The Debut Of
A New Digital SLR That’s
Reasonably Priced And Highly Capable
By The Editors
Nikon
D70 At the annual PMA show in Las Vegas this year, Nikon introduced
a new interchangeable-lens digital SLR, the D70. The camera
had been rumored for some months, but the trade show offered the first
up-close look at the new model. Unlike many PMA introductions, the
D70 was shown to the press as a final production and completely functional
camera. Typically, we’re shown mock-ups or we see the camera
in a glass case (don’t touch, please) rather than actual production
models.
The D70 is aimed at the photography enthusiast. In the same
vein as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel, the D70 is priced at less than
$1,000. For its price, the camera offers an impressive collection
of features and digital advancements.
At that price, you naturally might expect the camera to be
stripped down and laden with dated technology. In fact, the
D70 was designed as an all-new camera from the ground up. At its core
is a new 6.1-megapixel CCD image sensor, billed as “next-generation,”
thanks to some unique advancements. A system of “micro-optics”
on the sensor ensures compatibility with the full line of Nikon AF
lenses. As a digital SLR, the camera is compatible with the full collection
of Nikon DX lenses, as well.
•
New high-res 6.1-megapixel CCD image sensor
• Built-in pop-up flash
• New Dynamic Buffer technology
for continuous shooting
• Durable alloy construction
• CompactFlash Type I &
II memory
• Easy-to-navigate menus
• PictBridge technology built in for direct-connect compatibility
• Instant power-on for no-delay shooting capability
As we’ve
often emphasized in PCPhoto, megapixels, while important,
aren’t even remotely the whole story when it comes to image
quality. A camera’s image sensor works in concert with
a number of complex circuits, algorithms and mechanics within a camera
body, not to mention relying on the optical quality of the lenses.
These components are like a chain between what you see and the image
you ultimately create. Like any chain, this one is only as strong
as its weakest link. To bolster one of the in-camera links, Nikon
has developed a new processor that should improve colors, image clarity
and camera speed.
There’s an ongoing discussion among photographers about
shooting RAW versus shooting JPEG. Regardless of which side
of the discussion you place yourself, you’re probably aware
that RAW does offer some distinct capabilities. In the past, RAW files
were both cumbersome and very slow to process in the camera. The D70
has the latest technology to process RAW files fast (called NEF files
in the Nikon system), thanks to a new buffer and overall improved
circuitry. The Dynamic Buffer technology increases access speed, and
it allows you to shoot at 3 fps for up to 144 images (shooting in
JPEG). You don’t have to stop and wait for the buffer to clear!
Unlike
their film counterparts, digital cameras are both camera and computer,
built into a very compact package. The computer elements
in a camera take time to power up and get ready to perform, which
usually means a delay between switching on the power and actually
taking a picture. Like the professionally targeted Nikon D2h, the
new D70 features no startup time, so it’s ready to go as soon
as you turn it on. Anyone who has missed a shot while waiting for
the camera to get ready will immediately see the benefit to this feature.
The camera is an enthusiast’s camera. In addition to
the advanced digital technology, the D70 has a variety of shooting
modes and a new menu system that’s easy to navigate. Among
the modes are Portrait, Full Auto, Landscape, Close-Up, Night Portrait
and Night Landscape. The images, once taken, are optimized for the
new PictBridge technology that allows in-camera selection and direct
to-the-printer PictBridge printing. This helps ensure that you’re
getting good-looking prints for those fast, direct-to-printer images
that are sometimes so convenient to make.
All in all, the new D70 looks like a very capable camera that has
been thoughtfully designed for photography enthusiasts. It
incorporates the latest technology in a solid package and at a very
reasonable price. The D70 is the latest digital SLR to further the
erosion between film cameras and digital cameras in terms of ease
of use and capability. Estimated Street Price: $999 (body only).
single servo AF, continuous servo AF, predictive
AF, M
Metering System
TTL full aperture, 3D Color matrix
Shutter Speeds
1/8000 to 30 sec.
ISO Equivalents
200-1600
Exp. Compensation
�5 EV in 1/2- or 1/3-EV increments
Built-In Flash
yes
Drive Modes
single, continuous
Cont. Shooting Speed
3 fps
Max. Burst Frames
Until card is full
Memory Card Type
CompactFlash (I and II)
Interface
USB 2.0
Battery
Li-ion pack EN-EL3
Dimensions
5.5x4.4x3.1-in.
Weight
21 oz.
MSRP
$999—body only
Canon i960 A Printer With Edge-To-Edge Capability, Individual Ink Tanks
And Fast Output
By The Editors
The new Canon i960 inkjet printer is both highly capable and very
fast. Typically, in PCPhoto Magazine, we’ve paid less attention
to speed for a few reasons. First, the fastest print speed specifications
always have been based upon the lowest resolution settings of the
printers. Second, we’re big believers that, as photo enthusiasts,
the paramount concern is image quality, and if the printer is slow,
but the image looks great, so be it.
New printers are quickly breaking down the wall between maximum
image quality and speed. As enthusiasts, we care about image
quality to the exclusion of all else, but if we can get both quality
and speed, well, sign us up. With the Canon i960, 4x6 prints churn
out in as little as 37 seconds, while 8x10s appear in about a minute.
Part of the speed issue is in the printer’s fast USB 2.0 interface,
but if you don’t have USB 2.0, you also can connect via a USB
1.1 port.
The i960 features Canon’s ThinkTank System—each of the
six-color tanks are individually replaceable for improved cost-effectiveness.
The six-color ink system also offers the ability to reproduce finer
gradations and a broader tonal range than four-color ink systems.
In addition to the standard black, cyan, yellow and magenta, the Canon
i960’s six-color system includes photo-cyan and photo-magenta
inks.
The printer’s maximum print resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi is
achieved through two-picoliter droplets from 3,072 nozzles. Printer
resolution is fundamentally different from image resolution, so while
you’ll likely want to use the printer in its highest-resolution
mode, be sure you don’t set your image resolution to match the
4800 x 1200 figure. You’ll end up creating massive files that
may crash your computer, and even if you don’t suffer a crash,
you won’t see an improvement in the image. In fact, you’ll
end up with a worse-looking photograph.
Canon i960
Specifications
Print Method
Inkjet
2 picoliter
Droplet Size
4800 x 1200 dpi
6 individual tanks
Printer Resolution
4x6, 5x7, 8.5x11
Ink Delivery System
Borderless
USB, USB 2.0
Another fine feature of the i960 is its ability to generate
edge-to-edge prints in 4x6, 8x10 and 8.5x11 sizes. Also,
you can direct-connect your digital camera to the printer for making
quick, computer-free prints. To direct-connect, you’ll need
to have a PictBridge-compatible digital camera (check your camera’s
documentation to see if it’s compatible).
There are two components to any printer’s ability to
create impressive-looking photographs—while you certainly
need the latest hardware, the other key component is the software
driver. Canon’s latest software is bundled with the i960, of
course, and it has increased capabilities such as reducing noise in
an image and improved color saturation. Estimated Street Price: $199.
Unlike
their film counterparts, digital cameras are both camera and computer,
built into a very compact package. The computer elements
in a camera take time to power up and get ready to perform, which
usually means a delay between switching on the power and actually
taking a picture. Like the professionally targeted Nikon D2h, the
new D70 features no startup time, so it’s ready to go as soon
as you turn it on. Anyone who has missed a shot while waiting for
the camera to get ready will immediately see the benefit to this feature.
