I just recently bought a Nikon D200 and got a chance to use it in a regular paid session situation. This image is one from that session. Since I don’t yet have a model release from the mom (something I always get along with the final print order), I chose a shot where the kids’ faces didn’t show.
So far, I’m pretty sure that I’m seeing an increase in dynamic range in JPG files in B/W (I only shoot in B/W mode with digital cameras at this time). The images straight out of the camera have so much dynamic range, that it was mildly shocking to bring up the images on the computer to see how flat they looked. Still, I prefer to record as much detail in the shadows and highlights as possible in-camera, so this is a good thing. I am pleased with how they look after some levels and upping of contrast in Photoshop. I’m still proofing this shoot so I may have more refined thoughts on the camera’s image quality as I go along.
My #1 reason for acquiring this camera was for the larger viewfinder compared to the Fuji S2. It’s much bigger and I am liking this a lot. I can actually see subjects’ expressions now, haha. It was always difficult with the S2 to stay tuned to the expressions of the subject… an important enough issue to make me switch cameras (which I had been contemplating for a while now), even though I was so extremely pleased with the B/W image quality from the S2.
Another advantage with this new D200 is that unlike the Fuji S2 or S3, I get a vertical grip that has a back button focusing option. (I had bought the Fuji S3 in order to enjoy the vertical release/grip only to find that the company failed to supply a back button focusing option on the grip. My bad for not specifically asking around during my purchase-research to find out if the S3 had this button or not.
With the optional vertical grip attached to the D200, this is one sturdy, pleasantly grippy, juicy feeling picture taking machine. More thoughts on it to come. Ü
Tech info: Handheld Nikon D200, 85mm f1.8 lens set to f2.5, ISO 320, B/W mode, all parameters set to normal. I used my usual lighting scenario that included having the sun opposite me (which in this case put it in front of the girls walking). To meter, I took a quick test shot (guessed at exposure) of the girls faces in the same light shown here, then fine tuned the settings using the LCD as a guide. I find that more and more I am not using the histogram… although I still believe that in some cases it has a great value.