Archive for June, 2009
How to Batch Decrypt With GNU GPG
Batch decrypting multiple files using a wildcard is as simple as:
echo thisismypassphrase|gpg --passphrase-fd 0 --decrypt-files *.gpg
And mind the lack of spaces right and left of the pipe 
Nikon D40 vs. D90, Prime Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 vs. Zoom 35-55mm F/3.5-5.6
I was curiouse what exactly the difference is between the two Nikon bodies D40 and D90. Furthermore I took the chance and tested two lenses: The first one is a prime lense by Nikon: The first one is a prime portrait lense, Nikkor 50mm F/1.8, which has been subject of many positive reviews. The secound one is a standard zoom shipped with the D40 body, 35-55mm F/3.6-5.6.
Please note that this is no professional, commercial, scientific, accurate or what-ever reliable test. This is just a quick-and-dirty field-experiment, so please don’t blame me for anything. Only instrument to measure differences was my eye, so this could be rather a subjective view. THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE DATA AND THE RESULTS PRESENTED HERE, AT ALL! However, there was no post-edition carried out on the images but some shrinking using GIMP.
Fine.
Now here is what I did: I took some shots of a typical outdoor scene and was interested in the high-contrast area and the distant details. Here is the result:
So far, I could not determine any big difference in quality. However, let’s have a closer look at the details. Mind the red boxes marking some areas of the upper left image. Here’s the zoom:
As far as -1- is concerned, I am quite satisfied with all results – I cannot see any chromatic aberration and the lines are sharp. The overall impression is that, at ISO200, 8.0f and 1/800s, there is hardly difference. This is good for me, since these are the most common settings I use. However, keep in mind that this result may (and propably will) change drastically when changing any of the mentioned parameters, particularly at greater ISO and at the shutter opened wider.
In -2- I think the D40 using Nikkor 50mm is slightly less sharp, however, my overall impression is again that there is hardly difference.
I don’t want to make any conclusion here – open the pictures and make your own conclusion. However, for such a scene (a daylight outdoor scene) I’d say that both bodies and lenses provide similar quality. And remember: This is my personal view and THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE DATA AND THE RESULTS PRESENTED HERE, AT ALL!
