First Look – Kodak DSC Pro 14n

March 2003: Digital PhotoReview is the first magazine in Australia to be offered a pre-production model of Kodak’s latest flagship SLR camera, the DSC Pro 14n, for evaluation.

As the camera is a pre-production model, the report that will appear in the April/May issue of the magazine will concentrate on the camera’s many interesting features and functions. A follow-up report assessing its performance will appear in a later issue and will be conducted once a production model becomes available.

In the meantime, we thought readers might like to see some sample shots from the pre-production camera as they give some hint of the potential of the new full-frame 35mm-sized CMOS sensor in the camera – and of the quality of Kodak’s image processing technologies. NOTE: Because these image files have been substantially downsampled for display on the Web, it is impossible to make resolution assessments based upon them. They are presented to give viewers some idea of the tonal nuances this camera can capture, the benefits of 1:1 35mm lens compatibility and the colour performance of the CMOS sensor.

All images were captured with the following parameters:

Colour space: sRGB

Sensitivity setting: ISO 80

Image post-processing applied: none.

Several different Nikon lenses were used and images were captured in both RAW and JPEG formats. Details are shown beneath each shot.

1. Studio Product Shot

RAW file captured under studio flash conditions by Kayell NSW at preview demonstrations of the camera on 11/2/2003. The image file was converted to TIFF format using Kodak’s Photo Desk software and then converted into JPEG format for display on the Web. Lens used: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

2. Skin Tones

JPEG file captured with the highest resolution and quality settings. Open shade lighting under a heavily overcast sky. Fill flash was used at -1 EV below metered exposure value. Lens used: AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-210mm f/4-5.6, set at approximately 150mm with f 4.0 aperture.

3. Wide Angle

JPEG file captured at 6.1 megapixel resolution setting, Best quality setting. Lens used: AF Zoom Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D IF-ED set at 18mm with aperture f8. Bright overcast sky. No flash.

4. Blue House

JPEG file captured at 6.1 megapixel resolution setting, Best quality setting. Bright overcast sky. Lens used: AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-210mm f/4-5.6, set at 210mm position, f5.6 aperture.

5. Blue Flowers

JPEG file captured with the highest resolution and quality settings. Open shade lighting under a bright overcast sky. No flash was used. Lens used: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED set at 70mm position, f5.6 aperture.

6. Yellow Flowers

JPEG file captured at 6.1 megapixel resolution setting, Best quality setting. Open shade lighting under a heavily overcast sky. Fill flash was used at -1 EV below metered exposure value. Lens used: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED set at 50mm position, macro setting, f5.6 aperture