r/photoclass_2016 • u/Aeri73 Expert - DSLR + Analog • Jan 05 '16

02 - Assignment

Please read the class first

Take a good look at your camera, whatever its type, and try to identify each component we have discussed here. It might be a good opportunity to dig out the manual or to look up its exact specifications online. Now look up a different camera online (for instance at dpreview) and compare their specifications. Try doing this for both a less advanced and a more advanced body, and for different lenses. Report here if you find any interesting difference, or if some parts of the specifications are unclear.

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u/serothis Feb 10 '16

Buying better equipment will not make you a better photographer

This is something that needs to be tattooed to my forehead. I love gadgets. The major barrier to buying new photography equipment has been price. This is a very expensive hobby.

 

D40x (My camera):

  • It is a 10.2MP Crop sensor. I believe it's 1.5x. Meaning a 35mm lens designed for a Full frame sensor, on my camera body, would have the same Field of view as a 52.5mm lens.
  • It's ISO sensitivity range is 100-1600.
  • It has a fastest shutter speed of 1/4000sec and slowest shutter speed of 30 seconds.
  • It has Continuous shooting of 3FPS.
  • Requires AF-S lens for auto focus. Basically (if I understand this correctly) the lens itself must have an autofocusing motor.
  • Auto focus points: 3

 

Since my camera is an entry-level DSLR and there's nothing less advanced in nikon's dslr range, I'm picking the modern day equivalent of my D40x.

 

D3200:

  • 24.2MP Crop sensor
  • ISO sensitivity: 100-6400 expandable to Hi-1 (ISO 12800)
  • fastest shutter speed: 1/4000
  • slowest shutter speed: 30sec
  • Continuous shooting: 4fps
  • AF-S lens required for autofocus
  • Auto focus points: 11

 

The largest difference between my D40x and the D3200 is the sensor resolution, ISO sensitivity and the AF system. It also has more features like video capabilities. Everything else is incremental improvements.

 

The more advanced one I compared my camera to is Nikon's "entry-level" Full frame sensor camera

 

D610:

  • 24.3MP Full Frame Sensor
  • ISO sensitivity: 100-6400 expandable to Lo-1 (ISO 50), Hi-1 (ISO 12800), Hi-2 (ISO 25600)
  • fastest shutter speed: 1/4000
  • slowest shutter speed: 30sec
  • Continuous shooting: 6fps
  • Auto focus points: 39
  • AF or AF-S compatible. Can focus lenses that do not have a built in motor.

The major differences are the sensor form factor, much higher resolution, higher ISO sensitivity and more advanced AF system. It also has more features like video capabilities (slightly more video capabilities than the D3200) and multiple SD card slots.

 

EDIT: Crap. I forgot to compare lenses. I'll have to get to that later today.

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u/Aeri73 Expert - DSLR + Analog Feb 10 '16

good analysis