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Digital Single Lens Reflex (DLSR) imaging system
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The light Nikon D40X camera with a compatible Nikon ED-IF AF-S Nikkor 70 - 300mm
F/4.5 - 5.6 lens.
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Nikon D40X
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Nikon D300
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units
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resolution
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3,872 x 2,592 = 10.2 M
23.6 mm x 15.8 mm
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4,288 x 2,848 = 12.3 M
23.6 mm x 15.8 mm
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pixel
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wavelength
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400 - 700
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400 - 700
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nm
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frame rate
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3
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6
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fps
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RAW image size
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9.745
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MBytes
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JPEG image size
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3.5 to 5.2
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MBytes
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ISO range
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100 - 1,600
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200 - 3,200
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|
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shutter speed
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1/4,000 to 30
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1/8,000 to 30
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second
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weight (body only)
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481
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825
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grams
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The Nikon D40X
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The most compact and lightweight Nikon digital SLR ever
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12 bit image compression
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Remote control from a PC using Nikon Camera Control Pro software
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£ 319 from
www.microglobe.co.uk
The Nikon D300
from
www.microglobe.co.uk
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EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image
processing for superb tonal gradation.
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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)
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Remote control from a PC using Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 software
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£ 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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Feature
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Value
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sensor type
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CMOS 35.9 mm x 24 mm
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sensor resolution
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24.5 MPixel with 6,048 x 4,032 pixels
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Image pixel depth
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14 bits
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Fastest shutter speed
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1 / 8000 of a second
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Max ISO sensitivity
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1,600
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Frame rate
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5 fps
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Weight
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1.22 kg
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Price
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£ 5,500 from Amazon UK [4 DEC 2008]
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return to top
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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focal length mm
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horizontal degrees
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vertical degrees
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18
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66.5
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47.4
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25
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50.5
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35.1
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35
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37.3
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25.4
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50
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26.6
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18.0
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85
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15.8
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10.6
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100
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13.5
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9.03
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135
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10.0
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6.70
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200
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6.75
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4.52
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300
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4.50
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3.02
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return to top
Above: the AF-S 18 - 55mm f/3.5 - 5.6 G II ED AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor lens.
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L_focal
min, mm
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L_focal
max, mm
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f/x.x
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- x.x
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G
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ED-IF
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DX
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VR
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weight
grams
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cost
£
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18
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55
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3.5
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5.6
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G II
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ED
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DX
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-
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205
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69.94
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55
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200
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4.0
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5.6
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G
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ED
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DX
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-
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255
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142.50
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18
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135
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3.5
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5.6
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-
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ED-IF
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DX
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-
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385
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184.95
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18
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70
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3.5
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4.5
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-
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ED-IF
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DX
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-
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420
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144.95
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18
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200
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3.5
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5.6
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G
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ED-IF
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DX
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VR-II
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560
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434.95
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24
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120
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3.5
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5.6
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G
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ED-IF
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DX
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VR
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575
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367.95
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70
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300
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4.5
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5.6
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G
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ED-IF
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DX
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VR-II
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745
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319.95
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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
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L_focal
min, mm
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L_focal
max, mm
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f/x.x
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- x.x
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G
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ED-IF
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DX
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VR
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weight
grams
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cost
£
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24
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70
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2.8
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2.8
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G
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ED-IF
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DX
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-
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900
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1,279.00
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70
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200
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2.8
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2.8
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G
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ED_IF
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DX
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VR
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1,470
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1,148.00
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G = "no aperture ring"
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ED = "Extra Low Dispersion" glass used in the lenses
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IF = "internal focusing"
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VR = "vibration reduction" equivalent to 3 stops
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VR-II = "second generation vibration reduction" equivalent to 4 stops
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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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Computer control of the camera
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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...
return to top
The good points
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good quality images, across zoom ranges
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reasonable quality images from a moving camera and in low light level conditions
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fast shooting speed
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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
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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.
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the camera body and the attached lens are heavy!
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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.
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Cannot remotely control the optical zoom using the Camera Control Pro software
on the PC.
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