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Nikon D780 initial review

07 Jan

Introduction

The Nikon D780 is a replacement for one of the most well-rounded DSLRs ever made: the D750. It’s still built around a 24MP sensor and 51-point AF system but the more you dig in, the more you discover it’s a much more capable machine: a DSLR that’s learned a lot from mirrorless.

Many aspects of the camera’s behavior, from autofocus and video performance to interval shooting have been significantly improved, bringing a lot of the Z6’s capabilities to F-mount owners.

Key Specifications:

  • 24.5MP BSI CMOS sensor with on-sensor phase detection
  • 7 frame per second shooting (12 fps in 12-bit electronic shutter mode)
  • UHD 4K capture at up to 30p from the full width of the sensor
  • 51-point AF module supported by 180,000 pixel RGB metering sensor
  • 273 point on-sensor PDAF in Live View (sensitive to -4 EV)
  • 3.2″, 2.36M-dot touchscreen
  • Shutter range of 900 – 1/8000 sec
  • 10-bit video output over HDMI
  • 2260 shots per charge with viewfinder
  • Dual UHS-II SD card slots
  • Snapbridge Bluetooth and Wi-Fi system (with Raw and video transfer)

The Nikon D780 will be available from late January with an MSRP of $ 2,299.95 (the same price as the D750, in 2014), or as a kit with the AF-S 24-120mm F4G ED VR lens for $ 2,799.95.

What’s new and how it compares

The D780 uses elements borrowed from both the D5 and Z6 to deliver a camera that’s more of a step forward from the D750 it replaces.

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Body and handling

The D780 has no built-in flash, but it does have a touchscreen and one of the best interfaces on the market for stills/video shooters.

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Initial impressions

The D750 was hugely capable, but the D780 builds on that significantly. It’s a way for F-mount lens owners to gain the things Nikon has learned from its Z-series cameras. Which, in turn, might make it a great advert for the Z mount.

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Opinion: Why I’m excited about the D780 and what it means for the future of Nikon

07 Jan

As a Nikon D750 owner who’s been using the camera for 5+ years, I’ll admit I’m excited about the D780. The refreshed model is, essentially, a DSLR version of the Nikon Z6 and I fully expect it’ll be relevant for another 5+ years.

I’m also excited because the D780 proves Nikon is still committed to DSLRs in 2020. And it might point to a continuing strategy, at least for now, of releasing ‘companion’ DSLR/mirrorless products, like the D850 and Z7 or the Canon EOS 90D and closely related 6D Mark II.

A proper replacement for the D750 provides the perfect stepping stone for folks interested in the Z6 or Z7, but who are still not ready to fully commit to a new system

A proper replacement for the D750 – which the D780 looks to be – also provides the perfect stepping stone for folks like me, interested in the Z6 or Z7, but still not ready to fully commit to a new system. That said, in another three to five years I very well may be ready to make the jump: especially if replacements for the Z6/Z7 fill in the gaps where Nikon’s DSLRs are still superior, like autofocus.

Why does the D750 continue to be such an excellent stills camera for the money? Because it offers still-competitive dynamic range/image quality (this image was pushed 2.25-stops), highly reliable autofocus (with great tracking ) and great ergonomics in a well built, small/lightweight DSLR body. Which is all to say, the D780 has some big shoes to fill.

ISO 3600 | 1/320 sec | F2.2 | Shot on Nikon D750 + Nikon 35mm F2 D

Nikon’s 3D Tracking autofocus in the company’s DSLRs is still better implemented and more reliable than the tracking in Z-series cameras, even with recent firmware updates. And though the number of AF points is unchanged from the D750 to D780, the new model inherits the AF algorithms of the flagship D5, so users should expect further improvement to what is already (and still) a top performing AF system.

Nikon’s 3D Tracking autofocus in the company’s DSLRs is still better-implemented and more reliable than the tracking in Z-series cameras

I have no doubt in my mind Nikon will continue to dial in the reliability of AF tracking in Z-series cameras (and fix the clunky implementation). And for enthusiast photographers curious about mirrorless, the Z6 is a sensible camera to consider as-is. But for folks like me who rely on their camera for freelance work, or for those entirely making a living behind the lens (bless your souls), sticking with something that has a proven track record is a no-brainer. Not to mention, the D780 offers dual card slots, something many professionals insist on. The Z6 does not.

While I would’ve appreciated a small bump in sensor resolution in the D780, no increase means I don’t have to worry about the camera out-resolving my aging collection of AF-D lenses.

ISO 6400 | 1/500 sec | F3.2 | Shot on Nikon D750 + Nikon 85mm F1.8 D

Still, the camera does fall short of my hopes in a few areas, most notably the continued lack of an AF joystick and/or a touchpad AF implementation (the latter is offered in the mid-range D5600). I also would have liked to see some bump in resolution, though the updated sensor (likely the same as the Z6’s) does offer some image quality improvements. Still, I’m jazzed as heck for 4K video (with usable video autofocus!), a touchscreen, faster burst shooting and better AF, even if Nikon did remove my precious pop-up flash (truly handy as a fill for back-lit portraits).

By giving the D780 the same live view implementation as the Z-series, Nikon is gradually guiding traditional DSLR users to appreciate its virtues

Ultimately, I know there will likely come a day semi-professional DSLRs are phased out completely. Thankfully the D780 is proof Nikon is taking its time and not forcing users to switch too quickly. By giving the camera the same live view implementation and performance as the Z-series, Nikon is gradually guiding traditional DSLR users to accept and appreciate the virtues of a good live view experience, something current D750 users know nothing about. All while allowing us to keep our familiar DSLR form factor and precious optical viewfinder.

At the end of the day, this is a hugely important camera series for Nikon, having successfully straddled the line between professional and enthusiast cameras ever since the D700 debuted more than ten years ago. There’s a reason these cameras are so popular and find their way into the hands of so many photographers: they offer good reliability and good bang-for-the-buck in the long run. Heck, I still use my D700 from time-to-time. With the D780, the legacy of this series continues on. And if the days of the DSLR are truly numbered and this is the final chapter in the D700-saga, it seems to be a proper finale… unlike ‘The Rise of Skywalker’.

The Nikon D750 has and continues to serve me well.

ISO 3200 | 1/500 sec | F10 | Shot on Nikon D750 + Nikon 35mm F2 D

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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GoPro Karma drones around the world were grounded due to GPS glitch

07 Jan

GoPro introduced its first—and only—drone in September 2016 to much fanfare. Unfortunately, the Karma, as the action camera company named it, was plagued with issues from the very beginning. Besides poor reviews that pointed out its lack of standard safety features, reports of Karma drones losing power, mid-flight, and falling from the sky became rampant to the point where GoPro recalled it on the same night as the U.S. Presidential election in November 2016.

While the number of sales is undisclosed, the Karma was purchased by drone enthusiasts even after it was discontinued in January 2018. The users that held onto their Karma discovered that it wouldn’t take off at the beginning of this year due to a glitch in the GPS and GLONASS systems of the drone. User complaints surfaced in dozens of forum posts and tweets as first pointed out by The Verge.

‘I recently got a karma and am having an issue with compass calibration. For some reason this doesn’t work: as soon as I select compass calibration in the controller, within half a second (not enough time to pick up the drone and start calibrating), I get the message ” calibration failed, try again”. It also gives a message about not being able to calibrate the compass without a GPS signal. I am trying this in a field and had the drone there for at least 10 minutes…’ lamented one user in GoPro’s forum. The Karma’s firmware has not been updated since September 26, 2018.

Most tech companies update their software consistently to avoid the same issues the Karma experienced as the new year rolled in. GoPro’s dilemma is likely the result of the GPS clock “rollover” phenomenon, which happens once every 1,024 weeks, or every 19.7 years. If a company’s software is not updated, it may automatically reset the date which can corrupt navigation data and throw off location estimates. GPS needs these precise figures to properly function.

After receiving enough media attention, a GoPro spokesperson has announced that the company’s engineering team is “actively troubleshooting” the issue.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview Readers’ Choice Awards 2019: Product of the Year

06 Jan

Product of the Year 2019: the results

The final round of voting has closed and a winner has been chosen in our annual Readers’ Choice Awards! Starting in December, DPR readers picked their favorite cameras, zoom lenses and prime lenses released in 2019. The winners of that initial round of voting were then pitted against each other for the title of Product of the Year. Take a look and see which products came out on top.

Product of the Year: third place

The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS was a late 2019 arrival, making its debut in November. Still, that was enough time to convince a large portion of our audience that it deserves a spot in the top three products of the year. It’s not hard to see why – the lens’ compact size at 70mm is truly astonishing and its image quality is just as impressive.

Product of the Year: runner up

Coming in second is the GFX 100, Fujifilm’s 100MP medium-format body. The combination of its high resolution and in-body image stabilization make it possible to take the studio with you – if you can stomach the $ 10,000 price tag. But what’s the fun in bringing price into a discussion about the best gear of the year? Fujifilm set out to make a truly impressive camera and it seems that its mission has been accomplished.

Product of the Year: overall winner

It may have been its 60MP resolution, or its class-leading 4K video, or maybe its ability to shoot 10 fps with AF. Some combination of those features no doubt contributed to DPR readers choosing the Sony a7R IV as their Product of the Year. Beyond the headline-grabbing specifications, the a7R IV is just a darn good camera and we whole-heartedly agree that it’s worthy of recognition – not only was it the DPR community’s top product of 2019, it was ours too.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The results are in: the most important camera of the 2010s readers’ poll

06 Jan

Poll results: most important cameras of the decade

The end of a decade is a time for reflection, renewal and lots of ‘best of the decade’ articles. So why not join in the fun? ‘Time is a flat circle,’ after all (we can either thank Nietzsche or True Detective for that quote depending on who you ask). In that spirit, we shared our picks for the most important cameras of the past ten years and asked our readers to choose theirs. Here are the results of that poll.

Runner-up: Apple iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 technically came in third, but the margin between it and the second place runner-up was slim enough to call it a tie. It has certainly earned its place in history – we think it was the first iPhone that truly made a dedicated camera optional. DPR readers agree that it was a landmark camera of the 2010s.

Image credit: Gabriele Barni

Runner-up: Nikon D850

Over the past ten years we’ve been lucky enough to use many excellent cameras, but few have left a lasting impression like the D850. It’s well over two years old at this point but we still consider it one of the best DSLRs ever built. DPR readers no doubt also appreciate its well-rounded feature set, excellent ergonomics and Raw image capture that rivals medium-format results. If that’s not a best-of-the-decade-worthy camera then we don’t know what is.

Winner: Sony a7/R

So which camera did DPR readers crown the most important of the decade? The full-frame mirrorless cameras that started it all: the Sony a7 and a7R. Both cameras were far from perfect when they made their debut in 2013, but there’s no denying the influence that they’ve had on the industry as a whole since then.

And that’s a wrap on the decade! Thanks to all who voted – let’s do it all again in ten years.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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PowerVision to launch PowerEgg X AI camera for drones at CES

05 Jan

PowerVision, a California-based robotics company, will launch its latest product, the PowerEgg X, at next week’s CES 2020 conference and trade show. The compact, egg-shaped device has multiple uses. It can operate as an autonomous personal AI camera, a handheld 3-axis AI camera, or as a drone. The PowerEgg X was created to fill a consumer demand for an all-in-one versatile and affordable camera that allows users to instantly share content, according to PowerVision.

The PowerEgg X took over 3 years to create, involved over 300 engineers, and 100 technology patents. The device weighs 522 grams (1.15 pounds) and measures at 165x100x100 mm (6.5×3.9×3.9 inches). Its 4K/60p camera has 1/2.8 inch CMOS 12MP sensor with a 78.4º field of view. It boasts facial recognition along with deep learning features that track and recall subjects, even if they’ve left the field view, plus it responds to hand gestures. In handheld mode, the device transforms into a 3-axis gimbal that produces stabilized UHD images with a battery life of up to 3.5 hours.

In drone mode, the PowerEgg X can fly up to 30 minutes in 19-24 mph winds. It features obstacle avoidance, precise landing, and comes with a waterproof case and landing pad allowing it to take off and land in the water. PowerVision claims it can fly in the rain, a first for the drone industry. Another is the ability for users to narrate in real-time by using their mobile phone’s microphone or a wireless earphone. Its proprietary SyncVoice technology automatically synchronizes with pictures, ‘effectively ending silent-aerial photography.’

“‘Innovate the Future’ is our mission and innovation is in our DNA,” said Wally Zheng, Founder and CEO of PowerVision. “Three years in development, PowerEgg X pulls together the technology consumers are seeking and puts it in a small, elegant egg shape. With smart-image recognition tracking, image mechanical stabilization, and simple video-editing tools, it is easy for anyone to shoot material as if they were a professional-grade videographer. By creating a multi-purpose device, PowerVision has reduced the user’s total purchase cost, storage requirement, increased ease-of-use, and giving the user unprecedented convenience.”

Starting at $ 899, the PowerEgg X will be available for purchase on PowerVision’s site along with other approved retailers including BestBuy, B&H Photo and Amazon on January 7th. Those attending the annual CES 2020 show can view it at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the South Hall, booth #26415, from January 7th – 10th.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Gear of the Year: what we loved shooting with in 2019

04 Jan

Each year DPR staff pick the gear they most enjoyed shooting with over the past year – and that’s the only criteria. It doesn’t have to be the best or fastest, just enjoyable. Here are all of our 2019 picks in one place.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Adobe Lightroom trick makes it easy to search images for sensor spots

04 Jan

Professional photographer Anthony Morganti of ‘I Am Mr Photographer’ has published a new video that shows viewers how to systematically search for sensor spots (or water droplets and other unwanted specks) in an image using Adobe Lightroom Classic. The method is very simple and relies on a few keyboard shortcuts, as Morganti explains in his video.

Using this method, Lightroom users zoom in on the image and set the zoom box to the upper left-hand side of the image. From there, Morganti simply uses his computer’s Page Down function to scan through zoomed portions of the image in columns. The video includes instructions for viewers using Mac and viewers whose keyboards lack dedicated shortcut keys, among other things.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Oppo patent shows camera module that pops out of the side of a smartphone

04 Jan

Smartphone manufacturers have come up with a variety of solutions to maximize the screen surface to size ration on smartphones, including hole-punch front cameras, camera notches and pop-up mechanisms of various kinds.

In a patent filing found in the CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration) database Oppo is now adding a new variant: the sideways pop-out front camera.

In the reference images, we can see a motorized camera module placed on the right-hand side of the phone on roughly the same height as the rear camera. The power button is located on the same side of the phone while volume rockers and SIM-tray can be found on the left. The speaker and USB-C connectors are at the bottom.

As usual, there is no way of knowing if this idea ever makes it into an actual production device but it’s good to see manufacturers are looking into new ways of optimizing space in the thin bodies of modern smartphones.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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OnePlus teases prototype smartphone with disappearing rear camera

03 Jan

OnePlus is expected to display its Concept One prototype smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week. At this point there are no plans to put the Concept One into production, instead, the device is meant to showcase OnePlus innovation in mobile device tech.

Ahead of the show the company has already posted a teaser video on Twitter, showing an ‘invisible’ rear camera that can be hidden under the glass rear panel. According to OnePlus ‘color-shifting glass technology’ is used to achieve the effect.

The team at Wired already had the chance to have a closer look at the technology and reports OnePlus is using the same technology found in sunroofs to control the transparency of the glass panel. When inactive the camera is hidden under tinted glass. When the camera is in use, the tint can be adjusted via an electrical signal and the camera and lenses become visible behind the panel.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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