More info on the D3/D3X extended service program (Canada)

Just received the full text of the Nikon D3/D3X  extended service program in Canada:

Thank you for purchasing your new Nikon D3/D3X camera. In appreciation, and at no charge to you, Nikon Canada Inc. (“Nikon”) offers an initial Service Program (the “Service Program”) described below for your new Nikon D3/D3X. 

Services: 

Unlimited preventative maintenance cleanings – Image Sensor Cleaning 

Two comprehensive check-ups and cleanings; one in the first year of ownership and one in the second 

Routine adjustments as necessary resulting from normal usage, excluding cosmetic “wear and tear” 

Firmware updates that may be available from time to time from Nikon 

Commencement and Initial Service Period: This Service Program is effective as of March 30, 2009 on all new D3/D3X cameras purchased from an Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer and is applicable for an initial period of two years from the date of original purchase. Also, D3/D3X cameras purchased new from an Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer prior to March 30, 2009, are automatically covered, starting March 30, 2009, until two years after the date of original purchase or until March 30, 2010, whichever period is greater. 

Cost: There is no fee payable to Nikon for Services during the applicable  initial service period under this Service Program. You have the option, exercisable by submitting a written application form before the expiry of the applicable initial service period (but not after expiry) to extend the Service Program for an additional year, at a cost of $300.00, plus applicable GST / PST / QST / HST. An application form for an Extended Service Contract is available by contacting the Service Department at a Nikon office listed below. 

Shipping: To receive the Services, you must deliver your D3/D3X to one of Nikon’s three service depots listed below together with a photocopy of the original bill of sale. Unless contrary to applicable law, freight and insurance charges to these locations are your sole responsibility and so is risk of loss, damage or theft during shipment to Nikon. The return shipment, to the address you provide, will be by a means determined at Nikon’s sole discretion and will be paid by Nikon. Nikon will only ship the return shipment to an address within Canada. Any replaced parts become the property of Nikon and will not be returned. 

Conditions: The following conditions and restrictions apply except where they may be contrary to applicable law: 

the Services do not cover repairs or adjustment required due to damage caused by: 

accident, misuse or neglect (including impact, water/sand/dust damage and battery leakage), 

tampering, 

unauthorized repair, or 

damage caused by lenses and accessories not supplied by Nikon; 

this Service Program is not transferable; 

this Service Program is valid only in Canada to Canadian residents, and is available only on new products imported by Nikon and sold as new by an Authorized Nikon Canadian Dealer; and 

used, refurbished and demo models are not eligible. 

Notices: 

SUBJECT TO ANY APPLICABLE LAW TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT WILL NIKON BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL 

OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS SERVICE PROGRAM, HOWEVER CAUSED, EVEN IF NIKON HAS BEEN ADVISED 

OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN THE EVENT OF NIKON’S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PERFORM THE SERVICES, INCLUDING DUE 

TO ITS NEGLIGENCE, NIKON’S SOLE OBLIGATION, AND YOUR SOLE REMEDY, IS FOR NIKON TO RE-PERFORM THE APPLICABLE SERVICE. 

Nikon recommends that any data stored in the camera or in a storage device be backed-up by you before sending your camera to Nikon. 

Nikon is not responsible for loss of or damage to such data. 

To the maximum extent permitted by law, this Service Program is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada. 

You may have greater rights under the laws of your jurisdiction. Where any term of this Service Program is restricted or prohibited by such laws, such term will be null and void, but the remainder of the terms of this Service Program will remain in effect. 

Posted in Nikon D3x| 12 Comments

Nikon Canada announced a new free service program for D3 and D3x

Luminous-Landscape just published this:

“Nikon Canada has announced a new free service program for its D3 and D3x customers. This provides:

  • Unlimited preventative maintenance cleanings
  • Routine adjustments as necessary resulting from normal usage, excluding cosmetic “wear and tear”
  • Two comprehensive check-ups and cleanings; one in the first year of ownership and one in the second.”

I could not find any official press release from Nikon Canada.

Posted in Nikon D3x| 8 Comments

New Nikon patent for remaining battery life

nikon-patent

The new patent is for a new system that will track the amount of work done with the camera and based on that to calculate the remaining battery life. The current system track only the number of shots taken without taking in consideration any other power consuming feature (flash, zooming, LCD, etc).

Via Examiner

Patent application link

Posted in Nikon Patents| 8 Comments

Nikon RAW Codec v1.7.0 & Camera Control Pro 2 v2.5.0 released

Nikon RAW Codec 1.7.0 changes:

  • Supports NEF (RAW) images taken with the D5000.
  • The folder to which the software is installed has been changed from “¥Windows¥System32¥” to “¥Program Files¥Nikon\NEFCodec¥”.
  • Fixed an issue that caused a message stating that the image was corrupt to be displayed when a photograph for which the “Landscape” or “Portrait” Picture Control had been selected using ViewNX™ was displayed in Windows Photo Gallery on a computer to which optional Picture Controls had not been installed.
  • If the user attempted to use Windows Photo Gallery to e-mail an NEF file edited in Capture NX 2™, the JPEG attachment would be cropped to 1,280 × 1,024 pixels. This issue has been resolved.
  • Reduced the time need to display NEF files that have had their brightness modified in ViewNX™.

Camera Control Pro 2 2.5.0 changes:

  • Support for the D5000 has been added.
  • When a camera control settings file was loaded with the Image area: Auto DX Crop box in the Storage tab checked while shooting with a D3, D3X, or D700 camera and a DX lens, a warning message was displayed and the image area and image size could not be specified.  This issue has been resolved.

A free alternative to Nikon’s Camera Control Pro is available here. Please note that this is not a Nikon product – it is developed by a reader based on the free Nikon SDK. 

Other free Nikon software available here.

Posted in Nikon Software| 8 Comments

Nikon is doing better than expected, but business is still in “depressed market condition”

Nikon today announced a revision of their financial results for the year ended March 31, 2009:

Earnings estimates (in millions of yen):

                            revised forecast           previous forecast

 Net Sales            879,000                      860,000    

 Net  Income        28,000                        24,000

“Due to stagnation of consumer spending and demand for investment originating from abrupt deterioration of consumer environment caused by global economic slowdown triggered by the global financial crisis as well as appreciation of Japanese Yen and decline of stock market, our businesses are still in depressed market condition.  Under this environment, we carried out the group wide production adjustment and enhanced our sales promotion activities. As a result of these measures, our Imaging business is expected to achieve higher revenue and profit than our prospects, and our consolidated results are expected to exceed our last forecast.”

Source

Posted in Other Nikon stuff| 13 Comments

Nikon D200 is back in Best Buy for $599 (US)

Best Buy again has the $599 deal on the Nikon D200 (add to cart to see reduced price).

Posted in Deals| 58 Comments

Nikon related news/links

  • For the eighth consecutive year, the National Association of Photo Equipment Technicians (NAPET) awarded Nikon Inc. the Martin Strauss Memorial Manufacturer Service Support Award. This award recognizes Nikon’s continued commitment to quality and the efficiency of its National Service Department, Service Relations Department, and Parts Department (source).
  • New Nikon web site in France (still in beta) http://www.mynclub.com/index.php?etp=deco where photographers can store their photos, take part in challenges, competitions and discussions with other users. The site has also a rating system. Interesting idea – kind of a Nikon social network.
  • SB-800 flash is removed from nikonusa.com.
  • Nikon D300 is listed as “5” in the computers of the retail shop FNAC (France), which means it will certainly be replaced in 2 or 3 months (according to the source).
  • I got a report that two weeks ago Media Markt in Sweden were selling their Nikon D300 floor demo models.
  • Nikon D300 is out of stock @ B&H – this may not mean anything, just the regular Nikon supply/production delay.
Posted in Weekly Nikon News Flash| 16 Comments

Nikon D5000 available in Best Buy today

As already reported, the entry level DSLR Nikon D5000 is now available in Best Buy stores in the US. Few lucky readers have purchased it already. First picture (thanks Hooterville):

nikond5000box

More of the same:

Posted in Nikon D5000| 49 Comments

Nikon D5000 shipping from Amazon on April 27

Amazon will start shipping the D5000 on Monday, April 27:

nikon-d5000-shipping

Posted in Nikon D5000| 6 Comments

Manual D-Movie mode control update for Nikon D90 (and D5000)?

This rumor has been going around for a while and it seems that now Nikon confirmed it (according to a ProLost reader who received this email from Nikon):

“We are working on an update to these equipments to allow manual selection of shutter speeds and ISO during D-Movie mode and more, we don’t have a specific date but we are working on it. We have had customers with the same concern and we are trying to improve on this firmware update.”

Via ProLost

Posted in Nikon D400, Nikon D90| 31 Comments