'll be one of the old fuddy-duddies still shooting DSLR just like the old fuddy duddies that today cling to film.

I use the term "Fuddy Duddy" with the utmost respect and reverence, by the way; so put down your Arnold Palmer and keep warming that rockin' chair.

MDF will be the new DSLR soon, of that I'm quite sure. It's just not the format for me, at least not just yet.

....

 

[Browncoat]

My main point of contention is this...

Fuji is innovating, and they are pushing out great technology at an affordable price. They are listening to feedback from their customers and making improvements in their cameras that people want to buy. As a company, Fuji is doing the right thing. When was the last time Nikon or Canon could say that? They are rehashing old tech, borrowing new (from Sony), or cranking out overpriced "new" models that are essentially just firmware updates. In other words, the DSLR has reached a plateau.

I agree that at some point, the DSLR will be viewed how we look at film now: outdated, even obsolete.

Does the x100s have limitations? Absolutely. As good as Fuji's interchangeable lens system is, I personally wouldn't consider them on par with Nikon or Canon...yet. But they're moving in the right direction, and rapidly gaining ground. For me, for what I shoot, I would strongly consider replacing my current kit with the x100s.

 

[WayneF]

I need to check out Adobe Camera Raw, it is a free download. How do you insert plugins into Photoshop? I have never done it before.

Updates are free. It is not a plugin.

Your Photoshop already has ACR in it. In Bridge, Right Click an image (or many selected images), and specify Open In Camera Raw.

You possibly might need an update for a newer model camera. Photoshop menu Help - Updates first.

However if an old Photoshop version and a new camera, your camera may need the latest CS6 version (or CC).


If you've never seen ACR, the video at Why shoot Raw? should give the idea.

 

[AC016]

*slaps your wrist*


I think the issue for me with mirrorless is that while going from film to DSLR was pretty much a revolution, going from DSLR to MDF (Mirror-less Digital Format (and yes, I'm coining that abbreviation)) seems like an increase, mainly, in convenience. Yes, there's some new whizz-bang cool stuff going on with MDF that DSLR just can't match but it's not the same sort of total, all-encompassing leap in innovation we had in going from analog (ne, film) to digital. To borrow another technology, I had no trouble dumping VHS tapes for DVD's because it was a massive technological leap that was just jaw droppingly awesome on all fronts: smaller, lighter, better picture by far, so yeah, VHS to DVD: HUGE IMPROVEMENT. I'm having more trouble getting on-board with Blu-Ray over conventional DVD because the change seems more incremental. Hence, DVD to BluRay: NOT SO HUGE. And when it comes to complete changes in format there has to be some pretty freakin' huge payoff before I'm going to be willing to get fully on-board with it and for many reasons. Not the least of which is cost, duh, but also the new learning curve that, typically accompanies any new technology. I guess, soon enough, I'll be one of the old fuddy-duddies still shooting DSLR just like the old fuddy duddies that today cling to film.

I use the term "Fuddy Duddy" with the utmost respect and reverence, by the way; so put down your Arnold Palmer and keep warming that rockin' chair.

MDF will be the new DSLR soon, of that I'm quite sure. It's just not the format for me, at least not just yet.

....

You should TradeMark that acronym Yes, you are right, there is not some huge leap in innovation in regards to what comes out of the camera. Though, if you want to compare X Trans sensors to conventional Bayer sensors, that is where your "leap in innovation" may lie. Other then that, you would be saving weight in regards to the equipment you are lugging around. For the pros that i "know" who have switched to Fuji, they did it because they knew they could get the same results in terms of photos and because of a smaller package. There is also something about the design/feel of the cameras that attracts, but that is more of a philosophical discussion. In the end, i think it is all about whether or not a camera really needs a mirror box or not - the way that AF works in either format would be the main subject of that topic.

 

[STM]

Updates are free. It is not a plugin.

Your Photoshop already has ACR in it. In Bridge, Right Click an image (or many selected images), and specify Open In Camera Raw.

You possibly might need an update for a newer model camera. Photoshop menu Help - Updates first.

However if an old Photoshop version and a new camera, your camera may need the latest CS6 version (or CC).


If you've never seen ACR, the video at Why shoot Raw? should give the idea.

I see, whenever I open a .nef it automatically opens into Camera Raw, which I have been using for years, but I was not aware you could also use it for .jpg files. Thanks!

 

[WayneF]

I see, whenever I open a .nef it automatically opens into Camera Raw, which I have been using for years, but I was not aware you could also use it for .jpg files. Thanks!

Note that the JPG edits you do in ACR can only be seen in ACR (until you output a new copy). If you use some other program to look, they cannot apply edits, so they only see the original unedited version. Like Raw, you have to output a new JPG for others to see the results.

But yeah, I fix all my wifes little compact camera JPG images in ACR. Good tools, lossless editing, no additional JPG artifacts except for the final output to a new JPG file. She thinks her little compact takes fabulous pictures.

 

[Nero]

Nokia's high end phones already shoot photos in DNG format and last year Google announced future RAW capability in the Android OS. And they've already revamped their API for developers to start taking advantage of that.

It's coming out in the next version of Android, along with manual controls. Something point and shoots don't have (as far as I know.)