Recap

By [NR] admin | Published: August 19, 2010

First, a note: the comments are going out of control again. Unreasonable Nikon bashing will not be tolerated. Comments like “Nikon sucks” or “I am switching to Canon” do not bring any value to the discussion. Please use common sense and show your arguments in a logical way.

The new products from Nikon are now covered all over the Web. Here are some more quick links (some of them from our own readers):

  • Quote: “The D3100 is equipped with a new Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor and a new image-processing engine, EXPEED 2, both developed by Nikon” (source).
  • Engadget has a hands-on with the D3100. Check also Bob Krist’s blog – he has posted some samples photos from the new 28-300 lens.

Sample video taken with the D3100 and various Nikon lenses after the break:

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Posted in Nikon D3100, Nikon Lenses| 196 Comments

Capture NX 2.2.5 should be coming soon

By [NR] admin | Published: August 19, 2010

The sample images provided for the Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G lens were processed with Capture NX 2.2.5. The last official version of Capture NX was 2.2.4. Now you know what’s coming. I guess Capture NX 3 will take some more time.

Posted in Nikon Software| 15 Comments

Announced: Nikon D3100 and Nikkor 85mm, 24-120mm, 28-300mm, 55-300mm lenses

By [NR] admin | Published: August 19, 2010

This post will be updated multiple times, check back for the latest news.

Coverage around the Net:

Official Nikon links:

MTF charts, construction diagrams, brochures and sample photos:

Nikon also established a new holding company in Hong Kong.

I will publish the pre-order options as soon as they are available (usually in 1-2 hours). Some of the new lenses will be back-ordered for months, try to place your order asap (Amazon doesn’t charge your credit card until the item is shipped).

Full press releases after the break:

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Posted in Nikon D3100, Nikon Lenses| Tagged , , | 257 Comments

Some last minute Nikon D3100 updates

By [NR] admin | Published: August 18, 2010

I got some info about the mystery switch on the Nikon D3100 – the body has two new controls:

  • To the right of the mode dial is a sliding switch which arcs around it (similar to the Panasonic G1, GH1, G2).  This selects drive modes between Single, Continuous, Self-timer and Quiet (which holds the mirror up until you let go of the shutter release after a shot).
  • Above the multi-selector on the back and a bit further to the left towards the screen is a lever to activate live view, and inside the pivot point of the lever is a red button to start video recording.

And some more video details:

  • Video options: 1080 24 fps, 720 30/25/24 fps, and 640×424 24 fps.
  • The D3100 video is H.264, with 16 bit 24 KHz audio, in a .MOV container.  The 24 fps is actually a proper 23.976 fps that video professionals expect.
  • AVCHD video codec : the D3100 just stores a single .MOV file for each movie in the same directory as your still photos, so it is technically not AVCHD, but it uses the same technology.
Posted in Nikon D3100| 61 Comments

Patents for Nikon 24-120mm f/4 and 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lenses

By [NR] admin | Published: August 18, 2010

Japanese Patent application 2010-175899 (release date: August 12, 2010 | filing date: January 30, 2009) seems to cover several different lens designs, two of them are for the lenses that will be announced tonight:

  • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR:
    • f = 24.70-116.39mm
    • Fno = 4.12-4.14
    • Angle: 85.24-20.28 °
    • Image circle: 43.2mm
    • Length: 146.351-190.957mm
    • Back focus: 38.496-64.317

More details after the break:

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Posted in Nikon Lenses, Nikon Patents| Tagged , | 46 Comments

Nikon D90 replacement and P7000 will not be announced tonight

By [NR] admin | Published: August 18, 2010

A lot of readers are still asking me about the Nikon D90 replacement and the P7000 announcements. I will just repeat some of the old information I already published online: the D90 replacement (not sure about the exact name yet) will be announced on/around September 15th together with a new Nikkor 200mm f/2 lens. I already reported some basic specs a month ago:

  • Magnesium-alloy body
  • 16MP sensor
  • 1080 HD video
  • Somewhere between 6-8 fps
  • Improved ISO range: 100-25600*
  • 39 AF points
  • Price: $1199 for body only

Since the Nikon P7000 p&s camera was not announced yesterday with the rest of the Coolpix cameras, I am guessing that it will be announced in September with the D90 replacement. We may have the same scenario in September – one Coolpix announcement and few days later a DSLR and lens announcements.

I will repeat again, there is no sign of a full frame DSLR for Photokina.

* – Today some more details surfaced on the new Alpha cameras from Sony (specs | pics). You can see that the 16MP sensor has hi ISO of 25600. I already mentioned that the D90 replacement should have a better ISO compared to the 100-12800 ISO range of the D3100, so I assume this range will be 100-25600.

Posted in Nikon D7000| Tagged | 113 Comments

Tonight: Nikon D3100 and four lenses (3FX+1DX)

By [NR] admin | Published: August 18, 2010

Second round of announcement should happen tonight. I do not expect any surprises (i.e. no full frame DSLR from Nikon for Photokina)

Nikon D3100:

  • 14 MP CMOS Sensor (23.2 x 15.5 mm)
  • live View
  • Continuous AF in video mode/live view
  • 3 inch Display (not swivel)
  • 100 – 12800 ISO
  • ISO setting manual or automatic
  • 11 AF points
  • new AF points configuration which should cover a very large portion of the viewfinder
  • full HD Video (1920 x 1080)
  • HD video: 1080p/24 and 720p 30/24
  • AVCHD video codec
  • new EXPEED2 processor
  • improved objects recognition for the AF control
  • improved in-camera menu
  • user can save picture profiles
  • in camera video editing capabilities
  • 3 fps
  • price 650 €
  • will be sold in a kit with a 18-55mm lens

Lenses:

  • Nikkor AF-S DX 55-300 f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR (ca. 420 €)
  • Nikkor AF-S 85 f/1.4 G with Nano coating (€1650/$1650): 10 lens elements in 9 groups (the old version has 9 elements in 8 groups)
  • Nikkor AF-S 24-120 f/4 G ED VR with Nano coating (€1220/$1300)
  • Nikkor AF-S 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR (€1000/$1050): 19 lens elements in 14 groups

I will have a continuous coverage today. Some Danish websites are already reporting that they are invited to a Nikon press conference tomorrow @ 10am.

Posted in Nikon D3100, Nikon Lenses| Tagged , , , | 127 Comments