Ricoh CX2
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1
Pentax K-x
Canon PowerShot G11
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon EOS 7D
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS
Gary’s Parries 06/08/06
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. DSLR Dynamic Range Needs Improvement
2. Digital Shutter Lag Versus 35mm
3. Newbie Seeks Camera That Rocks
[Note: I try not to let work interfere with my hobbies, but sometimes it happens. This is one of those times. As such, the answers to this week’s questions will have to be postponed until next week, which is unfortunate due to the especially pertinent questions that were submitted for immediate attention. To that end, I have posted JUST THE QUESTIONS in this week’s column, with the hopes that our knowledgeable readers will offer their own comments and suggestions in order to tide the submitters of the questions over until next week … at which time I will endeavor to provide the ‘correct’ answers to their questions.]
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
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*** QUESTION 1—- DSLR DYNAMIC RANGE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
***
Gary,
Why do camera companies seem uninterested in improving the dynamic range of their DSLRs? Would dynamic range improvements be a product of software execution or sensor construction, or both? Do you see dynamic range improvements for DSLRs coming in the near future or will the camera makers continue to tout pixel count as the Holy Grail? What effect does dynamic range have on image noise? It seems to me that dynamic range is the area where the most improvement is needed today. It may be improving but, if it is, the camera companies sure aren’t advertising it, are they? But that’s just my opinion.
Thanks,
Ricky
***
*** QUESTION 2—- DIGITAL SHUTTER LAG VERSUS 35MM
***
I have been trying to convince my friend that shutter lag exists in digital cameras. He is an avid 35mm photographer and is considering changing, or is at least having one foot in each camp, but I am concerned that he will be disappointed due to time lag as opposed to the 35mm.
I don’t want him to pay good money for a camera and be disappointed in its foibles. Is there a list of cameras and time lags online, or otherwise, as I need to convince him and hopefully help him choose wisely?
Yours faithfully,
Ian Muir
[Note: Photo submitted by Nick in Japan, who used his Canon EOS 20D digital camera, shutter lag and all, to capture this shot. 
]
***
*** QUESTION 3—- NEWBIE SEEKS CAMERA THAT ROCKS
***
Gary,
Thanks in advance for your advice. Simple question: I’m going out to Zion National Park at the end of September and wanted to know what kind of digital camera you would recommend to take high quality resolution (even with zoom) photos? End product, I would like the ability to blow up my prints to small poster size if necessary without giving up a lot of resolution. My price range is flexible, but would like to keep it between $200 and $350.
Any advice you can give would be great.
Steve
[Photo submitted by Rob Huberman of ComteQcom.com, who used his Nikon D70 to capture this shot at Zion National Park.]
***
[Column photo “The Photographer” by Brenda LaFleur of Brenda LaFleur Photography.]
Ricoh CX2 Review
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 Review
Pentax K-x Review
Canon PowerShot G11 Review
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Review
Canon EOS 7D
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZX1
Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR
#1 nick in japan
Thank goodness the shutter lag on that 20D wasn't any longer, would have completely missed that big old snail shedding it's skin!
9:09 am - Sunday, August 6, 2006
#2 nick in japan
A comment about dynamic range, IMHO, the tool contained in Photoshop CS, called "Shadow/Highlight" illustrates the complexity of the tool by giving you lottsa options in the shadow, highlight, color contrast and more, with a default setting for batch work, I guess.
I personally use it quite a bit, but it is a tool that because of all it's complexity, cannot, in my opinion, be easily defaulted to a quick selection to suit everyone's shooting style.
I use a default setting that works for most of my shooting style, those numbers may not be suitable to others style. Trial and error, and a record of what settings for different types of images, is needed.
Maybe some preset selections from the manufacturer will show up in a future chip contained in the camera, Mr. Pogoda will have to address that idea, soon as he shakes the "Parries Lag".
I agree, Ricky, dynamic range is an area that could be expanded on, alot, a wonderful, and easy tool to work with in digital photography!
9:35 am - Sunday, August 6, 2006
#3 m gottlieb
I have found that Fuji's Super CCD approximates the latitude (dynamic range) of film. Any comments on my observation?
2:04 pm - Sunday, August 6, 2006
#4 Gordon Moat
Nice set of questions, and here are some brief replies:
1. It has been easier for marketing departments to write up MegaPixels over other aspects. However, as people slowly figure out not all MegaPixels (or pixels) are equal, there probably will be more done about capturing colour, or better shadow details, at least towards professional or high end enthusiasts.
A separate issue is the computing power in the cameras is not that great, though somewhat compensated for in RAW workflows; the desktop computer becomes the processing power. We might find a situation in future D-SLRs in which the internal processing of images becomes better and faster, possibly even to the point of not needing RAW workflows for the best results. Battery power and longevity, plus the size of the camera body, seem to be other restrictions on this.
2. Some 35mm film cameras have extremely short shutter release times. Leica M rangefinders can be in the 11 to 16 msec (milliseconds) range. Older manual focus SLRs are sometimes fairly short on shutter release, like the old Nikon FM and FE that have a 24 to 26 msec range. Remember that none of these use Autofocus, and no Auto Exposure beyond simple Aperture Priority.
Some modern cameras are not too bad either, like the Nikon F6 at near 37 msec, not including time needed for Autofocus. The Nikon D2X using a similar shutter and exposure control internally is about the same release timing.
These are fast timings, though the big thing is often trying to avoid catching someone in mid blink, or with their eyes closed. The more you get use to any camera, the better you can anticipate what happens between pushing the shutter release and capturing an image. Obviously this is easier with a really short release timing, but not something impossible to overcome in slower cameras.
3. If you have that rare journey to somewhere special, consider renting some really nice gear just for that occaission. All you need is a credit card balance that can cover the cost of the rental gear (or an insurance rider if you are a professional photographer).
Check cities near Zion for rental possibilities. Also, check in your home city any rental places that might have gear you can take to another location. Just to name one big rental outfit in many places, take a look into Calumet Photo. Depending upon what you might want to rent, you can probably put together an impressive little oufit for your journey.
Ciao!
Gordon Moat
A G Studio
9:31 pm - Sunday, August 6, 2006
#5 nick in japan
Pro's use Fuji, as well as the popular Canon and Nikon, and each give a varying dynamic range representations, a tiny bit I guess.With films, I always thought that Konica gave a bit of dynamic range increase, more than any other film.
The maipulation process is what I was addressing, simply because there must be a starting point BEFORE dynamic range is put to use, in other words, an image that is near what we see is probably what manufactures strive to achieve,if they varied too much as to what we actually see, it might be OK or some images, but not , for others, so, my thoughts are that maybe manufactures will give a choice selection, by pushing a button, to see various degrees of dynamic range variances/choices .
10:02 pm - Sunday, August 6, 2006
#6 Gordon McKinney
Another way to look at the Dynamic Range question is:
What are you displaying the images on? What's the dynamic range of a monitor or TV or print?
I can image a situation where the camera captures a dynamic range wider than the output device... if so, will the output look muted and flat? rather than contrasty and punchy?
G.
1:28 pm - Friday, August 11, 2006
#7 Gary's Parries
Nick, and Gordon (McKinney), there are two separate issues here with
regard to the dynamic range of a CCD: 'extending' the dynamic range
as opposed to 'optimizing' its dynamic range. If I correctly understand
the issues you raised they deal with the latter, which I have addressed
further in tomorrow's Gary's Parries column.
M, if you are talking about Fuji's 'SR' model Super CCD (as opposed to
the 'HR' model), I would agree wholeheartedly, which I further explain
in tomorrow's column.
Gordon (Moat), I actually 'borrowed' a bit of your wisdom in tomorrow's
column.
Thanks to all for your excellent comments.
12:33 pm - Saturday, August 12, 2006
#8 Gordon Moat
Your are quite welcomed Gary. I look forward to the next column.
7:18 pm - Saturday, August 12, 2006