Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

Moderated by: guardian

Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell
FM Forum Rules
Nikon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums | Nikon-mount SLRs | Join Image Upload
end

burner
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #1 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

I am currently in the middle of selling all my Canon gear in a switch to Nikon. I have a D2x and a couple lenses on the way. I have ordered Thom's D2X book, but would like to ask a few questions before it arrives it that's OK.

First, although I didn't use it a lot on Canon, I am interested in Nikons solution to wireless flash firing. I know it is possible, and that the speedlights have Slave/Master capability. To my knowledge, however, Nikon doesn't have an equivalent to the ST-E2 wireless trigger. I assume you just use a speedlight instead. If this is the case, and if you don't want the flash on the Camera itself to fire, can you keep it from doing so?

The second question involves the Cam 2000 AF. I would assume if you are shooting anything not in motion (lanscapes, etc), you have the AF switch on Single and the AF area mode to Single. I would also assume if you are shooting action you are on continous AF and area mode of dynamic. If this is the case, under what circumstances do you find yourself using area mode Group Dynamic or Dynamic Area?

The last question involves Nikon Capture. I shot in RAW with Canon, and plan on doing the same with Nikon. I have heard many Nikon shooters talk about how they get the most out of the NEF files using capture. The only problem I can see is that I use a Mac. I have heard more than once about how bad the Mac version is. What are the experiences of those of you who use Macs running Capture?

I can't wait for the camera to get here so I can start taking pictures of Trains!

It seems to be the FMers version of the DPReview Cat Picture!

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 09, 2005 at 09:23 PM

hugh
Online
Image Upload: On

p.1 #2 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

On Question one, yes you can set the master to not flash.

Number two, I don't shoot moving things, so I don't know.

Three, I don't care for NC. I find it slow, clunky, and unstable.

Capture 1 or RSE are good, but I much prefer the CS2 Browser

I hope you enjoy your D2x as much as I do mine.

hugh

PS - the NC fanatics will be along shortly to assure you that you can't get decent images without NC

.

D2X TEST ALBUM

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 09, 2005 at 10:19 PM

jmcfadden
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #3 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

Hugh

IF I am to be called a fanatic , then so be it

ACR is fine if you live in Never Never Land where color is just a whisp of imagination and fancy. BUT IF critical color is needed NC is the only game in town. If you do portraiture and want great skintones choose NC if you want neato sliders to push around without regard to any standard of reference then use CS2.

Personally I use both

For my ultra critical stuff I use NC , for stuff that is less critical and speed is paramount then I might use CS2

Soon when ACR 3.2 shipps I hope I have a better option than ACR 3.1 . I enjoy the speed and ease , but it is not my first choice by a long shot

As for flashes , oh you gotta read your manual , just about anything is possible with the flash on a D2x

J

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 09, 2005 at 10:36 PM

Qranc
Offline
Buy and Sell: On

p.1 #4 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

I would suggest you download a free trial copy of NC from Nikon and see for yourself.

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 09, 2005 at 10:48 PM

burner
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #5 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

Thanks the replies. Manual, what's that

? I currently of ACR to process with, but there is that whole issue (now resolved I'm told), of the encrypted white balance. I plan on giving NC the free test drive at least, to see if I like it or not. I also have C1, but haven't used it since I upgraded to Photoshop CS2. I didn't care for ACR in Photoshop CS, but found it much improved in CS2.

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 09, 2005 at 10:53 PM

jmcfadden
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #6 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

NC is a whole different level of power , NC Reads the tone curve you install or the other Tone curves you set in the camera . Reads the WB data too

I have a Dual 2.3 Mac with 3GB of ram and it is pretty speedy right now

J

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 09, 2005 at 11:02 PM

David R
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #7 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

if you want neato sliders to push around without regard to any standard of reference then use CS2.

Hysterical. That had me rolling off my chair.

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 01:02 AM

rhyder
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #8 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

I finally got NC. WOW! and I'm not talking about WB either! It's about the color!! I love PSCS2 & ACR but NC rocks!

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 01:52 AM

Jack OBrien
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #9 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

jmcfadden wrote:
IF critical color is needed NC is the only game in town. If you do portraiture and want great skintones choose NC if you want neato sliders to push around without regard to any standard of reference then use CS2.
J

Spoken by someone who has used CS2

I ditto the comments regarding NC, you can always depend on color accuracy, and everything relates to the settings in your camera. It helps me tremendously to have reality as a baseline, and NC provides that

Jack

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 02:07 AM

sitnspin
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #10 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

Hey, don't discount neato sliders! It fills an afternoon.

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 02:29 AM

G-Force
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #11 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

Burner I use NC4 on OS X 10.4.2 to process my D2H files exclusively as my RAW converter. Make sure you install the latest version (4.3.1). It certainly isn't as fast as ACR but even on my Dual G4/867 I find it perfectly usable. Make white balance, exposure comp, and curves adjustments in NC and open in Photoshop to do the rest. That's my workflow anyway. Enjoy your Nikon.

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 02:59 AM

clew
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #12 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

I'll be the dissenter. I really like NC4.3.1 (much, much faster) for some work, but the majority of my work (weddings/architecture) is done in ACR. It is a much better and user friendly interface. I have taken a LOT of time to learn some of the intricacies of the setup and I have ZERO issue with the white balance. You have a lot of control in ACR that I have just recently been learning about--especially in recovering blown highlights. Unless Nikon does something stupendous with version 5 in the realm of highlight recovery and user interface, I don't know if I will pay to upgrade.

I just got through editing a wedding. For punishment's sake, I did it in NC4.3 and also in ACR3.1. The NC took me about 4 hours. The ACR took me about 2 hours. And my colors are PERFECT. The *only* place I really use NC right now is for high ISO shots. NC definitely handles the noise better than ACR.

Chris

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 04:34 AM

Fundy
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #13 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

Capture One is nice. Similar results to Capture without the speed hit.

Andrew

Edited on Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM

Sep 10, 2005 at 08:13 AM

sputnik
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.1 #14 · Switching to Nikon....Have questions.

clew wrote:
The *only* place I really use NC right now is for high ISO shots. NC definitely handles the noise better than ACR.

Chris

Let me chime in. While I like NC it´s just too slow at the moment and if you get under the hood of ACR you will find that it will produce as nicely as NC when it comes to color rendition. Bu running ACR in auto or even semi auto mode will leave your images looking rather flat. But as chris said, high iso belongs to NC!

/anders

Sep 10, 2005 at 08:59 AM


FM Forums \| Nikon-mount SLRs \| Join Image Upload end