Nikon D7000 Mini-review

Apart from a whole slew of new compact cameras, the only recent announcement of interest to Rangefinder readers is the unveiling of the Canon Rebel T3i, which is an upgrade to the well-regarded T2i. I had expected more exciting announcements at the beginning of February, as there was a major photo show in Japan called CP+. It’s a fairly new event on the trade show calendar, so perhaps manufacturers just did not yet see it as an important place to unveil significant new cameras.

In brief, the $800 Canon Rebel T3i has the same 18-megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor also found in the Rebel T2i and EOS 60D. The T3i also inherits the creative filters from the EOS 60D. One useful upgrade that could pique the interest of pro photographers is the ability to fire Speedlite flashguns remotely. It’s a valuable feature that has always been available in more expensive DSLRs.

About the only significant external change is a rotating rear LCD screen which is very handy when shooting video or still from an awkward angle. One new feature is an extended zoom in video mode, which crops the sensor without losing any quality. Since HD video only requires an image size of 1920 x 1080 this means the camera can use just the center portion of the sensor to give an effective multiplier of up to 10X. This could prove very useful for videographers, as it will lessen the need to purchase long telephotos for video usage. It is of course unnecessary for still shooters as a crop like can be done in seconds on a computer after capture.

Canon has also announced two new Speedlite flashguns. The 320EX includes a built-in LED continuous light option for use when shooting video. It can also remotely fire any Canon camera with wireless remote control or integrated Speedlite transmitter as found in the Rebel T3i, EOS 60D or EOS 7D.

Nikon D7000
Nikon’s recently introduced upper end enthusiast DSLR sits above the D90 and below the D300S. It features a new 16.3-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor that can also capture 1080p HD video, which is the first time full HD video has been offered on a Nikon DSLR camera. The D7000 has a partially weatherproof magnesium alloy body with a street price of $1200 for the body only.

Apart from the different placement of some buttons, any Nikon user will quickly be at home with the familiar ergonomics of a Nikon body. I certainly had no problems using it straight out of the box. If you shoot video the major improvement is a sprung switch to quickly activate Live View along with a dedicated video shutter button. My biggest complaint is that the LCD monitor does not rotate. I’m surprised Nikon did not add this feature as it is found on the less expensive D5000 and is being added on other cameras in the same price range. Anyone who shoots video will know the value of having a rotatable screen for composing video (or stills for that matter) images at anything other than eye level.

I exclusively used the D7000 with an AF-S NIkkor 28–300mm f/3.5–5.6 G lens rather than the kit lens while I borrowed the camera. I was really impressed by this $945 lens as it worked well and produced great images. Even though the D7000 has an APS-C sensor, its high ISO image quality proved to be very good. Okay it’s still not quite at the amazing level of the D3S with its full size sensor, but it comes incredibly close especially considering the enormous price difference.

At one time I used the D7000 on a boat during an evening dinner cruise in Miami. I set the camera at ISO 5000 and was able to shoot handheld at 300mm with a shutter speed as slow as 1/30 and get decently sharp images with completely acceptable noise levels.

One area where modern cameras have really improved is in battery life. I never had to worry about running out of juice, despite chimping quite often, as the camera easily shot hundreds of images on a single charge. For me at least, battery life has not been an issue with cameras I have been reviewing during the past couple of years.

Although the D7000 only has a buffer for 100 JPEG shots it proved to be fine during my tests. The camera can only shoot at 6 fps for 22 frames before it slows down, so it might not be adequate for extensive sports photography. Unlike many cameras in this price range, the D7000 has dual SD card slots, which is very useful if you need to duplicate images in camera or save RAW on one card and JPEG on the other.

Kudos to Nikon for including this feature in a low-cost body.
For one reason or another I did not really get to shoot much video but it seemed to be fine. The D7000 is among the first DSLRs to have autofocus during video capture. However, it still relies on contrast detection auto focus, as the mirror is in the up position, so the faster phase detection mode is not operational.

All in all, I can recommend the D7000 as a back-up camera for any Nikon pro user, and would even suggest it could be used as a primary camera in many situations since the image quality is excellent. The D7000’s solid construction gave me confidence it can withstand use on a day-to-day basis. As an added bonus it weighs in at 28-oz. for body only compared to 44-oz. for a D3Ss—quite a worthwhile weight savings for wear and tear on your body. 

HP EliteBook 8740w
Nowadays, more and more people are finding a high-end laptop is powerful enough to be sufficient for use as their only computer, even if they are doing processor-intensive tasks like video editing. The benefits are tremendous if you travel, or work in an office and at home, as you can have your main computer with you at all times. Although I tried it myself a few years back, I found a small laptop that was convenient for use while traveling was just too restrictive as an alternative to a desktop.

A large laptop proved suitable as a desktop replacement but was not much fun for traveling especially when I was stuck in coach on a transatlantic trip.

But if you don’t need to use your computer while in transit, but do need it when shooting a wedding, for example, a large laptop is ideal as a sole workstation.

I have no idea how many readers use Macs and how many use Windows-based machines. I have been exclusively Mac for a decade so I have tended to review Macs in this column.

Recently, though, I spent a short time trying out a high-end HP EliteBook 8740w mobile workstation. If you need a rugged laptop that can take some abuse and need one with good monitor for color work, this machine could be for you. The 17-in. screen is housed in a magnesium/aluminum enclosure that HP claims can withstand a 300-lb force. The laptop chassis is magnesium alloy with hardened steel hinge pins for durability.

Of course the downside to this ruggedness is a heft in looks and weight. The model I tried tipped the scales at around 8-lb, which is over a pound heavier than an equivalent 17-in. MacBook Pro. Macs have a reputation for being expensive so I was somewhat surprised that the price of the 8740w started at $1999 and quickly jumps to well over $4000 once options are added—prices that are comparable to the MacBook Pro when built to similar specs.

As I do not use Windows I did not get to give it an extensive try out. It’s just too much hassle to switch to using a temporary computer on loan in place of my regular computer. However, I was able to try Adobe Lightroom and found it functioned well. The 30-bit DreamColor display has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, which is the same as the 17-in. MacBook Pro. HP includes a software-based color management tool so the screen can be adjusted for accurate color.

Personally, I would find the EliteBook too big and heavy for my regular work, but if you need a solid workstation computer that can be used on location as a substitute for a desktop and you’re a Windows user the highly customizable EliteBook 8740w is certainly worth checking out. PC World says it is as sexy as a MacBook Pro in its review.

iPhone app review—Easy Release
Getting models to sign model releases has always been a chore for me. You’ve got to have the forms with you and inevitably a model would like a copy so if you’re on location that’s not so easy to provide. Now you can produce a model release on your iPhone and with a couple of swipes, email the completed release to the model, as well as yourself.

Although there are several model release apps on the market it’s Easy Release, published by Application Gap (www.applicationgap.com) that I have elected to use for my model releases. All the basic information is setup in a boilerplate so you only have to enter the model’s specific details in order to generate a valid release that can be sent as a PDF or JPEG file. Although the release can be customized, I found it was not possible to add specific restrictions or notes to an individual release that is sometimes needed.

The $9.99 app ties in well with an iPhone or Android contact list avoiding the need to re-enter data if it’s already available. The release can be customized ahead of time to require certain things such as a date of birth and a photograph of the model is included in the release.

Overall, I found it much easier to use the Easy Release app than a conventional printed form. Somewhat surprisingly I am also finding that models are much more willing to sign it without reading the fine print which is what they have been doing with conventional printed releases. Go figure—I’d have expected the opposite reaction.

John Rettie is a photojournalist who has been covering digital photography since its earliest days. He resides in Santa Barbara, CA and readers are welcome to contact him directly by e-mail at [email protected].