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:

Read More »

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:

Read More »

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

Nikon Movie Editor

By [NR] admin | Published: August 17, 2010

Nikon View NX2 now also comes with a new video editing tool called “Nikon Movie Editor”. Nikon Europe has more details on the Nikon Movie Editor package and the H.264 requirements I mentioned earlier. The “Create Movie” option also lists 1280 x 720 and 1920 x 1080 resolutions:

The Nikon Coolpix P100 is currently the only camera from Nikon that shoots H.264 @ 1920 × 1080. This will probably not be the case a month from now.

Posted in Nikon Software| Tagged | 42 Comments