Nikon Coolpix A VS Sigma Dp1 Merrill

Nikon Coolpix A Previews

With the same sensor as the acclaimed D7000 DSLR, the Coolpix A certainly promises great things

The Coolpix A borrows the Graphic user interface from NIkon's DSLR line. as well as the sensor from the D7000 DSLR, and fits them into a slender, pocket-able body.

Nikon has developed a new 18,5mm optic for the model, with a 28mm-equivalent focal length and a respectable maximum aperture of f/2.8 while the inclusion of a hot-shoe on the top plate ensures compatibility with the company's family of Speed-light flashguns in addition to a handful of other accessories.

The camera goes on to list many other features commonly found in its DSLRs, Including Raw shooting in Nikon's NEF format, a 3in LCD screen with a 921k-dot resolution, and the Virtual Horizon levelling feature. Full HD videos can also be REcorded. With control over exposure on hand.

As is common among such cameras the Coolpix A offers a moderate level of customisation, which includes two user-specific settings on the mode dial and function buttons on the camera's front and rear plates. Those wanting to manually focus may do so with the ring which encircles the lens, while anyone with a keen interest in time-lapse photography will be pleased to learn of a built in interval-meter.

Performance

Anyone familiar with Nikon's DSLR line will be able to start shooting with the coolpix A with little bother, thanks to the adoption of the same interface. what they, or anyone else may find more difficult to uncover is the way of accessing the movie setting, which is bizarrely buried within the camera's Release mode settings (the closest you can get to convenience is to assign the Release mode to a Function button).

Although the buttons on the left side of the LCD necessitate two handed operation with the command dial, this soon becomes second nature. There's much to like elsewhere too, the camera powers up promptly with a gentle nudge of the collar around the shutter release button. and there's Virtually no delay before the camera's ready to shoot. The LCD screen is crisp and high in Contrast, and it shows plenty of detail which makes checking focus easy.

The autofocus system does tend to slow things down, however, bouncing back and forth more than expected before any confirmation. although in good light it's unlikely to be deemed "too" slow in poor light, meanwhile, the AF assist lamp does at least help to keep speeds reasonable.

Nikon has combined an aluminium alloy body with a magnesium top plate for the Coolpix A, and fashioned most of the dials out of metal too, At just shy of 300g when loaded with a battery and card the camera is certainly lighter than expected. and it's difficult to find any weaknesses around the body. Some may take umbrage at the lack of a more substantial grip, although the slim leatherette strip does at least help to keep size and weight down. One could argue the buttons on the rear don't protrude far away from the back plate, although all press positively into the camera.

Sigma DP1 Merrill Previews

With a totally different sensor from almost any other camera, does the DP1 Merrill offer anything special?

As with Sigma's other cameras, the DP1 Merrill uses a sensor based on the Foveon X3 Direct IMage technology, where by the extent to which wavelengths of light penetrate its silicon layers determine the colour. This differs from the more conventional method of capturing a single colour at each photo-site and interpolating the other two primary colours from neighbouring values.

Because of this. Sigma claims the camera has a 46MP sensor, by which it means there are there 15.3MP layers. although opening up such an image in an image editing program shows images to measure 14.75MP.

The rest of the camera's specs adhere to the more traditional enthusiast compact template. The 19mm f/2.8 prime lens equates to 28mm in 35mm term. while the 3in LCD screen bears a 920k-dot resolution. The body shares its magnesium alloy construction with many other enthusiast compacts, while full manual exposure control. Raw shooting and hot-shoe all feature too, although videos can only be recorded to a maximum VGA resolution (640 x 480) which is disappointing for a camera of the DP1 merrill's billing.

Performance

The camera turn on in around a second but it's only ready to focus and shoot after a further slight delay. the fact that it also doesn't sport a convenient built in lens cover (as on many other models) mean that the lens cap also needs to be removed before shooting, which makes start up a two stage process.

although the camera's 920k-dot LCD screen is capable of resolving fine detail, this is only realised when using the menus and playing back image, When composing-images, the feed shows significantly less detail, which is further compromised by artefacts, and colours are relatively desaturated when composing images too. ALl of this is disappointing when you consider the discerning user at which the camera is targeted, and makes checking accurate focus more difficult than it should be.

The menu system is difficult to fault though, its construction logical and descriptions clear and unabbreviated. The ease with which the command dial can be accessed by the forefinger also makes its navigation easy. while the QS button allows you to jump to and change eight commonly-used settings without entering the main menu, which speeds things up.

While a bulky body can sometimes benefit the way a camera handles, the portly DP1 Merrill's delivers a less than satisfactory handling experience. This is largely thanks to the lack of a proper grip of thumb rest, which makes the smooth body feel less secure in the hand than desired. this being said, the command dial is far easier to operate than on similar models given both its size and positioning, while the broad rear plate allows enough room for a well spaced set of controls There's also no doubting the camera's solidity, with its magnesium alloy body unyielding to any pressure.

How They Compare

Each Camera has its plus and minus points on its own, but how do they fare against each other?
These three cameras share many commonalities. Each has an APS-C sensor without an anti aliasing filter - the only notable difference here is Sigma's non standard Foveon X3 sensor architecture - as well as a lens with an effective focal length of 28mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8 Each also has a 3in LCD screen. The DPI1 merrill is notable for being the only camera not to have an HD video mode, with its VGA video option an underwhelming substitute (although to many this won't be a deal breaker) it's also the only camera not to have a built in flash, which is particularly disappointing considering its dreadful high sensitivity performance.

Nikon Coolpix A Pros And Cons

Pros

- Noise Control
- very good LCD
- Great shot to shoot times
- Best video quality on test

Cons

- No dedicated movie button
- Focus can be slow at times
- Far too expensive

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Sigma DP1 Merrill Pros And Cons

Pros

- Capuable of great detail
- Superb GUI
- OVersized mode dial makes changing certain settings easy

Cons

- Bulky body
- NO proper grip
- VGA videos
- Unsightly noise at higher ISOs

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4.5 / 5

A BRIDGE CAMERA

Bridge cameras

dispense with this, so users must compose using the live view feed to either the LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder. This does offer some advantages over a DSLR's optical system, the electronic image allows you to see the exposure and white balance as it will be recorded in the final image. you can see more shooting data. and in low light an EVF can also be brighter than an optical viewfinder.

But the resolution of EVFs is not as good as an optical viewfinder. there;s a slight lag when you look through the eyepiece, and the image can drag or smear as you can quickly, it can.also freeze momentarily as it saves your images.
Most bridge cameras offer a similar range of direct control to entry level DSLRs, with a mode dial and direct buttons for key shooting parameters. Most shoot Raw, and HD video is pretty much standard, though the bit rates. file formats and frame rates vary. Most have a hot-shoe for an dedicated external flashgun, and one or two newer models offer WI-FI and/or GPS.

As with compacts the zoom is usually controlled using a rocker switch on the camera body, though on a couple it can be manually adjusted by rotating the lens itself. like on a DSLR. Virtually all models feature optical. or sensor shift, image stabilisation. Most bridge cameras use the contrast detect method of auto-focusing, which is slower than the phase detect method used by DSLRs, making them less suitable for fast action, and this is why AF tends to hunt as it struggles to find focus on the subject at higher magnifications. SOme of the latest bridge cameras are starting to use hybrid AF sensors that incorporate phase detect pixels within the chip itself, and this dramatically improves AF performance.

There A Reasons To Buy A Bridge Camera

The Lens

in reality there are fewer uses for a 1000mm equivalent lens than most people think. But if you're into nature and wildlife photography or sport, then you may otherwise be unable to get close enough to you subject to fill the frame. if you want to photograph deer in the park, birds in your garden, or the kids playing in school sports tournaments bridge cameras come into their own (though with fast action the AF system may struggle to keep up) but for most day to day shooting the vast majority of photo opportunities can be covered the focal range provided by the average 1-x zoom lens.

The EVFs

for many photographers a viewfinder is essential LCD screens can be difficult to see in bright light and older users can other struggle to see them clearly. For those who don't want a DSLR, the bridge is one of the few types of camera where a viewfinder is till the norm. albeit an electronic one.

The Size/Shape

if you have big hands. and find compacts too fiddly, you may prefer the design and shape of bridge cameras which like DSLRs, offer a substantial grip and a good number of decent sized button to control it with.

Achilles Heel Bridge Camera Features

If you've ever tried to hold a pair of binoculars steady you'll know that t isn't easy. High zoom lenses are the same. This makes them difficult to hold still at high magnifications, especially if you don't have a viewfinder and are relying on the LCD. we'd go so far as to say that bridge cameras without viewfinders should be avoided altogether, such is the difficulty of holding a camera steady at arm's length at a high zoom magnification. Holding a viewfinder to your face helps to stabilise the camera's movement. the other problem with high zoom shooting is camera shake, which is magnified as you zoom. Although virtually all bridge cameras come with image stabilisation *and any that don;t should be avoided like the plague) this only reduces camera shake. it doesn't eliminate it. you'll still need to shoot at a relatively high shutter speed. AN old rule of thumb is that it should be at least as high as the equivalent focal length you;re using, so 1/500 sex is you;re zoomed out at 500mm (though with modern image stabilisation systems you can often go two to there stops lower than this, and perhaps more, if you shoot carefully).

Fast shutter speeds require good light,, or a wide aperture, but bridge cameras (with one exception) have small maximum apertures when you zoom in, so in dull light the only way to avoid camera shake is to raise the ISO sensitivity, which may introduce visible noise into the image.

The exception is the Panasonic FZ200, the first (and so far only) bridge camera with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which is over two stops brighter than average.

There A Reasons NOT TO BUY A Bridge Camera

Image Quality

If image quality is the most important consideration you can do better than a bridge. Some DSLRs are not much bigger. or you could consider one of the growing number of CSCs, many of which are smaller and lighter than bridge cameras yet have much bigger sensors and faster lenses (e.g the Nikon 1 S1 below) There are even some premium compacts with larger sensors.

Portability

A bridge camera gives you at least 50% of the bulk of a DSLR without the associated image quality benefits. IF compact size is more important than ultimate image quality. But you still want a reasonably good zoom. look at the growing number of pocket super-zooms (aka travel compacts) with 20x zooms that will fit in your pocket. you;ll still be able to get a very good quality A4 or 8x10 inch print from them which is a s big as most people ever want to go.

High Speed

Although some bridges are capable of short high speed bursts (usually by pre fixing the focus before the first frame) in general they're not ideal for fast action, despite their long zooms. because the AF isn't fast enough, though some are now using hybrid sensors with phase detect pixels, which helps. The other problem is that the EVF may not refresh quickly enough. A DSLR is still the best solution. Even though you won't be able to zoom in as far with a DSLR. the much larger sensor does give you much more scope for cropping later.

Six of The Best OF Bridge CAMERA

Feel free to click on image for more information

A BRIDGE CAMERA

The defining feature of a DSLR is its mirror and prism assembly, which enables users to see directly through the lens using an optical viewfinder. Bridge cameras dispense with this, so users must compose using the live view feed to either the LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder. This does offer some advantages over a DSLR's optical system, the electronic image allows you to see the exposure and white balance as it will be recorded in the final image. you can see more shooting data. and in low light an EVF can also be brighter than an optical viewfinder. andrian manhatan Bridge CAMERA

4.5 / 5

CANON 700D EOS And NIKON D5200 EOS Reviews Image Quality Updates 2014

the Canon EOS 700D's

contrast Detect AF system, is designed to improve focusing performance in both Live View and video modes.

As far as AF goes, the 700D plays it pretty safe. with a nine-point diamond-formation AF, but the good news is that they're all the more sensitivity cross type variants.

The EOS 700D's optical viewfinder offers 95% coverage, while the 3.2 aspect ratio rear 3in display sport a resolution of 1.040k-dots. The screen is high on the side of the body, allowing the display to told out to 175 and turning through an angle of 270. Not only that, but the 700D is currently the only DSLR to utilise touch screen functionality, with a capacitive type. Smart-phone like interface.

Video can be recorded at FUll HD 1080p at 25 or 24p, while a 50p option is available at standard HD 720p, while there are a pair of microphones on the top-plate to record stereo sound and a wind-cut filter accessed via the menu system.

The 700D is bundled with a new 18-55mm f/3,5-5,6 IS STM lens that features a four-stop optical image. Stabilizer and a stepper motor for smooth focus transitions while capturing video footage and improved AF during live view.

LENS PERMORMANCE

The new Canon 18-55mm f/3-5,6 IS STM lens delivers a good performance. While barrel distortion at 18mm is evident, it disappears beyond that, while there is minimal chromatic aberrations on display, delivering sound results overall considering the price of the optic.

After 10 years of evolving the design, it;s no surprise that the Canon EOS 700D is a well0thought-out piece of kit. In the hand, while the 700D has a relatively diminutive proportions hand-grip, it;s nonetheless comfortable and provides a secure grip with the attached 18-55mm lens.

THe EOS 700D features a stainless steel chassis and is finished in a polycarbonate resin shell with an external finish borrowed from Canon's mid-range EOS models, while there is a host of external controls that offer quick access to a range of settings.

IMAGE QUALITY

Colour & White Balance
The Auto White Balance copes with a range on scenes well delivering pleasingly natural looking shots that retain the mood of the scene.

While the 18MP sensor can't quite resolve the same amount of details as the higher resolution rivals at low ISOs, it's still very good. In our technical test. the Canon EOS 700D is capable of resolving 22 lines per [lpmm] at ISO 100, While this only drops down to 20llpmm at ISO 12,800

Image Noise

Base ISOs are devoid of image noise, with texture beginning to become noticeable above ISO 800 and getting progressively worse as the sensitivity is increased. That said. shooting at ISO 6400 will still deliver acceptable results. though we'd recommend shooting in Raw for best result because in JPEG files at high ISOs the 700D's image noise reduction system blurs the image slightly in an effort to control noise.

Performance

With the new STM lens attached. we found focus to be fast and almost completely silent. AF point are still grouped relatively near the centre of the frame though. while there isn't the coverage from the nine AF points for advanced focus tracking. IN live view of video mode, the combination of the Hybrid AF and STM lens means focus is quick while also delivering pleasingly smooth transitions as you change the point of focus. Focus tracking is also possible during live view. and provided that your subject doesn't move too erratically around the frame, in general it does a good job to maintain focus.
the 700D's capacitive touch-screen offers a similar user experience to that you'll have with a smart phone. When shooting in LIve View, you can tap the point on the screen you wish to focus on. while the EOS 700D can be set-up to fire the shutter at the same time as you focus. When reviewing images, you can pinch-and-zoom in on the image. using you finger to zoom around the image with no event lag. it;s still not possible though to double-tap the image during playback to review it at 100% as most smart phones allow. while the image suffers from an ever-so slight delay before it's rendered at full quality as you're flicking through your images. This is something you don't experience when toggling through images normally. The screen renders the scene naturally. displaying good levels of contrast and saturation. while the wide viewing angle is a match for OLED rivals.

The way the Canon EOS 700D's interface and controls have been designed. you don't need to use the touch screen at all if it doesn't appeal, with the camera functioning as happily without those finger gestures. Controls are well laid out. while the quick menu display is particularly well designed. making toggling between settings very quick and much easier. The main menu is a split into 11 sub-menus that run along the top of the screen, and using the control wheel you can quickly jump between each section.

THe 700D is able to shoot at a burst speed of 5fps and this is maintained for only six Raw this files before the buffer slow however, things are a bit better when shooting JPEGs at 22 frames.

HOW THEY COMPARE

Both are strong performers, but when pitted against each other, which one comes out on top?

In the hand there's not a lot to choose between the two cameras, with the plastic casing used on both feeling solid enough for regular enthusiast use.
the D5200 features a slightly shallower grip and smaller controls that would perhaps suit those with smaller hands, while the 700D offers a touch more height for those with larger hands. THis will be subjective though and we'd always recommend trying both models out first in your local camera shop before making up your mind

IN USE

For those entering the world of DSLR photography for the first time. the D5200 may be the less intimidating of the two thanks to the sparser button placement on the body, the graphical interface and more easily accessed guide for various settings. New users though will still get on fine width the 700D, but on the other hand those with some experience will no doubt appreciate the added benefit of those quick-access controls dotted round the body.

Both viewfinders offer 95% coverage, so there'll be the odd occasion when unwanted elements creep into the edge of the frame that you can't see when shooting. There are a couple of subtle differences between the two viewfinders though, with the 700D's t0.85x magnification bettering that of the D5200's 0.78x to deliver a slight size advantage.

Both models share an identical burst rate of 5fps. but it's the D5200 that edges it here. able to sustain it for one more frame when shooting in Raw. while it;s possible to rattle off a stream of JPEG files compared to the 700D's still decent 22 files.
while neither models offers WI-FI connectivity, the D5200 allow you to connect an optional WU-la Wireless Mobile Adapter to establish a connection between the D5200 and a smart mobile device.

Image Quality

Either camera will deliver excellent result. but the flexibility on the higher pixel count of the D5200 allows for a few more option if cropping is required. The D5200 also handles nose just that little bit better than 700D

At A Glance

The 18MP sensor inside the 700D delivers a good level of detail, but thanks to the 24.1MP sensor at the heart of the D5200, allows it to resolve that bit more detail through the ISO range.

In isolation. the screen on the D5200 is very good. but the 3.2 aspect ratio screen on the 700D is much  logical. while the touch screen interface is a real gem. making the camera quick to use.

The D5200 does well to record detailed and fluid clips. but doesn't quite deliver on the sound. The 700D prIces richly detailed and smooth footage with excellent audio characteristics.

Although both models are satisfying to shot with, and both feature comfortable hand grips, the 700D takers the spots thanks to more body mounted controls for quicker access to care settings.

even though the EOs 700D provides fast AF acquisition in One Shot AF. the conservative nine point AF arrangement isn't match for the more sophisticated 39-point AF system in the D5200.

With identical extended ISO ranges up to an equivalent of 25.600. it's the D5200 that just edges it managing to keep noise a little more under control at higher sensitivities than the still strong 700D.

Verdicts

Both cameras are very evenly matched with each camera having its; own subtle strengths and weaknesses over its rival. With this in mind it's advised to really consider your own specific needs. especially if you're not already tied into a system.
The D5200's advanced 39-point AF system is bound to appeal to those wanting to shoot action. and new users will appreciate the more welcoming interface.
While the 700D trails the D5200 on a few points. it just edges out the D5200 when everything totted p. While it doesn't have the same breadth of AF point as we;d like AF acquisition is fast. wile focusing performance in Live View is relatively quick and smooth thanks to the STM lens. Then there;s the excellent touch-screen display and exterior controls delivering a pleasurable shooting experience that all goes to deliver a strong all-round performance that should keep both new and more experience users happy.

CANON EOS 700D Pros

Exterior controls and touch-screen inter
face
Video performance
Viewfinder

CANON EOS 700D Cons

9-point AF system limiting
Burst shooting could be better
NOise levels higher than peers

NIKON D5200 Pros

Sophisticated AF system
Excellent noise control
Resolution
Burst Shooting
GUI

NIKON D5200 Cons

Shallow grip
Lack of body-mounted controls
Slow AF area selection in Live View.

 

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CANON 700D EOS And NIKON D5200 EOS Reviews Image Quality Updates 2014 Both cameras are evenly matched with each camera featuring its; own subtle strengths and weaknesses over its rival. With this in mind it's advised to completely consider your own specific needs. especially if you're not already tied into a method. andrian manhatan CANON 700D EOS And NIKON D5200 EOS

4.5 / 5