Your next Coolpix may be sending/receiving emails (Nikon patent)

By [NR] admin | Published: December 11, 2009

Update: Similar camera to the one described in this patent is just to be announced by Samsung.

According to patent applications 20090307322 Nikon is thinking about integrating an email client into a point and shoot camera:

“A digital camera comprises an image-capturing unit that captures an image of a photographic subject and acquires image data, a communication unit for sending and receiving electronic mail data including image data, a recording control unit that records the image data acquired by the image-capturing unit as photographed image data upon a recording medium, an email for sending creation unit that creates an email for sending, to which is attached an image based upon the photographed image data recorded upon the recording medium, and an email address setting unit that sets an email address as the destination of the email for sending. The email for sending creation unit creates a title or a text of the email for sending, based upon at least one of the photographed image data and the email address that has been set.”

nikon-lan-coolpix

The whole menu, including the different screens layout, are described in details here:

nikon-email-camera-menu

Posted in Nikon Patents, Nikon Point and Shoot| 46 Comments

Nikon AF-S 300mm F2.8 G ED VR II & AF-S TC-20E III available for pre-order

By [NR] admin | Published: December 10, 2009

nikon-300mm-2.8-close-upThe new Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VRII lens and the TC-20E converter are now available for pre-order:

I will be updating this post as more retailers start taking pre-orders.

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 60 Comments

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm F2.8 G ED VR II is real! So is the teleconverter TC-20E III…

By [NR] admin | Published: December 10, 2009

This post will be updated multiple times. Check back again (Slovenia got it right after all!).

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm F2.8 G ED VR II

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 300mm F2.8 G ED VR II

nikon-300mm-f2.8-VRII-design

nikon-300m-f2.8-VRII-MFT-chart

  • Vibration Reduction (VR II) enables sharper pictures while shooting at shutter speeds up to four stops slower than would otherwise be possible
  • Three focus modes are available — A/M mode is added to conventional M/A and M modes
  • Nano Crystal Coat effectively suppresses ghosting and flare for clear images
  • Silent Wave Motor (SWM) ensures smooth and quiet AF operation
Focal length300mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8
Minimum aperturef/22
Lens construction11 elements in 8 groups (with 3 ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coat)
Picture angle8°10’ (5°20’ with Nikon DX format)
Closest focusing distance2.3 m/7.5 ft. in AF mode; 2.2 m/7.2 ft. in MF mode
Maximum reproduction ratio0.16x
No. of diaphragm blades9 (rounded)
Filter/attachment size52mm
Diameter x length
(extension from lens mount)		Approximately 124 x 267.5 mm/4.9 x 10.5 in.
WeightApproximately 2,900 g/6.4 lb.
Supplied accessoriesSlip-on Front Lens Cap, Rear Lens Cap LF-1, Lens Hood HK-30, Semi-soft Case CL-L1, Dedicated filter holder, 52mm Screw-on NC Filter, Strap LN-1

———————————————————————————————

AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III

AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III

nikon-AF-S-TC-20E-III

  • Outstanding optical quality to meet the demands of Nikon FX-format camera users
  • Increases the focal length of a prime lens by 100%*
  • An aspherical lens element is adopted – a world first
  • Employing an aspherical lens realizes a compact and lightweight body
  • Newly developed optical design achieves superior contrast and resolution

* Lens aperture is reduced by two stops

Lens construction7 elements in 5 groups (with one aspherical lens element)
Closest focusing distanceSame as that of a prime lens
Maximum reproduction ratioDouble that of a prime lens
Weight (approx.)330 g/11.6 oz.
Dimensions (approx.)66 mm/2.6 in. (dia.) x 48 mm/1.9 in. (extension from camera’s lens mounting flange)
Supplied accessoriesTeleconverter Cap BF-3A, Rear Lens Cap LF-1, Flexible Lens Pouch CL-0715

…

My only logical explanation for this release are the upcoming Olympics games in Canada.

Full press release after the break:

Read More »

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 127 Comments

Nikon lenses poll

By [NR] admin | Published: December 9, 2009

It’s a poll week, but first a quick update on the Nikon AF DC Nikkor 135mm f/2.0D lens rumor from Germany – a major German electronics store currently has two lenses listed as Nikon 135/2.0 in their inventory system. The only noticeable difference is the price: one is listed for 1459 €, the other for 1539 € (same lens was reported as discontinued in Canada).

And now the poll – which 3 lenses would you like Nikon to release/update next (and you are willing to buy) all lenses are FX except the last two choices:

Posted in Nikon Lenses| 57 Comments

Official Nikon D300s survey

By [NR] admin | Published: December 9, 2009
credit: Nikon USA

credit: Nikon USA

Nikon just sent out a D300s survey (via email). It seems that this survey is not personalized and everyone can do it (at least in the US) – here is the link. There are a lot of questions about lenses.

Tell Nikon what you think!

Posted in Nikon D300s, Nikon D400| 36 Comments

Nikon 300mm f/2.8 flashback

By [NR] admin | Published: December 9, 2009

Back in August I reported about the silent change of the “ED” to “N” label on the Nikon AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens:

“Nikon changed the gold label of the Nikon AF-S VR 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED from “ED” to “N” (Nikonusa has the ED picture, Nikon imaging has the “N” picture) – this lens always had Nano coating, so this was not an update. Did anything else changed?”

Nikon_300mm_2.8

"ED" tag

Nikon_300mm_2.8_N

"N" tag

Could this have anything to do with the rumored replacement of this lens tomorrow? The new VRII is labeled with gold letters – the two images above still have the red VR sign.

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 23 Comments

About tomorrow

By [NR] admin | Published: December 9, 2009

Slovenia seems to be the only country with a scheduled Nikon event for tomorrow (December 10th). The scheduled maintenance of all European Nikon site is a fact.

I received a tip from a new source that tomorrow Nikon will introduce a new 300 mm f/2.8 VR II lens and a new converter – TC 20 II. The lens is optically new calculated and has the new VR II (same VRII like in the 70-200 f/2.8 VRII). You can see a similar thread on dpreview. If you look at the profile of the poster, you will notice that some of his previous comments are right on, others (like the 24 mm and the 35 mm 1.4 lenses in October) are not.

FYI, the current Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR model was introduced in 2004:

Nikon_300mm_2.8

credit: Nikon USA

I am still skeptical, I will rate this rumor @ 30%.

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 41 Comments