Nikkor 24-120 f/4 VR will be released this year

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

Nikon will announce a new Nikkor 24-120 f/4 VR lens (FX of course) this year. The Google translation said “soon”, but I have no idea how soon that would be. I got this info from one of the forum members I regularly follow on various Asian sites (mainly China and Japan). This time I will not post a direct link to the forum thread in order to protect their identity.

I would like to remind you that the first report about the new AF-S 16-35mm f/4 VR lens came from one of those sources on a Japanese forum back in September 2009! This was not a coincidence – this lens was hard to guess or predict unless you had some insider information (he/she/it even knew it will be VR).

I have not received any other confirmations on this lens yet and that’s why I will rate this rumor @ 75% probability.

There is also a word on the street about a new Nikkor 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 lens and even a new full frame camera in a small(-er) body but I am not sure about the reliability of the source. Maybe he/she/it will read this message and send me more details here.

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 105 Comments

Review of the latest Nikon patent applications

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

Those are the latest and most interesting patent applications filed by Nikon:

My guess is that this will be the new kit lens for the upcoming Nikon D90 replacement (the D90 kit currently ships with the 18-105 lens).

  • Patent application 20100013977 is for a picture in picture live view display for better focus and exposure control (the patent contains a drawing of a p&s camera, not sure if it is intended for DSLR):

“A subject tracking technology originated in Patent Document 1 is considered to perform focus adjustment and a control of exposure conditions while keeping a user intended composition when a subject with relatively large motion (person, animal, vehicle, or the like) is photographed by a camera. In the subject tracking technology, a main subject is tracked automatically, and the focus adjustment and the control of the exposure conditions are performed centering on the main subject.”

More after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Nikon Patents| Tagged | 43 Comments

New Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar 90mm F3.5 SL II with F-mount

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

Voigtländer released a new lens for portraits/ macro photography today: Apo-Lanthar 90mm F3.5 SL II Close Focus (F-mount):

Specs:

  • Focal length / 90mm
  • Relative Aperture / 1:3.5
  • Minimum Aperture / F22
  • Lens / 5 set of 6 pieces
  • Angle / 27 °
  • Number of diaphragm blades / 9 Minimum focusing distance pieces / 0.5m (closed only when seated UP / 0.5 ~ 0.32m)
  • Maximum magnification / 1:3.5 (closed only when seated UP / 1:1.8)
  • Maximum diameter (Ai-S mount) / φ63
  • Filter Size / φ52
  • Overall length (Ai-S mount) / 48.2mm
  • Weight (Ai-S mount) / 320g
  • Type mount / Ai-S (CPU chip), KA / EF
  • Other / special close-up lens comes with a dome-shaped hood
  • Preice: around ￥ 55,000 (around 600 USD)
  • Expected release: March 2010

Source (in English)

Posted in Nikon Lenses| 49 Comments

Nikon DSLR with a 800mm lens used as an accelerometer

By [NR] admin | Published: February 16, 2010

It is always slow on rumors after an official announcement. While waiting, I have a series of interesting Nikon related posts. Depending on the ratings of this post, I will continue (or not) with the series.

If you are impatient, just skip to 02:19 mark.

Also, take a look at this picture of the Golden Gate Bridge snapped from the International Space Station with a Nikon D2X.

Thanks to Graham for sending this in.

Posted in Other Nikon stuff| Tagged | 89 Comments

Nikon related news/links

By [NR] admin | Published: February 14, 2010
  • New version of Nikon Message Center (v2.0.0) was released 2 weeks ago. Download here.

From the eBay listing (full specs also available):

Pixel LV-W1 device transmits the video signal, which is generated by Live View function, from the camera to the external receiver. The image preview from up to 100 meters allows to trigger the shutter in the most appropriate moment. What’s most important, the set – unlike other similar devices – is connected directly to the video output of the camera. Transmitted signal is of the highest quality and you do not need to mount camcorder on the camera viewer.

More after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Weekly Nikon News Flash| 27 Comments

Nikon D700 will get “bundled” before replacement

By [NR] admin | Published: February 14, 2010

The French magazine Chasseur d’Image (in English) reports that Nikon will start giving Capture NX for free with every Nikon D700 purchase (my guess is that this combo will be valid only in France):

“In contrast, the D700 will soon be rewarded with a very attractive bundle, including Capture NX, which thereby becomes free time promotion.
Nikon has used in recent years to launch new round of July 15, we are sure we will see a D700 right now, but Capture NX! What prevent the purchaser of the current, already extremely powerful, do not feel cheated!”

Nikon Germany is including a MB-D10 with a new D700:

Nikon Italy offers a free SB-900 speedlight with a new D700:

The translations are horrible, but the bottom line is that we should expect some good deals on the Nikon D700 in the next few months before its replacement.

In the past few weeks I received several reports that Nikon D700 is not in stock in certain stores and some retailers cannot place new orders (those could be isolated cases, please don’t panic :).

Posted in Nikon D800| 103 Comments

Taped Nikon cameras

By [NR] admin | Published: February 13, 2010

First I have to mention that covering the camera name/logo/model with black tape is nothing new and many photographers have been doing it for a while. Having said that, here are some reports on taped-up Nikon gear from the past week – maybe someone will spot a difference from the existing models (I couldn’t):

The first one is from a dpreview gallery – it looks like a Nikon D700:

The second example is from the new Aperture 3 video made by Bill Frakes (1:04 mark into the video) – what I find interesting here is that only the model number is covered and not the Nikon label:

The third occurrence was submitted to me by a reader -the picture was taken yesterday on an Anti Olympics protest in Vancouver (we had a previous report that Nikon may be testing new bodies at  the 2010 Winter Olympics):

“As I got closer I noticed it was clearly a Nikon with an added grip, it had the Nikon taped over and no model number on the side. By the looks of it it was clearly a full frame. I went to go take another picture, the guy noticed and hurried off into the sea of people.”

The above camera looks identical to the current D700:

Posted in Nikon D800| 116 Comments