Nikon D100

"Fundamental properties" of the Nikon D100 which must be known to a photographer, technical characteristics:

23.7*15.6 mm CCD 3008*2000, 12bit data transfer, 7.8 micron pixel pitch, GRGB filters. sRGB and AdobeRGB color spaces.

The buffer allows for up to 7 shots (4 RAW) at 3 fps with indication of possible quality in course of shooting.

Noise elimination mode, starts approximately from 1/2 s and longer exposures.

Body design - Nikon F80.

Bayonet mount - Nikon F, magnification factor x1.5.

Lenses compatibility: AF Nikkor D/G all modes; in certain modes: MF Nikkor D, AF Nikkor, AI-P Nikkor. In Non-CPU [A] or [M] mode with center-weighted or spot metering; the electronic rangefinder with maximum aperture of f/5.6.

File format: JPEG, TIFF, NEF (RAW) 12-bit, NEF compressed, L (3.008 x 2.000); M (2.240 x 1.488), S (1.504 x 1.000).

Removable memory: CompactFlash I/II, Microdrive.

Sensitivity: 200 - 1600, HI1 (3200), HI2 (6400).

Focusing: TTL phase detection (Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module, distance range -1 EV to +19 EV at ISO 100), 5 zones of manual or auto selection (dynamic focusing), Single Servo AF, Continuous Servo AF, Manual focus, focus lock.

TTL exposure metering with open aperture, modes: 3D Matrix Metering with 10-segment SPD, Centre-Weighted Metering, Spot Metering, 30 - 1/4000 sec exposure, manual, in 1/3 or 1/2 steps.

LCD 1.8", 118000 with LED backlighting.

TTL optical viewfinder, 95%, with dioptre adjustment (-2 to +1 D), external focus point 20 mm, B-type Bright View Clear Matte II screen II, magnification - 0.8X for f=50 mm.

Viewfinder information: Focus indications, Metering system, AE lock, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure/Exposure compensation indicator, Exposure mode, Flash output level compensation, Exposure compensation, Number of exposures remaining

Flash: D-TTL (Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash controlled by five-segment TTL Multi Sensor) for built-in and external flashes. Sync modes: Front-Curtain, Rear-Curtain, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync, up to 1/180s.

Built-in flash, guide number (ISO 100): 12; Optional sync terminal adapter AS-15.

Interface: USB1.1, Video NTSC/PAL.

Power supply: Li-Ion EN-EL3 battery (7.2V 1400 mAh), AC adapter EH-5.

Accessories: Multi-Function Battery Pack MB-D100, Charger MH-18/19, AC Adapter EH-5, Remote Control.

Dimensions/Weight: 144 x 116 x 80.5 mm / 700 g.


Front view: Backlight for autofocus / timer / redeye reduction, DOF preview button (under the lamp, on the lens' left), pop-up flash, lens release button, manual/single/continuous flash modes selector.

On the top: release button with a connector for remote control and on/off ring, Exposure compensation button, flash modes button, display backlight button, display (even when the camera is switched off it shows the possible number of shots on the memory card,	flash shoe, dial of exposure modes (in the shooting mode) and settings of sensitivity / white balance / file quality (size / compression) / auto focus point mode, drive mode dial (single-frame shooting, continuous, self-timer), flash raise button (on the left panel on the right picture).

two command dials activated with shooting parameters buttons for thumb and forefinger of the right hand

Rear view: on the viewfinder's left - Bracket mode, Flash compensation; on the display's left - Display, Menu, Thumbnail, Protect, Enter/Zoom, Erase.	On the viewfinder's right: dioptre adjustment slider, exposure / focus lock button with an exposure metering mode dial, above the display - focal plane mark; on the display's right: menu navigation selector, focusing area lock button, shot erase button, memory card slot.

Menu items and their functions on the pink background:
R Default settings,
0 Bank selection,
1 Review-after-shot (on/off),
2 No shoot without a memory card (on/off),
3 Automatically ISO adjustment (200-1600) if there is no pair of exposure/aperture at the value chosen by a user,
4 Noise reduction at exposures longer than 1/2 sec,
5 File Number Sequence (when a folder changes),
6 Monitor Off Delay,
7 Auto Meter-Off Delay,
8 Self-timer 2, 5, 10, 20 sec,

9 Exposure step: 1/3 or 1/2 Ev,
10 Exposure compensation: with exp. compen. button or without,
11 Bracket set: Exposure & Flash / AE Only / Flash Only / WB Bracketing,
12 Bracketing order: "0 - +" or "-0+",
13 Assign Command Dial (front - rear or rear - front),
14 Assign AE-L/AF-L button (together, separately, AE Lock hold),
15 AE Lock disable with the half pressed release button,
16 Illumination - only with Lamp On Switch or with any button,
17 Focus Area Selection (it's possible to select a lower area if the above one is active, when pressing upward; similar for the other zones)
18 Focus Area Illumination (always on, auto, off)

19 Grid Display,
20 Dynamic AF, Single-Servo (AF Area, Closest Subject),
21 Dynamic AF, Continuous-Servo (AF Area, Closest Subject)
22 AF Assist Illuminator (on/off),
23 Flash Mode (D-TTL Auto Flash, Manual Flash),
24 Anti-mirror-shock-mode (when on, the mirror opens before the shutter).

Setup Menu

Menu items and their functions on the brown background:
Format,
LCD Brightness,
Mirror lock-up to control the CCD state,
NTSC / PAL video-out,
Date,
Language,
Image comment.

Auto input of a comment for an image and a virtual keyboard.

Noise and sensitivity

Sensitivity can be changed in a wide range: from 200 to 1600 "plus two 1/3 steps". But if you look at the shots made with different sensitivity settings you will see that brightness, with ISO increased by 1/3, changes regularly: "dark-normal-light-dark-..." frame. If you look through EXIF data for a series of shots with ISO increasing by 1/3 for each shot you will see that the exposure step (exposure / aperture) actually can be 0, and only the exposure error can be changed by approx. 0.6 EV. We can say that this small and "precise" ISO step of 1/3 means shooting with a small error, and the actual step is 1. For shots with equal exposure errors (step 1) twice higher ISO corresponds to twice lower exposure.

Below is a series of fragments 1:1 with the gamma increased in the Photoshop. The shots of the D100 in Windows applications require a higher gamma, which can be explained both by orientation toward an alternative system and by a "desire" to delivery details in highs. Since the exposure error didn't correspond to the series in case of sensitivity of HI1 and HI2 (all had -0.3EV), the gamma correction for the HI was fulfilled to make the image equivalent in brightness. Besides, we made two shots for each of these "record" ISO values - in the auto exposure mode and in the manual one, twice and 4 times lower than the exposure of a frame with ISO 1600. All non-HI ISO values have an acceptable noise level, while 3200 and 6400 should be used only when they are really needed. The noise reduction works with exposures longer than 1/2 s.

		ISO 200, f/d=8, t=1/3 s, error -0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 2
		ISO 400, f/d=8, t=1/6 s, error -0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 2
		ISO 800, f/d=8, t=1/13 s, error -0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 2
		ISO 1600, f/d=8, t=1/30 s, error -0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 2
		ISO 1600 + 1, f/d=8, t=1/30 s, error +0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 1.7
		ISO 1600 + 1, f/d=8, t=1/60 s, error -0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 2
		ISO 1600 + 2, f/d=8, t=1/80 s, error 0EV, gamma Photoshop 1.7
		ISO 1600 + 2, f/d=8, t=1/125 s, error +0.3EV, gamma Photoshop 1.7