Mike, Thanks for the helpful report from your source who had hands on D7 exp. even if only for an hour. Alot more useful to me than alot of the speculative opinion out there. Your objective reporting of the battery life issue is commendable. As you know there is also much talk/concern about the camera running hot. Any comment from your source? I have A D7 on order so I have made my choice and hope to be able to share my own direct exp. before long. Edward A
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D7: a hands-on look
- Thread starter MikeA
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hatem tawfik
Forum Enthusiast
Mike
thanks for the info, but what does all this talk about the minolta external flash mean, does it mean thAt I will not be able to use an external flash with the D7 even if it is mounted on top of the camera ??
( I have a 3600 flash on order too, should I cancel the flash order ??)
Hatem Tawfik
Cairo, Egypt
thanks for the info, but what does all this talk about the minolta external flash mean, does it mean thAt I will not be able to use an external flash with the D7 even if it is mounted on top of the camera ??
( I have a 3600 flash on order too, should I cancel the flash order ??)
Hatem Tawfik
Cairo, Egypt
Hatem
I know you addressed this to Mike so i hope you don't mind my input. I do have a D7. The 3600HS and 5600HS flashes work perfect woth the camera. The D7 was designed to work with these flashes - in fact, its my understanding that these are the only flashes Minolta recommends with the D7. If you have a D7 I wouldn't cancel your order on the 3600 unless you don't need a larger flash than the built in one at all. Also, you can use the 3600 or 5600 flashes off camera with the off camera cable that is available.
I know you addressed this to Mike so i hope you don't mind my input. I do have a D7. The 3600HS and 5600HS flashes work perfect woth the camera. The D7 was designed to work with these flashes - in fact, its my understanding that these are the only flashes Minolta recommends with the D7. If you have a D7 I wouldn't cancel your order on the 3600 unless you don't need a larger flash than the built in one at all. Also, you can use the 3600 or 5600 flashes off camera with the off camera cable that is available.
Mike Fitzgerald
Veteran Member
Hatem --
I'll add just one thing to The Man's comments: I think your concern is probably about "studio flash" compatibility. Studio flash refers mainly to powerful third-party flash units, often used in multiples and sometimes several metres away from the camera. To make them workable they are commonly fired by wireless remote control.
Wireless remote control is something that the D7 does not offer (at least, not currently), and it's been confusing a lot of people because, as far as I am aware, Minolta does provide it with some of its film SLR cameras.
As The Man explained, the D7 has been expressly designed to work with the 3600 and 5600 flashes, either hot-shoe-mounted or off the camera. When used remotely, they are simply cable connected (not wireless). Rest assured that the off-camera cable setup, with either (or even both) of these flash units, will give you all the flexibility you need for your special purpose (periocular) requirements that you mentioned in another forum.
Cheers,
Mike
I'll add just one thing to The Man's comments: I think your concern is probably about "studio flash" compatibility. Studio flash refers mainly to powerful third-party flash units, often used in multiples and sometimes several metres away from the camera. To make them workable they are commonly fired by wireless remote control.
Wireless remote control is something that the D7 does not offer (at least, not currently), and it's been confusing a lot of people because, as far as I am aware, Minolta does provide it with some of its film SLR cameras.
As The Man explained, the D7 has been expressly designed to work with the 3600 and 5600 flashes, either hot-shoe-mounted or off the camera. When used remotely, they are simply cable connected (not wireless). Rest assured that the off-camera cable setup, with either (or even both) of these flash units, will give you all the flexibility you need for your special purpose (periocular) requirements that you mentioned in another forum.
Cheers,
Mike
Giovanni
Forum Enthusiast
Please do you can share with us also your opinions / impressions about the "heat problem"?
Thank you
Thank you
MikeA
Senior Member
Wish I had something substantial to report about this, but I don't. As I recall, he didn't remark on the camera's operating temperature one way or the other. I'll ask again (I just now sent e-mail about it). I should mention again that although he said he used the camera for about an hour without having any battery-power problems, I don't know how many shots he took, how much he used the LCD monitor, how often the camera went into standby mode, and so forth. So it's definitely an unscientific report as far as battery-power issues go.
MikeA
Senior Member
The answers from the other participants were pretty comprehensive. My friend who related his D7 "test drive" is concerned about using studio flash equipment. He wants a direct camera-to-flash connection via synch cord; he doesn't want to use slave-units. This will be possible, as I understand it, when Minolta has released its accessory that attaches to the D7's hot-shoe -- an accessory that itself has a synch socket. It appears that existing Minolta accessories of that sort will not work with the D7. He couldn't find out exactly when the accessory will become available. Who knows -- perhaps it will be available at the time the cameras begin arriving in the stores.
hatem tawfik
Forum Enthusiast
Dear all,
Thank you very much for your detailed answers. My concern was not being able to use the 3600 away from the camera but you guys clarified everything, and in addition I think that the built-in flash will do for the MACRO photos (patients), and I will use the 3600 on-camera for general purpose photography.
The D7 should arrive here in Cairo by early August ( I preordered it from Epperson's ) and I cant wait especially that my G1 suddenly died out on me the SAME day I placed the D7 order ( may be out of jealousy). LOL.
Thanks for the info
Hatem Tawfik
Cairo, Egypt
Thank you very much for your detailed answers. My concern was not being able to use the 3600 away from the camera but you guys clarified everything, and in addition I think that the built-in flash will do for the MACRO photos (patients), and I will use the 3600 on-camera for general purpose photography.
The D7 should arrive here in Cairo by early August ( I preordered it from Epperson's ) and I cant wait especially that my G1 suddenly died out on me the SAME day I placed the D7 order ( may be out of jealousy). LOL.
Thanks for the info
Hatem Tawfik
Cairo, Egypt
Giovanni
I covered the heat issue in my thread the other day, but as a summary - Yes, the camera gets warm to the touch after using it for quite a while but I wouldn't call it HOT and never warm enough thats its ever uncomfortable to hold. Its just my opinion that the heat is just showing up more on this camera because of the metal chassis of the body than on other cameras that don't have a metal body. As we know, metal conducts heat and polycarbonate plastics don't. Based on the level of warmth that the camera obtains, I don't see it as a problem or concern.
I covered the heat issue in my thread the other day, but as a summary - Yes, the camera gets warm to the touch after using it for quite a while but I wouldn't call it HOT and never warm enough thats its ever uncomfortable to hold. Its just my opinion that the heat is just showing up more on this camera because of the metal chassis of the body than on other cameras that don't have a metal body. As we know, metal conducts heat and polycarbonate plastics don't. Based on the level of warmth that the camera obtains, I don't see it as a problem or concern.
Giovanni
Forum Enthusiast
Many thanks to clarify.
Reading some other thread seemed that the camera was going VERY hot during a prolonged use.
Reading some other thread seemed that the camera was going VERY hot during a prolonged use.
I suppose the term hot can be relative, but my I would take the term VERY HOT to mean that it was so hot the camera would be uncomfortable to hold!! As I stated, my camera will get warm, but I wouldn't call it HOT or VERY HOT.
P
Phil Askey
Guest
What kind of ambient temperatures have you been using the camera in? Do you leave it switched on between shots or switch it off each time?
Hi Phil
Geez, you don't even take Sundays off huh?
I usually leave the camera on during the time that I use it unless it is going to be quite a while between shoots. If I'm not going to shoot for maybe another 10, 15, 20 minutes of course I'll turn the camera off, but I've used it and left it on continiously for shooting for times up to approx 1 - 1.5 hours or so before turning it off. Of course, if I go more than a minute or so without touching anything on it it goes into its "sleep mode" but comes right back up when I touch the shutter release. As for the ambient temperatures i've been using it in, here at home its been usually in the range of anywhere from 80-95 F. when I went on vacation last week it was to the western part of the US and temperatures got up to over 100 F. Even during vacation with the much higher temperatures and the heat of the Sun on the cameras metal body, I never felt it was too hot to hold.
Again, as i've stated in other threads, I am not disagreeing with anyones statements here that the camera gets warm. I do disagree though about the level of concern that this issue seems to have raised. I personally feel that the level of heat that the camera produces is not excessive and that its just the metal chassis conducting that heat more than some other models that is causing this issue to be raised.
Geez, you don't even take Sundays off huh?
I usually leave the camera on during the time that I use it unless it is going to be quite a while between shoots. If I'm not going to shoot for maybe another 10, 15, 20 minutes of course I'll turn the camera off, but I've used it and left it on continiously for shooting for times up to approx 1 - 1.5 hours or so before turning it off. Of course, if I go more than a minute or so without touching anything on it it goes into its "sleep mode" but comes right back up when I touch the shutter release. As for the ambient temperatures i've been using it in, here at home its been usually in the range of anywhere from 80-95 F. when I went on vacation last week it was to the western part of the US and temperatures got up to over 100 F. Even during vacation with the much higher temperatures and the heat of the Sun on the cameras metal body, I never felt it was too hot to hold.
Again, as i've stated in other threads, I am not disagreeing with anyones statements here that the camera gets warm. I do disagree though about the level of concern that this issue seems to have raised. I personally feel that the level of heat that the camera produces is not excessive and that its just the metal chassis conducting that heat more than some other models that is causing this issue to be raised.
Giovanni
Forum Enthusiast
Thanks for this.
This statement is the thing more close to a real quantitative measurement that we had about this issue.
Phil do you had different result in your test?
This statement is the thing more close to a real quantitative measurement that we had about this issue.
Phil do you had different result in your test?
Phil
I know, I know, you probably think i'm just "defending my purchase" again!
thats ok. But in all seriousness, I am just stating in any of my posts or responses MY OWN experiences or opinions. I fully understand and respect your greater expertise and experience in these matters but as an owner i'm really just trying to help answer some questions that others seem to have regarding the camera. Anyone and everyone is free to disregard any of my comments or opinions or decide how much weight to give them for thier own purchasing decision.
Yes, I LOVE my D7. Its not without its faults, some of which you mentioned in your review and that I agreed with you on, but overall I feel its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages and to MY eyes, the printed results are just spectacular. other may not feel this way and thats fine. i'm just trying to help with as honest an answer as I can give based on my own experiences and usage to others who have questions.
I know, I know, you probably think i'm just "defending my purchase" again!
thats ok. But in all seriousness, I am just stating in any of my posts or responses MY OWN experiences or opinions. I fully understand and respect your greater expertise and experience in these matters but as an owner i'm really just trying to help answer some questions that others seem to have regarding the camera. Anyone and everyone is free to disregard any of my comments or opinions or decide how much weight to give them for thier own purchasing decision.
Yes, I LOVE my D7. Its not without its faults, some of which you mentioned in your review and that I agreed with you on, but overall I feel its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages and to MY eyes, the printed results are just spectacular. other may not feel this way and thats fine. i'm just trying to help with as honest an answer as I can give based on my own experiences and usage to others who have questions.
B
Bob Williams
Guest
Again, I have a new G-1 here that at 100 shots will make your
left hand sweat really bad. It doesn't get uncomfortable to hold.
It does get quite warm with extended use. The heat issue is
not a new issue by any means.
left hand sweat really bad. It doesn't get uncomfortable to hold.
It does get quite warm with extended use. The heat issue is
not a new issue by any means.
As usual, the Man has given us very useful anecdotal information. I am pleased to hear that his camera didn't shut down over a heat issue at 100 degress. I had a 990 do that on me at 105 after about an hour of continuous use (black bodies do absorb lots of heat). After it cooled down, it was fine.
But for me the telling difference will lie in how the images are affected by increased camera heat. 990s certainly produce noisier images at 105 degrees ambient than at 65 degrees ambient after an hour's continuous use. I carry a small cooler bag with a fridge pack in it to get the temp of mine down in extreme heat (over 100F). Remember that Nikon only rates a 990 at 105F max ambient operating temp, which of course takes into account that the internal temp of a 990 will be greater than that if you operate it at 105 Ambient in full sun. I don't know what the D7 manual says about operation temp, but I will bet it is not significantly different than Nikon. Heat is the enemy in digital cameras.
If the D7 conducts its heat out better than a black bodied camera like the 990, then it may perform better, but that may not mean much in practice if its design makes it hotter internally than other similar cameras to begin with.
Giovanni, like myself and others you want the D7 to be a great camera. We all are wishful thinkers willing to make the best of what we want (I am thinking of some of my girlfriends here, and they no doubt are doing likewise).
Thanks to Phil, there is someone out there to tell it like he sees it whether we want that or not. (He Phil, ever thought of Relationship counseling--more money, less work)
In fact, if he has, as some suggest, taken a closer look at some of the features of the D7 than he has at those same features in other cameras, then all that proves is that he should have looked a little harder at the others. I would far rather that he gives us a hard uncompromising review than any other kind. That he can endure some of the self serving questioning of his work that we write is a human quality that I envy.
dh
But for me the telling difference will lie in how the images are affected by increased camera heat. 990s certainly produce noisier images at 105 degrees ambient than at 65 degrees ambient after an hour's continuous use. I carry a small cooler bag with a fridge pack in it to get the temp of mine down in extreme heat (over 100F). Remember that Nikon only rates a 990 at 105F max ambient operating temp, which of course takes into account that the internal temp of a 990 will be greater than that if you operate it at 105 Ambient in full sun. I don't know what the D7 manual says about operation temp, but I will bet it is not significantly different than Nikon. Heat is the enemy in digital cameras.
If the D7 conducts its heat out better than a black bodied camera like the 990, then it may perform better, but that may not mean much in practice if its design makes it hotter internally than other similar cameras to begin with.
Giovanni, like myself and others you want the D7 to be a great camera. We all are wishful thinkers willing to make the best of what we want (I am thinking of some of my girlfriends here, and they no doubt are doing likewise).
Thanks to Phil, there is someone out there to tell it like he sees it whether we want that or not. (He Phil, ever thought of Relationship counseling--more money, less work)
In fact, if he has, as some suggest, taken a closer look at some of the features of the D7 than he has at those same features in other cameras, then all that proves is that he should have looked a little harder at the others. I would far rather that he gives us a hard uncompromising review than any other kind. That he can endure some of the self serving questioning of his work that we write is a human quality that I envy.
dh
Bryan Biggers
Senior Member
Some heat theory...
Power, watts is I*I*R. In other words, power is proportional to the square of the current. When power is consumed by a camera, almost all of it ends up as heat (except for the small amound converted to visible light by the displays).
Lets compare the 990 and the D7.
Assuming that the LCDs on both cameras have the same backlighting level, so that we can ignore the amount converted to visible light, and using Phil's battery life figures (fortunately Phil used the same AA batteries in both of them), you can see that the 990 lasted 2h30m, and the D7 1h14m. Lets say that is exactly a factor of two. That means that the D7 is drawing current at twice the rate as the 990, and that the power dissipated is 4 times as much in the D7.
It sure should get hotter! All that heat has to go somewhere. My 990 can get pretty hot if you leave it on for a while. The D7 has slightly more mass, but not all of the outside of the case is metal and plastic does not radiate heat as well, so I think that the D7 is really going to heat up.
Bryan
Power, watts is I*I*R. In other words, power is proportional to the square of the current. When power is consumed by a camera, almost all of it ends up as heat (except for the small amound converted to visible light by the displays).
Lets compare the 990 and the D7.
Assuming that the LCDs on both cameras have the same backlighting level, so that we can ignore the amount converted to visible light, and using Phil's battery life figures (fortunately Phil used the same AA batteries in both of them), you can see that the 990 lasted 2h30m, and the D7 1h14m. Lets say that is exactly a factor of two. That means that the D7 is drawing current at twice the rate as the 990, and that the power dissipated is 4 times as much in the D7.
It sure should get hotter! All that heat has to go somewhere. My 990 can get pretty hot if you leave it on for a while. The D7 has slightly more mass, but not all of the outside of the case is metal and plastic does not radiate heat as well, so I think that the D7 is really going to heat up.
Bryan
Andreas P.
Veteran Member
Hi Bryan,
Just a question, out of which material the inner body of the CP990 is made?
Regards,
Andreas
Just a question, out of which material the inner body of the CP990 is made?
Regards,
Andreas
Bryan Biggers
Senior Member
Andreas, Hi,
I don't know! The most common answer is metal, but I've heard someone say plastic too. Maybe someone who knows more can comment.
Bryan
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