Nikon’s patents for the week (Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4 VR)

By [NR] admin | Published: October 2, 2009

Some readers have already noticed that patent 20090244724 is for a 85mm f/1.4 lens with VR:

new-nikon-af-s-85mm-1

For comparison, the current Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 model:

old-nikon-85mm-1.4

According to the patent application this lens will have VR:

“A lens group or a portion of a lens group may be shifted in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis as a vibration reduction lens group for correcting an image blur caused by a camera shake. It is particularly preferable that at least a portion of the second lens group or the third lens group is used as a vibration reduction lens group.”

There was also a Nikon patent for a 85mm f/3.5 VR lens in a DX version. Here is the full list of Nikon’s patents that were published (to the public) this week. Any comments and interpretations are welcome:

20090244724OPTICAL SYSTEM, METHOD FOR FOCUSING, AND IMAGING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH
20090244720ZOOM LENS SYSTEM, OPTICAL DEVICE WITH THE ZOOM LENS SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
20090244507OPTICAL MEMBER, LIGHT ROUTING UNIT, AND EXPOSURE APPARATUS
20090244503Exposure apparatus, device manufacturing method, maintenance method, and exposure method
20090244459Liquid crystal panel, display, and projector
20090243984Liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal panel device, display device, and projector
20090243970Head mount display
20090243967Head mount display
20090243966OUTPUTTING APPARATUS AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS
Posted in Nikon Lenses, Nikon Patents| Tagged | 81 Comments

There will be another camera announced, but not Nikon D700x/D700s

By [NR] admin | Published: October 2, 2009

I have no reliable information that Nikon will release a D700s/D700x camera on October 15 (the actual release date may vary +/- one day based on your location). It also doesn’t make sense to release two PRO level cameras at the same time – I know, D3 was announced with the D300 two years ago but they had different sensors, etc.

There will be a second camera, or line of cameras announced in two weeks. The reports on that are wild and go from a new small digital Nikkormat (unlikely) to a Nikon P6000 replacement and maybe even a Leica X1 clone. It will be something new rather than a replacement from of an old model (but definitely no DSLR or D700s/D700x). Using Google translation to “decrypt” messages from Asia certainly doesn’t help… (sorry, I cannot use [NR] readers as translators for privacy reasons).

As for the lenses, Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR and Nikon AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR sound promising (even though the 100-500 is expected next year) and possibly a third, wide angle lens. I expect all announced lenses to be full frame.

Here is the break down of probabilities based on the information I have:

  • Release date: October 15 (+/- one day): 99%
  • Nikon D3s: 99%
  • Second camera (not DSLR type): 80%
  • Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR: 70%
  • Nikon AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR – October 15th release: 50% / 2010 release: 70%
  • Third, unknown wide angle lens: 50%

Of course all of those are just rumors and they may change at any time. Stay tuned!

Posted in Nikon D3s, Nikon Point and Shoot| Tagged | 135 Comments

Nikon show in Malaysia

By [NR] admin | Published: October 1, 2009

UPDATE: blow-up of the image (thanks E.C.) – hard to tell what camera this is but as some have already suggested this image is not new and I think I have seen it already somewhere:

nikon-show-malaysia3

There is also a Nikon show in Malaysia from October 14th-18th, 2009 described as “Nikon’s highlight event for the year”.

nikon-show-Malaysia

As mentioned before, in the US we will have the Photo Plus Expo in New York from October 22nd-24th, 2009.

Introducing new products on October 15th makes a lot of sense.

Posted in Nikon D3s| 65 Comments

What will happen on October 15th according to Nikon France? (Nikon D3s)

By [NR] admin | Published: September 30, 2009

As I mentioned previously the Nikon D3s is expected to be announced on October 15th, 2009 and today Nikon France kind of told us the same thing: they have scheduled multiple events during the Paris Expo and if you download the program (pdf file) you will see that they have several “Présentation nouveau reflex” which should mean something like “Presenting new (D)SLR”. Of course they could have the D300s in mind which was announced over 2 months ago, but I seriously doubt that (then DSLR should be in plural, since the D3000 was announced on the same date, right?):

Jeudi 15 octobre 2009, invité d’honneur Vincent Munier à 15h

11h00-12h00 Présentation nouveau reflex Expert produit Nikon
12h45-13h45 Nikon Capture NX2, en quelques clics Responsable formation Nikon School
15h00-16h00 Témoignage professionnel par Vincent Munier Photographe professionnel ‘’nature’’
16h45-17h45 Présentation nouveau reflex Expert produit Nikon

Posted in Nikon D3s| 129 Comments

New redesigend Zeiss Distagon ZF 1.4/35 with floating element

By [NR] admin | Published: September 30, 2009

I posted that on PhotoRumors already, but since many Nikon fans are expecting an updated 35mm f/1.4 lens from Nikon, here is a Zeiss rumor for you (you will  still get only manual focus with a Zeiss lenses, which you can also get with the Nikon 35mm f/1.4 AI-S lens):

In his Leica M9 & Nikon D3x comparisson Erwin Puts wrote:

“Lenses used are the Summilux-M 1.4/35mm asph and a very new redesigend Zeiss Distagon 1.4/35 with Floating element.”

The above sentence was removed from the article after it appeared on the FredMiranda forum.

Zeiss currently have a 35mm f/2.0 Distagon T* ZF lens (ZF models are for Nikon F mount).

Posted in Nikon Lenses| 50 Comments

More Nikon lenses (AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR rumor)

By [NR] admin | Published: September 28, 2009

UPDATE: looking at the translation again – I think it says “replaced with” instead of “replacement and”, so we are talking about one potential new lens here: AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR

This rumor is about a new lens from Nikon to be released in Spring 2010 (or around PMA):

  • The current model 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 VR will be replaced ment and with a new AF-S 100-500mm f/4-5.6 IF-ED VR lens.

NR rating system: 70%

—–

And one more rumor: a dpreview user keeps repeating (in several different threads) that two other lenses will be released with the expected Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR – an ultra wide prime lens and an extreme zoom tele lens.

—–

For your enjoyment (not a rumor): a rare Nikon light grey AF-S 28-70mm f/2.8D ED-IF lens currently for sale on eBay:

Nikon-LIGHT-GREY-AF-S-28-70mm-f2.8D-ED-IF-Lens

Update: yes, there was a 100-500mm lens rumor a while ago. Here is the banner:

nikon rumors

Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 119 Comments

Nikon related links/news

By [NR] admin | Published: September 27, 2009

UPDATE: this just in – Nikon Camera Profit Likely to Beat Forecast: “Mid- to high-end models of single-lens-reflex cameras are selling more than the company expected“.

“Metris designs, develops and markets a unique range of 3D hardware and software inspection systems servicing design and manufacturing industries. The company’s reliable and innovative metrology solutions cover the full range of measurement volumes required by automotive and aerospace customers, in both fixed and portable configurations and with optical and touch sensors.”

digital-Nikon-F401

  • I changed the color scheme of the site: the posts text now is not 100% white and the comments are black text on gray background (100% white background would be too bright). The idea is that my posts are short and you still have the option to view them on a white background via the RSS link on the right. Now everybody should be happy, I hope 🙂

It was a busy weekend – make sure you scroll down for the good stuff on the upcoming Nikon announcement.

Posted in Weekly Nikon News Flash| 31 Comments