Nikon just started delivering two new cameras.  I was lucky enough to receive one of the first shipments of the Nikon D500.  After setting it up, I wanted  to see how it performed. A non-camera addict might say "Wadda you mean, perform ... doesn't it take pictures?" 

The true camera addict, though, wants to know things like:

• Sharpness of the image; 
• The ability to handle a big range of light to dark (called dynamic range);
• Focus speed;
• Color biases;
• Ergonomics (how it feels ... are the buttons in the right place, etc.)
• How many pictures in a  second can it take?
• How good is the display on the back of the camera?
• The number of shots per battery charge;

My particular focus (ah, what a terrible pun) was centered around the new camera's speed in acquiring and keeping focus on the intended subject. This  is a critical issue when photographing things that move fast ... sports figures dashing about a playing field; planes flying overhead at high speeds; little tiny birds darting about in a seemingly random fashion; etc.  

I'm also very interested in the dynamic range of this new camera ... its ability of its digital sensors to see detail in a scene that has very dark and very bright areas. Our eyes can see detail in a scene with a range of light that is four times bigger than the best digital camera.  How would this camera do?

It was a very windy day and nearby is a large shopping complex flying a very large flag in its parking lot.  Aha, a big but erratic subject that would be a good subject to begin the process of understanding this new camera's capabilities.

And then, too, I'm always drawn to flags ... particularly Old Glory (the nickname given to the U.S.A. flag).  So here are my first test shots:

The camera did a good job of capturing the erratic motion of the wind  and I liked the detail and colors  of the images it took.  But, the flag provided too big a target to use to test the camera's autofocus capabilities.

More to Come!

Adam

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