→ Several Nikon camera and lens teardowns, reviews and repair guides (both pictures and videos) can be found at fixyourcamera.org.
→ Refurbished Nikon D800 cameras are now $1,699.95 ($100 price drop from last week).
→ Laowa 105mm f/2 STF vs. Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D lenses comparison at venuslens.net.
Andy Nguyen (website | flickr | facebook) compares the $1,396.95 Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E zoom lens to the $10,296.95 Nikkor 500mm f/4E prime lens:
I know from comments on various photography forums that there’s a lot of people wanting to know if the new Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 can live up to the hype, and how it measures up to the “big brother” prime versions.
We all know that the 200-500mm zoom lens is just a fraction of the price of the prime (about 20%), and weighs about half of it. But what many don’t know is what kind of IQ (image quality) does it produce, and how it will perform at various apertures, compared to the 500mm f/4 – the previously “go-to” lens for many wildlife photographers.
Since I have both lenses in my closet, I thought I would make a direct comparison. My method is as follows. I use the same body for all shots in this test – Nikon D4S – and I shoot in Manual mode, keeping all settings constant between the two lenses. I chose a ‘typical’ distance (similar to an average distance to your subject when you shoot birds), which is around 100 ft. After shooting one lens at various settings, I switch lens and shoot it using those exact same settings again.
The Nikon D5 camera is now shipping in the US and Europe to both NPS and regular orders. In the US shipping notifications were send from B&H, Adorama, BestBuy and Amazon. The first deliveries are expected on Monday:
The first third party accessories for the D5 also started showing up online: new Gramas gorilla glass DCG-NI07 for Nikon D5 (more information available here):
The new Nikon SB-5000 Speedlight flash is now in stock at Amazon and Focus Camera (B&H and Adorama should get them in stock soon as well).
The SB-500 manual can be downloaded here.
The Nikon D5 manual is now available for download (you can change the language on top of the page).
Nikon NEF Codec was also updated to version 1.28.0 for Windows 7 SP1/8/8.1/10 with added support for the Nikon D5 (see also this PDF on how to correct the display of NEF/NRW thumbnails in 64-bit Windows 7/Windows Vista).
Update – first Nikon D5 unboxing videos:
The first Nikon D5 cameras were already sold in Ireland:
Nikon released ViewNX-i and Capture NX-D version 1.16.010 with support for the Nikon D5 camera. Here are the direct links:
Nikon Wireless Transmitter utility 1.6.1 was also released:
There is also a new firmware update version 1.01 for the Nikon WR-1 wireless remote control transceiver (see also this support document).
The first Nikon D5 cameras are already shipping in Europe (I have shipping notifications but cannot publish them because of privacy issues). Several new Nikon D5 articles and sample photos started popping online, the first one is from Joe McNally:
http://blog.joemcnally.com/2016/03/18/live-las-vegas-d5-sb-5000/
Some Nikon D5 dynamic range comparisons with the D4 (hint: there is a new “Lord of Darkness“):
It seems that the embargo expired and there are a lot of new sample photos being published online – check danvojtech.cz (100% crop on the right side, without sharpening and noise reduction, all photos without tripod). Multiple sample files from the D5 can be found here (NEF files also available for download) here, here, here and here. First D5 impressions can be found here (in German).
Nikon D5 4k video sample:
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