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Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: Mort54 on August 07, 2008, 01:57:26 pm

Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mort54 on August 07, 2008, 01:57:26 pm
I'm a long time Nikon user, but coming out with a new RAW format for the P6000, with only MS Window's tools to open them - they've got to be kidding. Nikon's management must be insane. I'll take a Canon G9 any day.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Ken Tanaka on August 07, 2008, 02:23:12 pm
Quote
I'm a long time Nikon user, but coming out with a new RAW format for the P6000, with only MS Window's tools to open them - they've got to be kidding. Nikon's management must be insane. I'll take a Canon G9 any day.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213695\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yup, you can spank the P6000's bottom all day but that baby's stillborn.  You have to have to hand it to Nikon, though.  They're following Canon's dance lessons to the most minute detail, repeating the same RAW gaffe that Canon made with the G7.

I'm very happy with my G9, thank you.  Move along, nothing to see here.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Don Libby on August 07, 2008, 02:52:46 pm
Is it just me or does anyone else think the image looks like a clone of the G9?  BTW we took the G9 with us to Alaska and were very pleased.

don
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikosR on August 07, 2008, 03:08:50 pm
Michael,

Nikon wouldn't need to use DNG. They could have used NEF. A Nikon provided codec for WCI (or whatever it's called) to decode NEF fles already exists. Outside of WCI the files would be treated like any other NEF file (3rd party converters could have come up with support after a few weeks). So (almost) everybody would be happy..

I strongly suspect Nikon wanted to control the use of their raws and allow only limited editability (e.g. WB ,Picture Controls and a few predefine sharpening settings). This can be more easily controlled through their own new codec. I would not be surprised if measures have been taken (encryption for example) to try to avoid having 3rd party raw converters reading these files.

Why would Nkon want to do that is something that escapes me. Maybe to keep prying eyes off what they are doing to the data behind the curtains (NR, binning?). So, they are trying to give end users some more control for post capture processing while protecting their intellectual property. It wouldn't be a first for Nikon (remember the D2x, D50 WB saga).

Unless there's a Nikon - MS agreement lurking in the background. Which, the more I think about it the more sense it makes... If this WCI only thing materialises in more  (and cheaper) P&S in the future I will bet good money that the evil empire had something to do with it.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Moynihan on August 07, 2008, 03:15:29 pm
Yeah, that does seem strange.
I would imagine though that many of us will be holding off on P&S type purchases anyway, to see what little machines come out of the micro-4/3 thing.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: John Camp on August 07, 2008, 04:27:42 pm
The windows thing is weird, but Nikon has some weird things in its past, including efforts to control post-processing, and generally manages to do nothing more than shoot itself in the foot.

However, the images will tell the tale. If the images are really good -- say, notably better than the G9 -- and offers a decent high-ISO capability, I'll buy one of these puppies.

Had a G9. Gave it to my kid.

JC
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Craig Arnold on August 08, 2008, 03:21:29 am
The WIC thing isn't necessarily crazy, and is actually potentially a very good move towards increasing format interoperability for applications. Effectively providing a single standard API for the image processing pipeline which can then (with appropriate codec/decodec running underneath) perform a standard set of transformations.

This means that the image processing application doesn't need to know or care about the underlying storage format.  

I don't have any specific details about whether there will be licensing issues with using WIC compatible formats on Macs but I would suspect not. MS are rather less prone to that sort of thing lately.

Windows still has the majority of the market share and the WIC format is really a response to the proliferation of image formats. Good news for most consumers then that they will be able to gain the benefits of using RAW capture format but still being able to use consumer level image processing applications.

I would be surprised if there isn't soon a WIC adapter for DNG, and I would hazard a guess that there is no technical barrier to ACR being able to use the WIC interface even though it may be sub-optimal for professional applications. There is also probably no technical reason why ACR won't be able to support the new NRW format and completely bypass the WIC interface.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms737408(VS.85).aspx (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms737408(VS.85).aspx)

The almost-hysteria surrounding the new raw format is somewhat misdirected I think. MS doesn't do everything for evil reasons. Sometimes the programmers have good ideas, WIC is one of them. If it helps think of it as analogous to the early days of ODBC. Remember what a mess it was before?

Also don't forget that with the arrival of Silverlight v2 it is very likely that developers will have a mechanism for delivering image manipulation applications to Windows, Linux and OSX. This really could be a move in the right direction for consumers in general, even though it's not aimed at the current professional market.

Does anyone yet know for a fact that ACR will never be able to open these files? [If the answer to that is yes then I will happily retract most of what I said above.   ]
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikosR on August 08, 2008, 03:32:28 am
As I said above, they could have gone with the WIC by just staying with the NEF files. There's already a Nikon codec to decode NEFs under WIC. So it never was an either / or decision... They decided for some reason to go WIC ONLY. That is the problem everybody is moaning about.

With regards to Adobe using the WIC interface two issues with that. First it is not available on Mac. Second, similarly with the Nikon NEF SDK I suppose, going with the WIC would only allow them to do whatever conversion and editing the WIC codec allowed. Not good enough for Adobe I suppose.

PS. With regards to Adobe or a third party bypassing the WIC and supporting the format directly, I guess it would depend on the following:

1. Are the new NRW files encrypted in a way that it would make 3rd party reverse engineering difficult or not worth the effort or illegal (DMCA)?

 Remember, since this is supposed to be WIC compatible nobody will be able to blame Nikon if they encrypt the file format. After all they will say they do provide the WIC codec for anybody to use...

2. Will the 3rd parties even bother if its too much effort?


But I'm no expert here. I would welcome some comment from the Adobe guys in this forum.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Craig Arnold on August 08, 2008, 03:37:57 am
Quote
As I said above, they could have gone with the WIC by just staying with the NEF files. There's already a Nikon codec to decode NEFs under WIC. So it never was an either / or decision...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213827\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I guess that's part of the problem with WIC; it's a double-edged sword.

It allows the manufacturers the freedom to change their underlying formats where they see a benefit, encouraging innovation. On the other hand WIC reduces the penalty for doing so and arguably encouraging format proliferation instead of standardisation.

And clearly, even if not in this particular case, there bound to DRM issues entangled in this web.

Edit: Thinking about this... Nikon are getting much gravy at the moment for their high-ISO performance, and we are all pretty sure they are doing some heavy-duty processing as they read the data off the sensor. The NEF files coming off the D3/D700 aren't completely raw. They are probably using something similar to the RAW noise reduction that DXO are doing with their latest versions. Now this is fairly heavy stuff commercially and potentially drives a LOT of sales. There is real value in this IP. By encrypting the RAW format they may well keep that lead longer and make it more difficult to reverse-engineer their NR tech. That is a good commercial reason for going this route, even if it does mightily annoy the pro-crowd.

They may also still have some lingering ambitions to take some of the photoshop (elements) market and going with an encrypted raw format may help them with that. If this is the case then I would expect to see the pro-end still using NEF and the consumer orientated cameras using the new formats, probably including the D40-D60 ranges.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Craig Arnold on August 08, 2008, 03:40:10 am
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I would welcome some comment from the Adobe guys in this forum.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213827\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Ditto.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikosR on August 08, 2008, 04:04:26 am
Quote
Edit: Thinking about this... Nikon are getting much gravy at the moment for their high-ISO performance, and we are all pretty sure they are doing some heavy-duty processing as they read the data off the sensor. The NEF files coming off the D3/D700 aren't completely raw. They are probably using something similar to the RAW noise reduction that DXO are doing with their latest versions. Now this is fairly heavy stuff commercially and potentially drives a LOT of sales. There is real value in this IP. By encrypting the RAW format they may well keep that lead longer and make it more difficult to reverse-engineer their NR tech. That is a good commercial reason for going this route, even if it does mightily annoy the pro-crowd.

I'm sure this is part of their thinking although I disagree with your unsubstantiated assumptions about the D3 files. As I have said in another thread about DNG, IP issues are very important for the manufacturers despite Adobe pretending not to understand this.

Additionally there could always be an mutually beneficial agreement with the evil empire lurking somewhere (or even arm twisting for that matter...)

Edit:
PS. BTW DXO do exactly what Adobe and others (I believe Bibble with NN interface) do. Perform NR before demosaicing as this is the best way to perform NR and avoid demosaicing errors due to noise. Nothing to do with what we are discussing here.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Craig Arnold on August 08, 2008, 04:09:29 am
Quote
I disagree with your unsubstantiated assumptions about the D3 files.

Edit:
PS. BTW DXO do exactly what Adobe and others (I believe Bibble with NN interface) do. Perform NR before demosaicing as this is the best way to perform NR and avoid demosaicing errors due to noise. Nothing to do with what we are discussing here.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213834\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Entirely unsubstantiated and speculative, but I'm not alone in that speculation.  

Do we know that Nikon are not doing this before they write the RAW data? It's possible for example that the in-camera processing engine wouldn't be powerful enough. I don't know.

Quote
Additionally there could always be an mutually beneficial agreement with the evil empire lurking somewhere (or even arm twisting for that matter...)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213834\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sure could, they've certainly done worse in the past. Although in this case it is unsubstantiated.  
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikosR on August 08, 2008, 04:11:54 am
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Sure could. Although that is unsubstantiated. 
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213836\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Of course. Just a conspiracy theory (based on past practices though)
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikosR on August 08, 2008, 04:19:43 am
Quote
Entirely unsubstantiated and speculative, but I'm not alone in that speculation.   

Do we know that Nikon are not doing this before they write the RAW data? It's possible for example that the in-camera processing engine wouldn't be powerful enough. I don't know.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213836\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I'm not an engineer (well actually I am but my field is very different). I know they do things with their data as many manufacturers do. With regards to NR though we have no reason to believe they do anything. Turning NR off in 3rd party raw converters indirectly indicates thusly. Again, I'm no expert but I know that many in this forum are. I would suggest not to derail this discussion though. It is a nice subject for a separate thread.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikosR on August 08, 2008, 04:53:03 am
In response to the questions about Adobe supporting WIC posed above the below provides a short but comprehensive answer by someone who should know  

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b61a1b (http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b61a1b)

EDIT:

I understand that there does exist a WIC codec for DNG in the works (that is to provide DNG support to WIC applications) http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/DNG_Codec (http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/DNG_Codec).

Whether WIC support for DNG converter (to allow WIC supported file formats to be converted to DNG) is also under preparation (and whether this is actually feasible) I wouldn't know.

I would venture a guess that even if that is feasible and indeed implemented by Adobe that would create de-mosaiced linear RGB DNG files and not 'raw' DNG per se. Reason, the way I understand it, that demosaicing (actual conversion) happens in the codec. I might be wrong though.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Panorama on August 08, 2008, 01:19:44 pm
What an ungodly amount of hand wringing, complaining, and gnashing of teeth about a little P&S.

It's not meant for photographers guys. Whie Nikon is often bone-headed IMO, Canon removed RAW for years with no alternative. Many Nikon shooters at least got something....

Perhaps there will be something else coming next month or PMA 09, but this is clearly aimed at the masses. Either be patient or get over it....

While I'm loath to say many nice things about MS, I think this is also the indignation of mac users that are being forced back to reality. Macs are not, never have been, and never will be, the center of the universe. Period. If you don't like it, then tell apple to drop their prices, open their systems, allow third party peripheral standardization with all macs and pc's, and then you'll have a competitive system.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: AdrianW on August 08, 2008, 02:15:45 pm
I'm a Canon man, but may I suggest we wait for the other shoe to drop before lambasting Nikon?

In the press release it doesn't say that the format is Windows only, it only says that: "The RAW file format for Nikon COOLPIX cameras is compatible with Microsoft's Windows Image Component (WIC) codec, allowing images shot in RAW format to be opened and edited in ViewNX (Windows version only), or in other applications that support WIC."

There's no mention of it *only* being supported under Windows, just that only the Windows version of ViewNX can use WIC to only open images; which is blindingly obvious as the Mac doesn't support WIC.

There may be valid technical reasons for yet another RAW format, I'd hazard that perhaps this one is better optimised for compact camera usage; compacts and dSLRs are very different beasts after all.

WIC support is very clearly aimed at non-photographers (as is the face detection etc), it just means that casual users can use their images easily with any basic imaging application, like the built-in Windows PhotoGallery features. This is a good thing™

So, instead of all flying off the handle, may I suggest we wait and see how the camera actually performs? Based on the samples I'd say it's looking pretty good for a compact!
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: BernardLanguillier on August 08, 2008, 09:14:32 pm
Quote
Why would Nkon want to do that is something that escapes me. Maybe to keep prying eyes off what they are doing to the data behind the curtains (NR, binning?). So, they are trying to give end users some more control for post capture processing while protecting their intellectual property. It wouldn't be a first for Nikon (remember the D2x, D50 WB saga).
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213715\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I believe that you are exactly right. Nikon is using a crap 13.5 MP Sony sensor with noise levels high enough to make Mount Everest look like a hill.

I believe that they are indeed trying to hide this with some pre-post processing built into their own codec.

I don't think that they are trying to make money on this by preventing 3rd party software to eating some of their software pie. I believe that there is a genuine willingness to ensure the best possible image quality for their customers, but they are failing to see that many of the prospects for this camera would be willing to handle the noise themselves...

Once more, it shows that the people in charge of the consumer range at Nikon are very disconnected with the North American market needs.

One final word though, I don't see how this is arrogant. A stupid move? Yes,  but I am getting really tired of the over-usage of the word arrogant each time a company doesn't produce the product we were expecting. There is nothing arrogant about it.

I understand that arrogance has become the ultimate crime in the North American society, but over-using a word only serves to depriving it of its power and meaning.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: BernardLanguillier on August 08, 2008, 09:25:53 pm
Quote
Entirely unsubstantiated and speculative, but I'm not alone in that speculation.   

Do we know that Nikon are not doing this before they write the RAW data? It's possible for example that the in-camera processing engine wouldn't be powerful enough. I don't know.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213836\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

There is no reason to think that Nikon does it but Canon doesn't.

What we have for the P6000 is very easy. The people in charge of the coolpix line of product simply think that nobody will be able to handle the noise of the Sony sensor better than themselves.

The problem is internal, they should have let the DSLR guys draw the spec of the P6000 instead of letting the coolpix team do it.

Besides, let's not forget that as a whole, the Nikon mgt has finally become very aware of the importance of noise. I wouldn't be surprised if an exec level decision had been taken to prevent the release of noisy raw files in the wild. They must have thought that it would damage the image of Nikon as a whole.

Not knowing how noisy the files from this 13.5 MP snesor are, nobody here can really assess how wrong that decision was...

Now, let's be a bit realistic here. Nobody will use this coolpix for real critical applications where a 10% better noise handling would make a significant difference. So the possible pre-processing of the raw file by Nikon is not sucha huge problem in itself.

The reliance on Windows is a real pain for people like me using a Mac, but I could of course use my VMWare fusion instance of Vista to solve this problem in a heartbeat. So beyond the emotional response, there are solutions for most of us.

Now, I will probably no buy a P6000 but will instead use that money to buy half a video enabled D90 anyway.

As a side note, the piece of gear that contributed most to enhancing my experience as a photographer recently is the pair of Nuforce Icon-S-1 speakers I equiped my Mac Pro with. These babies sound almost as good as my 4000 US$ B&W 804s speakers. Unbelieveable. Let's focus on what works.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: dalethorn on August 08, 2008, 10:50:42 pm
Nikon has been doing me-too P&S cameras at least since the 8800 went away.  The P6000 looks like much less camera for the same money as the Panasonic LX3.  Nikon's superzoom P80 is also a weak imitation of Pana's FZ28.  Too bad - another Kodak moment for Walmart, who can sell the Nikon brand to the uninformed.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: BernardLanguillier on August 09, 2008, 02:19:57 am
Official samples from Nikon:

http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/ca...6000/sample.htm (http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/camera/compact/coolpix/p6000/sample.htm)

I find them to be remarkably good for images coming a compact digital camera. Even if they were shot at 64 ISO in a controlled studio environment.

Frankly speaking, nobody would be surprised if these images were said to have been shot with a Canon 40D or Nikon D300.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: jeremyrh on August 09, 2008, 09:01:45 am
Quote
The P6000 looks like much less camera for the same money as the Panasonic LX3.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214023\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
The LX3 is even lamer than the P6000 as it has no viewfinder, just the (now) usual invisible-in-daylight rear LCD screen. I've been looking to replace my LX2 for that same reason, and I'd been hoping the P6000 would be the one. The wait goes on ...
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 09, 2008, 04:02:34 pm
Quote
The LX3 is even lamer than the P6000 as it has no viewfinder, just the (now) usual invisible-in-daylight rear LCD screen. I've been looking to replace my LX2 for that same reason, and I'd been hoping the P6000 would be the one. The wait goes on ...
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=214075\")

You can solve the viewfinder problem by using a [a href=\"http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/430396-REG/Hoodman_HLPP_Professional_LCD_Screen_Loupe.html]Hoodman Loupe[/url]. Solves the sunlight problem completely except that it is still another (very light and small) piece of gear hanging on your neck.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: dalethorn on August 09, 2008, 05:27:15 pm
Quote
The LX3 is even lamer than the P6000 as it has no viewfinder, just the (now) usual invisible-in-daylight rear LCD screen. I've been looking to replace my LX2 for that same reason, and I'd been hoping the P6000 would be the one. The wait goes on ...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214075\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
This is a misinformed reply on two counts at least.  One, the LX3 supports an optional snap-in viewfinder.  Two, I have a Pana TZ5 with the same screen, quite viewable in bright daylight, even without turning up the screen brightness.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: dalethorn on August 09, 2008, 05:37:59 pm
Quote
Official samples from Nikon:
http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/ca...6000/sample.htm (http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/camera/compact/coolpix/p6000/sample.htm)
I find them to be remarkably good for images coming a compact digital camera. Even if they were shot at 64 ISO in a controlled studio environment.......
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214045\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
A couple years ago I shot some test images with 3 different 10 mp non-dslr cameras - Pana FZ50, Nikon 8800, and Casio EXZ1000.  All were 1/1.8 CCD or larger.  All images, despite minor color differences, showed the same resolution, about the same amount of noise, and overall, about the same quality.  At the time the Nikon 8800 was released, it was the best P&S digicam in its size/price category.  Since then, Nikon has released a plethora of me-too who-cares versions of what other companies have already done.  It's sad to see, but then, Nikon doesn't care since they have bigger fish to fry.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: NikoJorj on August 09, 2008, 05:51:31 pm
Quote
Nikon is using a crap 13.5 MP Sony sensor with noise levels high enough to make Mount Everest look like a hill.

I believe that they are indeed trying to hide this with some pre-post processing built into their own codec.
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=214016\")
This appears quite sound : notice how the samples don't contain any textures in the shadows? Not to say they're so bad either, but that seems consistent with a fair amount of NR in the shadows.

Quote
One final word though, I don't see how this is arrogant.
Well, with the usual reserve that I'm no native english speaker, I'd agree the word arrogance may be a bit misused, but I fully understand the angry reaction of a photographer waiting for raw format in a compact to have some room for image treatment, and only finding that this particular raw format actually deprives him from the treatment he wants (or at least complicates it).
[a href=\"http://www.cnrtl.fr/lexicographie/gougnafier]Gougnaferie[/url] is a much better suited word than arrogance in this particular case, but alas! It's no english word.

For me it's a either/or situation :
- either the manufacturer chooses to have only its treatment applied on a camera's files, and then this camera only outputs jpeg,
- or it allows some custom treatment, and then a raw format as standard as possible, and with a minimal amount of built-in processing, is required.
Nikon tries to sit in between two chairs here, imho.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Czornyj on August 09, 2008, 06:40:14 pm
Quote
I find them to be remarkably good for images coming a compact digital camera. Even if they were shot at 64 ISO in a controlled studio environment.

Frankly speaking, nobody would be surprised if these images were said to have been shot with a Canon 40D or Nikon D300.

I would be suprised. There's a huge amount of chroma noise in these pictures.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 09, 2008, 08:20:46 pm
Quote
I would be suprised. There's a huge amount of chroma noise in these pictures.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214140\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

As they were downloading in very magnified format I was able to observe them closely. There is not a lot of chroma noise, and recall these are 8-bit JPEGs. I think Bernard's impression of the image quality just based on this sample seems largely correct. Nikon may be fighting a silly rear-guard battle over raw format to keep their sauce secret, but let's give credit where it's due: the image quality of what they showed in those three files is pretty good. At some point the laws of physics constrain what is achievable, and let's acknowledge that pixel density has to be very high in this model. They've probably done their homework and decided they can live without the number of potential customers who want the ultimate control over their raw files (such as me). But even giving them this benefit of the doubt, it's hard to see what they really achieve playing this game. It just demonstrates the kind of detachment from reality that we often accuse Canon of.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: BernardLanguillier on August 09, 2008, 09:42:57 pm
Quote
Since then, Nikon has released a plethora of me-too who-cares versions of what other companies have already done.  It's sad to see, but then, Nikon doesn't care since they have bigger fish to fry.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214134\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Dale,

I totally agree with you on the overall lack of Nikon investement in compact digital, but the fact remains that these samples are very good. The specs of the P6000 - besides the raw fiasco - are also appealing.

So I find it fair to say that Nikon is going in the right direction - again if you overlook their approach with raw.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: BernardLanguillier on August 09, 2008, 09:44:20 pm
Quote
I would be suprised. There's a huge amount of chroma noise in these pictures.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214140\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

There is some chroma noise, but it is definitely not huge, and way better than any of the other compact digital camera files I have had in my hand recently (mostly Ricoh GX100).

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: jeremyrh on August 10, 2008, 03:30:36 am
Quote
This is a misinformed reply on two counts at least.  One, the LX3 supports an optional snap-in viewfinder.  Two, I have a Pana TZ5 with the same screen, quite viewable in bright daylight, even without turning up the screen brightness.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214132\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
My mistake (somewhat) - I was not aware of the snap-in viewfinder, though I find it not very satisfactory as a solution, and infinitely prefer a proper viewfinder. But for the screen issue, I have the LX2 and find it unacceptable. YMMV.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Quentin on August 10, 2008, 06:05:43 am
Too much NR going on.  Great for snaps, not so good for anything else.  Portraits also always flatter digital cameras.

I have completely given up on small sensor compacts with high pixel counts.  They are a total waste of space for anything other than mom and pop photography.  The Sgma SD1 is a step in the right direction.  We need compacts with big - at least Micro four thirds format - size sensors.  All else is party junk, including the Canon G9 (which for a while seduced me but ultimately let me down) and this new Nikon.

Quentin
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 10, 2008, 10:04:22 am
Quote
My mistake (somewhat) - I was not aware of the snap-in viewfinder, though I find it not very satisfactory as a solution, and infinitely prefer a proper viewfinder. But for the screen issue, I have the LX2 and find it unacceptable. YMMV.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214208\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

As I suggested above, have you tried using your LCD screen with the Hoodman Loupe? Changes the whole experience.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 10, 2008, 10:44:31 am
Quote
Too much NR going on.  Great for snaps, not so good for anything else.  Portraits also always flatter digital cameras.

I have completely given up on small sensor compacts with high pixel counts.  They are a total waste of space for anything other than mom and pop photography.  The Sgma SD1 is a step in the right direction.  We need compacts with big - at least Micro four thirds format - size sensors.  All else is party junk, including the Canon G9 (which for a while seduced me but ultimately let me down) and this new Nikon.

Quentin
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=214213\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Quentin,

These judgments need context and a bit more precision. Firstly, on those three downloadable image files Nikon posted, two of them are portraits and one is a multi-coloured Japanese-looking desert. Chroma noise often shows on skin tones and in dark areas. Between the three of those images, they have both, and the apparent noise, even on large magnification, is well within the realm of acceptability for many purposes, and image detail remains pretty good. I downloaded the Japanese desert and measured the noise in Noiseware. It is remarkably low - less than 10% for Y, Cr and Cb. Now, of course this is a treated JPEG shot at ISO 64. Then I downloaded sample portrait 1, and found the noise slightly higher in the upper mid-tones, but still in the range of 10%, which is really quite low, again shot at ISO 64. Detail is very good as seen from a 100% magnification on a high-res display. All that said, we won't really know the whole story about image quality from this camera until it is properly tested by one or more of the usual gurus, and I would not buy one until the raw format truly delivers a raw file and is opened-up to Lightroom and Camera Raw. But I don't think Nikon is depending on people like me to make this market.

I don't think Nikon intended, nor should any purchaser assume, that you'd get full-frame image quality from a Coolpix, no matter how clever and technically "au courant" the design. So people who want or need the depth and flex of a F-F file and who want traditional control over their raw files simply shouldn't buy this camera. But on the IQ front, I would suspend judgment till the camera is properly tested, and then judge it in the context of its intended market niche.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: jeremyrh on August 10, 2008, 01:48:28 pm
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As I suggested above, have you tried using your LCD screen with the Hoodman Loupe? Changes the whole experience.
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Mark - thanks for that suggestion. I have a Hoodman Loupe and I will give it a try, but I still prefer a proper viewfinder to using an extra gadget.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 10, 2008, 02:06:27 pm
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Mark - thanks for that suggestion. I have a Hoodman Loupe and I will give it a try, but I still prefer a proper viewfinder to using an extra gadget.
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Me too; an extra encumbrance, but it helps quite a bit.  
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: dalethorn on August 10, 2008, 09:07:58 pm
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Dale,
I totally agree with you on the overall lack of Nikon investement in compact digital, but the fact remains that these samples are very good. The specs of the P6000 - besides the raw fiasco - are also appealing.
So I find it fair to say that Nikon is going in the right direction - again if you overlook their approach with raw.
Cheers,
Bernard
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Nikon has led the way for so many years in pro-am photography that they are ingrained in the photo culture the same way Dante and Shakespeare are ingrained in English culture.  That aside, they (Nikon) may be headed in the right direction business-wise or DSLR-wise, but compact cameras are providing the funding for much of the research and development in digital image technology, and they aren't involved in that aspect of the business the way I would expect of a technology leader.  Granted I would use their cameras ahead of most other brands due to their general professionalism, but I feel better beating up on them for not trying harder than I would if I just gave them a free pass on their past glory.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Chris C on August 15, 2008, 01:13:24 pm
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As I suggested above, have you tried using your LCD screen with the Hoodman Loupe? Changes the whole experience.
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I  know you like your Hoodman Loupe, but are you aware it is no longer being manufactured?
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Mark D Segal on August 15, 2008, 01:27:37 pm
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I  know you like your Hoodman Loupe, but are you aware it is no longer being manufactured?
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Hi Chris - this is indeed very recent, because at the time I wrote my last post recommending it, I had checked the B&H website and it was still listed for sale. Now that you have brought this to my attention I went back there and indeed it says "discontinued". Surprising - this is a great gadget - but maybe the economics didn't work out for them.
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 18, 2008, 09:35:20 am
It would seem that Adobe Camera Raw 4.6 offers support for the Coolpix P6000.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Nikon P6000 Announced
Post by: Theodore on September 18, 2008, 11:30:30 am
Just saw that too - http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091802...era_raw_4_6.asp (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091802adobe_camera_raw_4_6.asp)