Today’s recap

By [NR] admin | Published: June 30, 2010

Today Nikon announced that entries for the Nikon Photo Contest International 2010-2011 will be accepted between September 1 and November 30, 2010. The prizes include D3000, D5000, D300s and D3s DSLR bodies. Interestingly, the D90 and D700 models were not offered in the prize list. Maybe those models will not be available at the end of 2010 (or at the beginning of 2011) when the prizes will be awarded.

At the same time another “No new Nikon pro camera for 2010” thread on dpreview, this one reportedly coming from the marketing department of  Nikon Italy.

Full Nikon Photo Contest International press release after the break:

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Nikon: “we considered a variety of so-called mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras”

By [NR] admin | Published: June 27, 2010

This is from the Q & A session for Nikon’s medium term management plan that just got published online:

Q: What can you tell us about the new-generation digital cameras?
A: Although we considered a variety of so-called mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras for the digital SLR camera market, we discern the appropriate timing for the launch of our new-generation digital cameras based on the direction of the market demand.

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Is that it? (Nikon 35mm AF-S f/1.4 N)

By [NR] admin | Published: June 26, 2010

I received this picture (original source) few days ago and my initial thought was that this is the current Nikon 24mm f/1.4 lens. Ever since, I received multiple emails from readers pointing the differences between the two lenses (thanks D40-owner and everybody else who sent that in):

  • One aperture in the DOF scale (probably 16), the 24mm has two.
  • The focal length seems to read 35mm (the 85mm f/1.4 lens is expected to have VR, the lens on the picture clearly does not have VR)
  • The max aperture definitely reads 1:1.x
  • The border just behind the focus ring is very thin, much thinner than the 24mm.
  • On the 24mm f/1.4 the gold “Nikon” label is much closer to the end of the plate (look at the letter “N”).

For comparison, here is the current Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G N lens:

Update – here is a close-up of the plates:

What say you?

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | Comments closed

Weekly Nikon related news/links

By [NR] admin | Published: June 25, 2010

I will be on the road in the next 7 days with limited Internet connectivity. I don’t expect anything major to happen during that time and I will still cover any breaking/interesting news.

  • Nikon launched a new site nikonlive.com with a “Cool Shot Contest” which is part of its sponsorship of the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater with Live Nation. Official press release available here.
  • Nikon also launched a new website with the Danish Society for Photography for young photographers.

  • Nikon D3 sighting @ FIFA World Cup: in the Japan v. Denmark game at around 87:26 mark of the match, Princess Takamado of Japan was seen in broadcast shooting with a Nikon D3.
  • I got a tip that yesterday (Thursday, June 24th) Howard Stern mentioned on his show that Nikon offered to let him try out a new camera for a while. Not sure what model camera that was, but Howard is a photo enthusiast (maybe the D90 replacement?).
  • Makoto Kimura will become the next President of Nikon effective from June 29th. Maybe things will start moving fast after the 29th.
  • Check this insane workflow from Chase Jarvis (Nikon shooter):

Posted in Weekly Nikon News Flash| 51 Comments

More on the Nikon Coolpix 1000pj replacement

By [NR] admin | Published: June 25, 2010

The current Nikon Coolpix S1000pj model

Last week we heard about the upcoming Coolpix 1000pj replacement and the rumored ability to serve as a conventional external projector. Yesterday Digitimes got some more details: the built-in-camera LCoS pico-projector technology will be from Himax Technologies. The new light engine module should be smaller and cheaper compared to the 2009 version. It remains to be seen if Nikon will pass those savings to the consumer and introduce the new camera at a lower price point (the introduction price of Nikon Coolpix 1000pj was $429.95).

Via Gizmodo

Posted in Nikon Point and Shoot| 72 Comments

Rumor: Nikon rebates will be extended again in the US

By [NR] admin | Published: June 23, 2010

The current US Nikon rebate program ends this Saturday (June 26th). It seems that Nikon will extend the rebate program in the US for another month but with some adjustments. For example: the 10-24mm lens will not qualify for a rebate and the 70-300 lens rebate may go down to $100.

The US rebate program started back in March 2010 and this will be its fourth extension. With every extension some products are dropped or rebate amounts reduced.

The current Nikon rebate program in France is valid till the end of July.

Posted in Deals| 123 Comments

DXOmark does lenses (no rumors here)

By [NR] admin | Published: June 22, 2010

DXOmark added lens measures and scores to their website. Currently 16 Nikon lenses are part of their database. The highest lens + body score (61) goes to the 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED + D3x combo followed by the 85mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.8D and 50mm f/1.4G lenses:

Here are the top 7 Nikon lenses based on optical metric scores (filtered by resolution):

They also have a lens compare feature.

Posted in Nikon Lenses| 80 Comments