It is not even a quarter of a century as Nikon launched FM3A. At that time, Nikon was already producing feature-pack models such as F5 and F100. Nevertheless, I am going to use former manual classic FM3A as a springboard for my future scene. There are two reasons for this. Personal one is that I entered Nikon Waters with FM3A. But even more importantly, this camera had only two basic functions: shutter speed and ISO.
The camera had only other small features auto shutter speed, automatically from the film cartridge, ISO set, exposure compensation, a self-timer, a depth-off-field preview liver, a frame counter and certainly, rewriting the liver Thin layer for. And that was this.
Now, try squeezing the characteristics of today’s digital cameras into a sentence. This will be a long sentence to fill a book, and to read it will take away the breath of a champion Freedivar. But as they say, hunger grows with food, so I asked myself a question. If I had a chance, what features would I have already added to a magnificent camera like Nikon Z9?
I put this question in front of me and my beloved colleague Jason, with whom I let my imagination run wild. Well, here is the result of our visionary music.
1. Smart manual
A great way to control the corner of the exposure triangle is to shoot in manual mode with Auto ISO. This gives you complete control over the ‘creative’ variable of aperture and shutter speed. The technical part of the triangle is under the control of the ISO, camera.
There is a catch in manual with auto ISO, however. Suppose you are shooting wildlife in a forest. You have f/2.8 aperture and 1/400 shutter speed. The camera provides these values ​​ISO 400. As long as the animal remains in the shade, everything will be alright.
But even on the floor of a dark forest, a ray of sunlight will ever strike, and it can be a problem because a dramatic growth in light cannot always be compensated by reducing ISO, Around 100 with minimum 100. In such cases, as long as you manually reduce the shutter speed, the result will be an overexposed image.
And yet a small tweet that I say Smart manual (Or fullproof manual), will trick. In cases where the auto ISO cannot reduce the ISO further, the camera will compensate by changing the shutter speed to maintain the right exposure. And, it will automatically return to the prescribed price when the light position returns to the ISO border.
2. East-localize in raw
Whenever the response time of our slow neural systems fails, pre-relief is a potentially very useful feature. Imagine, for example, a tuken in a nest hole. For endless minutes, it just exits your cavity, when you wait for its wings to slip and spread your wings.
Your finger presses the shutter every time when Toucan moves hard, but it does not fly. After some such efforts, your attention attracts and you miss the real flight. The specific result is that you get out of the hole with a card filled with the same photographs of Tocaines.
The pre-release function allows you to rewind the time up to one precious other by temporarily storing images in the camera buffer. These pictures are recorded only in the card when the shutter is completely pressed. Since April 2022, when Nikon Z9 got this feature in firmware version 2.0, we are basically able to take a picture of the past. It sounds great, but … “but” so big that I never use this feature on my Z9: it is limited to JPEG output.
Nevertheless, other manufacturers have kept it in Raw so far. Both Sony and Canon are in their top-line models. It is also present on Canon’s EOS R6 Mark II, although in this model, the result is stored in an uncomfortable single file from which you have to remove the raw image desired in the compatible software, usually canon digital photo professional.
Of course, small sensor cameras were the first to receive a pre-relief feature with Raw. Both OM Systems (Pro Capture) and Fujifilm (Pre-shot) have both. Fuji’s speed machine, X-H2S, with its 26.1MP APS-C sensor, can shoot 40 raw images per second in pre-shot. Even high-resolution Fujifilm X-H2, with its 40.2MP sensor, can shoot at 13 FPS from the entire sensor area. Now 13 FPS may not take too much, but consider that almost the same speed was achieved by 20.8mp Nicon D5 when shooting with an electronic shutter was done continuously.
3. Digital ND filter
This is another amazing feature that is probably not required an introduction to users of OM system cameras. Their live ND filter feature can simulate a series of ND filter density from ND2 (1EV) to ND64 (6EV). I say “simulation” because the camera uses a composite of several exposure to achieve ND filter effects. However, the end result is a single raw file that can be processed as it was shot with a real filter.
When we need to catch or emphasize the movement, ND filters are most commonly used. Specific examples running water, clouds crossing the sky or leaf flowing in the air. However, good quality filters are expensive and problems with various thread diameter can also occur. To not mention that some telephoto lenses require either very large filter diameter (eg nicon z 180–600 mm for 180–600 mm) or special drop-in filter in terms of expensive exotics.
Real filters also do not have that much facility and speed. When the landscape is shot, the speed cannot be an important factor, but it cannot be said for wildlife. The ability to activate an ND filter with a single button press will be a great feature. Water birds such as ducks, dippers and herons look very good surrounded by motion-tumped water. To not mention, the digital ND filter will not fall into the water when you are trying to screw it quickly.
4. Automated focus stacking
Nikon has a focus-shift function that allows you to take photos with the depth of the field so that they cannot be taken in a standard manner, such as stopping down. The theory is that the camera takes a series of pictures of the same scene, each is a slightly transferred aircraft to focus on each. Then, they must merge into a single image in Photoshop or a dedicated stacking application such as Helicon focus.
But the entire process is quite complex and includes several settings in the camera menu. With Nikon, you must first focus on the nearest point you want in the focus, fix the aircraft to focus on the camera, adjust the number of frames, the focus step between the frames, the width of the steps, shots And time intervals between some other things. , And then start the process by starting and pressing it properly. It takes one and three seconds before the actual recording starts. Do you also find it a little tedious? Let us leave the need for post-production to one side, which adds even more time to the overall process.
I would like it if the focus stacking function can be assigned a function button as a record button. With the focus stacking being enabled, you just have to do so that you focus on the closest (or possibly final) point you want in the focus, press the shutter button, and the camera will do the rest. Depending on the focal length of the lens and the smallest aircraft of the focus, it will calculate the number of frames required and the width of the focus step, and will initiate a sharp sequence (at least 10 FPS). This will also make it possible to catch the moving subjects.
It would be great if the camera can also merge the resulting images directly into JPEG or a raw file. Again, not a revolutionary idea, as the OM system can merge directly 15 images to the camera directly. This may not be enough for very small subjects, but it is more than enough to the landscape with a large depth of the region.
5. Adaptable focus limit
A focus limit is usually a feature associated with telephoto or macro lens. With these, there is usually an option to limit the range of focusing through a switch on the lens. Nikon Z 180–600 mm, for example, you can choose between the entire range or 6 meters from infinite. In some situations, however, it would be useful if the AF range can be more accurately defined.
One such landscape is when used Auto-capture functionBy limiting the AF range, AF will work more accurately and will also reduce the number of false triggers.
In this mode, you will have a clear idea where the subject should be, so it will not be a problem to determine the exact distance with a small tolerance. This is also the case when a picture of the Hummingbirds on a flower, near a nest hole, birds on a branch, etc. ,
How will you work with a adaptation focus-limit (CFL)? You will first focus on the location where you expect action. Then you will activate CFL by pressing the memory set button or any other programmable button for a long time. FN button and command dial on the lens can be used to set the distance range within which AF must be sensitive to the subject. Re -pressing the memory set button will neutralize the CFL and return the AF range to the default values ​​set on the lens.
conclusion
You have read only five features that Jason and I would like to see in the future Nikon camera. As you can see, we are not getting insufficient! Essentially, most of the characteristics I mentioned will only require a slight change in the camera firmware. The limit may be processing power in some cases, but not for all suggestions. If any of these features was visible in the future Nikon camera, or even better, in a firmware update, it would be luxurious.
For you, our readers and active photographers, I have some questions. What new feature would you like to see in your future camera? Will you be ready to pay for new features for your existing camera, as is accompanied by a major update for many software products (eg photo editor)? I am eager to hear your thoughts in the comment section, and … I also hope anyone is listening to Nikon.
