A technological marvel, for better and for worse

For me, just the digital age with a manual, where you had to adjust the set point distance at random speed and torque diaphragm aperture by consulting a chart (Chart for giving the solution to a calculation ), all to be developed in the darkroom, and still retains the nostalgic memory of the smell of hydroquinone in hands, using this device I realize of how far technology.

I feel like a pilot of the era ace in the cockpit of a Rafale.

The new amateur has no trouble learning photographic technique, but he must learn to manage automation. Which for some aspects complicating rather than simplifying them.

Here, with respect to the focus, the device has four control modes, three sensor angles and three storage modes, giving thirty-six combinations. All that to get rid of the ring that allows you to freely adjust the depth of field, simply by choosing the depth of field. Fortunately, there are ways to get back to prehistory to put a point just looking through the viewfinder and rotating a ring.

Not to mention the eleven AF points that exchange information according to the position of the subject and its background in addition to a so-called security that prevents the unit from firing if the set point is not correct (the driver of the Rafale prohibited dejection in case of failure because the system tells him that this is dangerous to jump over a sea in a storm). The infantilized by automatic pilot lost his life and the photographer loses the photo taken of her life, a UFO, an accident, a sports performance or simply, his dog made a stupidity worthy BE immortalized, although He was a little fuzzy, posterity laurait forgiven you.

Fortunately, a switch on the lens eliminates the need of technological advances and back half a century back. Posterity will thank you, and your news agency, if you have one, and your creativity take over a new impetus.

All that to say that I consider the autofocus as a false comfort. The design traditional manual focus through the viewfinder is faster, safer and most importantly, it allows better "feel" on the subject. I am sure that the development of the industry to exclude this technology will eventually overload that weighs more than relieves, the photographer's work.

To further prove that the progress that didnt benefits, the video mode is clamped to maximum 20 minutes taken, otherwise the device would be treated as a camcorder, and one would have to pay a fee. But who said quon will not pay the tax? In addition to the robot refuses any battery not bearing the Nikon brand, you will make a good joke when you do find more batteries and you will have to throw the device becomes unusable. But we know very well that you will not regret it, because when the time comes, manufacturers have found a new trick to make you want to get rid of an object become obsolete.

The timer is too brief. Whenever you want to do a self-taken shutter button, it must go through the menu to reactivate. Even a low-end device has a button that allows to keep the device in auto-shutter button mode. In this regard an ideal accessory is the interval timer JJC TM less than 40, dramatically increasing the possibilities of the device. It also serves as a trigger cable, even off, to avoid touching the camera for the slow catch. And for long sequences that exceed the battery, there are adapters EH-5B or 5A EP sector.

Ambiguities:

Some ambiguities exist in relation to the conservation of settings from one mode to another. (Eg mode: Landscape, portrait, etc.)

Some parameters, once set, remain unchanged for all modes, even if power is turned off.

Other parameters remain unchanged for a group of modes, but changed by changing profiles.

Ex mode group:
- A group = Automatic, Manual, Shutter priority, etc.
- Other group = = Scenes Portrait, landscape, leading, etc.

Disturbing detail, some settings are programmed by changing profiles, others return to their default. I do not know if that's possible and how to set the default value.

Unfortunately, the complexity is such that neither the manual nor any consulting work does not mean this quite disconcerting appearance and requires a long experience to know what remains settled, what happens to its default value and what remains or not depending on whether it has been set to a menu, a button or another mode.

MY EXPERIENCE

- I prefer the manual focus through the viewfinder, it is faster, safer and it "feels" better the subject; unless I have to "snipe" quickly to the right and left various topics documentary. Here helps me more to adjust the sharpness of the viewfinder to my view, freeing me from my glasses.

- I make the point with the maximum zoom setting to approach the subject, it is more precise, and then I come back to the focal chosen for my framing.

- I always triggers taken through the viewfinder. It allows me to support the camera against your face bringing me a third point of support to better secure it.

- I'm not strict on brightness settings. You can always fix it in post processing NEF mode (Nikon RAW, and in some limits in .jpg Same considerations about the framing mode.. -

-Only Blur is irreversible. Whether by developed or by motion. I bring them the greatest attention.

- I am not my strictest protection of the lens. I use a UV filter to protect him and I keep the cap in the pocket until the end of the session.

- Never, ever I namene the camera at the beach. A grain of sand always ends infiltrate and can do damage.

Finally, once mastered the gestures, the D3200 is very fun to use. The pictures I realized with him, beyond my wildest dreams of the glory days.