April, 2009 | Photocrati

Nikon D700 Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this camera from Amazon: Nikon D700 12.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Imaging Resource

Nikon now has a full-frame digital SLR for pros, semi-pros, and well-heeled enthusiasts: the Nikon D700. Nikon has done it again, producing a market-leading digital SLR that sets a new standard for image quality and ISO performance. Stacked up against its nearest competitor, the Nikon D700 wins in high ISO performance and overall camera features. …The Nikon D700’s list of pluses is overwhelming. Easily the greatest advantage offered by this digital SLR is the ability to shoot usable photos in ridiculously low light. Though the initial price is still high, the Nikon D700 produces images of the same quality, if not better, than the Nikon D3. …The Nikon D700 earns a five-star, as one of the finest digital SLR cameras ever produced. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS (Image Stabilizer) USM Autofocus Lens

Photo Zone

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS is a very good performer with few weaknesses … that’s assuming you get a good sample – the first tested sample was mediocre whereas the second one performed very fine. The resolution of the lens is on a very high level throughout the zoom range with only a marginal performance penalty at 400mm. Vignetting, distortions and CAs aren’t really field relevant on an APS-C DSLR. Typical for Canon L grade lenses the build quality is great. However, you may need to get used to the push-pull zoom mechanism which is a bit unusual these days. Regarding the sum of its characteristics the EF 100-400L is THE still portable super-tele zoom for Canon users. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon D90 Review Round-Up

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Get information and user reviews for this camera from Amazon: Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Imaging Resource

With a 12.3-megapixel sensor, the Nikon D90 rises to the resolution of the more professional D300. … The Nikon D90 looks like a genuinely excellent camera for the intermediate photographer, and a great choice as a full-featured, light weight body for those who own a Nikon D200 or D300. The addition of video is ground-breaking, and will open up new possibilities that will be fun to explore, even though I wish it handled motion better than it does. Really, my only major disappointment for the intermediate market is the lack of a higher frame rate. I’d like to see at least five frames per second, if not six. Otherwise, there’s little to complain about, and only more great features to praise. Bottom line, the Nikon D90 is an exceptionally well-rounded digital SLR offering, with just about everything an aspiring photographer will need …Very highly recommended. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon D3 Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews about this camera from Amazon: Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera

Imaging Resource

Pro photographers just got a new option for full-frame digital photography: the Nikon D3 digital SLR camera. Not only will it make their old Nikon glass fully usable again, but it’s now the fastest digital SLR on the market — with some limitations. As they did with the D2x, Nikon struck a very fine balance with the D3. It’s not 16 or 21.1 megapixels, it’s 12.1. And it’s not a full 10 frames per second, it’s 9; but you can get to 11 frames per second if you don’t need full resolution and track focusing. It’s an interesting and effective strategy. The resulting cameras are more versatile than the competition. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon D300 Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this camera from Amazon: Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Imaging Resource Review

There are a lot of great cameras on the market, but the D300 more than any of them is designed for the serious photographer. The bottom line is this: If you need a great digital SLR camera and the price is no issue, the Nikon D300 will exceed your needs. Those requiring a faster frame rate and greater autofocus speed should consider a D3, provided they can handle the extra size and weight . I won’t call it a compelling upgrade for happy D200 owners, but it sure wouldn’t hurt if you’re in the market for something even better than the D200. Nikon’s D300 is an amazing machine, well worth the $1,799 price tag, and a rare five-star. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS EF-S Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras

Photo Review

A general-purpose lens with an extended zoom range for Canon’s DSLR camera bodies with ‘APS-C-sized’ image sensors. Designed to provide a wide zoom range in a compact and lightweight form factor, Canon’s EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS telephoto zoom lens can only be used with cameras that have ‘APS-C-sized’ image sensors. Supporting a zoom range of approximately 11 times, it covers a focal length equivalent to 29-320mm in 35mm format but weighs only 595 grams. Built-in image stabilisation provides approximately four f-stops of shutter speed advantage and the stabilisation system can detect when the camera is panned. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VR Review Round-Up

Editor’s note: There are strikingly few expert reviews of this lens in existence. None of the major review shops known for their for lens reviews has published a review on this lens. This is surprising, given the quality and uniqueness of a 200-400 f/4 VR lens. If you know of an outstanding expert review on this lens, email the editor at [email protected].

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get more information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Nikon 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

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Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

Thanks to a silent-wave AF drive and a VR (Vibration Reduction) mechanism the Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR is a worthy improvement over the previous high-speed tele zooms made by Nikon. However, these improvements also come at cost of a substantially higher price tag and increased dimensions/weight. Performance-wise the results are excellent and slightly superior to the old AF 80-200mm f/2.8ED. Vignetting, distortions as well as CAs are well controlled and not really field relevant. The mechanical quality of the lens is exceptionally high and it’s a joy to use this lens. … READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM EF Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this lens from Amazon: Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The EF 50mm f/1.4 USM showed an almost flawless performance during the lab- and field-tests both in terms of optical and mechanical quality. If I had to list a few negative points it would be vignetting and low contrast at f/1.4. So if you’re looking for a lens in this class the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is a great option. READ FULL REVIEW

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Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED AF-S Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below. Get information and user reviews for this lens at Amazon: Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Photo Zone

The Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED delivered a very impressive performance in the lab. The resolution figures are very good to excellent with a highly impressive peak performance around f/5.6. The level of distortions is exceptionally low for a zoom lens. CAs are moderate except at 40mm @ f/2.8. Vignetting is very well controlled. The build quality of the lens is superb and it ´s a joy to handle it despite its comparatively hefty size and weight. Typical for most classic standard zooms it looses quite a bit of its attraction on APS-C DSLRs – a focal length range equivalent to 42-105mm may not be up to everybody ´s taste anymore. READ FULL REVIEW

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