DCS620

[Kieran Corrigan]

I have just bought a DSC620 Nikon/ Kodak.
I have a few questions.

(1) I have to under expose flash shots by 2-3 stops. Bounce seems to be OK,
Is this normal ?
(2) The Images are in focus but not as sharp as I would expect. I have been
using an F5 and scanning negs for years and getting sharper results.Any
Comments?
(3) How do I get the second card reader to work. I have gone to the Kodak
Web page can't seem to get the Firmware information I need.

All comments welcome.
Kieran

 

[David morel]

Congrats on your new purchase...i bet you will enjoy it...the concerns you have are the standard...here are some ideas:

(1) I have to under expose flash shots by 2-3 stops. Bounce seems to be OK,
Is this normal ?

...this i am unaware of but you may try the discussion board on http://www.pei.com , check it out...

(2) The Images are in focus but not as sharp as I would expect. I have been
using an F5 and scanning negs for years and getting sharper results.Any
Comments?

the kodak professional cameras have an anti-aliasing filter installed that helps with the aliasing effect but has a secondary effect of softening the image...you can take the filter out and use hot mirror filters on the lens, you can get the new kodak filter that replaces the a/a filter...it doesn't do the a/a job but it shields the ir rays(this should be available in a few weeks), or go to http://www.robgalbraith.com/ and check out the book the Rob wrote...he is a photojournalist/consultant to newspapers that want to go digiital...the book gives you the ins and outs of using the kodak professional cameras and sharpening techniques...

(3) How do I get the second card reader to work. I have gone to the Kodak
Web page can't seem to get the Firmware information I need.

the second slot is not operational at this time...but the next firmware/acquire software is due out this month...keep checking the web site...

hope this helps!

 

[Tim]

I used a DCS 520 for a year before getting my D1. It is pretty much the same camera as the 620 only on a Canon body and the origional dedicated flash, 540EZ did the same thing yours does. So they mad the 550EZ flash that was dedicated to the 520 and took care of the overexposure the other flashes were giving. I dont know if they have made a "special edition" flash for the 620 or not, but you may want to check into it. I got many great images from my 520 and am sure you will with your 620. As for your other two questions, David anwered them for you the same as I would.

Happy Shooting,
Tim

 

[steve13411]

(1) I have to under expose flash shots by 2-3 stops. Bounce seems to be OK,
Is this normal ?

...this i am unaware of but you may try the discussion board on
http://www.pei.com , check it out...

(2) The Images are in focus but not as sharp as I would expect. I have been
using an F5 and scanning negs for years and getting sharper results.Any
Comments?

the kodak professional cameras have an anti-aliasing filter installed
that helps with the aliasing effect but has a secondary effect of
softening the image...you can take the filter out and use hot mirror
filters on the lens, you can get the new kodak filter that replaces the
a/a filter...it doesn't do the a/a job but it shields the ir rays(this
should be available in a few weeks), or go to
http://www.robgalbraith.com/ and check out the book the Rob wrote...he is
a photojournalist/consultant to newspapers that want to go digiital...the
book gives you the ins and outs of using the kodak professional cameras
and sharpening techniques...

(3) How do I get the second card reader to work. I have gone to the Kodak
Web page can't seem to get the Firmware information I need.

the second slot is not operational at this time...but the next
firmware/acquire software is due out this month...keep checking the web
site...

hope this helps!

the flash you need to use with the dcs620 is the sb28d (soon to be discontinued) or the new sb28dx from nikon for the d1

 

[Les Schofer]

Get Rob Galbraith's book, Digital Photojournalist's Guide, 4th edition
Get Rob Galbraith's book, Digital Photojournalist's Guide, 4th edition
Get Rob Galbraith's book, Digital Photojournalist's Guide, 4th edition
Get Rob Galbraith's book, Digital Photojournalist's Guide, 4th edition

All your questions will be answered in it. His web address is robgalbraith.com

You will gain much knowledge from present and past issues of Diginews on his web site.

Les Schofer

 

[Dave Zapotosky]

I have just bought a DSC620 Nikon/ Kodak.
I have a few questions.

(1) I have to under expose flash shots by 2-3 stops. Bounce seems to be OK,
Is this normal ?
(2) The Images are in focus but not as sharp as I would expect. I have been
using an F5 and scanning negs for years and getting sharper results.Any
Comments?
(3) How do I get the second card reader to work. I have gone to the Kodak
Web page can't seem to get the Firmware information I need.

All comments welcome.

Kieran

I assume you are trying to use TTL flash. If so, don't. At best it
will work some of the time if you set exposure compensation at -3 stops.
Subjects close to the camera will still be overexposed. Instead, set
your SB 24,25,26,28 or whatever to A mode and set an f stop on the flash..
Set your f stop on the lens to match or stop down -1/3 to -1 stop if
your subject is close. A little experience with it will quickly help.
Or buy an SB28DX which has auto aperature mode that links the lens and
flash f stop setting and allows you to dial in exposure comensation on
the flash, much like you do on TTL.

As another poster stated, the slight softening is caused by the
anti aliasing filter. It is more noticeable with short lenses.
A little unsharp mask in Photoshop will counteract it.

 

[Jay Kelbley]

Kieran,

There are so many people who have responded with quite a few helpful answers already, that I will try hard not to duplicate and endeavor to be brief..

The Nikon SB28D is a custom flash version built by Nikon for use with the Kodak DCS 620 and DCS 660. When used in auto mode, it will yield optimized flash exposure for these cameras. With the advent of the Nikon D1 (also requiring some help with optimized flash exposure), it did not make much sense to have two custom flash units on the market, so the SB28DX combines the functionality for both the Kodak DCS 6xx series and the Nikon D1 into one flash unit.

The "second slot" storage functionality (along with a bunch more) for the DCS 5XX and 6xx cameras is scheduled to be made available via new firmware (Version 3.0.8) on Monday. The firmware will be available for download from the Kodak web site.

----===> > > A note of caution: Once you upgrade to the Version 3.0.8 firmware, new raw archive images will only be viewable by the latest Kodak TWAIN/Acquire module (V5.8.X).. If you use the Kodak software only, this is probably not an issue, but if you use one of the many third party software Apps. out there, like Camera Bits' "PhotoMechanic", you will not be able to these "new" archive files until there are updates available. Updated developer toolkits, enabling the third party software applications, should be released in the next 5-10 days.. So this should only be an issue for few weeks..

-Jay Kelbley
Eastman Kodak Company
[email protected]

 

[Chris]

I have just bought a DSC620 Nikon/ Kodak.
I have a few questions.

(1) I have to under expose flash shots by 2-3 stops. Bounce seems to be OK,
Is this normal ?

The 620 is not a TTL flash camera. You need to set the flash and it can be any Nikon flash to A mode. The flash then operates like a vivtar 283. The SB-28D from Kodak is discontinued but you can use the SB-28DX from Nikon and the camera can communicate the f/stop used by the camera to the flash for a little more accurate exposures. SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A D1

(2) The Images are in focus but not as sharp as I would expect. I have been
using an F5 and scanning negs for years and getting sharper results.Any
Comments?

Its the anti-aliasing filter in front of the Mirror. This filter is needed to reduce IR and aliasing inherent in all digital cameras but because it is so far away from the CCD the 620 enhances this problem. SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A D1

(3) How do I get the second card reader to work. I have gone to the Kodak
Web page can't seem to get the Firmware information I need.

It doesn't work yet. The firmware has been promised for a wile but it looks like it will arrive this month. NIKON SHOULD HAVE PUT IT IN THE D1.

I am not trying to make you feel bad for buying the 620. In fact I dont have the guts to buy anything right now even though I need too. I want to see what shakes out the next couple months.

Good luck,

All comments welcome.
Kieran

 

[Kieran Corrigan]

John,

I tried to buy a D1. I have one on order and cancelled it. !!!Why?? Well I ordered it in June, I was told I would have it in September(By Nikon). I was then told it would be October(by Nikon). And last week they said maybe January but could not promise a delivery date. I checked will some of the news agencies and they said they the UK had 800 on order for Press Photographers and 25 were delivered.
I would have liked a D1 but was not willing to wait.
Thank you for you input, it was most helpful.
Kieran

 

[Jay Kelbley]

REGARDING ANTI-ALIASING FILTER:

Its the anti-aliasing filter in front of the Mirror. This filter is
needed to reduce IR and aliasing inherent in all digital cameras but
because it is so far away from the CCD the 620 enhances this problem.

This not accurate.
The anti-aliasing filter in the DCS 620 does soften the image to some degree.

If you prefer, you can remove it and replace it wiith a filter that only blocks IR, and will not soften the image. These can be ordered by your dealer.

The position of the filter in the 620 actually reduces the softening, compared to having directly over the CCD.. (The CCD/image-plane is where the image should actually be in focus).

The ability to remove and replace the filter, is actually a significant advantage in the Kodak DCS 6XX and 5XX cameras compared to other cameras.

The Litium Niobate anti-aliasing filter (first used by Kodak in the DCS 520) is not removable in the Nikon D1, forcing the images to always be softenend optically.

REGARDING SECOND SLOT SUPPORT IN THE DCS 620:

It doesn't work yet. The firmware has been promised for a wile but it
looks like it will arrive this month. NIKON SHOULD HAVE PUT IT IN THE D1.

If you'll read down the thread you will see that we have sceduled release of our v3.0.8 firmware for the DCS 6XX and 5XX cameras for Monday...

This firmware version enables the second PCMCIA slot in the camera to be used for storage, as well as supporting a GPS PCMCIA card..

There are no other professional digital cameras, other than those manufactured by Kodak Professional, that have more than one storage or option slot..

Having over TWO GIGABYTES of in camera storage as an option is a significant advantage for the Kodak DCS cameras...

Jay Kelbley
Eastman Kodak Company

 

[Jonathan13788]

I have just bought a DSC620 Nikon/ Kodak.
I have a few questions.

(1) I have to under expose flash shots by 2-3 stops. Bounce seems to be OK,
Is this normal ?
(2) The Images are in focus but not as sharp as I would expect. I have been
using an F5 and scanning negs for years and getting sharper results.Any
Comments?
(3) How do I get the second card reader to work. I have gone to the Kodak
Web page can't seem to get the Firmware information I need.

All comments welcome.
Kieran

Question 1: You need to buy a flash that is compatible with the 620. I have a DCS520 and did not get good flash shots until I bought the Canon 550ex Flash for the digital camera. Find out what the Nikon equivalent to the 550ex is.

Question 2: You need to use UNSHARP MASK in Photoshop to sharpen the photos. The reason they are not quite as sharp when you take them is because of the anti-aliasing filter that gets rid of the noise and junk that digital may cause. Unfortunately, the filter also takes away a small amount of the sharpness. But it is easily fixed in Photoshop.

Question 3: Next week, Kodak will release a new Firmware and Acquire software that will allow you to use the second card reader in your camera. Check out Kodak's website after Monday for more details. Also, check out Rob Galbraith's website and his "Diginews" for more information about the 620 and the new software. You can find him at http://www.robgalbraith.com