Just got a D7000, have some questions

[nemesis256]

I just got a new D7000 and am loving it so far. I do have a few questions though.

1. The base ISO is now 100. My D5000 has a base of 200, but also "low" options. I remember meeting that the low options were "faked", and provided lower quality photographs. So is this new ISO 100 real or is faked as well?

2. I noticed that there are options for the RAW file quality, meaning 14 bit verses 12 bit, and lossless compressed versus compressed. The file size difference is pretty significant between these options. So is a 14 bit lossless compressed file worth it? What are the advantages?

3. When the camera turned off, the number of frames available is displayed in the control panel. Is there a way to turn this off? Does it use any significant battery power?

[Shokinen]

Congratz on the new body

1. Low options is not fake. It makes your sensor "less sensitive" to the light so affect his behavior. But it's the same as if you were using ISO400 but the other way around. Having that said, the default is where the camera was designed to be at the max quality. So if it's 100 instead of 200, that's how it was designed. By the way, I would start beeing carefull around 1600. Anything below shouldn't be an issue.

2. I'm no expert with the 14bit thing. Jdepould could probably answer better this question. But from what I've read, this is only for people working in the industry. It will slow down by a lot your camera response time and apparently you don't see much difference.

3. No and no. This isn't taking much power so I wouldn't worry about that.

Have fun with the new camera !

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by nemesis256

2. I noticed that there are options for the RAW file quality, meaning 14 bit verses 12 bit, and lossless compressed versus compressed. The file size difference is pretty significant between these options. So is a 14 bit lossless compressed file worth it? What are the advantages?

The difference between 12-bit and 14-bit is the number of possible values you have for color. For example, consider an 8-bit JPEG. Each color channel (Red, Blue, Green) can have a value from 0 to 255. That means there's a total of 256 (or 2^8) values for each color. In 12-bit, you have 4096 (= 2^12) possible values (0 to 4095) and in 14-bit you have 16384 (= 2^14) possible values from 0 to 16383.

Where this comes in handy is when you have some really fine (as in not coarse) gradients in your images like during a sunset. Using 14-bit will help prevent banding (see image below) and I'm sure there are some other benefits, too.

Bottom line: just use the 12-bit.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Shokinen

1. Low options is not fake. It makes your sensor "less sensitive" to the light so affect his behavior. But it's the same as if you were using ISO400 but the other way around. Having that said, the default is where the camera was designed to be at the max quality. So if it's 100 instead of 200, that's how it was designed. By the way, I would start beeing carefull around 1600. Anything below shouldn't be an issue.

Sorry, but on the D5000 (and similar), 200iso is the base level: the "lo1" setting was a pull-processed 200 and is, therefore, a "faked" 100iso.

On the D7000, if it says 100 as the lowest, then that's base for that sensor.

THe trick is knowing the NATIVE ISO range. According to DPReview, that's 100-6400 for the D7000.

[nemesis256]

Thanks for the replies. I have another question, which isn't necessarily camera specific. How heavy of a lens can the body support by itself if I'm holding the camera only from the body? Not sure if that makes sense, but at which point should I always be holding the lens if the camera is pointing forward? Is it possible for the lens or mount to fall off if held only from the body?

[Azaki]

The lens itself will come with a support ring to attach to a tripod when the they start getting that heavy.
BUT you should ALWAYS be holding the lens and supporting it with your other hand as that is the proper way of holding your camera, and even if the lens doesn't have a support ring, you are putting undue stress on the lens mount and can result in a broken mount, which is not good.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by Azaki

The lens itself will come with a support ring to attach to a tripod when the they start getting that heavy.
BUT you should ALWAYS be holding the lens and supporting it with your other hand as that is the proper way of holding your camera, and even if the lens doesn't have a support ring, you are putting undue stress on the lens mount and can result in a broken mount, which is not good.

This is correct; any weight that's attached to the mount and is hanging in front of the mount will create a torque on the mount. 'Proper' form has one hand on the body and one on the lens to distribute the weight so the torque is minimized.

[Shokinen]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Sorry, but on the D5000 (and similar), 200iso is the base level: the "lo1" setting was a pull-processed 200 and is, therefore, a "faked" 100iso.

Interesting, never realized that. I thought the range with this sensor was 100-3200 and the default was 200. Double checked and you are right: range is 200-3200.

Funny thing is we talked about this and remembered when I read your reply :
Setting ISO on D90

[nemesis256]

Originally Posted by Azaki

The lens itself will come with a support ring to attach to a tripod when the they start getting that heavy.
BUT you should ALWAYS be holding the lens and supporting it with your other hand as that is the proper way of holding your camera, and even if the lens doesn't have a support ring, you are putting undue stress on the lens mount and can result in a broken mount, which is not good.

I do realize that's the correct way of holding the camera, but the reason I'm asking is, how do you change settings? Let's say I have to push a button on the back of the camera, and then turn the command dial. This requires both hands on the body. Meanwhile, you need to be looking at the control panel which is at the top of the camera, which kind of requires the lens to be horizontal, therefore putting stress on the mount. You almost need a third hand to hold the lens!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by nemesis256

I do realize that's the correct way of holding the camera, but the reason I'm asking is, how do you change settings? Let's say I have to push a button on the back of the camera, and then turn the command dial. This requires both hands on the body. Meanwhile, you need to be looking at the control panel which is at the top of the camera, which kind of requires the lens to be horizontal, therefore putting stress on the mount. You almost need a third hand to hold the lens!

You use the viewfinder, or you learn to do it with one hand. Or both.

I can change almost any setting single-handed, and when I need to use two, i point the camera down.