NikonHQ

Sinar p-slr - use your Nikon DSLR as a view camera digital back

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:40:24 +0000

If you're one of the (very?) few people who have a hankering to combine your Digital SLR with the flexibility and precision of a view camera, you're in luck; Sinar have just launched the solution you've been waiting for.

The new Sinar p-slr allows you to mount your Nikon (or Canon) DSLR on Sinar's range of view cameras, giving you access to the Rodenstock range of made-for-digital lenses and the ability to perform the traditional view camera tricks to give you precise control over perspective and focus.

The made-in-Switzerland p-slr is available for order now with delivery in August for 1,980 Swiss Francs plus tax (approximately $1,870).

Read more on the Sinar web site, or download the p-slr brochure (PDF link).

New Coolpix on 8/17, DSLR and lenses on 8/19?

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:13:14 +0000

Nikon Rumors are reporting that there are two upcoming announcements from Nikon:

17th August 2010 - For Nikon's usual mid-year CoolPix refresh. We'd like to see a Canon G11 killer, but expect that this model has been pushed back (or even cancelled).
19th August 2010 - For the expected D3000 replacement (rumors have named it the D3100, we remain to be convinced of the model number) and some lenses. The lenses should be an 85/1.4 replacement, a 24-120/4 VR (FX), a DX 55-300/4.5-5.6 VR, and one other than sounds odd if true - an FX 18-200/3.5-5.6 VR.

Time will tell, and I'm sure there will be more leaks coming before the middle of August. Unfortunately we're not expecting to see a D700 replacement this time round - though we hope that (and the D90 replacement) may be ready for Photokina in September.

Nikon Lens Mug redux (actually, Nikon Lens Thermos)

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:23:51 +0000

It seems like there's another source of mugs fashioned after a Nikon lens now available. The cap screws off this realistic-looking AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 to reveal the steaming hot (or cold, if you like) beverage within.

Actually, this looks like a pretty good replica - certainly a notch above other lens mugs that we've seen. Just one problem -- it's perhaps too realistic, we can see ourselves putting this in our camera bag by mistake only to arrive on set with a nice warm drink but no glass to shoot with!

Especially cool is the fact that it even comes in a Nikon-style gold box and a drawstring pouch. Yours now for $23.

See the thermos here via PDN.

Sony to drop FX sensor production?

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:52:21 +0000

Both Thom Hogan and Mirrorless Rumors are reporting that Sony may be planning to stop developing and producing FX-sized sensors. According to Thom, Sony management feel that full-frame sensors simply aren't providing the return on investment that was expected, and are unlikely to be profitable in the long term. Production of DX-sized sensors is estimated to cost 1/10th that of FX versions, so it seems likely Sony will concentrate more on their new NEX line of cameras.

But of course there's a Nikon angle to all this. Nikon have long partnered with Sony on sensor design and production - for example the D3x sensor is based on an improved Sony design, and is likely manufactured by Sony. If Sony stop developing the sensors that Nikon need, that means that Nikon may have to go it alone in designing future sensors.

Nikon designed the sensors in the D2H, D700/D3 and D3s, so this may not be an entirely bad thing - although there is yet no apparent Nikon-designed high-resolution sensor.

Nikon D5000 - A Beginner's Experiences

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:19:31 +0000

As part of our review process, we thought it would be interesting to get the D5000 into the hands of its target market - the kind of person who may be new to DSLRs, but thinks that the D3000 might be a bit too limiting or is attracted by D5000-only features such as the articulating screen.

So, we contacted Amy Walker, who kindly agreed to test the camera out for a couple of months along with the "kit" 18-55mm VR lens. These are her thoughts, as a keen beginner photographer.

I’ve been taking pictures for a couple of months with my iPhone and have discovered a love of photography. I don’t have a decent camera myself, but was lucky enough to be given the opportunity of trying out the camera by NikonHQ.

Having never really held a DSLR before, I immediately felt the D5000 was quite bulky and heavy to hold in comparison to the P&S and phone cameras I've used before. However, after using it for a few minutes I soon got used to it and discovered that, actually, it's not all that big and not particularly heavy.

Since having the camera I have tested it rather thoroughly, doing a range of different styles of photography, including portraits, still life, landscapes and night-time photos.

The first thing I learned was how to focus on objects, using the Auto mode. The focus is super quick, and there is also a live view option, which features an LCD display which can be angled and rotated allowing you to capture an image in a difficult place with very little effort. The freedom of a creative focus allows you to achieve great close up and detailed shots. The camera has 12.3 megapixels, which provides excellent quality pictures.

Before using the camera, I was worried that it would take longer to set up a shot than with a point and shoot camera or my iPhone, but this wasn’t the case. After a few test shots I was able to start snapping away with confidence and achieve the images I wanted quickly.

I took a visit to some local ruins, which gave me the chance to try out the zoom and to focus on objects that were in the distance. This was incredibly easy and simple to do by changing the auto focus point. I was also able to zoom out to capture the grand scale of the building.

By the third day of having the camera, I was using the aperture priority mode and learning how the available light affected the settings I would need to use. In bright situations for example, you would need a higher aperture to close the lens down to stop so much light reaching the sensor.

Using a camera at night or in low light situations is usually problematic, and without the use of off camera flashes and other clever lighting solutions, the only real option is the onboard flash, which I’m not really a great fan of. However, the D5000 offers fantastic lighting solutions; there are various different flash settings which are easy to switch between. It also offers D-lighting, which helps prevent over exposure and other lighting problems. This is useful as it can be applied to the shot even after the picture has been taken.

The ISO and exposure compensation are incredibly easy to adjust, making it simple to shoot in any situation. Each feature is displayed on the LCD screen. If you press the 'i' button you can access a number of menus to change these settings to your taste. The manual is very comprehensive and explains what each of the settings do, so even someone using a DSLR for the first time can gain an understanding and try some different techniques.

The camera also boasts an HD video option which I am yet to use.

One disadvantage of the camera that I have noticed compared to a point and shoot is that it can be very noisy in quiet situations. For example, I saw some rabbits that I wanted to take photos of. However, when I half clicked the shutter, the noise it made alerted them to my presence and scared them away.

As it’s a bigger camera, it won’t just slip into your pocket or handbag. Not a major issue, but because it is larger than your normal camera it can sometimes get in the way when on a day out or can become tiresome to carry around. However, I feel this is a small price to pay for the quality of the images that are produced.

It is reasonably priced and offers plenty of value for money. Its competitor is the Cannon 1000D, which is in a similar price range, but doesn’t offer video recording, making the Nikon the clear winner.

There are a lot of menus on the camera and a lot of options which could put some people off, especially those not used to DSLRs, like myself. However, the manual explains the functions in a concise manner allowing everyone to make the most of the features available.

The D5000 is easy and comfortable to hold, even for long periods, and very fast at focusing to make sure that you capture the shot you want before the moment passes.

Overall, I’d say that this was a great buy for any budding photographer, someone who wants to have a little more freedom to produce better images than you can with a point and shoot, or a photographer who requires a good quality yet compact DSLR.

View some of Amy's shots below.

10 improvements the D700 replacement should have

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:48:01 +0000

If you look at Nikon's current DSLR lineup, there are a couple of bodies that are getting a little long in the tooth and in need of a refresh. The first is the ageing D90 (August 2008); the other is the D700 (announced in July 2008). At the time of writing, the D700 is over two years old and hence pretty much due for an upgrade any day now.

So, what should the D700 replacement look like? This is a list of what we think should be coming.

Call it the D700s. We think it's too early for a complete replacement. Yes, competitors have more megapixels and more features, but as you'll see we don't think they're completely necessary.
Use the D3s 12mp sensor. What, only 12mp? Well seriously, hardly anyone needs more - 12mp is more than enough for decent-sized prints, way more than is required for web use, and is a good tradeoff between resolution and file size. What the D3s sensor would bring is stunning low-light performance in a smaller body, something many people could make real use of. Who needs 24mp when those pixels contain more noise, even when downsampled, than a clean 12mp image? If you really want a 24mp sensor in a D700-style body, call it the D700x or D800, but give us what we need, not what the marketing department wants.

1080p video. This is one area where Nikon have long been lagging behind their competitor Canon, despite being first to market with a video-capable DSLR with the D90. The D700 was one of the last Nikon DSLRs not to include a movie mode - and all of them up to the time of writing have been limited to 720p at 24fps. Film-makers like 24fps, but home video users want 30fps.
Fast AF in movie mode. If Nikon are going to implement a better movie mode, why not make it have useable AF too? Current move-mode AF implementations are slow to the point of pointlessness; manual focus for video is the only real option. This needs to be fixed, and hopefully Nikon will step up to the plate. After all, competitor's cameras such as the Panasonic GF1 have serviceable (if not exactly impressive) AF while shooting video.
Dual card slots. The D3 has them - two CF card slots. The D300s has them - one CF slot, one SD slot. The D700 (and the D300, which is in many ways the DX equivalent of the D700) does not. Pro shooters in the D700 market like dual card slots for backup.
Better viewfinder coverage. The D700 has a 95% viewfinder, you say? Sure... but what they're not telling you is that it's 95% in linear terms. That is, the coverage is 95% of the horizontal, 95% of the vertical. To us, that's not 95% coverage - that's just over 90% (0.95 x 0.95 = 0.9025). This is one thing that often stops us picking the D700 over the D3 - when you're using a wide-angle lens such as the 14-24/2.8 or 16-35/4VR, that's a big difference. Accurate cropping in-camera is better than having to crop in post, or worse, misjudging the edges of the shot entirely.
3:2 aspect LCD. The consumer-level Canon 550D has one; an LCD display that is actually the same dimensions as the image sensor. No more black bars in review mode and live view! Not essential perhaps, but it would be nice to make proper use of that screen real estate - especially when you're shooting video in widescreen.

Not too much to ask, right? Well, here are a few extra things that would be very much appreciated, but unlikely.

Wider AF area. If you switch between FX and DX cameras with Nikon's 51-point AF system (such as the D700 and D300), you'll note that the layout is very similar. The problem is that they're a bit too similar - they cover exactly the same area. That is, they cover most of the D300's smaller frame, and therefore much less of the D700's FX frame. In other words, with the D300 you can accurately focus over most of the frame, whereas for the D700 you can only focus towards the center. This is something we'd like to see rectified in the next AF iteration.
Bring back the BKT button. We've been known to moan about this before, but it's no less important now. Nikon's older DSLRs had a dedicated button for turning on exposure bracketing; this has been lost on newer models. Yes, you can change the Func button to do this, but many people like to have that button allocated to another feature such as spot metering. For anyone shooting landscapes or HDR, the return of a dedicated BKT button would save us from much frustrating menu-surfing.
GPS. Unlikely, but... geotagging without any external attachments or complex syncing procedures? Yes please!
Bonus: Wi-Fi! And not just limited-to-Nikon-Picturetown WiFi either; give us full-blown wi-fi so that we can shoot tethered without the ridiculous, bulky, cabled add-on Wi-Fi transmitter. Of course, people pay well over $600 for that transmitter, so we're exceedingly unlikely to see it built-in any time soon.

What have we missed? What would you like to see on the D700 successor? Let us know in the comments.

Sigma launches image-stabilized 17-50mm DX lens

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:04:02 +0000

Sigma Corporation of America today issued a press release announcing the availability of a new lens, the 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM.

This optic is a large aperture standard zoom designed for APS-C sensors (Sigma's DC designation), and features both a silent focus motor (HSM, or HyperSonic Motor, roughly equivalent to Nikon's AF-S) and optical image stabilization (OS, similar to Nikon's own VR), claimed to be good for 4 extra stops over non-OS lenses. Minimum focus distance is 11 inches, with maximum magnification of 1:5.

"This lens is a must-have for any photo opportunity," said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America. "The fast aperture allows for shooting in low, existing light or at maximum range with a flash. This is an ideal, all-purpose lens for everyday shooting."

The MRSP of the 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is $980. Check the current price on Amazon here.

Specifications

Lens Construction

17 Elements in 13 Groups

Angle of View

72.4-27.9

Number of Diaphragm Blades

Mininum Aperture

f22

Minimum Focusing Distance

28 cm / 11 in

Filter Size (mm)

Maximum Magnifications

1:5

Dimensions
(Diameter x Length)

83.5x91.8 mm/3.3x3.6 in

Weight

565g / 19.9oz.

Corresponding Mounts

Sigma
Nikon
Canon
Sony/Minolta
Pentax

*Vignetting will occur if the lens is used with digital cameras with image sensors larger than APS-C size or 35mm SLR cameras.

* For Pentax and Sony mount, when the OS function of lens body is used, please turn the stabilizer function of camera body off.

* It is not possible to use the built-in OS function and AF of this lens with Pentax ist *series and the K100D.

*The appearance, specifications, and the like of the product may be subject to change for improvement.

Press Release

  RONKONKOMA, NY, Jul 14 (MARKET WIRE) -- 
Sigma Corporation (www.sigmaphoto.com), a leading researcher, developer,
manufacturer and service provider of some of the world's most impressive
lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, is pleased to announce the release
of its new 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM lens. 

    This large-aperture, standard-zoom lens, which was first introduced in
February at Photo Marketing Association International, is designed for
small chip, APS-C digital cameras and incorporates Sigma's Optical
Stabilization (OS) functionality and new, FLD glass. The 17-50mm F2.8 EX
DC OS HSM is an ultra compact lens with an overall length of just 3.6
inches. 

    The 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM covers a focal length from a 17mm wide
angle, has a minimum focusing distance of 11 inches throughout the entire
zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:5. The lens is
currently available in Canon mounts at all authorized Sigma dealers for
the MSRP of $980, and it will be available in Nikon, Sigma, Sony and
Pentax mounts in the coming weeks.

    The OS function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately four stops
slower than would otherwise be possible. Only Sigma has made it possible
for Pentax and Sony shooters to utilize an anti-shake system in either
the lens or the camera body. The compensation for camera shake is visible
in the view finder for all mounts, which makes accurate focusing fast and
easy.

    "This lens is a must-have for any photo opportunity," said Mark
Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America. "The fast
aperture allows for shooting in low, existing light or at maximum range
with a flash. This is an ideal, all-purpose lens for everyday shooting."

    Sigma's FLD glass, which is used in the new lens, has an extremely high
light transmission and anomalous dispersion, making it the top level of
low dispersion glass available. With a performance equal to fluorite
glass, this optical glass has a low refractive index and low dispersion
compared to current optical glass. These characteristics offer excellent
correction for residual chromatic aberration (secondary spectrum), which
cannot be corrected by ordinary optical glass and ensures high-definition
and high-contrast images. 

    In addition, the 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM also offers one hybrid
aspherical lens and two glass mold elements for excellent correction of
distortion and astigmatism. It has Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce
flare and ghosting with superior peripheral brightness and Hyper Sonic
Motor (HSM) to provide quiet and high-speed auto focus, as well as
full-time manual focus capability. The lens' rounded, seven-blade
diaphragm creates an attractive blur to out-of-focus areas and its inner
focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens
particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and
circular polarizing filters.

    To locate an authorized Sigma dealer near you, visit
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/where-to-buy-sigma. To use Sigma's new Lens
Finder Tool to find the best glass to suit your needs, visit
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/sigma-lens-finder. For information about Sigma
Corporation of America, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.

    About Sigma Corporation 
 For nearly 50 years, Sigma Corporation's
expertise and innovation has driven the company's core philosophy of
"knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination," with an emphasis on
producing high-quality, high-performance photographic technology at
moderate prices. This family-owned organization is the largest,
independent SLR lens manufacturer in the world, producing more than 40
lenses that are compatible with most manufacturers, including Sigma,
Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax. Sigma Corporation also produces
digital SLR cameras and high-definition digital compact cameras. The
company is headquartered in Japan, with offices strategically located
throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For information, please visit
www.sigmaphoto.com. 

    

Christine Moossmann 
Sigma Corporation 
631-585-1144 
www.sigmaphoto.com 

Marci J. Hait
Matter Communications for Sigma Corporation
978-499-9250 x 238
mhait@matternow.com 

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Nikon take the #1 spot in Japan

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:06:38 +0000

BCN are reporting that Nikon have taken the number one spot in Japan for interchangeable lens cameras.

In the first half of 2010, Canon lost the top spot with 31.4% market share compared to Nikon's 34.0%. Last year's figures were quite the opposite, with Nikon gaining up from 31.3% and Canon dropping from 39.1%.

The other big winner was Panasonic, which now has 10.9% of the market, up from 8.7% previously - no doubt sue to it's excellent range of micro four-thirds models such as the fantastic Lumix GF1. HOYA (Pentax), Olympus and Sony are trailing with 7.8, 7.7 and 7.5 percent respectively.

What's interesting is quite how many so called "mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras" are in the top 20. We know this is a space that Nikon are planning on moving in to, but they need to be quick about it and to come up with a compelling product if they want to maintain their market share.

Rank	Manufacturer	Model	Share (%)
1	Nikon	D90	13.0
2	Canon	EOS Kiss X3	11.5
3	Nikon	D5000	10.6
4	Canon	EOS Kiss X4	9.7
5	Nikon	D3000	7.9
6	HOYA	K-x	6.3
7	Panasonic	LUMIX GF1	6.1
8	Olympus	PEN Lite E-PL1	4.6
9	Canon	EOS 7D	3.5
10	Canon	EOS Kiss X2	3.1
11	Panasonic	LUMIX G1	2.7
12	Sony	NEX-5	2.0
13	Canon	EOS 5D MarkII	1.8
14	Canon	EOS 50D	1.7
15	Sony	α550	1.5
16	Sony	α330	1.4
17	Olympus	PEN E-P2	1.3
18	Panasonic	LUMIX G2	1.3
19	Nikon	D300s	1.3
20	Olympus	PEN E-P1	1.1

Shoot 3D images with your Nikon DSLR

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:27:57 +0000

An interesting product is getting some buzz on the internet at the moment; a "3D lens in a cap" attachment from Loreo.

This "3D Body Cap", as Loreo like to call it, is a device that attaches to your DSLR in place of a regular lens and looks a lot like a dive mask. It contains two lenses and a system of mirrors to create a split-screen stereo image, with each image slightly offset. Using a special viewing device, photos taken using this system appear in three dimensions.

There are two versions of the Loreo 3D lens available, one model with the designation '9004A' for FX (film & full-frame digital) SLRs, and a newer "9005" model designed for cropped APS-C DSLRs.

Image quality doesn't look fantastic (chromatic aberration and softness abounds), but it's an interesting product. All of the viewers seem to be mechanical at the moment, but we don't doubt that someone will eventually come up with a software solution that works a treat when combined with the emerging class of "3D" stereoscopic monitors or LCD shutter glasses.

Have you used one of these, or tried another 3D camera system?

5 (Or More) Things You Didn't Know About Nikon

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:07:26 +0000

Nikon wasn't the company's name until 1988.

Prior to this, the company was officially called Nippon Kogaku K.K. - many people believe the name changed earlier, but it wasn't until the late 80's. 1st April 1988, to be precise, Nikon Corporation was officially (re)born.

Of course, they had been using Nikon as a trademarked brand for many years (history suggests the name Nikon was first invented in the mid 1940's), so why did they eventually decide to switch? Well, this little story direct from Nikon's website may shed some light.

Then-president Shigetada Fukuoka met with former French President Jacques Chirac. On hearing the name Nippon Kogaku Kogyo, Mr Chirac simply tilted his head in bewilderment. When Mr. Fukuoka said the word "Nikon," however, the Parisian mayor understood immediately.
President Fukuoka said "From hereon, I don't want us to be limited by the name Kogaku ("optics"). Let us work toward even greater advancements."

Nikon didn't manufacture their first camera until 1948.

Thirty-one years after the company was founded by the merging of three separate optical manufacturers in 1917, Nikon launched their first camera, the Nikon I. Prior to this, Nikon made lenses under the Nikkor brand, along with binoculars and microscopes.

Demand for the camera in Japan was huge, but it wasn't without its problems. A rush to manufacture left the camera somewhat unreliable, with the film advance often failing to work, which led to many customer complaints and forced Nikon into financial difficulties. However, they rebounded with 1949's Nikon M and 1950's Nikon S, then the S2, SP and finally the classic Nikon F SLR, quality and reliability improving with each model.
Nikon originally made all of their now arch-rival Canon's lenses.

Canon's first cameras were inexpensive Japanese Leica clones, and in 1934 it announced a 35mm rangefinder called the Kwanon. The Kwanon was just a prototype never put into production - it was followed by their first commercial camera, the Hansa Canon, in 1936. Canon had one problem, however - they didn't have any experience of making lenses, so they contracted Nippon Kogaku Kogyo, already a proven optical designer and manfufacturer, and used Nikkor lenses. The Hansa Canon actually shipped as standard with a Nikkor 50mm f/3.5 lens.

In fact, a large part of the first Canon camera was made by Nikon - Nippon Kogaku was responsible for the lens, the lens mount, the viewfinder, and the complete rangefinder mechanism. Canon did start developing lenses in 1937, but they weren't available until after WWII, and they didn't launch their fast 50mm Serenar f/2 until 1947.
When launched in 1959, the Nikon F cost an average of three months salary.

We may think that we have it bad with the price of today's digital SLRs, but the first Nikon SLR cost 67,000 Yen - three times the salary of a Japanese government employee at the time. They still managed to sell a million of them over the next 15 years!

This was the camera that introduced us to the F mount - the very same mount (albeit with added features, especially in the electronic age) that is still in use today. This mount was revolutionary at the time, having a huge diameter in comparison to its rangefinder peers, which allowed Nikkor F lenses to be far more resistant to mechanical vignetting.
Nikon's first Digital SLR, the D1, was developed from scratch in just two years.

We may take for granted now that a new camera will be digital, but just over 10 years ago this was certainly not the case. Although the first Coolpix (the 0.3mp Coolpix 100) was produced in 1997, Nikon's classic D1 wasn't introduced until 1999.

The order to produce a DSLR came from Nikon's president in 1997, and engineers responded by saying it would take four years, three at a minimum. They were given two.

The result was a 2.7mp DSLR with many features bettered by even today's entry-level cameras, but at the time it was revolutionary. The D1 quickly displaced Kodak from dominance of the DSLR market, and sales exceeded the target of 100,000 bodies per year even at its US$5500 asking price. With the D1, Nikon's market share eclipsed that of Canon. Strangely, the camera used the NTSC colorspace, not the SRGB or AdobeRGB we use today.

Footnote: As Tom Grier points out in the comments below, there were in fact Nikon-branded DSLRs before the D1. The E2/E3 series models were not pure Nikon, but co-developed with Fuji and also sold as Fuji-branded cameras. They were especially unusual in that they used a 2/3" image sensor (similar to today's high-end bridge cameras), but via an ingenious optical subsystem they captured the full 35mm field of view. Look for an article on these cameras here on NikonHQ soon.