Thoughts on Nikon and D7000.

[Cattykit]

Nikon did it again. They introduce a feature packed DSLR with an amazing price. Everybody is thrilled. It comes out then unexpected problem arise. Let's look at breif history of it. D2H: first shot after power on generating a pitch black image. D70: Green cast on the left, red cast on the right and blooming problems. D200: banding noise. D80: over-exposure. All the cameras that use EXPEED1: aggressive noise reduction algorithm killing color information in certain areas of an image.

Now, enter D7000. With EXPEED2, Nikon finally fixed color problem of EXPEED1. Then, a new problem is introduced: large amount of hot and dead pixels.


At first, it seemed this problem only occur when shooting video. After several days, people are realizing same problem surfaces when using high ISO or long shutter speed in low ISO. Due to large amount of people exchaning and refunding this camera, certain shops put a hold on selling it (B&H isn't selling it still.)

At least, we can freely get an exchange or refund. It isn't the case for South Koreans. Thanks to their screwed up system, the manufacture, Nikon in this case, has to acknowledge the problem and do the exchange/refund process. And, as before, Nikon has been saying it's the normal operation of the camera and it's not a problem. (This is why S.Koreans are so damn good at addressing problems and defects of cameras.)

Look at some of the samples. Following Nikon, these are normal and that's exactly what they said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWZRoxwXQWc&hd=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN6hU9QiVwc&feature=player_embedded


So, the moral of the story is... if you bought or intend to buy D7000, please check your camera and get an exchange or refund. If you intend to shoot video, just don't buy this camera. Unlike other cameras or brands, you have to be damn lucky to get a problem-less camera.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Since the it's a Sony sensor, it's entirely possible the QC problem is with Sony, or whoever they contract out to. I'd certainly be pissed if I was a customer, and if I was Nikon. I'd say if you're looking to buy one, wait a batch or two and check the various forums again. These problems will probably be worked out.

 

[996GT2]

Does the Pentax K5, Sony A55, or any of the other cameras using this sensor suffer from the same issues?

 

[Anubis]

heh mine came today, i ordered it knowing about the issues, nothing is ever perfect there is always come compromise

watching people bitch to high hell about the D7000 very much reminds me of people bitching about TVs on AVS

back focusising can easily be corrected and hot pixels cloned out (for photos anyway)

i got a D70 on release day and used it until Jan 2010 when it died. something like 400K shutter operations with not a single issue nor random color casting

 

[Cattykit]

heh mine came today, i ordered it knowing about the issues, nothing is ever perfect there is always come compromise

watching people bitch to high hell about the D7000 very much reminds me of people bitching about TVs on AVS

back focusising can easily be corrected and hot pixels cloned out (for photos anyway)

i got a D70 on release day and used it until Jan 2010 when it died. something like 400K shutter operations with not a single issue nor random color casting

Of course, nothing is ever perfect and we all know it. The problem is that there're very large amount of faulty cameras. Usually, you had to be unlucky to get a defective camera. In case of D7000, it's the other way around. You got to be damn lucky to find a decent one. When is the last time major retailers like BestBuy and B&H had to stop selling a newly released camera? That tells how bad this situation is and Nikon isn't doing anything. Even worse, they're saying all those dead/hot pixels are normal. Dozens of dead and hot pixels on video, it's all normal following Nikon. Dozens of dead and hot pixels creeping out when using long shutter in ISO 100, it's all Nikon normal.
Before you complain about others' complaning, just run some tests to make sure you got a decent one.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/d7000-club/discuss/72157625055035333/

 

[Cattykit]

Does the Pentax K5, Sony A55, or any of the other cameras using this sensor suffer from the same issues?

Since the it's a Sony sensor, it's entirely possible the QC problem is with Sony, or whoever they contract out to. I'd certainly be pissed if I was a customer, and if I was Nikon. I'd say if you're looking to buy one, wait a batch or two and check the various forums again. These problems will probably be worked out.

So far, K5 or A55 is fine. Though nobody is sure what exactly is causing this problem, it's speculated 1. Nikon's tweaking the sensor is the cause of the problem, 2. Nikon's poor h.264 implementaion (Along with D3100, it was their first time using h.264) is the cause.
Then, as people started to notice same problem exists not only on videos but stills as well, the first speculation seems to be the right answer at least for now.

One thing to keep it mind is that it isn't entirly a Sony sensor. Nikon has been adding their own pipelines or tweaks into Sony sensors for a long time. Nikon has been proud to correct people saying Nikon uses Sony sensors. Nikon put it that they use Sony flavoured Nikon sensors (I'm not talking about D700/D3 sensors here.) Given how A55 and K5 is doing okay, I think Sony can't be blamed and Nikon probably is the cause of this problem, at least for now.

 

[troytime]

no problems with my d7000. my boss bought one too, no problems with his.

The positive reviews and people without problems far outweigh people reporting pixel problems.

considering the camera's hype, and its awesome features, i wouldn't be surprised of a good portion of the complaints are hardcore canon fanbois just trolling.

 

[GTaudiophile]

DPreview has posted their D7000 review.

D7000 Score: 80%
60D Score: 79%

 

[Smoove910]

Meh, I think I'll still go with a Pentax K5... the magnesium body with weather-sealing does it for me. The D7000 has similar specs, but doesn't look quite a durable and still has a fair amount of plastic. I like the fact that any Pentax lens throughout the past 30 years will most likely work and the IS is something to think about. Lastly, there are more flexible/easier bracketing options for the K5.

I'm speaking from thoughts of hiking 20 miles in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and having a camera which is bomb-proof and resists anything I may come across.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I'm speaking from thoughts of hiking 20 miles in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and having a camera which is bomb-proof and resists anything I may come across.

Exactly the Pentax enthusiast target, imo.

 

[foghorn67]

From the DPRreview article.Unlike the top-end D300S and full-frame D700/D3S/D3X, the D7000's AF mode switch does not have a dedicated position for 'C' - continuous AF. Instead, this can be set by pressing the small button at the center of the switch, and rotating the rear control dial.

http://dpreview.com/reviews/nikond7000/page5.asp



Nikon guys have to do that for continous AF?

:\

 

[Anubis]

its not nearly as annoying as it sounds

 

[troytime]

http://dpreview.com/reviews/nikond7000/page5.asp



Nikon guys have to do that for continous AF?

:\

how do Canon guys have to do it?

 

[foghorn67]

Button top. Move dial. Seems weird to have it near the lens.

 

[AkumaX]

how do Canon guys have to do it?

C-AF for Canon? What's that?


:awe:

 

[Anubis]

Button top. Move dial. Seems weird to have it near the lens.

all you have to do is slightly move your thumb to hit it. IMO not much of an issue for me anyway because i dont jump back from AF-C to AF-s and so in the middle of shooting

 

[ElFenix]

anyone else seeing an artifact on the burst patter just below the center target in the studio comparison? it happens on all the default cameras but the canon. looks like a jpeg artifact but i switched from ISO to ISO and even went to raw. it's still there on the 2 nikons and the sony.

 

[Anubis]

im not sure where you are looking

 

[bigi]

Dpreview sucks big time. Read real reviews

 

[twistedlogic]

Dpreview sucks big time. Read real reviews

Pfft, what about this thread? No other place have I seen this kit for so low, .

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

its not nearly as annoying as it sounds

word, south koreans should just stop nitpicking over every little flaw.
we've had to endure decades of hyundai's and daewoos.

 

[Cattykit]

Yes, it's not annoying if you're not affected by this problem but when multiple hot pixels (I personally won't even tolerate one hot pixel) show up in a video, it's a different story. Also, it's not just South Koreans who are "nitpicking" on this issue. It's just that they're unfortunate ones that can't get an exchange or refund.

Anyways, Nikon just released a firmware update that addresses this problem. Now, I can recommand D7000!