19. Connectivity And Software

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Like all current models, our two cameras can be connected to a computer via the fast USB 2.0 interface to transfer your photos, though you might prefer to use a card reader for file transfers. The USB connection can also be used to print pictures directly; for this, ideally you want a printer that's compatible with PictBridge, a system that allows quite a few adjustments to be made from the source camera before printing is done directly. Note that Nikon and Pentax both stress power consumption during direct printing and recommend the use of an AC adapter. In practice, direct printing should be seen as a convenience for occasional use; your pictures deserve more careful processing before output. Note also that photos in RAW format can't be printed until they are converted on your computer.

A composite video connection is available on both models. Its most obvious use is for viewing your photos on a TV set, but don't expect too much from it -image quality is low compared to what a digital SLR can offer.

In terms of software, Nikon supplies Picture Project 1.5 with the D50, which is now its consumer photo software. We admit that we don't like it very much, because it tends to force your hand, even if what it thinks you need isn't necessarily what you really want. Nikon View is much better from this point of view; it's not supplied, but it can be downloaded from the Nikon support site. Version 6.2.6 is indispensable for working with RAW images from the D50, so be sure and update if you have an older version.

On the supplied CD is also a trial version of Nikon Capture 4. This is a very powerful tool for processing RAW files, but it's an additional expense, and using it requires a good background in digital photography, not to mention a powerful computer. Few purchasers of the D50 are likely to choose it.

PictureProject is a simple program for handling all the basic photo management functions - but it often does things its way rather than your way...

Simple retouching and conversion of RAW images to JPEG are possible in PictureProject.

Nikon View is available free from the Nikon Web site and offers many interesting possibilities!

Pentax supplies Pentax Photo Browser, a small program with fairly limited possibilities, and for processing its RAW files, Pentax Photo Laboratory, a simple program that gets good results but again has limited potential. Nikon has the clear advantage where software is concerned, even though most purchasers won't be that interested in the software from either company. For JPEG images at least, you can very well do without the bundled programs, and work directly in your favorite image processing application.