The latest Nikon patents (100mm f/2.5 medium format lens, RGBW AE array)

By [NR] admin | Published: September 10, 2013

Nikon 100mm f:2.5 medium format lens patent
The first patent application is rather unusual – it describes a Nikon 100mm f/2.5 medium format lens. As far as I can remember, this is the first medium format lens patent from Nikon.

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Posted in Nikon Patents| 110 Comments

Nikon rumors: what to expect in the next few months

By [NR] admin | Published: September 9, 2013

Nikon Rumors
Here is a recap of the rumored/expected Nikon products in the next few months:

Nikon D5300

I still expect Nikon to announce three major cameras by the end of the year. Some of the announcements (most likely the D5300) could be in the first week of January right before the CES show in Las Vegas.

Nikon D610

I was told that the rumored Nikon D610 DSLR camera will be on display during the Photo Plus Expo in New York at the end of October. This means that the official announcement should be any day now. I still do not have any detailed specs or exact announcement date.

Nikon D4x or similar

I think the decision to release the D610 will postpone any initial plans Nikon had for another full frame pro body. Nikon recently announced that they will concentrate on entry level models. There is still a possibility that they may announce something in early 2014 right before the Winter Olympics.

Underwater camera

The third camera still remains a mystery. There is a very good chance that it will be a new underwater camera that could be branded under the Nikon 1 product line. Not sure how they will handle the lenses – maybe they will announce a new line of ruggedized and waterproof Nikon 1 lenses.

Lenses

I only have information for two new lenses: Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4G VR lens and a new 16mm fisheye lens. There is also a very good chance for a new Nikon TC-14E III teleconverter to be announced before the Olympics.

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Posted in Nikon 1, Nikon D400, Nikon D4s, Nikon D5300, Nikon D610, Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 239 Comments

Weekly Nikon news flash #230

By [NR] admin | Published: September 8, 2013

Nikon-GP-1-GPS-unit-now-discontinued
The Nikon GP-1 GPS unit is currently listed as discontinued at B&H and “archived” on Nikon USA website. The GP-1A model is still current.

Nikon-D600-price-drop-1659
New Nikon D600 now listed for $1,729 at DigitalRev. The price today dropped to $1,659.

Nikon-18-35mm-f3.5-4.5G-ED-lens
Refurbished Nikkor 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens now available for $600 (reg. $746.95).

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Posted in Weekly Nikon News Flash| 47 Comments

Nikon TC-14E II teleconverter listed as discontinued again

By [NR] admin | Published: September 7, 2013

Nikon-TC-14E-II-teleconverter-listed-as-discontinued
After Nikon Sweden listed the TC-14E II teleconverter as discontinued few weeks ago, we now have a major retailer (DigitalRev) who also marked the 14E II teleconverter as discontinued. With the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi (February 2014), I will not be surprised if this TC and the Nikkor 300mm f/4 lens get updated.

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged , | 27 Comments

Fotodiox Wonderpana 145 adapter kit for the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 lens review

By [NR] admin | Published: September 7, 2013

Fotodiox-Wonderpana-145-adapter-kit-for-the-Nikon-14-24mm-f2.8-lens-review

This is Steve Perry’s review of the Fotodiox Wonderpana 145 filter adapter kit (check prices and availability on Amazon) for the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 lens (click on images for larger view):

As a professional landscape photographer, I have to say I fell in love with the Nikon 14-24mm the moment I attached it to my (then) state-of-the-art D3. It was amazingly sharp, and the zoom range just begged for wide open spaces and big skies.

However, there were more than a few times I found myself wishing I could attach a polarizer to the front of the lens to take reflections off of leaves and water. Enter the Fotodiox Wonderpana 145 Kit.

I’ve been using the Fotodiox adapter kit for my Nikon 14-24mm for about 6 months now and I wanted to let other 14-24mm owners know about this little gem. It’s a great way to add a polarizer (or neutral density) filter to your lens – check it out!

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Posted in [NR] Reviews| Tagged , | 33 Comments

Nikon working on a “serious” underwater compact camera (digital Nikonos?)

By [NR] admin | Published: September 7, 2013

Nikon underwater compact camera
Another interesting rumor: Nikon is planning to release a new waterproof/diving camera that could be part of the Nikon 1 product line. I am not sure how this will work exactly – maybe there will be a new line of waterproof lenses or maybe the new camera will have a fixed lens. The information I received is not about a new underwater housing (which already exists for Nikon 1: WP-N1 and WP-N2) or a new Coolpix version similar to the AW110 model, but for a dedicated, solid-built, Nikonos-like underwater camera that will be able to go 60-100ft (20-30m) deep.

Posted in Nikon 1| Tagged , | 53 Comments

Guest post: water photography by Chris Burkard

By [NR] admin | Published: September 6, 2013

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Water Photography by Chris Burkard 14
Water Photography by Chris Burkard 8
Water Photography by Chris Burkard 10
Today’s guest post on water photography is by Chris Burkard (burkardphoto.com | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr, click on images for larger view):

Growing up near the coast the ocean has always held a place in my heart. From a young age I have been captivated by it and engulfed in its power and beauty. Feeling the power of the ocean up close and personal is a unique feeling. That’s why I love bodysurfing and surfing. You are able to be a part of the ocean and experience its movement. Capturing images from the water is taking something I love to be apart of and documenting it, hoping to express this wonder and excitement for others to enjoy.

Light Underwater

Water shots often do an amazing job at showcasing the ocean’s surreal beauty. It’s similar to going to a super foreign landscape. Your senses are exposed to new sensations and you are often highly alive and alert in those moments. The beauty that surrounds you is often so vast it is nothing short of humbling. Water images are definitely the type you dream about. The type of images that put the viewer into a place that they most likely have never seen. It’s such a beautiful thing, the way that light plays on the ocean. You are never going to see the same thing twice, no two waves break the same. Water surfaces play with light in unique ways. Backlit waves can have a glowing effect with the water refracting the suns ray and illuminating the wave. Often I use the evening light to silhouette the subject and create a more timeless look to an image. I try to use the natural light as often as possible and rarely need flash. When you get that perfect evening light it can really enhance a surfer’s action as displaced water can be illuminated. The window when the light is perfect is a short one and thus you and the athletes have to be dialed and ready. You can only prepare so much for that moment of perfect light though and ultimately mother nature has to come through at the right time too. That is what makes capturing that special moment so rewarding.

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Posted in Other Nikon stuff| Tagged , | 33 Comments