D100

The Coolpix 5700 which I thought was the answer to lugging around a bag full of lenses, which does take lovely pictures was just too slow for what I needed, focusing and image processing, so it had to go.

Having owned an F80 with a selection of lenses,
left only two DSLR cameras to choose from. The Fuji S2 pro lost out on the twin battery set up and did not feel as well built as the Nikon. Anyway I had owned and enjoyed two Nikons previously so why change.

The D100, the first time I handled it in the shop, yes this is just like the F80 that I was used too, most if not all of the main camera controls are in the same position and fall easily to hand or finger. The focusing is quick (depending on the lens) and the instant start up and zero shutter lag are a revelation after using the coolpix.
I find when using the long lenses that it is a lot quicker to change settings by going through the menu display rather than using the command dial on the top plate, especially when you have the camera tripod mounted and fixed on a potential subject.
Manuel cable for shutter release found it in the draw left over from the F80, no more waiting for the electronics to sinc and about a hundred quid cheaper.
The battery just seems to go on for ever, when I bought the camera, first thoughts were that I was going to have to buy a spare but I do not think it would ever get used.
I am no pro and have not got the expertise to go in to the technical details of the images it produces, only that I am well pleased with the results. even at high ISO settings the images are quite acceptable.

Highly Recommended..But so is the D70 !

Like many people I looked at the Canon 10D and the Nikon D100 when I was thinking about buying a Digital SLR. The strange thing was that I knew that I wanted one of them, but I was not quite sure why....

Perhaps it was the fact that my CP4500 (bless it) threw away 75 percent of the data in every shot, or perhaps it was the experience of trying to photograph a flying Gannet from a passing boat. It may even have been the experience of seeing someone use a DSLR on the Farne Islands. What I did know was that while the CP4500 was good for Digiscoping and had an awesome macro facility, it did have some weaknesses.

At the end of the day I went for the D100 for the following two reasons. Firstly, I was familiar with Nikon digital from my CP4500, and secondly, they had a charged battery for the display model in Jessops.

Anyway I am well pleased with my (slightly arbitrary) choice, and here is a summary of my experiences to date.

With the D100 my autofocus delays disappeared. Suddenly I was able to photograph moving birds. The predictive focus tracking is a particularly useful feature, allowing the camera focus to automatically follow the subject in the last fraction of a second between my pressing the shutter and the camera taking the picture. In fact the feature struck me as so cool that I even tried using it for macro shots, but a hundred or so shots later I learnt to use manual focus. Besides which the motor noise scares bees.

Like most buyers I started out with a general purpose (in this case 28-105) lens. This Nikon AF f3.5 is still my general favourite for butterflies and insects as it is nice and light and eminently portable. However since then my purchases have now encompassed the AF 200 Micro, the AF-S 70-200 VR and the AF-I 500. In all cases I have stayed with the Nikon range because at the end of the day the camera performance relies on the lens. With the right lenses the D100 is capable of capturing high contrast, beautifully coloured images. Have a look at http://www.pbase.com/image/23925401 and http://www.pbase.com/image/14802153 for a couple of examples. I always set my own colour balance, but to date I have always allowed the camera its head when it comes to contrast and internal image sharpening. My goal is always the minimum post processing of the camera image, and the D100 supports this approach.

To date I have employed the matrix metering with fully manual exposure control for butterflies, and centre weighted with aperture priority for birds. Both work well. Yes, the D100 does have a slight tendency to underexpose. This is actually a positive feature because it helps avoid burn-out in higher contrast images. OK, it cannot cure a male Goldeneye on a sunny day, but it helps in many cases, and subsequent use of Nikon Capture Editor on the RAW images can be used to tweak the exposure if required.

A common criticism of the D100, say compared to the 10D, is image noise. Yes, noise is there, but whether you see it or not is another question. I normally use my D100 on ISO 400, but the only time I see any noise is if I try and compensate for a grossly underexposed photo in post processing. Post over-amplification of the image amplifies the noise. At that point I tend to junk the image as I am too lazy to try and employ noise reduction software.

Another great feature of the D100 are the controls. Yes, there is duplication between some of the physical controls and the menus (which is why I give it 9 not 10), but the good thing about the controls is that you can wear mitts while you are using them. If you have ever experienced Musselburgh sea wall in winter you will know why that is a good thing. I include the LCD controls in that category as I am a confirmed CHIMPer. Aperture and shutter speed are controlled by a pair of opposing controls on the top right of the camera body with the power switch, depth of field preview and shutter release close to hand. The shutter release is threaded to take a conventional plunger, which after my experiences of the CP remote is a blessing.

Lastly, the power supply. I bought a spare rechargeable battery and I have still never used it. Perhaps on of the reasons is that rather than take dozens of shots with the CP4500, hoping to catch that moment of stillness, I now tend to track and try to frame the end shot, relying on the D100 to catch the bird.

Regards,
Graham Checkley.