Archive for the 'Nikon' category

For once, here is a realtively good photo of the future Nikon D700 SLR camera. It could be a fake or a god Photoshopped image, but I doubt it. It looks a lot like a shot from a photo phone on a corner of a table in bad conditions.

With all this talk about existing Full-Frame photo cameras (Canon EOS 5D, Nikon D3) and about possibly upcoming new ones (Sony Alpha 900, Canon EOS 5D Mk II or some other similar name, etc.) many photographers happy with their existing digital equipment are wondering: “What’s all the fuss about?”

And it’s a good question to ask, but the answer goes with some of the comments about sensor resolution. About the same people who noticed that resolution is not all that counts (despite what is said or implied by some of the major brands on this market) also understand that going Full Frame is a possibly very important decision for the attentive digital photographer.

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While it is difficult to find any ground for these speculations, people keep repeating that Nikon is about to announce simultaneously a Nikon D700 high-end DSLR camera and a lower-end Nikon D90 to provide an able DSLR for most photographers.

It seems that most of the original information comes from Thom Hogan’s web site and is fed by countless comments on web forums. However, we saw recently Chasseur d’Image supporting this rumour within its own Nikon D700 rants.

The most common set of characteristics and features seems to be:

• 12 MP sensor in APS-C size (x1.5 crop factor)
• 14-bit A/D conversion and image management
• dust-cleaning sensor
• 3″ LCD with LiveView
• 5 fps shutter bursts

But it looks a lot like a mere marketing evaluation of what Nikon needs to put in its SLR camera range to fight on the current market and to make it fully able to cover all kinds of photo customers. Everybody seems to expect this to be the feature list of a $1300 camera to reach under the current D300 (or the upcoming D700).

Will this be part of an launch event that Nikon seems readying for the very first days of July (maybe 1st of July)?

Surprisingly, the information collected about the upcoming Nikon D700 digital SLR camera seems to have been confirmed indirectly by several sources.

French magazine Chasseur d’Image went to the extreme of reporting about it “as a rumour confirming the information they already have”.

And a Nikon representative said that the manual pages that were used to base the disclosure were taken from the printing agency in charge of producing the actual manuals.

We will not get more, but it seems that 99% of what was told about the Nikon D700 is true. But, possibly, the name of the D700 will be actually Nikon D700 FX to clearly reflect the presence of the Full Frame sensor in a near-D300 body.

Nikon may have succeeded in surprising a lot of people with the next arrival of a Nikon D700 (and not the still-expected Nikon D3x), new digital single lens reflex camera for the high-end stopping in between the Nikon D300 (very nice semi-pro SLR camera) and the Nikon D3 (first great Full Frame SLR from the yellow brand).

The Nikon D700 would be, according to Nikon Rumours [1], a Full Frame D-SLR with a 12.1 mega-pixel sensor taken from the Nikon D3. This means that instead of pushing the resolution, Nikon decidedly wants to keep focusing on image quality with big pixels able to collect as much light as possible. So, this is quite normally leading to the maximum sensitivity of 6400 ISO (and even 25600 ISO in extended Hi2 mode). If the D3 is representative of the result on the D700, the images will be absolutely superbly stunning – and the image management is in 16-bits after a 14-bit A/D conversion.

Interestingly, the camera would be able to use the DX lenses (obviously cutting the image down to a limited frame siwe, which is still a very good solution to use existing cheap lenses; But the buyer of such a beast will probably be willing to attach much more serious glass).

Apart from that, this is really a high-end camera product: 51-zone Auto-Focus (incl. 15 cross-type) coming from the Nikon D3 (this is going to be a competition-ready type of AF), light metering with a 1005-pixel matrix, Flash system borrowed from the D3. On the opposite, there would be a LiveView mode integrated with a contrast detection AF.

Unfortunately, the images are still lacking (remember, this is not confirmed by Nikon) and nobody seems to have the camera (or the NDAs are very tight). However, NR tells us that the price would be $2999. Still expensive (too much for me anyway, even if I was not equipped with Sony), but this “baby D3″ is announcing the Full Frame for all…

OK! If it was not enough to expect a couple of major announcements from Canon and Sony for the tough market of high-end digital cameras, there is another competitor appearing in the image.

According to Amateur Photographer, Samsung is preparing a Full Frame D-SLR camera to compete with Canon EOS 5D (or future 5D Mk II), with Nikon D3, with future Sony Alpha 900. We know that Samsung has a very good technology (shared with Pentax) and that the high-end market is calling for Full Frame sensors.

Nothing is certain, and we will probably have to wait until 2009, but things are moving fast in Korea too.

I found the user manuals of several Nikon SLR cameras on the web:

• Nikon D300
• Nikon D3

According to IDC, the sales of photo cameras progressed by 24% in 2007 to 131 million cameras. The global market is in the hands of several companies:

• Canon: 24.5 millions (18%)
• Sony: 20.9 millions (16%)
• Kodak: 12.6 millions (10%)
• Samsung: 11.7 millions (9%)
• Nikon: 11.4 mililons (8.4%)
• Olympus: 11.3 mililons (8.3%)

For the SLR market (Single Lens Reflex), two companies are overwhelming:

• Canon: 43%
• Nikon: 40%

Canon looses some ground to Nikon, but the margins were going down thanks to added competition.

Master Chong, in Malaysia, recently published photos of the future Sony Alpha 900, high-end D-SLR not yet officially announced by Sony, but that should be the pro pilar of the Japanese brand with a Full-Frame (24×36mm) sensor of 20 to 24 millions of pixels.

  

There are only images to judge, but it leaves some possibilities for (preliminary) analysis.

The back face of the camera shows an interface impressively similar to the usual one found previously on the Konica-Minolta Maxxum/Dynax 7D and the Sony Alpha 700. Position and meaning of the buttons seems to be nearly identical. I would just point at the will to mark the presence of the HDMI interface by engraving on the connector caps (on the left-hand side as on the A-700). But this is no news.

Notice the complementary/optional grip that really includes a full set of commands to ease moving to vertical position of the camera. Those adepts of optional battery grips will definitely appreciate.

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Out of Canon, nobody seems to really have a clue about what will be the successor to the Canon EOS 5D. Most people assume that it will be named either Canon EOS 5D Mk II (the most probable possibility according to several sources), Canon EOS 6D or even Canon EOS 7D. However, this does not stop experts and not-so-experts to make various assumptions about what specification it will have.

Taking into account the existence of the Nikon D3 and its impressive set of features, Canon sure has to prepare a top-of-the-line DSLR with a superb Full-Frame sensor, with outstanding image quality. Of course, this is a normal (but difficult) target for the leader and the company that drove us into the Full-Frame world. There, we found: large pixel counts, exceptionally low noise levels, very high sensitivity and a normal 1-to-1 conversion factor for lenses. This last item may not always be a positive (for example, long tele-lens lovers appreciate that a smaller APS-C sensor transforms your common 300mm lens into a loveable 450mm optical gun), but the rest is a boon for photo quality. And there, as the Canon EOS 5D then the Nikon D3 proved, there is a giant step to be taken from more common DSLR.

So, it should be no surprise that photo-related forums are dripping with more or less reliable comments about what the Canon EOS 5D Mk II will be. Possibly, we will see specifications around the following:

• 15 to 16 MP sensor (good but not oustanding, in order to hit hard on image quality; Enough to top the 12MP of Nikon D3) with 14-bit A/D conversion (the de facto standard of Canon image quality)
• ISO 12800 (boost up to ISO 25600) that should give Nikon a run for their money
• All-new 29-point TTL CMOS AF sensor (needed to compete with the impressive 51-point AF sensor of Nikon)
• 6 fps continuous shooting (for more than 50 frames)
• Lens fine adjustment setups for 14 lenses

The rest should be more predictable and does not request a crystal ball (sensor dust cleaning, improved 1MP 3″ LCD screen, LiveView inspired by cheaper DSLR models, weather sealing that was lacking from the EOS 5D). But there are two important elements left out of this picture:

• The price target would be around $3500 (to be compared to the $5500 of the Nikon D3), definitely strong positive argument for Canon even if this is still targetting pros and rich amateurs;
• The announcement would be made in April 2008 (may be, not as a Fool’s Day joke) for availability before mid-June.

These last key arguments could prove critical to offer a very good position to Canon. They had the first Full-Frame DLSR camera (the EOS 5D). Now, Nikon is trying to grab the market with the Nikon D3 since last November. Canon has to hit hard in order to keep the upper hand and they cannot wait for some pro photographers to switch (even if this category of customers cannot jump out of the train each and every year like some enthusiast consumers). Moreover, we know that Sony will be soon arriving with a new Full-Frame DSLR based on a 24MP sensor presented a few months ago (rumoured to be named Sony Alpha 900).

It’s time for Canon to shoot a star. The Canon EOS 5D history needs a sequel to become a real Full-Frame saga. The Canon EOS 5D Mk II could be this long-awaited beacon for the highest end of the Canon DSLR line.

Sources: slo-foto forums, DPreview forums.

Nikon needed some freshening up of its entry-level digital SLR. so, with the opening of Las Vegas PMA, we discover the newest Nikon D60.

• 10.2 MP sensor, with integrated dust reduction: Relatively small compared to the current 12MP cheap D-SLRs of the competition. But that’s not much of a difference in lines or columns of pixels.
• 100-1600 ISO. Nothing impressive, let’s see the image quality.
• 3-zone autofocus: Limited, but adequate if Nikon kept the quality and sensitivity of most of its products.
• Continuous shooting at 3fps: Quite adequate for entry level.
• 2.5″ LCD screen: why not 3″ like all of the recent cameras?
• Plenty of little interface tricks (several presentation modes, auto-detect of camera orientation, eye-detect to switch off the LCD when using the viewfinder, in-camera editing features without a PC).
• SD/SDHC flash memory cards.
• Suggested retail price for the D60 Kit with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR: 699€. Shooting right where the market needs it.

If you look at these characteristics, the camera does not look impressive. But it’s just a confirmation of the efforts Nikon is doing (after the Nikon D50) to grab the entry level market with light and cheap cameras that are able to attract a public who would not accept to pay 1000 euros for a camera. This is chasing the last bridge cameras.

In the Nikon D60, every technical specification entry is tuned for optimal price and the result is impressive at 699 euros. When we can see the actual result in terms of image, we’ll be able to say where it goes, but Canon may have a hard time fighting both Sony and Nikon in the low-cost segment of the market.

It’s not only a naming game. Since people are waiting for a possible launch by Canon on the 24th of January, and since they don’t see anything coming during the waiting period, speculations abound. Now the rumour is that Canon will launch only a EOS 450D (or Rebel XTs, Rebel XTS, the silver version of 300D/Rebel XT) at the February PMA and the replacement for the Canon EOS 5D will wait until Photokina.

This would be the occasion for Canon to shoot higher than the supposed slight improvements over the 5D (with a slight name change like EOS 5D Mk II) and pile up major features to fight back Nikon and its most recent D3 and D300 (explaining a move to the more severe name change of EOS 6D or EOS 7D).

Some field tests are more demanding than others. Jan Vermeer and PhotographyBlog brought a Nikon D300 D-SLR to the South of the world: Antartica. Dry, windy and cold.

The article is interesting because it speaks about this very special environment and because it makes a good review of the new Nikon nearly-pro digital camera.

There are also a few good images of local penguins and ice-breaker.

This is the very good question asked by Bob Atkins on his web site. Admittedly, the EOS 6D or the EOS 5D Mk II (nobody knows for sure the future real name of the successor to the Canon EOS 5D Full Frame sensor digital camera). But Bob makes good assumptions about what is possible.

Essentially, the choice is either before the Las Vegas PMA (in February 2008) or before the Köln Photokina fair (in September 2008). I admit I don’t have more information than that, but January and August appear to be the reasonnable dates for launching such a new product. However, I tend to believe that Canon would probably be tempted by two possible strategies:

1. Pushing a second-generation FF camera as soon as possible as a pre-emptive strike against the other Full-Frame cameras to appear on the market (I tend to consider the Nikon D3 as priced too high to be really in competition with the Canon EOS 5D or the future 6D or 5D Mark II). If Canon has a really threatening product, they should not wait any longer than strictly necessary.
2. But this may also mean exposing themselves a little too early to the competition which only has the EOS 5D to compare itself. Why shouldn’t Canon wait a little more to be sure that they understand where Sony (with the Sony Alpha 900), Nikon (with some yet to be shown camera) and others will try to position themselves? This would allow them to apply some less subtle marketing techniques at launch time, like hitting the market just after a previous offer to push it into the dark.

Whatever happens is still left undecided (that’s the beauty of predicting the future), but I’d really bet that 2008 will be considered the year of the Full Frame Digital SLR.

While I was browsing the Internet I found two interesting Digital SLR reviews for recent products:

• Nikon D300 at CameraLabs
• Sony Alpha 700 at Luminous Landscape

At least during the launch period and in the UK, Nikon will include a free CD-ROM of the Capture NX excellent imaging software in the box of the new Nikon D3 and Nikon D300 cameras. Some people having perceived the price of the Nikon D300 as too high, may be tempted by this offer.

Imaging Resources has a few test images shot with a brand new Nikon D300 digital camera (click on the Samples tab). The camera seems to be up to the expected level. Despite its very high price of $1800, I would expect that quality image lovers will be hesitating even when comparing with cameras set at a lower price point (like the Canon EOS 40D or the Sony Alpha 700).