I'm a few weeks late on this, but Nikon recently announced an update to their flagship DSLR called the D5.

 

http://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/2689685510/nikon-d5-product-images

 

And they also announced a new "pro-level" DX DSLR: the D500.

 

http://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/5622525111/nikon-d500-product-photos

 

Looks like a very nice set of updates. Both models have built in AF Fine tune which looks like a nice new feature. I'll be very interested to see how it works. And the increased speed and new autofocus system with 153 (!!!) focus points should keep sports and wildlife shooters happy.

 

Has anybody ordered one yet? :-)

Hi Greg,

I was.....ah....actually hoping that you now had the D5 so that I could read your review. :-)

Leigh

I have been using a D2x since its release. Yesterday, I picked up the D5. I didn't open the box until last night. So, my input will be very limited, until I have a chance to really play. And I can't wait to play.

 

The first 2 hours was dedicated to charging the battery. The charger that comes with the D5 is a dual charger and will charge the D2x battery (EN-EL4), as well. That is great for me.

 

Jumping from a D2x to the D5 is a significant jump. While the D5 has much more features, than the D2x, I feel the learning curve will not be as great because, both body and buttons on the D5 and D2x are pretty much the same. On the D5, some buttons were moved to new locations, to allow for new buttons. For example, the ISO button is now near the shutter release. There is 'i' button on the right back, that provides information about the photo. The Mode button is where the BKT button was, the flash button was removed, now the BKT is in its place. There is a 'fn' button next to the vertical shutter release.

 

I did a test shot, under low light conditions, but I have not uploaded it to my computer to view. It was late and I had to go to sleep. However, I did view it in the camera's display, it looked pretty good.

 

The D5's menu system is very similar to the D2x's menu system. Again, this is great for me, because it reduces the learning curve. The D2x did not have video capabilities. Therefore, there was no menu section for video, as the D5 has. What was also new for me is the Copyright option. You can add your copyright information into the camera, so that it appears in the files' efix data. I always added it after the fact, via Photoshop. That will save me some post editing time.

 

The D5 has inputs for ethernet, external microphone, HDMI, USB, headphone. peripherals (ie: wireless lan, wireless remote control). I believe other Nikon cameras subsequent to the D2x had a number of these inputs.

 

By the way, I decided to go with the XQD version of the D5, because the read/write times are much faster than the CF cards, especially if using the video recording feature. Having 2 memory cards instead of 1, is wonderful. I picked up 2 Lexar 2933x cards (128gb each). I only shoot RAW, so the D5 calculated that I can shoot up to approximately 2.7k photos. I am really gonna have fun with this. But, I really bought the large capacity for video recording.

 

As I continue to play and use the D5, I will post more information. Based on the forum feedbacks and my own limited experience, I feel I will be really happy with this camera.

Looking forward to your review Phil !!

 

The difference will be huge. I no longer use Nikon but when the D3 came out was a big deal. Previously I had to watch my ISO, try to keep under 400!

 

It was amazed what the D3 could do and had so many features not found in Canon. Multiple exposures blended in camera etc.

 

al

Hahaha! I couldn't use anything over ISO 400 with the D2x as well.

 

I just used the DNG Converter, then opened it in Camera Raw. The result is very good. I shot my desk under low light. I bumped the ISO to 4000, and I was able to hand hold the camera (1/160 sec at f/4). The image is clear.

 

Then I zoomed in at 300% to compare the pixelation of a D2x image zoomed in at 300%. They appear to have the same pixelation. Do you know if there are pixels or data loss during the DNG conversion?

Hi Phil

 

There is no data loss during conversion to DNG, quality wise. You might loose some metadata which works with the manufacturers software.... basically nothing.

 

Once I thought of covering everything to DNG so I did not have to worry about the side cart but ended not being practical. For most mayor photo contest the original RAW image has to be supplied, the DNG is not accepted.

 

al

HI Alfred,

 

Regarding photo contests that require the RAW image, what if some post processing is need to get the photo to the result you're trying to achieve?

How do you submit a photo using the RAW file, if it does not retain the changes?

Or do you submit the RAW file and the post process image file?

 

-Phil-

HI Phil

 

Just to give you one example, the BBC Contest requires for the RAW image to be sent for all the finalist. At the start, all send a jpeg of certain size.

 

Reason for the original is to check what has been done. They do allow manipulation but limited, all specified in the rules. I am not sure if the DNG could be modified?

 

In the past the contest has had some disasters, actually back to back years with the second having no winner !!!!! I believe it was a wolf jumping over a tree branch, someone called it and said it was ... gave the animal's name ... a pet wolf in a ranch with a distinctive patter in the fur :) Price taken away etc. The other incident did not have the price stripped but brought controversy, a snow leopard image taken with an un attended triggering sensor.

 

Any way, I'm mostly out of the contests, have enough and does take a great deal of work to win one of those things.

 

al