Subal ND2 for D2X

I have shot 700 pix today and am very impressed with the camera. I have to say that the quality is better than I was expecting from the images I had seen, thus far, on the web.

Alex

p.s. Also trying the new site.

Right then, where are the 800 ISO pics?

The camera certainly looks like it's a winner. How do you like the housing?

Here is a 100% crop from an ISO 800 image. I am some what hestitant to post this because I believe any camera's ISO 800 performance has no relevance for underwater shooting.

This is a picture taken at an indoor pool. I have chosen a crop with some of the girl's hair in (although matted together by the water) so you can see detail. Although there is noise in this image, it is not chromic - and the camera still produced a sharp (with shooting conditions considered) image with very pleasing colours.

I realise that this is not the greatest image - the better ones are in a batch processed gallery that I did for the girls last night (although for the gallery was using a PS Action I have for my Canon Ixus - which has a strong AUTO COLOUR which is why the colours are poor on this gallery - the girls are not photographers so they won't care!). http://www.amustard.com/WP/

Anyway, these images are straight from the camera. First is the whole image and second is a 100% crop. EXIF. Nikon D2X. 80-400mm at 80mm. Aperture priority. f5.6 @ 1/100th. SB80DX on DTTL. Saturation normal, sharpening normal (basically I left everything to default). Shot on JPG. Did nothing in Photoshop, except resize the first and crop at 100% for the second, then saved at JPG level 7 (I didn't use save for web - so the EXIF should still be there).

The image is not wonderfully sharp because it was taken at 1/100th of a sec on a moving subject covered in water. But it is fine.

Alex

Thanks Alex, I was really just kidding. But since you were shooting in lowish light with flash, did you shoot any pics without flash? That would be more interesting but I'll take that off-forum.

I am however interested in the housing too. How's the balance with the FE2 port and ULCS tray arms?

again alex, thanks for sharing. Im all over the d2x when its available, and then will have to decide on a housing. posts like this definately help !

Best,

Stu

You've got to love the tan on those English ladies...;-) Alex, thanks for sharing these. There are great examples of action shots w/ fill flash.

Cheers

James

Here are a couple of images that show the improved colour and resolution of the D2x compared with Nikon's previous DSLRs. Neither is perfect, but gives an idea.

The first is a pool shot of a china fish - the red of the fish is so much more accurate and saturated on the top shot (from the D2x) rather than the bottom shot taken with a D100 more than 2 years ago (same pool etc though).

The second is a resolution shot - taken of the same scene with the D2x left and D70 right. The crops are at about 300-400% depending on the camera. This image was for UWP - but for some reason it has corrupted in my PDF of the magazine.

Alex

Alex; what is your impression of the camera after having used it? Meaning should I spend my inheritance on the D2X and Subal housing or should I pay off my mortgage as I had planned to do.

I have to admit though I have a hard time imaging me taking a 5000$ camera underwater. Do you know if the D2h will also work in the same Subal housing?

I played with a D2X briefly yesterday and I was very impressed. In Thailand, the first batch of D2X that were imported in are already sold out within a week. The next batch is coming in next month and I reserved one for myself.

As far as housing go, I pretty much narrow it down to Subal or Nexus. With the viewfinder being so much bigger on D2X, I guess the big viewfinder on Subal is not exactly essential (but nice to have anyway) but I am wondering about the port system. I am a bit more familiar with Nexus since my dive buddy is using one and I like the compact port for WAL and multiport very much. How about the port system for subal? One thing I don't like about Sea and Sea is that to use the 12-24mm, I need to use diopter. How about Subal, would I still need a diopter?

How many different ports would I need for 10.5mm, 12-24mm, 60mm and 70-180mm ?

Dave, this housing was built for the d2h, and it just happens to work with the d2x. It was a gamble by Subal that worked out very much in their favor, with dozens delivered to customers already.

Subal recomends their DP-FE2 dome port for the 12-24, and it does not require a diopter. It is bigger than Nexus' compact ports, though.

Subal made at one time, but has discontinued, a dedicated port for the 70-180 that allowd AF, MF, and A/M switching. If AF is important to you with this lens, it might be wise ot watch the flea market side of subal's site.

With subal's system, you could shoot the 10.5, 12-24, 60, 105, and 70-180 with one FE2, one FP60, and 3 extension rings. The 70-180 would have control of zoom and AF iin this arrangement.

Ryan, thanks for your help. I look at Subal site and could not find the port chart that they mentioned in the port section anywhere (at least in the English version anyhow). Look like Subal will require quite a few less pieces than Nexus. That makes Subal a bit more attractive.

I probably end up using AF most of the time. At least with my eyesight, prescription lenses on my mask and rather tiny VF on D70, I don't think I could do much better than the AF on the camera anyhow. D2X AF should be even better than D70 but I will keep my eye out for the used 70-180 ports if I go with Subal.

I just put the D2X through its paces at the local zoo and it is quite spectacular. This camera is something special in the way it handles.

Things I noticed immediately:

1. The shutter is LOUD.

2. The auto-focus system is the best I have experienced.

3. The second shutter button will take getting used to topside. It doesn't feel natural for my hand placement and I just used the top shutter button. That may be just because I am used to handling the S2 in this way

4. You can happily fire away at most subjects and not run into any issues with images buffering.

5. The camera feels hefty coming from the Fuji S2. This is good and bad - good in that this camera is SOLID. Bad in that it does weigh more. It feels very balanced in hand, even with a big lens on the front.

6. You need Nikon Capture to utilize this camera properly over the included Picture Project. Why Nikon would not include this software with the camera is a huge mystery to me.

7. The camera controls are pretty intuitive for normal shooting. Some of the deeper, technical stuff you will have to search for or read the manual, but in general shooting terms you can have the camera up and running satisfactorily in a few minutes.

8. The viewfinder is fantastic with a big viewing area. Huge step up from the S2

9. The CF Card slot in the camera is fantastically designed. The battery compartment cover is not. I will be worried about losing it

10. Love the option of the jpg being saved with the RAW/NEF file. Not new of course in many cameras, but new for me coming from the S2.

11. I haven't looked at any images really closely yet - but the couple I looked at quickly looked outstanding.

And lastly of course I can't wait to get it underwater in April. This camera is something special. I loved my S2Pros and loved every moment of owning and shooting it, however they (and the housing) will be up on ebay as soon as I get the housing for this camera.

M

Which housing have you ordered?

Reading these posts reminds me that few on the forum have handled the D2H. I've used one for the past year (topside) and it is awesome. It shares all of the above with the D2x, but obviously with smaller files. One thing I prefer with the D2H is its sharpness out of camera - my D2x files require a lot more sharpening! Handles it nicely, though. Nikon went the extra mile to satisfy the noise police I think

Paul/Kasey,

I downloaded Rawshooter last night. Since Nikon and Adobe are still in a pissing contest, figured I'd try some of the other Raw converters out there. Anyway, still just playing with it but based on opinions by others more knowledgeable about such things, it seems very fast and more flexible than the Nikon software. Even loading thumbs quicker than ACR.

Here's a link to the free trial:

Rawshooter

BTW Paul, praying that all things come together in time, I'm on track to get mine wet in two weeks in Exmouth.

Rand

"9. The CF Card slot in the camera is fantastically designed. The battery compartment cover is not. I will be worried about losing it"

You can leave the battery door (hatch) on the battery semi-permanently and buy a separate door for each battery. The battery fits on the charger with the door attached.

TK

BTW Paul, praying that all things come together in time, I'm on track to get mine wet in two weeks in Exmouth.

 

Rand

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WTG Rand.....I'm green with envy......what are you doing the the Subal D70 housing?

Karl

Hi Karl,

Ryan at Reef Photo is taking it back on trade.

Rand

I didn't know Ryan did trade-ins. That's cool.

Congrats on your new setup Rand - I'm sure you're going to love it and I can't WAIT to see some of the photos you are going to make. (notice I said make, not take).

Cheers

James

Thanks James,

As this is a pro-level camera, I may run into the Peter principal...LOL!

You also bring up a point on trade in value. When you buy the higher end housings, it's not like the money is gone, a good portion comes back when it's time to sell. (Especially if you upgrade every 6 months )

Rand