Nikon D100 Digital Camera [6.1MP] - Body Only

 

 

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[This review updates my earlier comments in the light of the fact that 1)this body is now substantially cheaper than when I originally reviewed it,2) there is now a D70 available at a lower price point and 3) theavailability of Nikon Capture 4 has substantially increased the product'sversatility and 4)18 months of use has given a broader perspective]
We have been using a pair of D100s now for about 18 months. Our pictureshave appeared in newspapers and magazines, on billboards, bus and trainadverts, as well as brochures, modelling portfolios, flyers and otherpromotional material.
We've also used them alongside press photographers working with the D1 andthe D2, which has given us a lot of opportunities for discussion andcomparison.
We stand by all of the comments we originally made on this camera - at itsprice point the overall quality and range of features are extraordinary.Nikon currently classify the D100, the D1 and the D2 as professionalequipment, whereas the just released D70 is classified as high-endamateur.
Comparison to the D1 and D2 series cameras
The D100 scores over the higher priced D1 and D2 in that its resolution is50% larger, which makes it suitable for a wide variety of local andregional advertising such as bus campaigns. Without enhancement, the D100resolution is just big enough when used portrait to cover the height of astandard billboard without further enhancement.
The D100 is plastic framed, whereas the D1 and D2 have metal frames. Aspress workhorses, this makes them far more robust, but photographers haveoften commented that they would rather have the D100.
However, the real advantage of the pricier cameras is in their sustainedframe rate. The D1 will spit out 10 shots a second, whereas the D100 ismuch more leisurely at 3 frames a second. There is also a lag betweenpressing and the shutter releasing which is annoying when shooting a fastmoving subject. The D1 and D2 are firewire equipped, whereas the the D100uses USB, which slows transfer of large numbers of images, although thedifference is merely inconvenient in most situations.
On the professional series, therefore, our conclusion is that if yourequire speed and robustness, the D1 or D2 is the appropriate choice. Onthe other hand, if you are relatively careful with your equipment but needthe maximum in image quality, the D100 is a better (and far cheaper)choice.
Maximising image quality on the D100
In terms of image quality, we have discovered that the ultimate accessoryto the D100 is Nikon Capture 4.1. This software is provided as a thirtyday trial with the camera, and retails for around GBP 100. Its advantageis that it opens up the full world of Nikon raw pictures, the NEF format.A free Photoshop plugin for NEF is included with the camera, but this isstrictly limited in its functions. Using Nikon Capture, it is possible toadjust all the non-mechanical parameters in the camera after the event. Inother words, instead of being stuck with the original choices of whitebalance, sharpening, noise filter and colour mode, you can edit themdirectly without degrading the image. Capture also offers you up to 2stops of exposure compensation in either direction, and a full suite ofdetail enhancement and colour balancing tools. Even after you have madethese adjustments and saved them, you can go back to the original becausethe raw file itself is not altered, only the processing instructions.
Essentially, NEF is the equivalent of negatives whereas TIFF or JPEG arethe equivalent of prints. The downside is that the D100 will only shoot 3NEFs before its memory buffer is full, and it will then spend some timetransferring to its memory card. Nonetheless, where quality is an issue,NEF takes us several stages beyond anything which can be achieved bypost-processing TIFFs or JPEGs in Photoshop.
It is still important to understand that the D100 does not reach thequality of film. For ultimate quality, shoot on a film based SLR or,better, medium-format.
Lenses
Because the CCD on Nikon's digital range of SLRs is smaller than 135 film,lenses behave as if they were comparatively longer. Thus, a 35mm lens forthe D100 is the equivalent of the 'normal' 50mm lens for film.Unfortunately, Nikon have been slow to release prime lenses for theirdigital range, and the fastest available Nikkor 35mm is only f2. However,the D100's built in shake compensation option substantially improvesperformance at lower speeds.
All your old Nikon lenses will work with the D100, even the manual ones.However, there are now Nikkor DX lenses which are specifically targettedat the digital range. At the time of writing, (aside from the fish-eyelens) these are all zoom lenses, which inevitably introduce a measure ofoptical compromise.
Comparison to the D70
The D70 is Nikon's newcomer, and is around GBP 300 cheaper than the D100.It is lighter (which in the Nikon world usually means less robust) and istargetted at the enthusiast, with more hand holding including specialpicture modes. In terms of specification, the D70 is as good as or betterthan the D100 in its electronics. However, it is less expandable and willnot, for example, accommodate a separate power grip with voice recordingand additional batteries. With a recent Nikkor lens, battery life on bothcameras is extremely good. However, with some of the early autofocuslenses, such as the highly rated Micro-Nikkor 55, the power drain is muchgreater.
On comparison, my buying advice would be to go with the D100 if you intendto use the camera in any professional capacity, and to go with the D1 orD2 if you are regularly shooting for newspapers, especially if you coversports events. By 'professional' I mean using the camera as part of yourlivelihood. On the other hand, if you are a serious amateur, the D70 willproduce pictures which are as good as any the D100 can manage, and 1.5x aslarge as D1 or D2 pictures.
If you are comparing the D100 with non-Nikon digital equipment, then yourmain points of comparison should be 1) optics and 2) brand reputation. Interms of optics, Nikkor lenses maintain their reputation as the ultimatein the 35mm and digital world. More to the point, there is now a verybroad pool of second hand lenses available, many at silly prices. You_can_ access Nikkor optics through the Fuji range, but there is anintrinsic risk: Nikon are committed to supporting their own products,there is no guarantee that their future lenses will be Fuji compatible.

This is a superb piece of kit - but at an enormous price if it isn't important in your paid job.

Essentially this is a smaller, lighter successor to the D1, which is a well known press workhorse. By smaller and lighter, I don't mean that this camera is small or light -- just that the D1 is enormous.

This is a camera for people who _need_ the speed of digital and _require_ the flexibility and accuracy of a 'proper' SLR. If you can do without either of these, then you should really be looking at a film SLR (the equivalent spec in Nikon is available for less than half the price), or at a high-end digital like the top of the range from Kodak, Olympus etc. These weigh in at less than a third of the price, and you don't have to buy the lens as extra.

Sorry, did I not mention that? Like most professional kit, this camera is a 'body only'. You buy the lens separately (think around £400), and you'll probably need to add the dedicated flash (about £300). You'll also need a USB equipped Mac or PC.

So what does this camera offer you that makes it worth the money? In a word, everything. Nikon have for a long time been considered the brand of the professional. This camera offers you the choice of their top notch lens systems, all the usual auto-focus and auto-exposure functions, but with the instant power of 6 mega-pixel digital.

Perhaps this doesn't sell it quite enough.

So, if you're coming from digital cameras, this might help:
If you take a picture through, say, a Kodak DC4000, which is a good 4 mega-pixel camera with a built in zoom and flash, then it will give pretty good results if you look at the picture as a whole. At the pixel level, though, the image is blotchy and uneven. Nothing against Kodak here, this is simply a result of the lens quality you get for a digital camera at that price point. With the D100, assuming you're using a Nikkor lens, you find that the image is crystal clear at the pixel level. What's more, you'll find that the colours are true, and, additionally, the camera has it's own white point balancing. The camera works well in automatic 'idiot' mode, despite the plethora of dials and buttons. If you want to go further, though, you can fully unleash the power of an interchangeable lens SLR. See below.

If you're coming from film SLR cameras, then consider this:
You get a shot which is one and a half times as big as the Reuters standard for digital press images. You can shoot three shots a second without an additional motor drive. You can vary the ASA speed from 200 to 1600 or beyond on the fly, or even get the camera to do it for you automatically. It will auto bracket for exposure, flash or white balance. Concerning white balance, you can set for sunlight, shadow, tungsten bulb, flourescent, flash or your own preset white balance. You can preview all your stuff instantly. Finally, it weighs about the same as a serious Nikon SLR autofocus. For the manic, you can add an extra battery pack for that 'big motordrive' feel, which also gives you voice recording.

I love it.

I've owned my D100 for 8 months and have shot thousands of pictures with it (literally!). I got a 1Gb Microdrive with the camera and already had a selection of AF Nikon lenses from my old F401x camera. The D100 has performed superbly in all the situations I have asked of it, and the Microdrive means I don't have to worry about the number of pictures I take - for example I took 280 photos at a friend's wedding (and still had room for another 150, all at 3000 x 2000 pixels Fine JPEG setting). The rechargeable battery lasted the whole day of shooting including downloading all the pictures by USB - brilliant!

The digital nature allows me to experiment with my photos without worrying about processing costs: something that allows me to develop my skill. Yet with a reasonable photo printer A4 pictures are easily good enough quality. Pictures are a bit softer if you print sections at 100% size (corresponding to a 40 by 28 inch poster!).

The SLR nature means you can't view the image on the LCD before you take the picture as you can on non SLR digital cameras, but this is a small price to pay for the much faster response time when taking pictures and the much greater control you can have, plus the wide range of accessories and lenses.

I am still learning to use all the features the camera has, this is probably the first time I have sat down to read the manual before I started using a new "toy". The point-and-shoot program mode allows the camera to be used with ease if you don't want all the technical bits. If you do then you can take complete control of the photography - even to the point of recording RAW data from the CCD so you can control any picture processing.

Pros: Everything is well placed and easy to use. The camera is chunky enough to hold well without being heavy. Quality is excellent, the battery lasts well, many excellent features, and the camera just feels right in use.

Cons: I prefer to use a hotshoe flash as the built in one tends to give shadows and red eye. And now I have a longer shopping list: A3 photo printer, studio flash kit... oh well.

Would I recommend this camera?
YES and especially so if you already have Nikon AF lenses. If you don't, it's still worth considering.

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5.0 out of 5 stars It's dead.............
I+ve had my D100 for years, infact since it was available in UK. It's been halfway round the world,in all different environments, i can't really say that i've looked after it, i... Read more

Published 13 months ago by Jose Carvalho

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it!
I have had the Nikon D100 for a month now and to say I am happy with it is an understatement. I have used a 35mm SLR for around 10 years and was reluctant to move over to digital... Read more

Published on 26 Jan 2004 by nikguyatt

5.0 out of 5 stars Nikon D100 - Its a beauty, mate!!
I use the D100 for taking photos of my young child and it is superb for this use. The digital camera allows me to view the photos and delete the ones where she's blinking or... Read more

Published on 8 Jan 2004 by David R. Stewardson

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Cool Nikon
I have been a Nikon user for years, so I have accumulated numerous lenses and accessories. I have also been watching the prices of Nikon digital cameras since 1996. Read more

Published on 30 July 2003 by E. Hardman

5.0 out of 5 stars Nikon D100
An absolute joy to use and the results completely blew me away. Viewed on the (albeit impressive) PowerBook G4 LCD via iPhoto or in Photoshop, the results I got using flash... Read more

Published on 11 Nov 2002 by Dariush Mirfendereski

5.0 out of 5 stars Nikon D100, rather good actually.
I have had this camera 4 weeks so far and havent really stretched it to its limits so this little write up is pretty basic. Read more

Published on 22 Aug 2002 by D. Walker

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