TN's Nikon Repair Surprize

[old-pr-pix]

I know this forum isn't a great supporter of Tony Northrup, especially once TN said he was switching from 5DMIII to Nikon D810. However, TN did stay w/Canon for the 70-200 f2.8 lens (and the 7DMII). Now, he has found another reason to stay with Canon. He had purchased a used Nikon 70-200 lens for his new D810. (He claims no sponsorship and buys everything open market.) The lens came from an unnamed, but reputable source. That lens now needs repair, but Nikon refuses to repair the lens because it was a grey market import. TN had no way to know it was grey market since it was used and there is no public source to confirm serial numbers. It is unclear if the provider knew either. And, since Nikon won't sell parts to third party repair houses in U.S. it potentially leaves the lens useless.

Since TN has a major international following he may get Nikon to cave on its position and repair the lens or at least tell him what country to send it to for repair. But, good luck to any of us in a similar situation! So, if you are buying used Nikon stuff be sure to ask its pedigree. Canon seems much more forgiving in this regard.

 

[Loswr]

Just goes to show that only the sensor matters!

 

[mistaspeedy]

Tony Northrup also did a review of the 5DsR against the D810 and concluded that the 5DsR was better (more detail). When you scale the 5DsR image down to the size of te D810 the noise is similar but there is more detail in the Canon image. As far as shadow noise is concerned, there was more noise in the Canon image *BUT* there was also more detail there as well. So you can apply noise reduction to get the same noise level as the D810, and retain the same amount of detail as the D810.

Long story short:
both have similar noise at the same size
the Canon has more detail at the same size in non-shadow areas
they both have similar noise/detail in the shadows once you apply noise reduction to the Canon

I feel that Tony Northrup fairly judges most camera equipment... and that he isn't a fanboy of any one company.

 

[meywd]

Tony Northrup also did a review of the 5DsR against the D810 and concluded that the 5DsR was better (more detail). When you scale the 5DsR image down to the size of te D810 the noise is similar but there is more detail in the Canon image. As far as shadow noise is concerned, there was more noise in the Canon image *BUT* there was also more detail there as well. So you can apply noise reduction to get the same noise level as the D810, and retain the same amount of detail as the D810.

Long story short:
both have similar noise at the same size
the Canon has more detail at the same size in non-shadow areas
they both have similar noise/detail in the shadows once you apply noise reduction to the Canon

I feel that Tony Northrup fairly judges most camera equipment... and that he isn't a fanboy of any one company.

It's not that he is a fanboy or not, the problem is that when you test the AF of a camera you should do it properly, a person running or walking in your direction is not much of a test.

 

[Loswr]

I feel that Tony Northrup fairly judges most camera equipment... and that he isn't a fanboy of any one company.

He's a salesman. What differentiates TN from KR is the former doesn't harp on feeding his growing family. Neither is a fan of one brand. Both can be counted on to recommend the newest gear without regard to brand because most buyers of the older gear have already bought, so the newer gear generates more affiliate-link revenue.

IMO, someone who conducts a "sports test" of the 5DIII and gets a hit rate of ~60% on a subject walking sedately towards him is doing something fundamentally wrong.

 

[kaihp]

He had purchased a used Nikon 70-200 lens for his new D810. (He claims no sponsorship and buys everything open market.) The lens came from an unnamed, but reputable source. That lens now needs repair, but Nikon refuses to repair the lens because it was a grey market import.

I wonder if this only applies to the USA or only to lenses outside the warrenty period, because my brother just got a 70-200 repaired under warranty (ie at Nikon's expense), despite it was purchased outside the country where it got repaired (it was bought in HK, he's in Norway)

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I believe that in Europe, consumer protection laws come into play. In the US, Canada, and probably a lot of other countries, its a big issue, and a good reason to avoid Nikon.

Canon also may start copying Nikon, their Warranty terma allow it, but they are not enforcing it.

 

[old-pr-pix]

Plus, at least to this point, Canon also sells parts to third party repair houses. Nikon does not. Hence, even if Canon refuses to repair a product there are alternatives that do not exist in the Nikon universe. (Unless you find a shop that has cannibalized enough broken Nikon gear to have a stock of used parts.)

 

[jd7]

I feel that Tony Northrup fairly judges most camera equipment... and that he isn't a fanboy of any one company.

IMO, someone who conducts a "sports test" of the 5DIII and gets a hit rate of ~60% on a subject walking sedately towards him is doing something fundamentally wrong.

From what I have seen of TN, my main criticism is that he comes up with what seems to be a clanger every now and again, rather than that idea he is a fanboy or that he fails to be critical of new gear (I haven't seen enough of his reviews to have an opinion about the latter issue). That AF test issue did seem quite odd. And another one is his statement at about 6:06 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq3ISUHsfsQ
that "mirror lock up doesn't work in Live View mode, when in fact (unless I'm badly mistaken) it is inherent in Live View mode that the mirror is locked up. Am I missing something?

Also, starting at 6:24 in the same video he compares the 5DsR and D810 and concludes a landscape scene he has shot is "lacking sharp edges and textures" and it is hard to see much difference between the two cameras for that sort of shot. However, using the 24-105 f/4L (even at f/8) doesn't seem like best possible basis for making that assessment (however useful the lens may be for many things), does it?

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Plus, at least to this point, Canon also sells parts to third party repair houses. Nikon does not. Hence, even if Canon refuses to repair a product there are alternatives that do not exist in the Nikon universe. (Unless you find a shop that has cannibalized enough broken Nikon gear to have a stock of used parts.)

Canon stopped supporting all but a very few third party repair shops in the USA at least two years ago. Nikon does exactly the same thing, they have a very few authorized repair shops, but only for camera bodies and consumer lenses. For Pro lenses, you must go to Nikon.

 

[Don Haines]

IMO, someone who conducts a "sports test" of the 5DIII and gets a hit rate of ~60% on a subject walking sedately towards him is doing something fundamentally wrong.

A poor hit rate because with the chosen AF settings the person should have been running quickly Sounds like a configuration problem to me..... No matter which camera or brand, someone who knows how to set it properly for the conditions should be getting a 90 percent or better hit rate...

 

[Loswr]

IMO, someone who conducts a "sports test" of the 5DIII and gets a hit rate of ~60% on a subject walking sedately towards him is doing something fundamentally wrong.

A poor hit rate because with the chosen AF settings the person should have been running quickly Sounds like a configuration problem to me..... No matter which camera or brand, someone who knows how to set it properly for the conditions should be getting a 90 percent or better hit rate...

Exactly my point. So, either he's an "expert" who doesn't know what he's doing, or he's an expert who knows exactly what he's doing and is intentionally biasing his "tests". Either way, not someone who's opinion should be relied upon.

 

[Sporgon]

IMO, someone who conducts a "sports test" of the 5DIII and gets a hit rate of ~60% on a subject walking sedately towards him is doing something fundamentally wrong.

A poor hit rate because with the chosen AF settings the person should have been running quickly Sounds like a configuration problem to me..... No matter which camera or brand, someone who knows how to set it properly for the conditions should be getting a 90 percent or better hit rate...

Exactly my point. So, either he's an "expert" who doesn't know what he's doing, or he's an expert who knows exactly what he's doing and is intentionally biasing his "tests". Either way, not someone who's opinion should be relied upon.

I thought an 'ex' is a has-been, and a 'spurt' is a drip under pressure

 

[old-pr-pix]

From what I have seen of TN, my main criticism is that he comes up with what seems to be a clanger every now and again, rather than that idea he is a fanboy or that he fails to be critical of new gear...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq3ISUHsfsQ ...
Also, starting at 6:24 in the same video he compares the 5DsR and D810 and concludes a landscape scene he has shot is "lacking sharp edges and textures" and it is hard to see much difference between the two cameras for that sort of shot. However, using the 24-105 f/4L (even at f/8) doesn't seem like best possible basis for making that assessment (however useful the lens may be for many things), does it?

As neuro said, TN is a salesman... he is selling himself, his books and website hits. His target audience is the "masses" and not typically the more proficient prosumer. He isn't sponsored so he has to buy or rent what he reviews (the 5DsR beta camera being an exception). The key to success for him seems to be getting videos out quickly - sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Yet, he is trainable and interacts with his following who will often correct his gaffs. Unfortunately he doesn't re-edit the old videos, he just makes corrections in future videos. So if you don't follow him regularly you will miss the corrections.

The stated point of the referenced video was to see whether there was a discernible difference between the cameras using a mid-grade lens. A separate studio based video had already proclaimed the 5DsR's superiority. The Canon 24-105 L wasn't used, a Sigma 24-105 was used for both 5DsR and Nikon D810.

No TN fanboy, I do find his live shows fun to watch (finger on fast forward). Consider it entertainment - look elsewhere for calibrated technical evaluations.

 

[adventureous]

For a brief moment, TN has brought to the forefront another difference between companies.

 

[AlanF]

I know this forum isn't a great supporter of Tony Northrup,

He is a "friend of the site" and now an official reviewer.

 

[privatebydesign]

I know this forum isn't a great supporter of Tony Northrup,

He is a "friend of the site" and now an official reviewer.

No, that is Dustin Abbot.

 

[jd7]

From what I have seen of TN, my main criticism is that he comes up with what seems to be a clanger every now and again, rather than that idea he is a fanboy or that he fails to be critical of new gear...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq3ISUHsfsQ ...
Also, starting at 6:24 in the same video he compares the 5DsR and D810 and concludes a landscape scene he has shot is "lacking sharp edges and textures" and it is hard to see much difference between the two cameras for that sort of shot. However, using the 24-105 f/4L (even at f/8) doesn't seem like best possible basis for making that assessment (however useful the lens may be for many things), does it?

As neuro said, TN is a salesman... he is selling himself, his books and website hits. His target audience is the "masses" and not typically the more proficient prosumer. He isn't sponsored so he has to buy or rent what he reviews (the 5DsR beta camera being an exception). The key to success for him seems to be getting videos out quickly - sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Yet, he is trainable and interacts with his following who will often correct his gaffs. Unfortunately he doesn't re-edit the old videos, he just makes corrections in future videos. So if you don't follow him regularly you will miss the corrections.

The stated point of the referenced video was to see whether there was a discernible difference between the cameras using a mid-grade lens. A separate studio based video had already proclaimed the 5DsR's superiority. The Canon 24-105 L wasn't used, a Sigma 24-105 was used for both 5DsR and Nikon D810.

No TN fanboy, I do find his live shows fun to watch (finger on fast forward). Consider it entertainment - look elsewhere for calibrated technical evaluations.

Good points. I'd missed the part at the beginning where he specifically said he was setting out to test a mid-grade lens. Clearly I wasn't paying enough attention to TN's video! I will edit my earlier post.

 

[9VIII]

I've been openly critical of Tony in the past. It has nothing to do with his choice of gear.
This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5zN6NVx-hY is his version of being helpful to consumers.
To be even moderately successful and leave that as your primary response to one of the most common questions in photography really makes me wonder.


Now this guy: https://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelTheMentor
He's the best reviewer on Youtube as far as I can tell. And he rescues people from Earthquakes... May as well be wearing a cape.
I put him just below Brian at TDP and Roger at Lensrentals as far as thorough and logical gear testing goes (I think of Roger as more of the Bruce Banner type, except he puts everything back together too).

 

[quod]

Just goes to show that only the sensor matters!

Thank you for your usual informative contribution.