Barnard Microsystems Limited

Above: cameras belonging to an air show enthusiast

• The DSLR imaging system
• Viewing angle
• Nikon AF-S zoom lenses
• Computer control of the camera

• See "imaging" for photographs taken using the D40X
• See "train photo 2" for photos taken using the D40X
• See "aerial photo 3" for photos taken using the D40X

The light Nikon D40X camera with a compatible Nikon ED-IF AF-S Nikkor 70 - 300mm F/4.5 - 5.6 lens.

The Nikon D40X

• The most compact and lightweight Nikon digital SLR ever

• 12 bit image compression

• Remote control from a PC using Nikon Camera Control Pro software

• £ 319 from www.microglobe.co.uk

The Nikon D300

from www.microglobe.co.uk

• EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb tonal gradation.

• GPS NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable (optional) and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)

• Remote control from a PC using Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 software
• £ 1,249 from www.microglobe.co.uk

The 24.5 MPixel Nikon D3X

- from http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/broad/1726/views.html

Key features

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The relationship to calculate horizontal and vertical viewing angles is given by:

L _CCD = dimension of CCD, here 23.6 mm wide (use for horizontal angle) and 15.8 mm high (use for vertical angle) for the Nikon D40X and the Nikon D300

Lf = focal length, for example, 35 mm

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Above: the AF-S 18 - 55mm f/3.5 - 5.6 G II ED AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor lens.

Our view is that Nikon lenses suitable for use on a small Unmanned Aircraft are highlighted in light green, these being the 18 mm - 200 mm and the 70 mm to 300 mm focal length zoom telephoto lenses. Both of these lenses include second generation vibration reduction. The two drawbacks of both of these lenses are their weights and their prices.

See imaging page for some examples of photographs taken using this camera system.

High speed, low light level, zoom telephoto AF-S lenses

from http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?pName=nikon-2470mm-f28g-afs-nikkor-ed-lens

• G = "no aperture ring"

• ED = "Extra Low Dispersion" glass used in the lenses

• IF = "internal focusing"

• VR = "vibration reduction" equivalent to 3 stops

• VR-II = "second generation vibration reduction" equivalent to 4 stops

• cost refers to the prices displayed on the www.amazon.co.uk web site on 1st November, 2007.

Both of these lenses are very high performance, heavy, expensive lenses. If you need top performance, these should be considered.

The 70 mm to 200 mm f/2.8 Nikon lens from http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_70200_28vr/index.htm

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First, you need to purchase a copy of the Camera Control Pro software from Nikon. This software is not supplied wth the D40X camera. Camera Control Pro 2 is used for the Nikon D300 DSLR camera.

After installing the Camera Control Pro software on the computer, you need to set the USB option in the camera menu from "Mass Storage" (for downloading images from the camera to the PC) to "MTP/PTP" to enable camera control via USB, and to store the images on the PC rather than on the camera.

When running the Camera Control Pro, three windows pop up. The largest window is used to display the most recent image. As far as we can tell, the software does not display a viseo image when the D40X is used. Pity.

The camera settings can be adjusted in the second window.

An interesting capability is the setting of the image transfer curve to accentuate dark features, or images in the shadows...

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The good points

• good quality images, across zoom ranges

• reasonable quality images from a moving camera and in low light level conditions

• fast shooting speed
• good remote camera control software via USB connection to a Personal Computer, but you need to purchase the software seperately

The not-so-good points

• the top quality camera, such as the D300 and a fast telephoto lens, such as the f/2.8 70mm - 200mm lens are expensive, but then you get what you pay for.
• the camera body and the attached lens are heavy!
• Using Camera Control Pro, you do not see video images on the PC when operating the camera using the PC. Camera Control Pro 2 for use with the Nikon D300 camera might support display of video imagery. On application, Nikon will supply a copy of the camera control application software, so one might be able to remotkley display the images after some software development.
• Cannot remotely control the optical zoom using the Camera Control Pro software on the PC.

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