App Review: 6x6

httpvh://youtu.be/v6BwrKIXPqM

When your focus is framing and producing images in square format this is the app for you. The app is basic but is a throwback to the old 6x6 medium format cameras. I used to use the default camera app for all my images but now I mostly use 6x6. I find it much easier to frame and shoot in square when I mostly shoot for square sharing services like instagram. I haven't been able to post a lot of images in the past due to the fact that there just wasn't a proper way to crop the images to a square format.

The app itself is very straightforward. The launch screen allows you to change grid lines, flash on/off, and switch between color and b/w. The viewfinder itself allows you to lock focus and exposure by tapping the display. You can also swipe the display to lock the current settings.

The settings allow you to turn on/off dynamic tones for b/w and color images. I like the extra punch that the ”dynamic” setting adds. Other settings include volume+ shutter, image review, and printed border. There are also a couple of settings that replicate the feel of an old 6x6 camera like ”6x6-Flex (TLR) Mode” while simulates a top down waist lever viewfinder where the image is mirrored. I find this handy to show people what it looks like using my medium format camera when I don't have it on me :).

The app was recently updated with more color and b/w options as well as the ability to live view the filters while taking an image.

This app in my opinion is for people who want to be able to share easier and pre-frame their images in square. Even if you are not sharing in square this ratio provides a different mental exercise for framing differently. There is a reason why one of the most common/famous hasselblad cameras were only produced in 6x6.

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I wrote this because I like many others that I am surrounded by consider their iPhone to either be their best or the or the most fun camera. This is my first review of many that I am planning to post. I hope you found it helpful.

Quick Look: Nikon D800 from D700 eyes

This is a very early quick look about the new camera that I have had now for 3 days. I don't have a good enough connection to fact check so I apologize ahead of time. 36MP Sensor: It has been said before but I am going to say a few things here anyways. The sensor is no doubt incredible but it will indeed punish camera users who's skill set has not been refined, and for those who have been it will just simply make you a better photographer. I try to explain, the sensor because it has so many pixels will make the flaws within your photographs stand out / magnify them. The problem is hard to explain but similar to the effect of a telephoto lens and a slow shutter speed. Not the same nor the reason why but even with speeds that should be fine the images are not tack sharp. This is simply due to the fact that you are provided with so much information. The same settings on a different camera (with less MP) would look much better but once again this is due to the fact that the information is not available. So once again there are other ways to explain this but I'm not in the right place to do so. If the image was scaled down it would look the same, the problem is not a major one for most uses.

So in conclusion chimps will be chimpier and photographers skills will be refined over time.

Autofocus: As far as I can tell there is really no difference. It still focuses very quickly and in a couple of occasions I was able to focus under moonlight, maybe that will be rare or maybe I'll just get used to it. The new way to change between auto and single point is taking the most time to get used to. I usually end up scrolling the wrong wheel but I'm sure with time I'll get used to it.

Metering: I know it has it's big brothers AF and metering so I know it's an improvement. In normal usage I don't see a difference but then again colors are usually a bit different with newer sensors. Also every once in awhile the camera will render a scene as if it's already been post processed, its something that you just have to see Nikon is known to have the best images straight out of the camera and I love them... But I feel as I get to know this camera better I will learn to control the beast.

LCD: When they announced the D800 I was bummed that they didn't upgrade the pixel count on the display. Little did I know that the amount of pixels that wasn't holding it back but it appears that it was the files itself being viewed. Images on the display are incredible but still keeps a realistic impression of what the image truly looks like (cough unlike another company cough). They say that they moved the panel backwards to make it better in bright lights but it looks the same as the D700 in my opinion. I see the issue now more that I am shooting video and having to stare at the display more. It's not bad, but I just dont see the improvement.

Video: New to the camera obviously but there are a few quirks. Settings being used before switching to live view are not retained. I haven't had the time to figure out or pay attention to what's going on but I saw a post online with someone saying the same thing. The internal mic is quite good compared to previous on camera mics. I am going to go off topic for a bit and talk about the rode videomic pro. It's incredible to be able to monitor this fine piece of equipment while recording. I picked up a dog barking from 250 feet away and the slightest move of my feet on the ground. I just can't wait to record something serious with it. A very nice addition to the video department is that the native 1080P files play back on an iPad without any tricks over the camera connector.

New Settings: Even years after owning my D700 I would find a new setting or set up a better way to shoot with the camera. I don't think the D800 will be any different. I'm going to list a couple of settings that I have not seen mentioned online. First the self timer setting now has an option to fire off a set amount (up to 99) with another setting for how long in between shots. I have been using this to bracket 3-9 images. Another option was to give the command wheel the ability to change ISO when in certain modes. For example in aperture priority the front wheel changes aperture while the back wheel does nothing, now it has the ability to change ISO by just scrolling. I feel that simple steps like these end up saving time and shots when there are less presses involved.

Lenses: Nikon has actually made an approved list of lenses on their site for their camera. This is because the camera can potentially out resolve the glass in the lens. This is a potential bummer because the sensor would show off all of the flaws of the lens. Honestly I have a whole range of consumer to pro glad and do far I haven't seen issues with any of them. I have noticed that I have been incorrectly shooting my 70-300VR lens, I guess it needs a faster shutter than what I had thought. It's probably a reason why Nikon added an additional setting to auto ISO to match the focal length. Without zooming once again you can't tell but if you want to double check behind door number zoom you can see if you have a winner. Also I have not noticed any diffraction yet with smaller apertures. When I finally review these images on the computer I'll find out the truth.

File Size / CF Cards: 4GB cards were what I survived on with the D700. RAW files are nice and thin compared to the D800. When a card is formatted in the camera it still underestimates the amount of photos that you could fit onto the card. Although it is quite funny to see the D800 quote you 50 RAW images on a 4GB card where it used to get me over 200. I'm sure that amount would lurk near 100 but still it's laughable. I saw it online a few times that people were having issues with their old memory cards just not working with the D800. I tested each of my cards with photo and video after a fresh format and I didn't have an issue at all. Although some of the cards processed the images very slow. So far I have been shooting a Sandisk Extreme 16GB 90Mbs card alongside a Patriot 32GB class 10 SDHC card. No issues (glances around for wood).

Review: Nikon D5000

I have never written a camera review before but I am going to give it a shot. Why? because the Nikon D5000 really did nothing other than continue to surprise me. I am going to say that my very first camera was a Nikon D50. I will talk comparison between that camera and my current D700 which is similar to the D300 / D300s.

Feel / Body:

The Nikon D5000 is between the D50 and D90. Although closer to the D50 the but not as big as the D90 it still has a comfortable grip. If I had to choose this or my current body I would choose the D700 just for the small fact that the Dxxx series cameras actually fill my hand. The D5000 body is very solid like the D50 but has a small inlet near the finger tips to help keep a solid grip. I originally purchased an extended warranty with the D50 covering any kind of accidental damage but after several years of abuse the D50 never failed me. I dropped and slammed the D50 beyond the point a consumer DSLR should ever go. So because of this I don't judge the hard plastic body, I know Nikon makes them well.

Conclusion: I love the camera as a whole but this and (mainly) the lack of an AF motor drive would keep me from leaving my other camera at home.

Buttons / Layout:

This was truly the topic that inspired me to write a review. Every single button on this camera has the best feeling buttons I have ever pressed. Sounds lame yes but when you have used several cameras of different brands you just know quality when they are pressed. When compared to my D50 there are quite a few changes, I used the D50 for 3 years straight. The buttons on the D5000 are all upraised and firm not flat and mushy. This may just be the inner geek screaming inside but I would love for all of you to check out the camera first hand.

Menus on the Nikon are light years ahead of what the D50 had. There are really really easy modes on this guy to take beautiful images without a single brain cell. Scene modes and all sorts of options. Settings are all easily changed via the option menu while viewing the LCD.

Conclusion: I have not a single thing to complain about. All as I had wished.

Display:

The display on the D5000 is a first for Nikon. A swivel display on a DSLR? Nikon? Really? I have always thought the feature was cheesy and not worth it, I thought the same about live view. The two together though make for an amazing team. The colors on the display are exactly what I see on my computer monitor and very accurate. I love that I can fold the screen inward to protect the screen while it is not in use. The way I use the display the most is flat so I can look down on it from above while using live view.

I do this quite often because I shoot video with the camera quite often and when people walk past me they have no idea I am shooting video. I appear as if I am just looking down at my camera, they dont expect a small little screen to be between my chest and the camera. Think of all the people you would scare off with a camera w/ big lens pointing at people when it is held to your face. If people have no idea they are being recorded they act as usual which is what you want to capture.

Conclusion: Forget about the video portion, the display alone allows you to capture scenes you would have never have thought possible. Capturing people on camera unaware makes a lot better image.

Image Quality:

I don't have to get into this but as everyone knows the D300, D300s and D90 have amazing colors. I was shocked the first time I used the D300 and saw the incredible skin tones that came out of it. The D5000 has the same sensor as the others. Every time Nikon introduces a camera with the same sensor they always make the sensor / algorithms tweaked to produce overall better images. So I will expect in the right hands better images with the Nikon D5000 than the original Nikon D300.

Conclusion: I love the sensor and have since my very first D300. I don't expect anything but stunning sharp images from this camera.

ISO:

Compared to my D50 4 years ago with almost usable ISO 1600 this camera just blows it and the competition away. I have seen several very usable ISO 6400 images from this camera before any post production. Images are sharp at the higher ISOs and like all recent Nikons the noise is very film like (grain) and not chromatic like previous cameras. Noise now adds a feel and not so much of a distraction. Please check out the samples I will include of some non edited straight from the camera JPEGs at ISO 6400.

Conclusion: The camera has very clean grain like images which do not distract the viewer.

Focus:

All the images I have shot with the camera so far have all been manual focus. Why? Well the D5000 does not allow AF with older Nikon Prime lenses without AFS built into the lens. I bought the camera for video and because all video on the camera is MF I did not mind. When taking images using manual focus it is harder due to the prism not being as bright as what I am used to but completely doable as the images will show below. The 18-55 kit is a great lens and I would defend it any day (a lot of my landscapes were taken with it... SHHHH).

Conclusion: If you don't mind MF with your old lenses or do not own any this is the camera for you. Like I said I mostly shoot video with the camera so this does not matter to me.

Conclusion:

I wrote this review because I want to share how much I love the camera. It is just a pleasure to use. I purchased the camera and the 18-55mm kit lens brand new on ebay for $660. I bought just to use exclusively for video, crazy? Sure but like the D50 I purchased a consumer camera to see if Photography as a hobby would catch on... guess what it did. I hope the same goes for this. If so I will surely be upgrading to some future Full Frame Nikon body with video :)

With every camera it has it's pros and cons, in the right hands this camera can produce amazing images easily confused with cameras 3-4x the price.

Pros:

• Amazing proven sensor
• Excellent HIGH ISO
• AF with AFS lenses and 11 Point system is quick
• Very quiet shutter
• Feel of the body and buttons
• Swivel Display

Cons:

• MF with old screw drive Nikon lenses
• Small prism can be hard adapting to for Pro Users
• I always want a bigger grip, this is a consumer camera so it's size is expected.