Richard & Caroline's Blog

We have lived with the Bayer filter based digital camera design for many years now.  Every so often someone comes out with something that will get over the limitations, but generally the advantages also have major disadvantages.

The big problem with Bayer filter cameras is the resolution is not as high as stated, they interpolate the data, are prone to Moire, and most have an anti-aliasing filters which blurs the image slightly to reduce the Moire.

The big splashes to hit the camera news recently has been the Light-field camera and the foveon sensor, and of course this month the Leica Monochrom a Black & White Sensor.

Light-field; while the theory has been with us since about 1908, its still more of a toy then a usable product.  Its basically a sensor technology that does not need to be focused. Check out Steve Huff’s website for more information.

Foveon is a more interesting technology and a true rival for Bayer based sensors.  Instead of having coloured filters in front of each pixel its a sensor that can actually see in colour thus you get far higher resolution then indicated by the megapixel count.  It suffers a little from underdevelopment as its owned and solely used now by Sigma.

Generally modern Bayer based sensors have kept there lead, with megapixel counts in 35mm now at 36MP and with that count increasing each year, the need for anti-aliasing filters is becoming less, so the actual resolution is increasing even more.

In recent resolution tests the bare sensored Leica Monochrom which its 18MP sensor, lacking the Bayer filter and the anti-aliaising filter was more then a match for the new Nikon D800E which has 36MP and no anti-aliasing filter, but it was a close call.

Throwing more megapixels at the problem is so far keeping the Bayer filter ahead but lets hope someone comes out with a technology that gives us a purer solution.  For a while then I think the Bayer filter based sensor is here to stay.

If your interested in digital processing check out the Chromasoft blog, he has some very interesting findings about Fuji’s none standard Bayer filter used in the new Fuji X1 Pro.

 

With the recent spring weather as well as Landscapes I have been shooting some Wildlife with my Nikon V1. I am now getting to know all the issues with the camera.

Some are very minor others more of a problem.

The main problems are:

• Eye sensor – switches off back lcd when you try and shield it from the sun
• Mode dial – when you pull the camera from your pocket or bag it’s always on the wrong setting
• Image Review – you cannot turn it off, this is a more of a problem then you think when shooting action as the viewfinder shows the last shot you took and not the current view.

The other issues are fairly minor, it would be nice to be able change the focus mode and iso quickly instead of having to scroll through the menu.  In many ways the mode dial on the back is pointless and should be either got rid of or move the modes buried in the sub menus onto it.  Hiding the Aperture, Shutter and Manual modes does not make sense.

It’s a great camera and I wish Nikon would see the point of producing a more professional version but from comments I have seen they don’t see the point or they don’t want to risk cannibalising the sales of their low end SLR’s.

The problem is if Nikon do not produce a high end model then Sony, Panasonic, Olympus and Fuji will do there best to produce a camera that will appeal to us. With cameras like the Sony NEX-7, the Panasonic DMX-GX-1, the new Olympus OM-D E-M5, the sublime but also focus challenged Fuji X100 and new X Pro1, we have many options available to us.

As you can see from the samples I have posted above, and some of the street photography, I have done and posted over the last few days, image quality is very good for such a small sensor, and the EVF is excellent and the autofocus second to none.  It is a great handling camera, lets hope Nikon can build on it.

A few more shots from yesterday and the previous week. As you can see, I am in a Black & White mood with the Nikon V1 again. I’ll post a few thoughts about how I am getting on with the camera in the my first six months with it later this week.

Of all the little compact cameras I have tried, while it can be frustrating to use sometimes, the built in viewfinder more then makes up for it.

This weekend we are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee, for us in the UK we are enjoying a four day weekend, as we get an extra bank holiday in order to enjoy the celebrations.

Our local village has the bunting out, and we have had parties, live music and much to enjoy.

Walking round the village many people have had there camera’s out making the most of the opportunities.

Its certainly been a good weekend for photographic opportunities.

Last night one of my favourite live BBC Natural History program’s started. Springwatch.

As a bit of a very amateur wildlife photographer and part time birdwatcher (not a good one), it’s a very inspiring program.

Makes you want to load up with your big pro digital SLR and longest telephoto lens.  Lottery win needed?

It might have been a poor week so far for landscape photography but I have been enjoying a bit of Architectural, Flower and People Photography.

Here is a picture of Peter Ginn the archaeologist of Victorian Farm fame using an old forge.