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All posts tagged "Nikon"


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Canon to Nikon: We'll See Your Ashton, and Raise You an Avril

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home Talk" @ 07:00 PM

If you watch TV, even skipping the commercials, you've probably seen Nikon's Ashton Kutcher commercials. Nikon has been out-advertising Canon at every turn as far as I can tell, but it looks like Canon is finally fighting back - and they're starting with a promotion starring Avril Lavigne. I screen-capped the above image from a commercial I saw on TV - though I think this is only part of Canon Canada's promotion. Has anyone else seen Canon doing any "star promotions" in their own country?


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Nikon D3X: The Budget Buster!

Posted by John Lane in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 05:00 PM

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0812/0...201nikond3x.asp

"Nikon has announced the D3X, its latest high-resolution professional DSLR. Sporting an imaging sensor with double the number of photosites of the popular D3, the 24.5 megapixel D3x includes similar features such as a 3.0", 920,000 dot LCD monitor with Live View, 51-point autofocus, EXPEED image processing and HDMI output. To keep up with the demands of stock photography the camera produces 50MB 14-bit RAW files that can be processed to produce 140MB TIFFs. It also supports Nikon’s wireless system and is compatible with Nikon’s new GP-1 GPS unit."

The 24.5 megapixel Nikon D3X is not a replacement for, but a sibling to the award winning 12 megapixel Nikon D3. To double the megapixels, Nikon incorporated a new full frame sensor built by Sony. However, there is a serious drawback to the D3X - the price. At USD $7,999, the list price is $3,000 more than the Nikon D3, forcing pros to pay a lot for those 12 additional megapixels. It is also $5,000 more than the 24.6 megapixel Sony A900, which uses a very similar sensor. I think with our current world economy, this is going to be one tough sale for Nikon. Nonetheless, for those who want it and can afford it, it is truly an outstanding camera.


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Nikon GP-1 GPS Device Now Available

Posted by John Lane in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 05:00 PM

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/...-readies-c.html

"Nikon is finally ready to ship its GPS dongle, the rather lazily named GP-1. First announced back in August, the device slips into the hot-shoe connector of compatible cameras (D200, D3, D700, D90, D300 and the brand-new D3X) and records the positional information to the image. This can be picked up later for geo-tagging images, either at home (most image processing software now supports geo-tagging, including Nikon's own ViewNX) or by online services like Flickr."

This is a GPS unit that hooks into the flash connector and tags all your photos with GPS data. Most of the photo hosting sites such as Smugmug and Flickr can use this data and show where your photos were taken. This is such a cool device! I can't wait for Canon to release one.

Tags: GPS, Nikon, GP-1

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Nikon USA's Black Friday Sale

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Digital Home Events" @ 09:00 AM

http://www.nikonusa.com/blackfriday/

Nikon has published their Black Friday Savings page, and there are some nice discounts, especially if you go for a DSLR + lens combo. Worth a look!


Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Nikon SB900: Flash forward?

Posted by Lee Yuan Sheng in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 07:00 AM



Product Category: Camera Flash
Manufacturer: Nikon
Where to Buy: Amazon [Affiliate]
Price: $456 USD
System Requirements: Nikon DSLR with iTTL compatibility for full range of features.

Pros:

  • Decreased recycle times (and without needing a 5th battery too);
  • A proper switch that not only turns on the flash, but enables the wireless modes.
  • New user interface is a bit quicker and easier to operate for many of the flash's myriad settings.
  • A new flash-head that zooms to 200mm, giving control over the shape of the light projected...

Cons:

  • ... at the cost of making the new flash much bigger than its predecessors;
  • No increase in power or distance reached;
  • Hotshoe stand (AS-21) mounting screw threads are plastic. Unforgivable cost cutting;
  • As of now, the SB800 still is on sale, and represents a very viable and potentially better alternative.


Summary:
Introduced together with the Nikon D700 in early July, the SB900 replaces the SB800 as Nikon's high-end flash. It brings a few new features, such as increased flash cycle times, a new flash head with a twist, as well as an all-new user interface. How well did it do?

Read more...


Monday, August 11, 2008

New Cameras from Nikon with Intersting Features

Posted by Suhit Gupta in "Digital Home News" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.dailytech.com/Nikon+Intr...rticle12603.htm

"Nikon has announced several new digital cameras in its Coolpix point-and-shoot line. The first of the new cameras is the Coolpix P6000 -- Nikon's first camera with built-in GPS. The P6000 has 13.5-megapixel resolution and uses a wide-angle 4x zoom NIKKOR lens with 2 ED glass elements. Nikon integrates its EXPEED image-processing system into the camera along with RAW support. Another interesting feature of the P6000 is a built-in Ethernet connector that allows direct uploading from the camera to Nikon's online My Picturetown service. The rear LCD for the camera is 2.7-inches and three technologies are built-in to get clear images. The technology for clear images includes Vibration reduction, Lens-shift Vibration Reduction, and Best Shot Selector. Best Shot Selector allows the camera to shoot up to 10 sequential shots and save the sharpest image."

I like the P6000 -- it looks like it would be a competitor to the Canon G9 and with geo-tagging abilities and the direct ethernet connection, it seems like it could win over a few customers. I also find the Coolpix S710 interesting with its 14.5-megapixels and the abilitiy to go up to ISO 12800. Hard to say how many people are actually going to go for it though. Nikon is certainly raising the bar in both P&S as well as higher end DSLRs. I guess their next refresh will be a camera to compete in the sub-$1K DSLR range? Oh Canon, where art thou? (BTW, still not-so-patiently waiting for the 5D Mark II).

Tags: Nikon

Monday, May 19, 2008

Dpreview Reviews the Nikon D3

Posted by Suhit Gupta in "Digital Home Articles & Resources" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0804/0...kond3review.asp

"And so it was, with the introduction last August of the new 'FX format' D3, featuring a 36 x 23.9 mm 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor as well as a vast array of new features which absolutely raise it another notch above previous single digit Nikon DSLRs. Important headline improvements include high sensitivity support by default, up to ISO 6400 with 25600 available as a boost option, 14-bit A/D conversion, a new standard image processor, a new shutter, new auto focus sensor, focus tracking by color, nine frames per second continuous, dual compact flash support, DX lens support (albeit at lower resolution) with automatic cropping and a 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (which it has to be said is lovely)."

I didn't know it was possible but Phil's reviews are getting even more detailed. The cliff notes are simply that the camera is AMAZING! I honestly don't think I can do the camera of the review any justice by trying to summarize any more here so I'll just stop by saying - if I wasn't locked in to Canon because of all the glass I own, I would be quite seriously thinking about switching loyalties. I was surprised though by the fact that the D3 does not have an in-camera dust removal system. Has anyone ordered this yet? Personally, I can't wait to see what Canon releases next because I think I am about ready to upgrade my EOS 10D (time-frame - 6 months, hopefully less though I might be willing to wait a little longer if there is a camera that is worth waiting).

Tags: Nikon

Monday, March 24, 2008

DPReview Reviews the Nikon D60

Posted by Suhit Gupta in "Digital Home Articles & Resources" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD60/

"The D60 is the third incarnation of Nikon's compact, user-friendly entry-level SLR line that started back in 2006 with the D40 (which replaced the first Nikon 'starter' model, the D50). The original D40 was a hugely important camera for Nikon and can be given a lot of the credit for the resurgence in Nikon's fortunes at the volume end of the SLR market (which had been totally dominated by Canon since the launch of the EOS 300D / Digital Rebel). The D40's success (which continued long after the D40X made its swift appearance only 6 months later) isn't hard to explain; it was keenly priced, nicely designed and built and capable of excellent results. It was also a camera that proved cameras do not sell on megapixels alone (even at launch its 6MP resolution was far from 'class leading'). The D40X, which was positioned as a premium alternative to the D40 rather than its replacement, didn't mess around with the formula much at all; a new sensor with more (ten) megapixels and a lower base ISO, plus a slightly higher continuous shooting rate. The D60 is a direct replacement for the D40X (the D40 will stay around for a while as Nikon's budget option), and once again it's not a major upgrade; the sensor remains the same (though now has a dust reduction system) and the external design is almost identical."

The D60 is clearly a great upgrade to the D40 and D40x. I love the fact that this review compares the camera to the Canon 400D which I think is its biggest competitor (yeah, I know, I am Canon biased). And as you will see, while the D60 has several advantages when it comes to features -- very short 'viewfinder blackout time' at shutter release, image stabilized kit lens, user definable Auto ISO (minimum shutter speed, maximum ISO), sensitivity up to ISO 3200 (HI-1), spot metering (vs. EOS 400D), excellent Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II, dedicated Auto Focus assist lamp, user comment can be set in-camera and instant 'power on' -- the photos by the 400D are just the slightest bit more sharp and true in color. It is interesting how consumers of the Olympus E-410, the Canon 400D (and the forthcoming 450D) and the Pentax K200D will react to the D60. I wonder whether the D60 is different enough to cause people to jump brand ships and go with the Nikon.

Tags: Nikon, D60

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