unprecedented depth and flexibility in
measuring and comparing color temperature
to achieve optimum white balance.
1) Nikon's acclaimed 1,005-pixel RGB
Exposure / Color Matrix Metering Sensor
performs direct TTL metering of the subject.
2) The LBCAST image sensor calculates
the lighting characteristics of the image data
in real time.
3) The new external Ambient Light Sensor
meters ambient light without being affected
by the color of the subject.
The system also features revised integrated
signal processing and AWB and ATC
algorithms that contribute to refined color
and tone reproduction.
New Manual White Balance &
White Balance Bracketing
New to the selection of eight manual white
balance modes is the Color Temperature mode that responds
to the needs of the photographer by adding the ability to select
Kelvin color temperature settings directly from 31 values covering
a range between 2,500 K and 10,000 K.
Preset mode allows quick selection from five white balance
settings stored in memory to match a frequented venue or
other conditions you shoot under regularly. The settings can be
derived from a standard gray card reading, extracted from the
CompactFlash memory card using the setting from an image
taken by the camera, or from values created in Nikon Capture 4.
White balance bracketing makes it easy to test different settings
and find the one that best suits the assignment. Bracketing for 2
to 9 consecutive frames is available in adjustable increments of
10, 20 or 30 MIREDs.
Real-time Noise Reduction
The results of this new automated process rival the quality
of using the noise reduction setting available on the previous
generation. However, the new signal-processing engine delivers
this performance instantly and with no need to run a second pass
to make the necessary correction. The D2
H
also continues to
offer yet a higher level of noise reduction via the selectable noise
reduction function.
New JPEG and RAW (NEF)
Combination Filing System
Another Nikon first for the D2
H
is the option
to simultaneously record RAW (NEF: Nikon
Electronic image File) and JPEG data for
the same shot to the camera's storage
media. Now you can optimize and speed
up workflow operations by selecting the file
type or types that best suit your shooting
conditions.
Choose to shoot using only NEF or only
JPEG format, or have the D2
H
produce
both files from the same shot. Use JPEG
for faster image transfer and keep the NEF
as your ultimate electronic image file. NEF
format is always a convenient option as you
can later make non-destructive edit changes
to your NEF file and subsequently produce
JPEGs and TIFFs from the NEF file.
natural-looking skin tones in portraits. (Color profile: sRGB)
Mode II
: realizes a wider color reproduction range for high-quality
output with a wider color gamut. (Color profile: Adobe RGB)
Mode III
: sets hue and chroma values for landscape and flora
colors. (Color profile: sRGB)
Precise Auto White Balance / Auto Tone Control
The new advanced Auto White Balance (AWB) and Auto Tone
Control (ATC) system developed for the D2
H
combines the
advantages of three separate sensors to effectively handle
complicated lighting conditions. AWB searches for white to use
as reference and distinguishing color can be difficult when the
subject is, for example, set against a backdrop of a single color.
With one sensor for reading reflected light, a second for reading
the image area during exposure, and a third for incident reading,
the three-sensor system adds
New Nikon DX Format JFET Image Sensor
LBCAST
In developing the image
sensor for the next-generation
D2
H
, Nikon aimed to mate the
best aspects of performance
to achieve the optimal
combination of image quality,
speed and power efficiency. The result is the new JFET image
sensor LBCAST, an exclusive Nikon design that combines
performance innovations with the successful DX Format.
The LBCAST sensor significantly reduces power consumption
over previous generations, minimizes dark noise, and realizes
these features while increasing speed. It combines JFET (Junction
Field-Effect Transistor) technology and LBCAST (Lateral Buried
Charge Accumulator and Sensing Transistor array) architecture
with a host of innovations to render color, detail and sharpness as
never before. Compare an image from this new sensor and you
soon realize that speed, precision, accuracy, color and detail are
the hallmarks of the LBCAST sensor and the D2
H
.
The sensor’s Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF) effectively
suppresses moiré patterns while its thinner new design also
assures that it does not reduce image sharpness.
The new image processing engine
The new highly advanced image-processing engine on the system
LSI features improved algorithms for 3D Matrix Image Control and
innovative technologies that deliver subtle color gradations and
smooth diagonal lines while diminishing color fringing and false
colors. A wide range of aspects related to image quality affect
sharpness, and the new LBCAST sensor uses advanced imaging
technology to address them all – including control over noise,
color artifacts, jaggies and false colors. The result is a superior
combination of high speed and faithful color reproduction with
sharper details.
Three color modes
The color reproduction system newly developed for the D2
H
improves on Nikon's already unrivalled color while optimizing the
three available color modes to best match the specific assignment
and workflow environment.
Mode I
: sets hue and chroma values that are effective in rendering
The three sensors make it possible to shooting with
greater white balance accuracy, even under conditions
that complicate white balance adjustment, such as
when the subject displays little variation in tone.
Ambient light sensor
New sensors and programming are at the heart of
next-generation D2
H
performance
Total Image Quality requires each component to perform optimally.
The sensors and processing algorithms newly developed for the D2
H
demonstrate Nikon's determination to
deliver perfectly combined technologies that respond to the photographer's needs.
LBCAST
NEW SENSORS
8
9
Image quality mode: Raw
Lens: AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Exposure mode: Manual Shutter speed: 1/400 sec.
Aperture: f/3.5 White balance: Preset
Sensitivity: ISO-equivalent 400
D2
H
Image Processing Algorithms
Ambient light
sensor
LBCAST
1,005-pixel RGB exposure
& color metering sensor
Lens
NEF
(RAW)
data
JPEG
TIFF
Pre-processing
Image data
conversion
Image processing
engine
Analysis
Parameters
set
Image quality
NEF+JPEG Fine
NEF+JPEG Normal
NEF+JPEG Basic
NEF (Raw)
TIFF (RGB)
JPEG Fine
JPEG Normal
JPEG Basic
L
*
3
M
*
3
L
*
3
M
*
3
L
*
3
M
*
3
L
*
3
M
*
3
L
*
3
M
*
3
L
*
3
M
*
3
_
_
L
M
L
M
L
M
L
M
Comp. NEF (Raw)
NEF (Raw)
Comp. NEF (Raw)
NEF (Raw)
Comp. NEF (Raw)
NEF (Raw)
Comp. NEF (Raw)
NEF (Raw)
_
_
_
_
Raw
compression
*
4
*
4
7.9MB
7.1MB
*
4
*
4
6.6MB
6.1MB
*
4
*
4
6.5MB
6.3MB
*
5
6.0MB
11.5MB
6.5MB
1.9MB
1.1MB
0.98MB
0.56MB
0.49MB
0.28MB
File size*
1
*
6
*
6
58*
6
66*
6
*
6
*
6
67*
6
71*
6
*
6
*
6
72*
6
75*
6
*
6
79
41
74
222
390
433
709
780
1300
No. of images*
1
70 (24 frames)
62 (24 frames)
99 (25 frames)
89 (25 frames)
58 (24 frames)
53 (24 frames)
83 (25 frames)
76 (25 frames)
57 (24 frames)
55 (24 frames)
81 (25 frames)
79 (25 frames)
50 (25 frames)
78 (25 frames)
350 (35 frames)
350 (35 frames)
38 (40 frames)
22 (40 frames)
20 (40 frames)
11 (40 frames)
10 (40 frames)
6 (40 frames)
Recording time*
2
Image
size
*1 All figures are approximate and based on the use of a 512MB memory card.
Size of JPEG files varies with scene recorded.
*2 Approximate time needed to record all images once memory buffer has filled.
Actual time required varies with make of card.
*3 Image size applies to JPEG images only. When opened in Nikon View or Nikon Capture 4,
NEF images are 2,464 × 1,632 pixels in size.
*4 Total file size of NEF (RAW) and JPEG images.
File size of compressed NEF (RAW) images is approximately fifty to sixty percent of
uncompressed NEF images.
*5 Number of exposures remaining shown in control and viewfinder is the same as in the case
of uncompressed NEF (RAW) images.
The actual number of images that can be stored on the memory card is higher than shown.
*6 File size of compressed NEF (RAW) images is approximately fifty to sixty percent of
uncompressed NEF images.
