Nikon D70 Research

[Elliot]

Hello,

 

To all the Nikon Digital Camera drivers.... I am researching why my photos look soft. Nikon is blaming the users, but the users are now saying, no it is not us. With the new D2X there is a rather large number of fellows complaining of a variety of symptoms that cause soft photos.

 

I would like to hear from you what is your opinion about softness vs crispy sharp photos. Also I would like to know if you have developed any special workflow to help increasing the sharpness.

 

Thanks

Elliot

Atlanta, Georgia

[derijones]

Elliot

Have you tried Pixel Genius' Photokit sharpener? I use this as a default before printing or production of JPG for a website - basically an advanced unsharp filter that comes with aheap of presets and add the sharpening effects to seperate layers.

Gives a nice crisp finish and there's a heap of options for selective sharpening etc - definitely reccomended.

I'm just doing a job where the photo's have been taken on print film - I'd already forgotten how much of a hassle it is (I live 20 miles from the nearest developers!) and how much time (and money!) the D70 saves.....

Cheers

Deri

[Elliot]

Deri,

 

Thanks for your response. I have tried the software you recommned and I think that it is useful. I am still using it. There is some other techniques people have developed within Photoshop that will allow you to get the same results as with Pixel Genius' Photokit sharpener.

 

My problem is not with sharpening the photo after it was taken. It is more with the camera at the moment the photo is being taken. I feel I am on the way to obtainin a PhD in photography if I continue reading. I have a very well defined information overload condition.... dangerous at my age. I could blow a fuse for which there is no replacement.

 

I called Nikon and they don't and won't accept any guilt. If you go on the websites you will find a lot of people complaining about the softness and the lack of sharpeness: http://www.nikonians.org/ Although Nikon will not admit to the problem, they are making a big anouncement in the up-comming firmaware update for the D70. If you read their anouncement, the first issue they are addressing is the autofocus. A local sales rep that I trust said to me that Nikon is aware of the problem, if they admit it, thay could have over 2 million cameras trying to get warranty repairs. Apparently the same issues are also prevalent on all the D series of cameras.

 

While waiting for the D2X to come out and I have found that perhaps as high as 50% of the users are not happy because the lack of sharpness. My D70 has a slight backfocus issue but not big enough for Nikon to allow me to send it back. As soon as the 1 year warranty is over (July) I will adjust it. I found an article written by a Rusian on how to adjust the backfocus problem.... it is not that difficult. http://www.leongoodman.com/d70focus.html

 

I also think there is a lack of understanding by the user community of the aspects of digital photography that are inherent of the technology. There are other factors caused by Nikon itself and not explaining the technology very well. Now they are encrypting the WB to make it more secretive.

 

At any rate, my area of interest is on the settings to be used to maximize the sharpeness straight out of the camera. The settings I am using are listed bellow, I am also wondering if any of you have experimented and have some other workflow for the settings.

 

This is what I am presently trying to do:

 

1. Make sure I have lowest ISO value

2. On the CSM menu set sharpening to 1 or 2

3. Set the Automatic Focus

4. Disable the closest-subject priority on the CSM

5. Set AF-C or AF-S ? Preferably AF-S if the object is not moving

6. Set the metering for single spot metering.

7. Set the camera on shutter (or aperture) priority. If shutter priority I select a high speed. If aperture priority I select most narrow F stop.

 

I have heard the 12:24 mm Dx lens is the best one for sharpness. I don't see the difference between that one and the kit lens. On the other hand the 60mm Dx I think takes better or at least more clear and sharp images.

 

After I take the photos I like bringing them to Nikon Capture 4.2.1 and do some tweaking there before I send it to Photoshop. Please be aware that the new WB from Nikon is encrypted and you have to get the latest plugin from Adobe. I am using the CS2 tryout demo with the additional plugin and I like it a little bit more than the normal CS.

 

Nikon Capture 4.2.1 will let you see the focus point and other settings on the EXIF file that has to do with sharpeness. There is a demo program on the internet called Opanda Power Exif Pro that will let you read the EXIF files and see how Nikon tags your photos.

 

My conclusion at this point is that there is some problems with the technology, some problems with Nikon and definitely some problems with me... I have to make sure my workflow is right before I point fingers at NIKON. Please do not mis-understand me.... some of the pictures the camera is taking are just plain good.

 

My biggest problem is that my rejection rate is too high. A few weeks ago one of my clients, a cardiovascular surgeon wanted me to understand a problem he is having with his operating surgical room. I scrubbed and was inside the OR for about 1 hour.... took a lot of pictures of the traffic patterns inside the surgical room, the problems with the light and the laser device.

 

These photos have to be taking with existing light since the patient is not posing nor the doctors are going to wait for you to focus the camera. Upon getting out to the lounge and connecting my laptop, I found that out of 40 photos I had 30 that were not good. I went back into the OR (the doctors are friends of mine from college time) and the doctors were joking me at how my techno-nerdiness was failing when needed the most. One of them (anesthesiologist) said "The space shuttle only gets one "shot" at the right take-off".

 

I know that part of the problem is me. Nikon says that the focus issue is not there. They claim that with this technology when you look at the photos with CS is like looking at film photos through a super magnifying glass. They say you are going to see the upper limit of technology... They are saying "Do not look at the photo that close". They are also saying that this technology is more suceptible to movement, they recommended I take a tripod or monopod.

 

As you can see I am really confused and I am looking for people that have had similar findings that could share with us if they have found solutions.

 

Deri... Thanks very much for your response. You are among a list of people in my mind, that are always there to help the confused old people like me. I appreciated very much your response.

 

Thanks

Elliot

Suwanee, Atlanta - Georgia

[Elliot]

Hello,

 

Version 2 firmware for the Nikon D70 has been posted. I am noticing (un-scientific) some definite improvements. Improvements in focusing and colors. The menus are a different color but they are supposed to be more readable.

 

This firmware is worth to try....!!!! Finally, after 10 months, I have felt good about my camera.

 

Good Luck

Elliot

[Jape]

Version 2 firmware for the Nikon D70 has been posted. I am noticing (un-scientific) some definite improvements. Improvements in focusing and colors. The menus are a different color but they are supposed to be more readable.

 

Just made the switch to v2 also and i must say i feel the same, especially the speed of the autofocus has improved it seems, am curious about the dynamic focus upgrade, haven't had the chance to test it yet but i hope it will be good cause i had some troubles using the dynamic focus option on fast moving subjects.

 

About the focussing issue, let me first state that im also 'catching up' on the digital realm and certainly am not a 'pro' at itm. I do have some experince in the nikon SLR's and some 'low-budget' digital cameras. As a D70 owner i do advise you to look up the 'Thom Hogans Complete guide to the Nikon D70' wich is very in-depth and technical background info on the D70. And contains nice goodies as custom d70 tonal curves to load into youre D70 (not tried it out yet though). At first i also thought my pictures lacked some sharpness but after trying it out on a sunny day i must say i was stunned by the sharpness of it. Though still some scenes en situations i feel a bit the same way as you do. For example Landscape scenes under overcast/cloudy conditions i also feel a little unsure about the sharpness of the pics. But that just as well could be me.

 

The nikon statement about watching photos in CS is a bit true cause you are looking at a magnified portion of your photo when looking at it at 100%, A pc screen (and especially the lousy one i have hear ;( ) will never be as sharp and clear as when you print the picture out (gonna print my first photos this week so im curious). But the whole focus issue is a little suscepticle(dont know the right word/spelling but otherwise influenced would be the right word i guess) by the whole attention it got with the whole backfocus issue wich must have been revised by now though the hype about the whole focus thing still continues. I've taken a quick glance at the dpreview.com forums on the D70 and noticed a big 'two-camp' stance on the focus thing, some say its there others denie it. I myself am still not sure but am leaning towards the last. Maybe if there are no privacy issues (wich im sure are there in surgical scenes) you can post some pics, if you like (i already have some photos posted in mine and Dennis's thread) i can post some to (Raws pereferably)and you can compare, maybe it is beceause your D70 is older then mine and it hasn't been revised yet.

 

About the workflow im not sure if upping the sharpening parameter is always better/usefull, it still remains a post-processing feauture wich roughly is the same thing when you do it in Photoshop and will only sharpen edges and not details. Also it can cause some color-shifting to occur (read this in the Thom hogans book) and it will NOT be applied when shooting in NEF/RAW mode. Also a general rule of thumb is that the narrowest apperture will not give you the most sharp images, it is recommended that you take a 1 or 2 stop less narrow aperture for the sharpest images and that is what i usually do. Another thing that may help you get better focus in youre picture is using the 'hyperfocal technique' by keeping in mind the the DOF's range is 1/3 in front of your focus point and 2/3 behind, so focus on a 1/3 distance in your shot, use the AF lock and recompose your scene to get the longest DOF range in your photo.

 

Hope this helps a bit,

Jape,