Update: the store doesn’t list the SB-600 and the 80-400mm zoom lens.
It seems that Nikon just launched a new online store in the US. Here is the direct URL: http://shop.nikonusa.com/store/nikonusa/DisplayHomePage. I have not seen any official press release yet. Now you can buy your Nikon gear directly from Nikon!
Update: here is the English version of Makoto Kimura’s interview with Reuters with some more quotes:
“We want to propose another type of photography. I don’t think there is any need to limit it to two categories. We want to create a new market.”
“We have tested things like a head-mounted display. We want people to have more ways of enjoying their photos rather than just going home and looking at them on their television or computer.”
Today Reuters Japan published a new interview with Nikon’s President Makoto Kimura. The Google translation is confusing, if someone has a better interpretation of his words, please post it in the comments section. Here are some quotes: “new area of digital cameras and compact SLR”, “the next generation camera concept has been changed” and “I will propose a different area, also with compact SLR. I want to create a new market here”. I think those references were for the upcoming Nikon EVIL camera.
Update#2: here is a better translation:
Here is another one (see 800×600 res @ flickr):
Picture of D90 and D300s for comparison after the break:
Continuation on my previous post from last week: the missing lens and flash for the September 15th announcement will be a new AF-S 35mm f/1.4 lens and a new Speedlight SB-650 that will replace the current SB-600 model. This is in addition to the D7000 DSLR and the 200mm f/2 refresh. The release of the Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 ZF.2 lens is probably the reason why Nikon pushed the announcement of their 35mm f/1.4 (previous rumors pointed to a 2011 release).
I will do another recap later with the details of all expected products.
Picture found at Fotofabrikas. I say fake (what is with the red VR sign?).
For comparison, here is a picture of a Nikon D90 – bodies look almost identical:
Another update from a NR reader who purchased the Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S lens from Amazon:
“Hello from Amazon.com.
We now have delivery date(s) for the order you placed on August 19 2010 Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR Lens for Nikon Digital SLR
Estimated arrival date: September 07 2010”
This just in: Nikkor AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens is also about to start shipping, with arrival date of Sept 7th or 8th.
Today Zeiss announced the previously rumored Distagon T* 1,4/35 ZF.2 lens (Nikon mount):
Full press release after the break:
Willoughby’s already got some of the new 85mm f/1.4 & 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lenses in stock and is selling them overpriced on Amazon.
I already mention that this time Nikon is ready to start shipping the new lenses only two weeks after the official announcement (compared to a month in the past).
A dpreview member already got his/her hands on the 85mm f/1.4 lens.
Reports came also from Australia that some of the new lenses are available in stores.
US Patent Application 20100214667 from Nikon is for a new 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 lens. Some interesting specs: the lens has a constant length of ~260mm at all focal lengths and possibly 21 elements in 14 groups with 4 ED glass elements (@2, 3, 12 and 15):
click for larger view
The current Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED model has 17 elements in 11 groups with 3 ED glass elements:
US Patent Application 20100214453 is for a backside illumination image sensor:
“A backside illumination image sensor equipped with a plurality of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, includes: image-capturing pixels; and focus detection pixels.”
NikonRumors.com is now online. It may take several hours until the server changes propagation is complete and all ISP have updated their routers. If you cannot access NikonRumors.com directly, try http://173.45.162.91 (make sure you also clear your browser’s cache). I am not going to discuss again the details of why NR went down, I did that already on Twitter and Facebook.
NikonRumors now has a new dedicated server and a new host (NationalNet). There could be some interruptions in the next few days, until I fine-tune the site.
Coming up next: Nikon files patents for a 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6 lens and a back illuminated sensor.
Did you see the new Zeiss Distagon T* 1,4/35 ZF.2 lens that will be announced this Wednesday? Maybe now Nikon will be rushed to release their AF-S 35mm f/1.4 lens…
