New firmware update A 1.03, B 1.02 for Nikon D4 is now available on Nikon Europe support site (Nikon USA link). The firmware update has only one modification: “Increased focus accuracy is achieved when a lens and teleconverter with a combined maximum aperture of f/8 are used”.
The new Nikon instant rebates are already online and are valid till December 15th. The main change in the program is the price drop on the D7000 camera. In addition, those are the Cyber Monday Nikon deals I was able to find online:
Nikon filed two different patents (2012-230133 and 2012-230340) in Japan for a 58mm f/1.2 lens:
The legendary Ai Noct Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 lens, that was introduced back in 1977 and discontinued in 1997, is one of the fastest lens Nikon ever had (at some point they did produce the very rare 50mm f/1.0 lens). The Noct-Nikkor had some very specific characteristics:
“Because this lens has a Aspherical front lens element which assures optimum correction for coma, particularly at maximum aperture, it makes bright point sources of light near the corner or edges of the image appear as dot rather than comet-shape blurs. Meaning to say, this lens is make to perform its best at maximum apertures, which other lenses find it hard to restore their optical performances. Over the years, the continual refinements has made it possible to focus down as close as 0.5m (1.7 ft) distortion free while contrast remains high.”
The design of the old 58mm Noct lens is similar to the patented lens:
Nikon D7000 deal:
The best deal on Nikon gear for this Black Friday is the D7000 with 18-105mm lens for $996.96 ($500 off with free shipping and 2% in rewards) – basically you are getting the lens for free (body only costs $996.95 as well).
You also get free shipping (one day free shipping option available), free Transcend 16 GB Class 10 memory card, free AmazonBasics backpack for SLRs, free $200 Training Content Credit, 2% back in rewards and even $2 MP3 credit:
Nikon announced two new products that will enable the use of Nikon fieldscopes on Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras. Similar product already exists for DSLRs (see sample images). The latest Nikon fieldscopes have built-in VR technology (some models cost over $5,000). Here are the details on the new DSA-N1 adapter and DSB-N1 bracket:
The time-lapse video below shows the dust accumulation problem with a brand new Nikon D600. Note that the lens was never changed during this test – so this is not really dust coming from the outside, but internal particles accumulated around the same upper left portion of the sensor:
This is what the author of the video wrote about his D600 test:
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