New Kodak 14 Mpixel DSLR

Hi Gang,

Kodak just realeased their PMA announcement - an update to the 14n that looks great!

Kodak have gone with a new sensor in this camera - hopefully correcting some of the perceived problems w/ the 14n. Check out Phil Askey's preview - he had the camera in-hand for a short time:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0402/04021209...kdcsproslrn.asp

Thoughts?

Cheers

James

Wicked eh!

Oh, check out the news story on Rob Galbraith's website. Apparently, he got to spend a little more time with the camera:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_p...cid=7-6452-6696

According to Rob and Kodak, they intend to start shipping this camera IMMEDIATELY, with early purchasers getting the camera at the end of Feb. We'll see if this happens - but I expect things to be a LOT better than the 14n launch.

So what does this camera do to the F-mount market? Well if it sells for $4995 MSRP, that means the S3 price should get pushed down (I hope). What does this mean for Nikon's D2x? Well, presumably Nikon wouldn't have sold Kodak the body if they thought it would trump their flagship camera.

So I'm hoping for good things. I think this camera is STRONG competition to Canon's 1D mk II - I'll take the megapixels over the framerate any day.

Cheers

James

A 14n with an improved sensor. 14n owners are been offered a refit to bring their cameras up to the new spec. That looks good for existing housings (if there were any).

Perhaps the new name is to distance themselves from the bad reputation of the 14n. It looks completely identical and it's features are as well, save for the new imager and the ISO ranges it offers. If they fix all the 14n shortcomings, all associated with the sensor, then this could be the camera. Have to take again with Uwe.

BTW the ISO range is from 6-1600. The images in the gallery were shot at 160.

KODACHROME 25 IN DIGITAL

I'm in line for my sensor upgrade. The new cameras shipped today to retailers and upgrades begin middle of March. I've got to get a housing for this thing!

I wish you luck Craig. Since Kodak sort of screwed up the release of the 14n, housing manufacturers are leary of this camera.

I don't think it's fair though - I think it's more of a prejudice - since it sounds like Kodak fixed everything that folks didn't like about the 14n.

I think this camera will have lower noise than Canon's 1Ds and maybe 1 or 2 stops more of dynamic range. And this for ~$4,000 if you do a 14n and an upgrade, or $5,000 if you get the Kodak ProSLR

Not to mention a Nikon F-mount for all of our favorite lenses, smaller size, etc.

Of course, folks may say it has a smaller viewfinder, but it has the same viewfinder as the D100 and housing manufacturers managed to work with that.

Cheers

James

Jesus, I'm breathing heavy,,,

I think Canon may finally have to drop the 1Ds price a bit. This camera looks more like competition for the 1Ds rather than the 1DMk2.

As a Canon Shooter at this price difference i could buy some really nice Nikon Pro lenses and still be cheaper than the 1Ds

Simon

I think Canon may finally have to drop the 1Ds price a bit.  This camera looks more like competition for the 1Ds rather than the 1DMk2.

Drop the price by HALF maybe...

This camera will have no competition

Have y'all tried playing with the RAW files available from Kodak's website:

Click Here

You may need to get the ACR update from Adobe as well. I downloaded the ACR update, and have been having fun with some of the landscape/scenic shots and the church.

One thing I note, which has been commented on in other fora, is a sort of "painted" effect of fine, high frequency detail. Look at the texture of the aggregate rocks to the right (in the picture) of the stairs in the old western style shop image, for instance. How important this would be in a final print, I do not know and have no feel for. I'm sure ways, means and settings to get around it etc etc will be worked out eventually.

Let's hope this Kodak fixes the body performance problems of the old 14N. A camera is more than its sensor -- it has to be easily usable. There are many instances where body performance will help you to get the shot more easily.

I'm speaking only from what I've heard. Can those of you have the 14N describe the "experience" of using it, compared to a 1D or 1Ds?

In Phil's first sample shots there are some weird red/green alternating artifacts in some of the slightly diagonal forms. I wonder if the production version will have that problem.

The image looks great otherwise!

ISO 6? Interesting. Wonder what you'd do with that. Shoot photos of um... extremely bright ... lights?

I think this camera will have lower noise than Canon's 1Ds and maybe 1 or 2 stops more of dynamic range.

James -- why do you think it will have 1-2 more stops of dynamic range? I don't see any reason that will be the case. Not saying it won't, but production cameras and real tests haven't even been done yet...

Kodak did not change the chassis at all.

Being an N80-based body, it is very similar in use to the D100. It is bulkier in front and back but that is only a problem for some people. A few have reported "nose-activation" of the menu button but Kodak added a lockout feature to help with that. My nose is not a button pusher. One particular Nikon lens does not work due to the front bulk. I have a D1 but no Canon pro body to compare it to.

The biggest problem with the chunky body is that housing manufacturers can't easily adapt their S2 housing to fit it.

I turned one on at the camera store. That was enough. It took forever.

I think James was referring to the common belief that the 14n provides up to 10 stops of dynamic range under certain circumstances versus the oft reported 7-8 stops for other DSLRs, not that the new chip will miracously add 2 more stops.

The ISO 6 can only be used under certain long exposure settings. The base (normal) minimum is 160.

This could be a really great camera. Who knows.

Just finished talking with Blake at Aquatica, he is looking into the possibillity of a housing for that camera, but has he say's, the "to do" list these days is long and exhaustive with the like of the Digital Rebel, D70, S3 .... One thing for sure, it"s all related to demand, hence the rarity of high end camera housings, diver john & jane usually are more inclined to go with sure value camera like the current crop of 6m. cameras available now and to me it is the right choice, very few of us need the super huge files and costs associated with these cameras, BUT if one camera is going to alter this it will be this new Kodak, cost is good, and the lens base is very well established, along with an all ready popular camera body it will be an interesting saga to follow.

Jean Bruneau