Just released Nikon D2X

[algo_rithm]

In the 30 plus years I've been using Nikon, I have yet to see a lens that ""breaks"". I'm sure it happens, but I've NEVER seen it. If you have the money, Nikon will fix your back teeth.



my .00002 cents.



Bo

 

[jim_c]

Innocent you wrote this about your D2h experience.
(with regards to the D2H, that was money down the drain in my case- black frames, high noise level at ISO 800 and over, consistent underexposure, over saturation of colour and the low pixel count doesn't help as well for nature and architecture photography. )

What seemed to happen. I know about the noise problem above 800 but were you shooting raw and had the other problems. It almost seems like you got a bad body. How were you using it. I'm asking because for nature and architecture photography it would seem that you wouldn't need the higher ISO's and fast enough shutter speeds for black frames.
I have a D2h and those aren't problems for me. Sorry for the question as I usually defend the D2h and I'm curious when others have problems.

 

[jim_c]

Boris
It's not that they break very often but if you drop one or you get oil leaking inside you really have no choice but to send it in.
It sounds like you've lost your respect for Nikon's business ethic. You'll have to be reported.

 

[algo_rithm]

Pretty funny. Sometimes though, you just have to wonder in amazement at how they think.... devils' in the details, right? But again, what's that got to do with the D2X!

 

[innocent]

James,
don't get me wrong, the D2h is a very capable camera, I have made very brillant protraits-excellent results and I will be posting them in my site soon. But the fact is the d2h is not ideal for me. Lack of experience perhaps.

See the image below, that was d2h on high ISO (not layered or doctored, flash or tripod not allowed) convereted in NC4. I always shoot in RAW if not for anything, because I have in abundance memory cards, and even if I bracket my shots, usually it does not exceed 3, so storage is not a problem. You dare not try shooting low ISO under low lighting because the result is a near black frame and no matter how you twick it in photoshop the result is not outstanding- low latitude of the sensor I suspect.
About the black frames, I'm also not alone on this, and it does not have to be used for 8fps. My d2h, has an eratic behaviour when used in combination with SB800. Eractic, in that sometimes you obtain excellent results and sometimes not- black frames and gross underexposure (I'm not a fan of photoshop but may become in future). If you say that my specimen is faulty, then there are so many of us in that category.

For nature photography, d2h mutes the colour of the sky, the deafult setting over saturates images to something else other than reality. The shot may be okay for some but not for me, I would like to see my blue as blue.
Believe me or not, I think I now know how to use an slr (digital or analogue) correctly, and it is reasonable to expect that a pro level gear should perform much better than what is on offer for the prize.

 

[Jward]

Innocent,
You were right and I was wrong about the price drop....I just get very suspicious whenever A&M Photo is cited on anything.
John

 

[innocent]

John,
Adorama also has it (USA warranty) for under 2000USD and many others. So the D2h has even become more better (if only you can live with the very few limitations I mentioned earlier). Well some of us have to take some losses- demunition in value.
For those who own a D2h, have you considered getting together and bring a class action against Nikon?

 

[jim_c]

Innocent
I see what you mean. I would be unhappy with your experience too. I do portraiture with mine and play around with some low light work around the house. I have a SB800 too and haven't had that much trouble. I do have to use comp somtimes but it hasn't been so bad as to get black frames. I'm going to try to push the limits a little more to see if I can get the same results as you did.
About the class action, I don't think we could win. It seems that they can charge what they want and to hell with the consumer. Nikon and Canon are famous for keeping prices inflated.
I hope the rumor about the D2hs sensor upgrade are true but only if it doesn't cost a fortune to do it. It would be better than trying to sell the D2h at a loss to get the D2x.

 

[innocent]

James,
Certainly, I agree that a class action against Nikon based on the demunition of value of the D2H by the current prices will not stand much chance of success. It is Nikon's prerorgative to manipulate the prices at will as business law presently stands.

I would consider that a class or individual action against Nikon Inc for the sale of defective products to consumers cannot easily be flagged off. The fact is that photographers are very generous people ( most artistic persons) and therefore companies such as Nikon can get away very easily when they knowingly dump into your hand a product that is ab-initio defective; a product that does not fulfill the purpose for which it was purchased. Nikon knew the purposes the consumer was going to put the D2H because of their representation and or description (advertisement) of it but nonetheless went ahead and sold us a product that does not fit the description of it and more also defective.

Warranty: the only way the warranty will be binding on you is if you returned their copy to them or used any of its provisions to your advantage, or registered the product, that may imply acceptance of it. If you are a consumer ( in other words you bought the D2H or any other good not in pursuit of your business) and you have not returned the Warranty slip or exercised your rights under such warranties or registered the product, and you find that your camera, equipment, lens etc. does such things a photographer or any reasonable person will consider as defect, then you should give the reps of such products a call for a full refund plus cost so long as you do so within a reasonable time when you discovered the defect ( to a maximum of 6yrs in most common law countries). Your claim could be based on a latent defect of the product.

Nikon has got away this time from me, I got rid of my D2H in good time with a limited loss but should I be making another Nikon purchase in future and I discover any kind of defect then, I will be laughing to the court.

Yes the New D2X: How can we trust Nikon this time around? I wonder how many of you pros will be rushing to buy the D2X if you have had the experience of D2H? even if it costs less than 2k USD. I think the D2X should not be costing not more than 1800USD in any event otherwise the pice is likely to drop to that level come nine months time if not less, except it offers something that the Canon ranges haven't got.

 

[charlie]

Well, I certainly empathize with those of you who paid the full price for the D2H (which goes with the territory when you wish to have a product that is new to the market). Frankly, I make a living taking photographs of events and shooting glamour. I have had my eye on the D2H for 9 months, and have tried it by borrowing it from others. I have been using a D100 and a D70 as backup but have been saving to get the D2H. I was going to purchase it last week at the $3200 but a trip postponed that. Boy was I lucky and fortunate. Just got my D2H yesterday at the new price and guess what, its still an incredible camera even at the 4 megapixel count. It performs it's job discription in my business perfectly (there are many settings to adjust to personalize it to my taste, but the learning curve justifies the ends result).

I have in the past bought many a computers only for the price to drop drasticly overninght. It's a fact of life. Its called progress and economy of scale. It makes me very uncomfortable when several of you start talking about suing for a price drop. Go ahead do so, and soon you will not have a competitive camera market. The small aircraft aviation community went through that in the early 80s after many frivilous lawsuit which resulted in companies shutting their doors down due to extraneous legal expenses. Those very people suing ended up having to choose from used aircraft as none were being manufactured. Only after laws that protected the manufacturer from such frivilous lawsuits did the aviation community begin rolling out new aircraft.

Back to camera, the D2H performs and handles exactly as advertised, and frankly at the new price, is an over achiever. I have found mine to perform the same as the D2H I have been borrowing for testing and that is... you get out of it what you put into it.

Hope many of you will jump on the bandwagon and buy yourselves a new D2H.

P.S. If you are not too sure of 4 megapixels, you might like to take a look at a great site www.moose395.net/index.html . You will be pleasantly surprised.