Nikon D7000 Underwater

[JimSwims 31]

Hi Alex, on the D7000 can you set shutter speeds higher than the 1/200th limit that the D90 has when using optically slaved strobes?

 

Cheers,

Jim.

[Rocha 0]

Auto focus is really impressing me (in normal shooting mode). But it is not great in live view for video. Especially if you use a slow lens like the 10-17mm fitted with a filter.

 

But in all other ways the camera is proving first class.

 

Alex

 

That sounds great Alex, I am not interested in video, at all

[Ryan 57]

Hi Alex, on the D7000 can you set shutter speeds higher than the 1/200th limit that the D90 has when using optically slaved strobes?

 

D7000 Flash Sync is 1/250.

 

But it is not great in live view for video. Especially if you use a slow lens like the 10-17mm fitted with a filter.

 

I'm not sure if I can think of a situation with 10-17 where live focus shooting video would be beneficial... Certainly midrange and macro lenses could benefit from it for hand held work, but with a lens this wide I don't see the point. Even the best af systems will lose focus and hunt occasionally, blowing the clip. In many ways not using live focus with a lens like this reinforces good video technique.

[JackConnick 76]

Not sure how sync is implemented on the D7000, but I am able to optically sync to 1/320th sec on my D300s using TTL/FP mode with 2x YS-110a strobes. A lot of the time you can tweak an extra bit of sync speed out this way.

 

Jack

Edited November 29, 2010 by JackConnick

[derway 2]

Auto focus is really impressing me (in normal shooting mode). But it is not great in live view for video. Especially if you use a slow lens like the 10-17mm fitted with a filter.

 

But in all other ways the camera is proving first class.

 

Alex

 

What about live view with AF for stills? Equally problematic?

 

Is there a dslr that does it all, including great video and live view AF? Or only the ones that cost several thousand $?

 

Or is the nex5 the way to go for live view and both stills and video, without costing too much?

 

Thanks!

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Live view for stills is a useful feature on this camera. The first SLR I have found this to be so - as shutter lag is minimal.

 

The standard flash synch is 1/250th (but you can change it to 1/320th in custom setting e1 and still have TTL. Coral fluorescence, D7000 + 60mm AFS. Nauticam housing, 2x INON Z240 strobes, Glowdive filters. 1/320th @ f/9:

 

 

Although the camera does not have a dedicated AF-ON button, you can assign the AF-L/AE-L to be AF-ON, which at the same time disables the AF function of the shutter. This works in both normal shooting and live view and it is a good way to shoot in live view - stopping the focus from hunting and giving you a push to focus function. However, we found it has too much of propensity to hunt to use it during filming while shooting video. As Peter says you can also hear the button being pressed on the video! For stills it is fine - as you wait for it to be focused then shoot.

 

Alex

[gobiodon 63]

Live view for stills is a useful feature on this camera. The first SLR I have found this to be so - as shutter lag is minimal.

 

Alex

 

Because you haven't tried any sony DSLR yet! ;-)

[Aussiebyron 57]

Because you haven't tried any sony DSLR yet! ;-)

 

Do they make a housing for it ;-)

 

Regards Mark

[Aussiebyron 57]

Hi Alex,

 

I would like to hear more about the Video on the D7000 especially the manual movie settings.

 

Regards Mark

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Did some video continuous focusing tests this morning - both panning between near and far subjects and with moving fish - using the Nikon 60mm AFS f2.8 with no lights and no filter.

 

The static subjects with panning are fine, but flitting butterfly fish were a bit too much of a challenge. It hold focus most of the time on the butterfly fish, but in the end, when it looses it, the sequence is lost. Since I am not a vidiot I'll put the clips in the review, so that more experienced folks can judge the capability for themselves.

 

Alex

[loftus 42]

Although the camera does not have a dedicated AF-ON button, you can assign the AF-L/AE-L to be AF-ON, which at the same time disables the AF function of the shutter. This works in both normal shooting and live view and it is a good way to shoot in live view - stopping the focus from hunting and giving you a push to focus function. However, we found it has too much of propensity to hunt to use it during filming while shooting video. As Peter says you can also hear the button being pressed on the video! For stills it is fine - as you wait for it to be focused then shoot.

 

Alex

Would it not be valuable to use AF-ON or half press the shutter for video in a similar fashion to that you describe for stills, simply to fix chosen points of focus, essentially using autofocus as a way to focus manually rather than relying on one's eyes to judge whether the picture on the screen is in perfect focus or not. I ask this because I have a hard time with a videocam underwater judging focus on the screen. This seems to work for me topside. On camera sound underwater is of fairly limited use, recording mostly the sound of scuba bubbles. If sound is important adding an external hydrophone would be better would it not?

Edited November 29, 2010 by loftus

[PRC 2]

At risk of stating the bleeding obvious but - look at the number of hits that this topic is getting 1800 so far.

 

As an indicator of interest in the D7000 it may suggest that now is the time to buy Nikon shares - the D70 almost single handedly saved Nikon, is the D7000 poised for similar glory ?

 

Paul C

[Aussiebyron 57]

I guess Paul that alot of Nikon users like myself hav been waiting for a camera take on the Canon lineup. It would be interesting also to see what Nikon makes to take on directly with the Canon 5DmkII with maybe their proposed D800???

 

Regards Mark

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Home, through the snow. Working on the review. Hope to have it up tomorrow - mainly dependant on me figuring out how to sort the videos for sharing.

 

Any volunteers for helping me - gratefully received.

 

Alex

[JimSwims 31]

....The standard flash synch is 1/250th (but you can change it to 1/320th in custom setting e1 and still have TTL.....

Alex

 

 

Thanks for clarifying that Alex. Looking forward to the complete review.

 

Cheers,

Jim.

[Ferg42 13]

Not sure if anyone's already posted this, but the in depth D7000 review is up on dpreview:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond7000/

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Not sure if anyone's already posted this, but the in depth D7000 review is up on dpreview:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond7000/

 

Argh - don't read that - my review is almost written and has much of the same stuff - only underwater! Alex

[cdoyal 0]

Argh - don't read that - my review is almost written and has much of the same stuff - only underwater! Alex

 

And as we all know, the underwater stuff is all that matters!

[Deep6 7]

And as we all know, the underwater stuff is all that matters!

Right! I'm holding my breath waiting for Alex's review.

Bob

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Nearly there. Just had one day at home between travel and had lots of work to get out the door today. Almost there now.

 

Review is currently at 4800 words! And the text is about an hour from being done. Then the pictures. videos are already online and awaiting links and Adam has volunteered to help me put it together. Good chance of being online tonight or failing that sometime tomorrow - probably after my flight.

 

Alex

[NWDiver 43]

I believe Dr. Mustard is cruelly building suspense....

[PRC 2]

I believe Dr. Mustard is cruelly building suspense....

 

Maybe but he did appear a bit rattled about the alternative offering (which we all have read by now anyhow).

 

Argh - don't read that

 

Paul C

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Finally back on line. Been rather distracted by flying in and out of the UK over the last couple of days. We were very lucky to get into Gatwick before it closed.

 

Back online now - so attempting to upload it all.

 

Alex

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Review should be up now!

[loftus 42]

Fantastic review Alex; hard to find fault with this camera as an underwater camera. Is there anything at all that you missed on this camera compared say to your D700?

Edited December 2, 2010 by loftus