Know Your Camera: ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Apart from a few of the most advanced models (Nikon F4, F5, etc.), the old cameras didn’t have the ability to set shutter speed, etc. Most of them were very basic, and delivered similar results.
Today, with so many settings to adjust, there is more variety between cameras. There is even word going around that some camera sensors are more sensitive than others. That shouldn’t be the case. 400 ASA should be 400 ASA. It’s a standard (American Standards Association), so it should be the same across cameras.
The point is, with every camera being slightly different, you must get to know each one’s strengths and limitations.
I’ve got my Nikon D600 which doesn’t keep up with sports photography because the files are humungous. My Nikon D3 and Nikon D700 are so much better for sports. First, they are faster. The D600 does six frames a second, the D3 does eight and the D700 does about ten, so that can make all the difference. The tracking system on these two cameras are also much better. They focus a lot quicker, enabling me to keep track of the subject. The D600 isn’t very good at focusing in low light, especially if you’ve got low batteries.
“With every camera being slightly different, you must get to know each one’s strengths and limitations.”
On the other hand, the D600 has four million extra pixels which makes it better for capturing detail. I would use this camera for weddings and high performance photos, when you’ve got more time (supposedly). I also shot last year’s panto performance images on the D600. Those extra pixels are also important for capturing detail in low light. I shoot on RAW as well as JPEG at the same time, just in case we need that extra detail for a 20 x 16 print or whatever.
I don’t need any more than 16 million pixels, and if you don’t need them, don’t have them is my motto. Years ago, I had to turn a 4 million pixel fashion show image into a backdrop for a Hoopers shop window display. There were three models walking up the catwalk and the manager wanted to put the same three outfits in the shop with the backdrop of the models behind them. He must have had that idea while at the show because he sprung that on me afterwards. I was thinking, ‘Oh dear! 30 by 40 foot and he wants a 4 million pixel image.’ I printed A4 sections and brought them into the shop to show him. He said they would be fine, so we did it and nobody could tell the difference. You’ve got the width of the shop window, 10 or 12 foot, then the width of the street, so you’re at least 15 foot away. You’re not going to see those pixels. If you look at some of the advertising boards out there, you can see the dots.
“I don’t need any more than 16 million pixels, and if you don’t need them, don’t have them is my motto.”
With sports photography, I trade the D600’s extra 4 million pixels for speed because the images are only going to be used for newsprint and social media. The extra detail is lost in the low resolution of newsprint and the social media algorithms. You could use the D600 for runners, as long as they weren’t marathon runners doing 30 or 40 miles per hour towards the finishing tape, (an exaggeration, but you can see my point).
The D3 and D700 are very comparable. They’re both tough and provide similar quality, but the D3 weighs an absolute ton. On the other hand, it’s more weatherproof than the D700, so if I’m not confident in the weather, or I’m filming at the beach, I’ll use the D3. The D700 has a separate grip, which means that damp and dust can get in between the grip and the camera body. You’ve got electric contacts there keeping your grip batteries connected with your camera. If you get grit into that it can cause all sorts of problems. I used the D700 at a motocross event once and got dust between the grip and camera body. The D3 is a solid unit. The battery goes in at the side.
When you get to know your camera, you will be better prepared for the job at hand, and achieve the best results you can.
Have a burning photography question you would like Al to write about in his next blog post? Email info@miraclepr.com with your request.
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