The new nikon D800 announced

Photo from http://www.bhphoto.com/ website

The ones who are expecting the D800 and bored of Canon high resolution (but very bad low light results). Here it is. Resolution tops up to 36 MP. This is even beat the new D4 before you touch it.

36 MP (7,360 × 4,912 pixels (L), 5,520 × 3,680 (M), 3,680 × 2,456 (S)). Sensor cleaner.
14-bit linear ADC, 16-bit data pipelines.

ISO 100 ~ 6,400, expandable to 50 (LO-1) to ISO 25,600 (HI+2).

51 AF points (15 are cross-type, and 9 will work even at f/8). CAM3500-FX sensor as D3X

91,000-pixel 3D Color Matrix Meter III with Advanced Scene and Face Recognition Systems

Built in flash (ooopss, sorry 5D Mark II)

4 fps at FX mode, 5 fps at DX mode. Who will need more? Bird catchers? You should buy D3s series fit with your expensive telephotos.

Video: 1080p/29.97fps H.264/MPEG-4 AVC

One CF and one SD card slot.. May save you one day with this two options..

D800 can also work with DX / AF-S lenses but the resolution will go down to 15.4 MP (23.4 x 15.6 mm): . 4,800 × 3,200 (L), 3,600 × 2,400 (M), 2,400 × 1,600 (S).

ca.3000 US$ in the USA. and appx. 3200 Euro in EU zone.

Predictions > The new nikon D400

As the new D3100, D5100 and D7000 sets the market the third generation for the nikon, it is already too late to replace the D300s by the fourth generation nikon D400 very soon. The delay is caused by the double disaster hit Japan in March 2011.

Going back to D400, here are what will you face (more or less)

D400 will be DX format as a legacy. (0.63 ratio)

8-9 fps (11-12 fps with the battery grip)

24.1 MP

Programmable U1 and U2 buttons as D7000 (not on dial)

A new LCD, 3" two fingered touch screen (wow)

1920x1080p AVC HD video

ISO 100-25.600 (Lo 1.0; ISO50 , Hi 2.0 ; ISO102.400)

2 CF card slots

Increased battery life for over 1000 shots

Possible announcement should be around September 2011, release March 2012

Extreme predictions : May have a GPS and/or wireless system onboard

Expected price tag will be around 2.600US$ USA.

Predictions > The new nikon D800 (or D700x)

Shortly, the new nikon D800 should have the technical specs as follows:

FX format

4 fps (6 fps at DX mode)

24 MP CMOS as a reply tp Canon 5D Mark II.

Programmable U1 and U2 buttons as D7000 (not on dial)

A new LCD, 3" two fingered touch screen

51 AF Points

2.016 Segment RGB Metering as in D7000

1080p HD video (I hope there won't be any video)

ISO 50-12.800 (Hi 2.0 >51.200)

Two CF card slots

Possible release should be around December 2011

Expected price tag will be around 3.990US$.

PS: These are my instincts and predictions. My friends in japan did not whisper me anything :)

nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G Nano vs. nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G N vs. nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

Technical Comparisons:

1) Specs:

• As barely seen, 24mm is 4 mm wider than the 28-70mm.
• 24-70mm (900 gr) is 35 grams lighter, which is not a big deal.
• 24-70mm has 2 more ED (Extra low dispertion) glass and one nano crystal coated glass which eleminates the ghosts and flares (inner reflections) much better.
• 24-70mm is 11 mm longer than the 28-70.
• 28-70mm has the aperture ring, which makes it usable with all the non cpu SLR cameras like old film cameras. Nikon removed all this apertures and made the new generation GELDED lenses.
• 24-70mm can focus 10 cm closer than 28-70mm. And it has better macro ratio (1:3,7).

2) Vignetting:

• Fastest aperture : @2.8 > Both lenses has the same values (appx. 0,5 pixels) at wide angle. but at 70mm, 24-70mm has better value.
• After f/2.8, the vignetting is not negligable for both lenses. No winner here...

3) Sharpness:

• The 24-70mm f/2.8G N produces excellent results in the center, even at f/2.8. But the borders are not that good at fast (large) apertures as they are in center. As mentioned before, the field curvature is fairly visible at 24mm. If you go up to f/5.6, it is less visible. But if you are a building, flat object photographer, this lens may give you some headache with large apertures in wide angles. if the light is dim, you may go up to f/5.6 at higher iso's if you own a D90,D300s,D700 or D3 series. Field curvature is more visible in FX cameras and less in DX cameras because of the crop.
• The 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED has appx. 5-10% less sharpness (higher at telephoto end) values in center like the 24-70mm. But in the borders, the values are almost same. As a positive side, 28-70 has no field curvature problem like 24-70mm has in wide angle and large apertures.

4) Distortions:

• No winner here either. The distrotion level at widest angle is same, around 1% pincushion.
• The distrotion level at 70mm is same, around 0,2-0,3% pincushion, which is field irrelevant.

5) Chromatic Abbreviations:

• Here, we have an obvious winner, the 24-70mm, thanks to Nano Crystal coating. the purple fringing is almost around 1 pixel for the 28-700 mm at wide apertures, only the half at 24-70mm.

6) Price:

• The 24-70mm f/2.8G N has a heavy price tag as itself weighs. Around 1.700 US$, not easy to touch with bare hands. With two major flaws;

1. Missing "VR" property on such a pricey and handy lens is a big loss.
2. Field curvature is also a major flaw for such high tech lens. Photographers who buy such a lens mostly have FX high end cameras and look for excellent quality. In the new series Nikon engineers may handle that.. i hope..

• The 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED is discontinued and will be a classic soon. With 800-1.200 US$ second hand price, it is less hot than the 24-70mm.

7) General:

• The bokeh is quite smooth on 24-70mm.
• Both has a very fast focusing system, but the 24-70 has more silent and faster motor.
• Both built quality is perfect. Feels real, not like the plastic kit lenses.

VERDICT :

For a little more wider angle, a little more sharpness and better chromatic abbreviation results, i do not think it worth to pay double of 28-70mm. For the same price, you may buy a 28-70mm + 20mm or 24mm f/2.8D and still have 400 bucks in my pocket. If nikon corrects this field curvature problem and add a VR on the lens, then i may highly recommend the 24-70mm. But, my poits go to 28-70mm this time...

Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G N ED > 8/10 Recommended

Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED > 8,5/10 Highly Recommended

For the obsessive–compulsive personality disorder photographers: Ok, do not change the order of 14-24mm , 24-70mm and 70-200mm series. 28-70mm does not fit your range, right.. Nothing to say for you.

D7000 D-SLR Camera Kit with Nikon 18-105mm DX VR Lens

Photo from bhphoto website

The ones who are expecting the D95. This is it. Megapixel freaks. Here is your answer for semi pro Nikon. (Waiting for the same pixel increase on D700 and D300s asap please..)

It has 39 AF points , CMOS sensor, higher resolution with 16.2 MP DX digital crop sensor. Video resolution is 1080 p HD (somebody reminds me, is this a photo camera or video camera. The people looking for video shooting, get out of my site please, this is a photo camera/lens review website)

D7000 can not only work with DX / AF-S lenses but also, thanks to internal motor, with AF lenses too like D90.

ca.1500 US$ in the USA. and appx. 1400 Euro in EU zone.

Technical specs :
16.2 MP, DX format CMOS Sensor, Live View, ISO100-6400 + 25.600 (Hi2.0), 6 fps, 3.0" 921.000 dots LCD screen, 2016 pixel metering, D-Movie Mode, ultrasonic self cleaning sensor, min 1/4000 sec to max 30 sec (bulb also available)

Pro's:
Increased 2016 RGB metering system

39 AF points

2 SD Card slots (You may use one for Raw, other for jpg)

High ISO performance

High resolution

1080p HD movie (pfhhh)

AF possible during movie shooting (pfhhhh)

Built in interval shooting (for stop motion freaks)

Virtual horizon

Old AF and Ai lens compatibility

Silence shooting mode (wild life and paparazzi may like it)

Programmable U1 and U2 buttons on main dial

Con's:

I could not find any... As soon as i try one of this, i will write here. But it is a camera that break all the deals. If i do not own a D700 and a D5000, this may be my everyday camera for long years.

Highly Recommended (9/10)

My latest vitrine window

Top shelf is only old nikon 35mm fim cameras. The one on the middle front is Nikonos IV-A with 35mm UW lens. On left side, nikon original BR-2 and filters.

Middle shelf left side is all for nikon and nikon compatible lenses. Some are:
nikon 20mm f/2.8D
nikon 35mm f/2.0D
nikon 50mm f/1.4D
nikon 85mm f/1.8D
nikon micro 105mm f/2.8D IF-ED Nano VR
nikon 180mm f/2.8D ED
nikon micro 200mm f/4.0D ED
nikon 17-55mm f/2.8D IF-ED
nikon 85mm f/4.0 enlarger lens

Middle shelf right side is various collectibles including Minolta, Kodak, Canon, Russian Zenit, Walz Envoy etc.

Buttom shelf is mixed, with flashes and old european and japanese cameras, point and shoot cameras like lubitar, konica, GOKO, agfa and kodak. Some filters, extension tubes, manuals too.

I will recieve a nikon FE and nikon fg-20 this week for the USA.

nikon D3S - a NOlight master?

I have read about some tests in international magazines and they all agree on one thing:
The new D3S is a monster of darkness.. This camera is a beast for paparazzis, sport photographers, F1 journalists and most probably-spies :)

It has a -wow- 102.400 ISO limit, still with nikon's unexplainable method of h2.0 indication on the screen.

Just to remind what does 102.400 ISO means:
ISO 25 - Non of todays D-SLR's offer this speed. Need film or special production cameras.
ISO 50 - Some Canon's have it, but nikons have the same sharpness at higher ISO's with faster shutter speeds.
ISO 100 - Everybody is familiar with it. New nikon's with CMOS sensors indicate lo.1
ISO 200 - My studio speed
ISO 400 - Who see any differance between ISO200 and 400 on D300,D700 or D3 series?
ISO 800 - perfect for street candids, indoor shoots
ISO 1600 - superb results at nights witha little light, no noise on new cmos series of nikon.
ISO 3200 - this is the point where D300 and D90 meets with remarkable noise
ISO 6400 - it was a dream in 70's
ISO 12800 - who, what??
ISO 25600 - NASA used it..
ISO 51200 - is it the peak?
ISO 102400 - wooww, where is Canon, i can not see it? Too high here :D . 10 stops of differance between ISO100 and that. That means: If you were at ISO100 (or lo.1 at most new nikons) and Aperture priority, if you read 2 seconds, you need a good tripod to fix you on earth surface, but, when you set ISO to 102.400, you will have an amazing 1/500 seconds in the same light conditions, which means you can shoot while running..