(Credit:
Nikon USA)
The much-rumored and even more longed-for update to the Nikon D80 has arrived. Or will, in a couple of weeks. The Nikon D90 doesn't replace the popular D80, which moves down Nikon's dSLR product line, and unsurprisingly, provides some significant enhancements over that 2-year-old model. Most notably, the D90 is the first digital SLR to support movie capture.
Though its movie-capture specs aren't too shabby--24fps 1280x720 motion JPEG and support for VR optical image-stabilization if the lens has it--D-Movie still doesn't match the best of the snapshot-camera movie modes.
For instance, exposure is fixed for the length of the clip, it has monaural sound, and you can only focus manually while shooting. HD clips are capped at five minutes, likely to keep the sensor from overheating since movie capture operates in Live View mode. Still, this has been a long-awaited feature in the entry-level segment, since it's one of the two important most features users have had to sacrifice when moving up to dSLRs (the other being pocketability).
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D80 done for?
(Credit: CNET)Though he doesn't spill where he got the information, author Thom Hogan is usually a relatively reputable source of Nikon leaks rumors. The latest whisperings to come out of his mill are about the replacement for the D80. Although he mentions that Nikon's first quarter financial meeting is this week, he doesn't explicitly draw the cynical connection that my brain's making about the timing of this information.
But anyway...he claims the D90 will have a 12-megapixel sensor, shoot about 4.5 frames per second, and have a Live View mode that shoots video. Cool, if it's true. Plus a new kit lens--the 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR.
From Nikon's release notes on firmware version 1.10:
- The product will be "Certified for Windows Vista"
- Support for the new USB Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) has been added. The PTP option in the setup menu will be modified to MTP/PTP. The icon will also be modified.
- The effects of noise reduction processing performed at shutter speeds of 1 - 8s with shutter speed set to "bulb," when ON is selected for Long Exp. NR in the shooting menu, have been approved.
Nikon's new 10.2-megapixel D40x dSLR.
(Credit: Nikon)Just in case the D40's 6-megapixel sensor was keeping you from making the plunge into the world of digital SLRs, Nikon has just announced the D40x, which sports a 10.2-megapixel sensor. Despite the larger pixel count, Nikon still manages to bump the new camera's continuous shooting speed up to three frames per second for up to 100 shots, compared to the D40's 2.5fps. If you often shoot in very bright conditions, you'll appreciate the D40x's wider range of ISOs, which stretches from ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (Nikon calls it H-1). The D40 also goes to H-1, but starts at a low of ISO 200.
Other than the changes mentioned above, the D40x is essentially the same as the D40. That might be a good thing for Nikon, since the D40 scored quite well in our review. However, if you own older Nikon lenses which rely on a pin in the camera body for autofocus, you should know that neither the D40 nor the D40x are compatible with such lenses. Of course, if you're starting from scratch, or only own Nikon AF-S and AF-I lenses, then you've got nothing to worry about, since both cameras are still compatible with a very wide array of Nikon lenses.
Speaking of lenses, Nikon has announced a new one called the 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor. When it becomes available this April at a price of $249.95, this new lens will be Nikon's least expensive lens to include Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, which shifts lens elements to compensate for camera shake.
Nikon plans to start shipping the D40x in April at prices of $729.95 (body only) and $799.95 in a kit with the same 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens that shipped with the D40. However, Nikon will also offer a second kit for $1,029.95, which will substitute the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor as the kit lens. That's the same high-quality lens Nikon shipped with the popular 10.2-megapixel D80. At that price, it will make you think twice about whether you should just step up to the D80 after all.
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