Nikon D3 Firmware v. 2.00 now available?

By [NR] admin | Published: September 1, 2008

Just go to http://support.nikontech.com and make a search for digital DSLR and D3. The release date is Sept 2 (today) – wasn’t this version released few months ago? Did they add/change something?

Modifications enabled with upgrade of A and B firmware to v.2.00

  •  Images captured with “Rotate tall”, in the playback menu, set to”On”, are not automatically rotated for display immediately aftercapture (image review).
  • The following changes and additions have been made to “f4: AssignFUNC.Button > FUNC. Button + dials” ; “f5: Assign preview button> Preview + command dials”, and “f6: Assign AE-L / AF-L button >AE-L / AF-L + command dials” menus in Custom Settings:
    • The “Choose image area” option has been separated into two options,”Choose image area (FX / DX / 5:4)” and “Choose image area (FX / DX)”
    • A new “Shooting menu bank” option has been added.
  • When “Choose image area (FX / DX / 5:4)” or “Choose image area(FX/DX)” is selected and the function button (Fn) is pressed, the imagearea setting is displayed in the top control panel, in the shootinginformation display, and at the bottom of the viewfinder.
  • A “Copyright information” item has been added to the setup menu.When “Copyright information” is enabled, the copyright symbol ( © ) isshown in the shooting info display.
  • “Recent settings” can now be displayed in place of “My Menu”.
  • The virtual horizon can now be displayed with shooting in LiveView mode.
  • The “Vignette control” setting can now be confimed in shooting information.
  • The “Vignette control” item in the shooting menu now supports all types of G- and D-type lenses, except DX and PC lenses.
  • The “Vignette control” compensation value has been optimized for shooting with “Active D-Lighting”  the shooting menu.
  • Electronic analog exposure displays are now shown in the controlpanel and shooting info display while the exposure compensation settingis being applied.
  • The degree of the “High ISO NR” setting can now be confirmed in theshooting info display while the “High ISO NR” setting item, in theshooting menu, is being applied.
  • Design of the FX-format icon in the “Choose image area” setting has been modified.
  • Ankara, Riyadh, Kuwait, and Manamah have been added to the “Time zone” options for the “World Time” item in the setup menu.
  • When a GPS device is used and no heading information is available,–.–° is now displayed for the “Position > Heading” option in the”GPS” item in the setup menu.
  • When shooting in LiveView mode using Camera Control Pro 2 (ver.2.2.0) or later with a PC-E lens, the aperture setting can now beadjusted from the computer.
  • Autofocus performance has been improved.
  • Auto White Balance performance has been improved.
  • An issue that, in some rare circumstances, caused the batteryindicator to blink, regardless of actual battery charge, has beenresolved.
  • Errors in the German help displays have been corrected.

Posted in Nikon D3x| 8 Comments

Samsung rumors materialized: plans for new ‘hybrid’ digital camera system

By [NR] admin | Published: September 1, 2008
Samsung announces plans for new ‘hybrid’ digital camera system
Posted in Other Nikon stuff| 1 Comment

Otoji spy shot (updated)

By [NR] admin | Published: August 31, 2008
I got this image as a follow up to this story which was based on the “Big” post. This is suppose to be a cell phone spy shot related to Otoji, but I do not know yet what does it say:
Comments, translations, interpretations are welcome. This could be HUGE! I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.
Translation:
M1 Development Plan
device MX format
device FX format
device DX format
right page (not related to camera)
about Frugality
how to save money
how to save Food expenses
how many time go to store
etc.

– the word otooji means “parent’s younger brother; uncle”

Posted in Nikon D3x| Tagged , | 85 Comments

Gone Baby Gone again – this time is the AF 85mm f/1.4D IF

By [NR] admin | Published: August 31, 2008

Remember this post? The D80 disappeared from some Nikon web sites three days before the D90 was announced.

Well, I have some news for you (thank you I.) – AF 85mm f/1.4D IF is gone in Australia:
 

 

it’s even listed as “out of production, discontinued or no longer available in your country” – here is the link:
 

 

In case Nikon makes any changes, here is the screenshot:
 

There was also a “typo” in a magazine ad few weeks ago for the exact same lens.
Just to remind our fans that this blog is a collaborative effort from readers around the world – I am just putting the pieces together (and sometimes have some rumors on my own). I get a lot of thank you emails, but the biggest  “thank you” should go to our readers that keep an eye on every step Nikon makes. This post is a good example of what I am trying to say. Thanks!
Posted in Nikon Lenses| Tagged | 29 Comments

September 3rd again (updated)

By [NR] admin | Published: August 30, 2008
Update: there was a press conference in France on Sept. 3rd, but there were no new products announced.
We reported this rumor back in July and I* am still getting more emails about a possible Nikon announcement on September 3rd – few comments under different posts also suggest the same:
“I can tell you for sure, there will be an announcement on September the 3rd. I swear, but can’t tell you more… NDA. Something big.”
Those messages are NOT from our regular/reliable sources. The good part is that we just have to wait 3 more days to find out. Again, we do not feel confident about this date – this, however may change in the next 2 days. Stay tuned!
* – I decided to start using “I” instead of “we”, since the number of people behind NR seems to be a concern to some readers.

Update: Nikon is NOT on the list of exhibitors at this year IFA (Consumer Electronics Unlimited) show which is currently ongoing in Berlin (Aug 27 – Sept 3). This would be also a weird place to announce any PRO Nikon equipment (CONSUMER show). It’s just the date (Sept. 3rd) that is bothering me.

Posted in Nikon D3x| Tagged | 15 Comments

Camouflaged Nikon D3(x?) prototype? (updated)

By [NR] admin | Published: August 30, 2008
This picture was submitted anonymously to NR (click on image for hi-res):
Cannot confirm the authenticity of the image or reliability of the source.
Comment from a reader:
Differences from D3:
1. No red triangle below the second command wheel.
2. The function button appears to be located closer to the vertical grip. On the D3 its higher up.
3. The rubber strap holding the flashsync/remote protection cap appears to be solid instead of two separate straps.
4. It looks like the shape of the timer-lamp is a little different.
5. The shape of the vertical grip looks slightly different (but that could be caused by the angle at which the picture is taken).

But it could just as easily be an older picture of a D3 prototype (instead of a D3x).

Posted in Nikon D3x| 25 Comments

Thom Hogan: “Nikon’s next scheduled press conference on August 27”

By [NR] admin | Published: August 28, 2008

At that point I think we got confirmations from more than 20 different sources that there will be some kind of announcement next week (received reports were mainly for the Nikon D90).

Here is what Thom Hogan has to say about August 27th (read the whole article to get a feeling of what he is trying to communicate – this is my own interpretation of his words):
  • introduction of Nikon D90 with the 18-105 lens
  • update of Nikon D3 (maybe D3s)
  • maybe two or three lenses
  • low chance of introducing a third DSLR
Posted in Nikon D3x, Nikon D90, Nikon Lenses| 22 Comments