Hitechnex: Nikon

Report Names Canon, Nikon and Sony as the Only Survivors in the Camera Market

Hitechnex 0 Android, Camera, Gadgets, Nikon, Technology 1.1.14

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 ”Only those who have a strong brand and are competitive on price will last — and only Canon, Nikon and Sony fulfill that criteria”<br />
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Everyone else should be wiped out from the market, and according to IDC the compact camera sales will drop by a whooping 40 percent this year. Some companies like Panasonic have already reported such losses for their overall camera sales for the April-September period.<br />
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I would go even further and say that unless Nikon and Canon have a strong strategy to enter in the mobile market, either by licensing and selling its camera technology and lenses to smartphone markets, so they can use them in their smartphones, then Sony will be the last one standing, since it’s already combining the know-how from the camera division with the smartphone division.<br />
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Nikon and Canon are DSLR giants, and I’m sure they’ll remain in the camera business for a while longer, but Sony is also attacking them in that market with mirrorless cameras, which made up 36 percent of Japan’s interchangeable lens camera shipments in January-October. So Nikon and Canon are getting disrupted at the low-end/compact camera level because of smartphones, but also at the high-end, where they’ve been slow to adapt to the mirrorless trend and more compact DSLR cameras.<br />
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Sony has a lot of potential in cameras, whether it’s in smartphones or professional cameras, which is why it was so puzzling Sony hasn’t been one of the OEMs with the best smartphone cameras around, at least until the Xperia Z1. They’re finally getting more aggressive in mobile camera hardware (although I think they could be even more aggressive), and once Google fixes the camera software issues in Android next year, they shouldn’t be held back by bad stock camera software either, and they’ll be able to show their true potential.<br />
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I do have a slight worry that they will have a conflict of interest and will not want to make smartphone cameras that are “too good” and threaten their DSLR market, but hopefully that won’t turn out to be true. It would certainly be the wrong way to go for Sony if they kept their smartphone cameras back on purpose.<br />
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As for Canon and Nikon, it would be smart of them to partner up with companies like HTC, Motorola, LG and so on, and give them some of their know-how and technology to make amazing mobile cameras. It may not be an “ideal” solution from their point of view, because they may not want to help smartphones become even better than they are, but I hope they realize that’s going to be inevitable, and they might as well try to <br />
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make some money from it, rather than wait until smartphones are eating most of their sales.</div>

Report Names Canon, Nikon and Sony as the Only Survivors in the Camera Market

”Only those who have a strong brand and are competitive on price will last — and only Canon, Nikon and Sony fulfill that criteria” Every...

Best DSLR cameras 2014: The best interchangeable lens cameras available to buy today

Hitechnex 0 Camera, Canon, Gadgets, Nikon, Pentax, Technology 1.1.14

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You want to buy a DSLR camera but don't know what to go for? Then you've come to the right place, as this is where we round-up the best DSLR cameras of 2014. We'll guide you through the hottest cameras available - and only models that we've reviewed in full - to save you time when it comes to working out what the best options are.</div>
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DSLR - which stands for digital single lens reflex - cameras have removable lenses so that different optics can be attached in order to give a different view on the world. This variety allows you to start small and build-up to the more varied, sharper and desirable featured lenses as you go along. It also adds hands-on control for zoom and focus precision unlike that of most compact cameras.</div>
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DSLRs aren't to be confused with the newer compact system cameras that are also infiltrating camera shops up and down the land. They are the ones that typically look like point-and-shoot cameras but also have interchangeable lenses. We'll be covering the best of the best of those in another feature due shortly. </div>
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Whether you're new to the DSLR concept, are looking to upgrade, already know plenty about cameras already and are weighing up the options, or are considering a more pro-spec option, we've broken down our list of great DSLR cameras into sub-headed categories to make things that bit easier to digest. You name it, we've got you covered.</div>
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We’ll be regularly updating this feature with the latest and greatest DSLR cameras as and when we review them, so you can see where your money is best spent as the best models float to the surface.</div>
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A quick lesson in lenses</h2>
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Lens mount</h3>
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First thing's first: cameras don't work in a one-size-fits-all way. Brands like to keep their own heritage and, as such, each manufacturer has its own lens mount.</div>
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For Canon it's EF, for Nikon it's F-mount, for Pentax it's K-mount, and Sony has A-mount. There are some additions and exceptions, but those are the current four to focus on. Don't fall into the trap by buying the wrong lenses just because the brand names match up.</div>
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Sensor size</h3>
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Second to the equation is sensor size. Entry and mid-level cameras typically have what's called an APS-C size sensor. Some pro-spec cameras have full-frame sensors that, because they're physically larger, need specific - typically pricier and more advanced - lenses that are capable of covering the larger dimensions. In each case the mount size remains the same, irrelevant of the sensor size. If you are looking at a top-of-the-range lens for a top-of-the-range camera, you'll know all this already. For those starting out, don't worry: it may seem a bit of a minefield out there, but a fairly easy one to understand once you get into the lingo of the manufacturer you've chosen. </div>
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Focal length equivalent</h3>
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There are plenty of things to consider with lenses and this all depends on the type of photography you are planning on doing. If it is all about portraits you'll want something like around the 50mm or 75mm mark. If you are trying to snap that lion on the Savanna and don't want to get eaten then you'll want something with a long zoom closer to 300mm.</div>
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Best entry-level DSLR</h2>
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Nikon D3200</h3>
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You've decided that a DSLR is the one for you, but you don't want to fork out masses of cash and don't want overbearing or complex controls to get in your way. The Nikon D3200 is a well-balanced choice to introduce you to the world of DSLR. Recently replaced by the D5300, which is a relatively subtle upgrade, the price of the D3200 continues to drop, thus making it an affordable offering in the market.</div>
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Complete with a Guide mode on its main mode dial, the camera can assist you in a visual way to generate the types of photographs you want. These visual cues will help in expanding your understanding of exposure, aperture values, depth of field and all those things that - quite probably - you don't know about just yet. But at the same time if that that sounds too daunting then just stick the camera in auto mode and press the shutter button - it'll do all the autofocus and exposure metering for you and, more often than not, do it well.</div>
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If there's a drawback it's that the optical viewfinder has a 95 per cent field-of-view, meaning that the outermost five per cent of the shot will be captured, but won't show up in the preview. It's typical of DSLR cameras at this level without exception.</div>
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Image quality from the D3200's 24-megapixel sensor is top quality, and at the time of writing it's possible to pick up a model for a fair price too. Competition comes in the form of the Canon EOS 1100D, but that's far older and not as up to the task these days. An alternative may be the Sony Alpha A58, but we've not tested it in full.</div>
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<strong>PRICE:</strong> £379 (at time of writing)</div>
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<strong>QUICK VERDICT:</strong> The D3200 has produces great images at high resolution and the accessible street price makes it well worth the investment. It's the camera to usher in a new level of image quality to the entry-level DSLR market without over-complicating things to ensure it's suitable for its target audience.</div>
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<strong>FULL REVIEW:</strong> <a href="http://hitechnex.blogspot.com/2014/01/nikon-d3200-review.html" sl-processed="1" style="color: #4c5f7e; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nikon D3200 review</a></div>
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Best small DSLR</h2>
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Canon EOS 100D (Canon EOS SL1)</h3>
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The Canon EOS 100D sits in a world of its own. It's as small as DSLR cameras come and that in itself is the single biggest reason for buying it. It's a technological mini marvel with a suitably affordable price tag to boot.</div>
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This is the DSLR to take up less bag space while delivering quality akin to the EOS 650D and EOS 700Dmodels. One that stands out on its own.</div>
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<strong>PRICE:</strong> £399 (at time of writing)</div>
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<strong>QUICK VERDICT:</strong> The EOS 100D is an engineering marvel and while we doff our hats to Canon for showing off in making such a small DSLR, it doesn't match up to head nor heart: the 700D is better in every way on paper and while this, in part, puts the brakes on the 100D it still has its small size trump card. That's the one standout feature here: if you want small then this is the one to go for.</div>
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Best all-round DSLR bargain</h2>
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Pentax K-30</h3>
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Pentax is often the unsung brand outside of its strong Japanese following. But that's not the way to view this company, which makes excellent DSLR cameras.</div>
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If anything, the image quality that we've come to see from Pentax models tends to better its nearest competitors and the K-30 - which comes in at a very fair price but delivers beefier features than entry-level models - is no exception.</div>
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If you're not tied to any one brand by lens mount then we'd thoroughly recommend the K-30: it's weather-sealed, has a sturdy build, 100 per cent viewfinder, but such features never come at the cost of overall quality. This one's a cracker.</div>
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PRICE: £409 (body only, at time of writing)</div>
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QUICK VERDICT: The Pentax K-30 is a true return to form. The tough, rugged DSLR produces great images and is affordable too. Its only shortcoming is a relatively slow autofocus system that won't match up to similar competitors. Apart from that we struggle to find downsides to this DSLR.</div>
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Best mid-level DSLR</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">It's the camera's autofocus systems that wins out though. The Dual Pixel AF system - on-sensor phase-detection via live view and a different phase-detection system via 19-point AF system through the viewfinder - truly closes the gap on the compact system camera market. We've been genuinely impressed how each system works independently depending on how you use the camera - and there's no compromise for one or the other. A revelation when considering how poorly the Canon EOS M functioned.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">It's a shame that the 70D's viewfinder doesn't offer a 100 per cent field-of-view, but otherwise a strong feature set - including a 3.2-inch, tilt-angle touchscreen - counters at almost every other avenue.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">QUICK VERDICT: Great new technology, great image quality, and great in use - there are only a few nitpick shortcomings to the Canon EOS 70D. Otherwise it's as close to redefining the mid-level DSLR sector as we've seen in recent years.</span></span></div>
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Best entry-level full-frame DSLR</h2>
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Full-frame is the holy grail of DSLR photography. Sensors the same size as traditional 35mm film negatives are considered full-frame. This large sensor sizes produces a pronounced depth of field, while the sensor's "pixels" are typically larger for a cleaner signal and, therefore, usually superior image quality compared to APS-C sensors (this can be resolution dependent).</div>
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The words entry-level and full-frame tend not to go hand in hand. Given that near to £2,000 needs to be spent for that full-frame experience - and that's before considering lens costs - you need to be sure that you're ready to dip into the larger-sensor world.</div>
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The D600 isn't the newest full-framer out there, as it's since been replaced by the ultimately similar D610, but that positions the D600 at a far more favourable price point.</div>
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This camera is like the lovechild of the high-resolution D800 (see below) paired with the D7000's spec - which is a grand mix. As most people won't need the full feature set of the D800, the 24-megapixel D600 dutifully opens up the full-frame door to a wider audience. Top image quality for a great price. Sounds fair to us.</div>
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PRICE: £1,200 (body only, at the time of writing)</div>
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QUICK VERDICT: The D600 opens the full-frame door to many that would otherwise never be able to afford such a DSLR. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s great value for money when considering both the build and image quality. The feature set is much like a D800 mashed up with a D7000 - an excellent blend of pro and consumer features kit out this full-framer. It definitely gets our seal of approval.</div>
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Best DSLR cameras 2014: The best interchangeable lens cameras available to buy today

You want to buy a DSLR camera but don't know what to go for? Then you've come to the right place, as this is where we round-up the...

Nikon D3200 review

Hitechnex 0 Camera, Gadgets, Nikon, Technology 1.1.14

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqWwQbR44awKmXVhZNcLOpMrIeL-CyIV8s24uXDmS9nx4vSreU7DvLrjXRoVdL_ZgjGbabo-avEGzLEgB4TupuXrlcizktzwPY6c0f2alNdDypgiE9Dpy9cy9JZxCmp9TvBMB6k8EPsc/s1600/nikon_1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqWwQbR44awKmXVhZNcLOpMrIeL-CyIV8s24uXDmS9nx4vSreU7DvLrjXRoVdL_ZgjGbabo-avEGzLEgB4TupuXrlcizktzwPY6c0f2alNdDypgiE9Dpy9cy9JZxCmp9TvBMB6k8EPsc/s320/nikon_1.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3peI_C5aoHuzBEvCwAWpaRJdV_pl-GG9B4MDkf0qgc-Ctt09pxeehyphenhyphenMLHtuNJtFAcUQjsmtFMkKAP4faGT2t3klmoKiVGe7TmbpDqF41guZQJU2ZPgxAW0ZWKOb_IsjndJCYegafYOg/s1600/against.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>The Nikon D3200 set tongues wagging when announced last month. Its headline-grabbing 24-megapixel sensor promised to be unlike anything the entry-level DSLR market had seen before.</div>
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But in a world where the megapixel isn’t <em>always</em> king, can the D3200 deliver across the board, and, more importantly, is it what beginners truly need?</div>
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The might of megapixels</h3>
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There’s no denying it, high megapixel counts have been used to sell cameras for years now. But most users don’t have the need for such resolution, in particular at the beginner or "entry-level" end of the market.</div>
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Arguably the D3200 isn’t just aimed at those newcomers. It is, after all, the highest-resolution DSLR in its class, and certainly the most affordable 24-megapixel camera on the market today. That resolution may speak volumes to landscape or portrait photographers that want a budget option capable of outputting huge file sizes for optimum quality prints - but these are people that, most likely, already know what they’re doing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21p_BAS61wTdJh8xG08y8tyLQclszO9bKhPB37RuxOoymocqap3SbjDLlz5GYr00e3Ac8DkDKV2OVOCc23nrnT-NLGSYMXo9gKmAq8a2yyQWH1rRPNuo-C-El35u67-L3wAkgLdhNP0o/s1600/nikon+for.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>For the beginner, the megapixel count may be almost inconsequential to their work, yet it does present the option to crop into shots without overall quality loss. This is an appealing prospect, bettered by the camera’s in-camera crop function.</div>
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But Nikon has missed a trick here, one that Sony has had in its Alpha line for some time now: the ability to magnify the preview and, therefore, final image, by using less of the sensor’s real estate. A 2x magnifier, for example, would double a lens’s telephoto reach and, in the case of the D3200, still output images at 12-megapixels without quality loss - but that beginner-friendly approach hasn’t made it into the Nikon model.</div>
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Guide-ing light</h3>
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Ease of use is at the forefront of the D3200. Its guide mode, as adapted from the D3100, is an illustrated walkthrough guide that helps to achieve certain types of shots. For example, "capture red in sunsets" will adjust the camera’s white balance. Text and an accompanying image show that "color temperatures 5000K or more bring out reds most effectively". Change the settings within the guide mode and the corresponding image shows how the final result will differ. So it’s a learning process that’s well suited to newcomers that might know the desired result, but not know the camera mode or settings to use.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPvZ_6o1btNLHwc1gJB32j_xUqXB1oxpeZbKOhLx3ms2XxDdBotyZJst_00gQLi9r4DZr1TezGDZg6lGUYUOUusG0qMpNakSTf99SAY4fZJH7Y04kPvb2UgpOZ6g8LoN8YvP2BM8bNHs/s1600/nikon_@.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPvZ_6o1btNLHwc1gJB32j_xUqXB1oxpeZbKOhLx3ms2XxDdBotyZJst_00gQLi9r4DZr1TezGDZg6lGUYUOUusG0qMpNakSTf99SAY4fZJH7Y04kPvb2UgpOZ6g8LoN8YvP2BM8bNHs/s320/nikon_@.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It’s not infallible though and there are always other settings that can have knock-on effects, or conditions might not suit the desired shot. For example an auto ISO sensitivity is available, but is switched off by default - a little menu digging will find the option, but newcomers may not know to head here, nor understand its relevance. The auto modes also have a tendency to pop the flash up at the drop of a hat and, while it is possible to turn this off from within guide mode, it can become a nuisance.</div>
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More advanced users will use Nikon's longstanding i-button to jump into a quick menu that displays on the rear LCD. Although the "info" name may not make perfect sense to newcomers, this Nikon staple is an essential to the camera's design and a key way to access the important settings. To further speed things up there's also a programmable function (Fn) button towards the front left side of the camera, which is well placed to adjust in use in combination with the rear thumb dial. </div>
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Performance</div>
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It’s possible to shoot using either the D3200’s viewfinder or the rear LCD screen set in live view mode.</div>
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The 3-inch, 921k-dot LCD screen may sound like it delivers on paper, but its playback is too cold/cyan which makes accurate colour balance tricky. This isn’t isolated to our review sample either, as we checked multiple camera bodies.</div>
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Live view uses a user-positioned focus point that can be placed anywhere around the screen from edge to edge and, although not as fast as autofocus when using the viewfinder, is standard for this level. Just don’t expect to use it for action shots - it's more one for still life shots and can be useful for unusual framing when it's not possible to have the viewfinder to your eye. </div>
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Burst speed comes in at four frames per second. Paired with the Expeed 3 processor the camera can crunch through images at pace. Although 4fps may not sound fast, consider that the 6016x4000px JPEG files can exceed 12MB each and the Raw files are around 25MB and it’s an impressive statistic. With a Class 10 SD card loaded up in the camera it was possible to shoot eight consecutive raw and JPEG files, or 23 JPEG "fine" shots in one burst. Good show.</div>
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It's worth mentioning there's also a wireless transmitter unit available, priced at £55. The WU-1a is only compatible with the D3200 (to date) and is a fun way of transmitting images or controlling the camera using your Android phone. </div>
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The camera’s autofocus system is the same 11-point multi-CAM 1000 system that’s been used for many years by some Nikon product lines. It works well in good light and there’s an AF-assist lamp for when things get a bit too dim, yet the overall speed isn’t lightning fast. It’s an entry-level performance, though the camera’s price tag might suggest it would have stepped things up a gear or two in this department – a potential oversight when considering what else is available on the market. </div>
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Price wars</div>
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So, is the D3200 worth it?</div>
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The £649 launch price is more than the (mostly) better-specified Nikon D5100 - the model which is supposed to sit above the D3200 in Nikon’s DSLR range.</div>
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While the D3200 adds the high-resolution sensor to its features arsenal, it doesn’t add any extras in the autofocus performance department.</div>
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Then there’s the Sony Alpha A65. This mid-level SLT uses the very same 24-megapixel sensor, but has a more advanced feature set which includes a faster autofocus system. But it also have a heftier price tag, at around £755 with a kit lens.</div>
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Megapixels to marvel at?</div>
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But then the D3200’s images are great.</div>
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Despite the 24-megapixel resolution the entirety of the ISO 100-6400 sensitivity range is usable to some degree. A feat even more impressive when considering just how high resolution this camera is.</div>
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Critical detail is more visible at the lower ISO settings, though processing does render JPEGs softer than their raw counterparts. ISO 100-200 hold the most detail, while ISO 400-800 show more evidence of processing - these middle sensitivity settings look slightly softer yet grainier but are still of good quality.</div>
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At the higher settings ISO 1600 is where colour noise becomes noticeable and there’s a steeper turn to softness, while ISO 3200 is yet softer, colour is more muted, and although detail isn’t as prominent as at lower ISO settings there’s room to get a decent shot. ISO 6400 lacks detail but will be useful for some scenarios, and the inclusion of a Hi1 (ISO 12,800) setting pushes the limits of usability, yet isn’t awful.</div>
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Hyper-critical eyes will see some evidence of colour noise in gradient areas at any ISO setting upwards of ISO 100. This is negligible until ISO 400 where it has some presence, though won’t be to the detriment of most images.</div>
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Overall exposure is accurate, as is auto white balance - even if, in the case of the latter, the camera’s rear LCD screen isn’t the best at displaying the true colour balance.</div>
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Resolution hounds, take note, the D3200 has got this one in the bag.</div>
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Movie maestro</div>
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It was only a matter of time before an entry-level model went out all guns blazing in the moving image department. The D3200 is exactly that model: it includes a 1080p movie mode with 30, 25 or 24 frames per second capture using the H.264 codec to output MOV files.</div>
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As well as an onboard mono microphone there’s also a 3.5mm microphone input. This is particularly useful as Nikon AF-S lenses will, in general, create autofocus motor sounds that will be picked up in recordings. But that’s little to no problem when a third-party microphone is attached.</div>
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Continuous or single autofocus are both available, as is manual focus. Metering, however, is automatic - there's no manual control to be found here.</div>
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Verdict</div>
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There are two ways to think about the D3200: as a souped-up D3100 with ultra high resolution, great quality images; or as a camera that’s purporting to be entry-level when it’s straddling the mid-level DSLR market.</div>
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The latter is a view to take seriously, as the Sony Alpha A65 - which shares the same sensor as this camera - is roughly £100 more, yet offers both faster autofocus and burst modes and similar, if not the very same, 24-megapixel image quality. In fact the D3200 is pricier than either Nikon’s higher spec D5100 model or the Canon EOS 600D.</div>
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But when every penny counts, the D3200 does pull out the image quality stops. This already proven sensor produces fantastic images and ushers in a new era of quality to the entry-level end of the market.</div>
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Guide mode is a great tool, as proven by the D3100, that will help first timers to develop their understanding of photography. But then the budget D3100 has the same mode (bar a couple of changes) and costs far less.</div>
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In summary it’s all about your imaging needs: If great quality images at high resolution and a decent movie mode to match are a must, or if you’re a newbie, then the D3200 is excellent and outperforms middleweight DSLRs on those fronts.</div>
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Nikon D3200 review

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Nikon D3200 review

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