Full-frame sensor gives focal-length multiplier of 1.0
*
ISO of 100, 200, 400 (ISO 800 at reduced resolution)
*
Rugged, magnesium-alloy chassis pares weight, but provides
rigid frame.
*
Compatible with most current Nikon F-mount lenses and accessories.
*
Excellent dynamic headroom in Kodak's DCR "raw"
file format, excellent ability to recover highlight detail post-exposure.
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Manufacturer Overview
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Kodak of course needs no introduction in the field of photography, their
name being almost synonymous with photography for much of this century. They
were one of the first digital camera makers in the US, and for a long while
were the only game in town when it came to digital SLRs. Recently, as
camera giants like Canon and Nikon have entered the digital fray themselves,
many people (myself among them) have wondered whether Kodak would be able to
continue to compete in the d-SLR marketplace.
Kodak emphatically addressed the industry doubters though, when they announced
the DCS Pro 14n at last year's Photokina, in September 2002. While it's taken
quite a while to make it to market, as of this writing in mid-March, 2003, the
first demo units have just now been shipped to dealers across the US. While
still not cheap at $5,000, it does set something of a new benchmark for the
price of a full-frame digital SLR, and its astonishing 13.7 megapixel resolution
has had many prospective users salivating for months now.
So how does it do? Read on for all the details, including some comparison photos
snapped alongside a Canon EOS-1Ds, its most obvious competitor.
High Points
13.7-megapixel (effective) RGB CMOS sensor, delivering image resolutions as high as 4,500 x 3,000 pixels.
SLR optical viewfinder.
2.0-inch color LCD display.
Nikon "F" lens mount accommodates wide range of Nikkor lenses.
Auto and manual focus control, with Single Area and Dynamic AF modes and AF assist lamp.
Program AE, Flexible Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual exposure modes.
Shutter speeds from 1/4,000 to two seconds, with Bulb mode for longer exposures.
Depth of field preview.
Adjustable ISO from 80 to 800 ISO equivalents.
3D Matrix, Center-Weighted, and Spot metering modes.
Seven white balance modes, including a manual setting.
Auto-Exposure Bracketing mode.
Continuous Shooting and Interval Shooting modes.
Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
Built-in flash with five modes.
External flash hot-shoe and additional PC sync terminal.
JPEG and RAW file formats, including simultaneous JPEG/RAW mode.
Images saved to CompactFlash (Type I or II) and/or SD/MMC memory cards.
Nikon 10-pin accessory interface.
Power supplied by DSC Pro 14n Battery pack or optional AC adapter.
IEEE-1394 interface for high-speed connection to a computer.
