Nikon Rumors

D60 replacement in “early August”

By [NR] admin | Published: June 23, 2009

Got a report from large camera retailer: in their internal documentation the Nikon D60 was labeled with a replacement due in “early August”. This information match the previously reported Nikon announcements on July 30th and August 4th. Nikon D60 has already been discontinued and a D4000 is expected as a possible replacement (a strip-down version of the D5000, maybe without video and swivel display).

The combo D300s + D4000 + new lenses is the most probable scenario for the two upcoming Nikon announcements.

The other possibility is D300s + a new D3 (D3h, D3s?) but the latest rumors I received were pointing to a D3 refresh in Fall. It also doesn’t make sense to schedule two different events and announce two PRO cameras – one of the event will be for PRO equipment and the other one for consumer cameras.

I don’t think any point & shoot cameras will be part of this announcement – Nikon released eight p&s cameras back in February of 2009. The only possible Coolpix release is a Nikon P7000 (replacement for the Nikon P6000, which is almost a year old), but I don’t think this would be the case.

At that point I don’t have any reliable reports about lenses that may be released at those events.

D300s release NR probability rating: 99%

D4000 release NR probability rating: 75%

D3s/D3h release NR probability rating: 20%

Coolpixes release NR probability rating: 30%

Posted in Nikon D300s, Nikon D3100, Nikon Point and Shoot| Tagged Nikon Coolpix P6000, Nikon P7000| 89 Comments

Nikon related news/links

By [NR] admin | Published: June 20, 2009

Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 AF Macro AF lens now available for pre-order (should be available for shipping next month).
Sigma 10mm – 20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM AF Zoom lens price was officially announced this week: $649.00. Nikon mount available in July.
50 years of Nikon F-mount comparison: Nikkor-S 5.8 cm f/1.4 vs. Nikkor AF-S 50 mm f/1.4G
PMA Australia 2009 Imaging Technology Show: June 26th – 28th June in Sydney. If you are attending, send us a report.
Nikon Podcast #21: The Nikon D90 Hits Prime Time. Film maker Noah Harald uses the Nikon D90 D-SLR to create professional video content for clients. This podcast, including sample footage, was captured with the Nikon D90.
Nikon D300 promotion in Switzerland (warning: PDF file).
Nikon S3M collection – cool old Nikon stuff (is my yen conversion correct – price: US$ 133,530?)
Nikon hires Brands2life for pan-European PR support. It is expected that their main push will be for “more mass-market appeal in Europe” (source).
Nikon D700 have a sealing problem? Hard to understand the Google translation.
June 15th marked the 10 years anniversary of the the first professional Nikon DSLR – the Nikon D1: 2.7 megapixels were selling for $5850 back in 1999 (today the D1 sells for less than $ 200 on eBay). This is how the specs looked 10 years ago (for more detailed info click here):

23.7 x 15.6mm, 2.74-MP CCD (2,012 x 1,324 effective pixels)
3D Digital Matrix Image Control (3D Color Matrix Metering, TTL White Balance and Tone Compensation) with 1,005-pixel CCD
3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash for D1 controlled by 5-segment TTL Multi Sensor available with new Speedlight SB-28DX
4.5 fps shooting speed for up to 21 consecutive shots
High-speed AF system including Dynamic AF operation
Top shutter speed 1/16,000 s and flash sync up to 1/500 s
Picture angle approx. 1.5 x lens focal length

Posted in Weekly Nikon News Flash| 34 Comments

Skip this post if you don’t have an iPhone

By [NR] admin | Published: June 19, 2009

The DSLR Camera Remote iPhone app post got more negative than positive votes (this is the second topic with more neg than pos I believe), so I decided to write about it again and maybe convince some readers that this is not such a bad idea. Here are some videos that will explain how this whole thing exactly works:

Remember the wireless USB solution for Nikon DSLR? It will be a good solution for the shooting shown in the next video:

but wait, there is more…

There is another iPhone app by kentidwell.net that will allow you to control your Nikon DSLR remotely from your iPhone or touch: MUG Nikon iLive (currently pending approval in the Apple store). From the same guy(s) you can get also Nikon guides for your iPhone: MIn-U Guide: for D3, D300, D5000, D40, D90. Min-U Guides are organized in the same manner as Nikon® DSLR camera control menus and cost $1.99 each.

Min-U Guides for Nikon DSLR cameras include: • Active D-Lighting • ADL Bracketing • AF Area Modes • AE Lock • AF Assist • Available Shutter Speeds with Flash • AF Focus Area Selection • Control Panel reference • AF Focus Modes • Custom Settings • Auto Low-Pass • Dust Reference Photo Filter (Sensor) Cleaning • Exposure Bracketing • Battery Information • Exposure Compensation • Color Spaces • Exposure Modes • File Numbering Options • Flash Exposure Compensation • Focus Lock • Flash Modes • High-ISO Noise Reduction • Flash Output (FV) Lock • Image Quality • Flash Sync Modes • Image Size • Image Overlays • LCD Brightness • Image Playback • Long Exposure Noise Reduction • ISO Equivalency • Manual Focus • Live View • Memory Card Formatting • Manual Low-Pass Filter (Sensor) Cleaning • Menu Reset • Max Flash Shooting Distances • Metering Modes • Multiple Exposures • Movies • Playback Options • Picture Control • Scene Modes • Reset to defaults • Viewfinder Reference • Self-Timer • White Balance Bracketing • Shooting Modes • White Balance Options

I hope to get more “likes” this time 🙂

Posted in Nikon Software| Tagged Nikon iPhone app| 53 Comments

iPhone DSLR Camera Remote app update

By [NR] admin | Published: June 18, 2009

DSLR Camera Remote app for iPhone (v1.1) adds several improvements, including Nikon DSLR support. Expected release date: mid-July, 2009.

Previous post on the same topic.

Note: in order for this app to work, the camera must be tethered to a computer.

Source

Posted in Nikon Software| Tagged Nikon iPhone app| 18 Comments

Nikon rumors I didn’t post

By [NR] admin | Published: June 18, 2009

I got this idea from a reader and from Gizmodo – once a month, (just for fun) I will list some of the Nikon rumors that did not make the cut. So, here we go:

Nikon 24-65 2.0G: there was a listing on craiglist with the a picture from Japanese magazine cover talking about a new Nikon 24-65 2.0G (source). I did not see the magazine cover. Does anyone has a copy of this picture/magazine?
Picture taken with Nikon D300s? I don’t think so. Maybe the photographer has multiple D300s.
Accessories for Nikon flash SB-700. Probably a typo.
Nikon D300s manual leak: I got this screenshot of a leaked Nikon D300s manual. I think this is a simple HTML manipulation. If this leak was true, the tipster would have sent me the actual manual.

click to enlarge

Another Nikon ad in the shooting? This picture was taken in Tokyo last month and sent to me by a reader. I cannot see what camera is the model holding (hi-res image available here):

Posted in Nikon Humor Rumor| 15 Comments

The next Nikon press conference is scheduled for…

By [NR] admin | Published: June 17, 2009

… July 30th and August 4th. Double whammy? Maybe D300s on July 30 and D4000 on August 4th (300->3, 4000->4). Stay tuned – I am sure I will be getting more confirmations from around the world in the next few days.

This news comes from Nikon Nordic and the event will be held in Stockholm, Sweden.

Source

Posted in Nikon D300s, Nikon D3100| 88 Comments

More Nikon AIS lenses discontinued at B&H

By [NR] admin | Published: June 15, 2009

The above lenses are all gray market (one lens is a demo?).

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged to be discontinued...| 29 Comments

Nikon related new/links

By [NR] admin | Published: June 14, 2009

Nikon D5000 vs Canon EOS 500D @ dxomark. Result: Nikon D5000 outperforms the Canon.
Nikon training in the UK.
Fantasea released a new underwater housing FL-19/20 for Nikon Coolpix L19& L20 cameras.
Nikon released new rechargeable Ni-MH batteries EN-MH2-B4 and battery charger MH-73 (source).
Nikon released a firmware update for the COOLPIX L100 (source).
Have you seen this exotic lens: Zoomar 180mm f/1.3 for Nikon? Here is some more info.