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What Superzoom? Dissatisfied with the Nikon P100 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter crazyfingers
- Start date
SueO
Well-known member
Exactly--that should be sharp! One would think a Nikon would be a much higher quality. I have a similar shot of a Yellow-headed Caracara. The bird is in focus but there is just a lack of sharpness. I think I would have been happier with a K-mart special. Oh well, live and learn.
Sue
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toadoftoadhall
Well-known member
"Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant" looks like it may have suffered from high iso, and when i say high, even 400 will fuzz out detail like that. So it might have focused ok, but the small size sensor lets things down. If you can control the iso, keep it to 100.
Just as a test, photograph something handheld, then photograph it using a tripod or rest. Just to see if its technique. I used to be able to take a shot at 1/30th, but not anymore.
toad
Just as a test, photograph something handheld, then photograph it using a tripod or rest. Just to see if its technique. I used to be able to take a shot at 1/30th, but not anymore.
toad
crazyfingers
Well-known member
The Canon SX30 came today. It's snowing outside so no outside test shots but....
This is a simple comparison shot. Sitting here in my chair I took a photo of a model sailing ship about 10 feet away. Flash in both cases. I cropped each photo to show the same roughly 1.5 by 1.5 inch section of the ship.
One of these is clearly very nice while the other one is not.
The nice one is the new Canon SX30. The not nice one is the Nikon P100. Both are set to best image quality. Both are on full auto.
Notice the good one is only about half the file size as the not good one.
This is a simple comparison shot. Sitting here in my chair I took a photo of a model sailing ship about 10 feet away. Flash in both cases. I cropped each photo to show the same roughly 1.5 by 1.5 inch section of the ship.
One of these is clearly very nice while the other one is not.
The nice one is the new Canon SX30. The not nice one is the Nikon P100. Both are set to best image quality. Both are on full auto.
Notice the good one is only about half the file size as the not good one.
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Good for you, at least in this test shot you have a convincing winner!
There can be two reasons for the size difference: you might want to look for increasing the file size in the canon to avoid too much jpg compression (often set to medium by default in canon P&S cams), but conversely, non-sharp pictures often produce larger jpgs than sharp pictures.
Niels
There can be two reasons for the size difference: you might want to look for increasing the file size in the canon to avoid too much jpg compression (often set to medium by default in canon P&S cams), but conversely, non-sharp pictures often produce larger jpgs than sharp pictures.
Niels
Hi, Sue.
Do you do any post-processing on your pictures?
I hope you don't mind, but I had a quick play with your yellow-headed caracara in Photoshop.
Not great, but I think it's an improvement on the original.
I agree with you that you would expect something better out of camera, but at least you have something you can work with.
Regards,
Malcolm
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You guys could consider updating to the latest firmware to see if Nikon has hidden some improved focusing in there: https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/48816
Niels
Niels
crazyfingers
Well-known member
Had a little time outside today to play around. Unfortunately it's a blustery dark day.
Still learning the features of the Canon SX30 but I have found how to set it to center focus and all.
Here is a guy at my feeder. All the shots were in-focus. I expect that had I been using the Nikon a good 80% would have focused on the leaf in front or the bush in back.
We also spent an hour at the local park and this swan was a nice target.
Overall the overwhelming number of shots are focusing correctly vs the Nikon would have been a frustration.
Still learning the features of the Canon SX30 but I have found how to set it to center focus and all.
Here is a guy at my feeder. All the shots were in-focus. I expect that had I been using the Nikon a good 80% would have focused on the leaf in front or the bush in back.
We also spent an hour at the local park and this swan was a nice target.
Overall the overwhelming number of shots are focusing correctly vs the Nikon would have been a frustration.
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crazyfingers
Well-known member
Nice and bright this morning. I took a 5 minute wander out back and heard this guy up in the trees. Finally spotted him and took the shot at maximum zoom, center spot focus.
Canon SX30. I took two shots. Both were well focused. He moved in the other one. This is the good one.
I do not believe that the Nikon would have done it.
Canon SX30. I took two shots. Both were well focused. He moved in the other one. This is the good one.
I do not believe that the Nikon would have done it.
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Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
I agree with Malcolm, The hawk just needed some PP work needed. The shot was excellent
I did similar PP to Mal, but calmed down the large bright bar running down the right hand side, for less distraction.
Crazy, that woodpecker ? ( not familiar with US birds ) is a beauty. Lovely shot
I did similar PP to Mal, but calmed down the large bright bar running down the right hand side, for less distraction.
Crazy, that woodpecker ? ( not familiar with US birds ) is a beauty. Lovely shot
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crazyfingers
Well-known member
Thanks. It's called a red-bellied woodpacker because of a slightly orange belly. Kinda strange given it can sometimes be hard to tell it has an orangeish belly. I'd have called it a red-topped woodpacker if I had the power. The name Red-headed woodpecker is already in use by another woodpecker.
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Problem is there are several similar woodpeckers with similar names, Red-crowned_Woodpecker is also already in use
Niels
crazyfingers
Well-known member
Yes it's interesting that so many woodpeckers have red on the head somewhere.
Musoman
PETE - Nikon/Sony Shooter
The UK is also blessed with a red headed woodpecker, although its called the Green Woodpecker :-O
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Woodpecker
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Woodpecker
crazyfingers
Well-known member
I figured I'd try even though I have my new camera. Doesn't work. I did go to the Americas website to start off so it's not a regional version issue.
Following all the instructions the Nikon does not recognize that there is new firmware on the SD card as it should.
The instructions say that if that happens, "contact your Nikon representative".
Who knows, maybe my P100 is defective...
I might bother to do it. Might not.
As you say, it might be worth it, it might not. At least I have passed on the information o
Niels
crazyfingers
Well-known member
I tried again today to get the Nikon to notice that it had a firmware update in the SD card to gulp down but it still wouldn't do it.
Oh well, one last sample from the Canon SX30.
The cardinal was up near the top of an ash tree. This was again taken with maximum zoom. I took 8 shots. Every single one was in focus. I cropped it but have not otherwise edited it.
Oh well, one last sample from the Canon SX30.
The cardinal was up near the top of an ash tree. This was again taken with maximum zoom. I took 8 shots. Every single one was in focus. I cropped it but have not otherwise edited it.
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crazyfingers
Well-known member
Thanks. I am happy. I haven't really had the chance to take any photos other than extreme range. I do hope that more moderate zooms in good light will yield crisper photos than the ones I've posted. But the improvement over the Nikon at these high zooms has been drastic.
crazyfingers
Well-known member
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