Nikon D3 Preview

Nikon D3 Preview

The professional Nikon D 'single digit' series of digital SLR's started life back in June 1999 with the groundbreaking D1. Groundbreaking because it was the digital SLR which broke Kodak's stranglehold on the digital SLR market and fundamentally brought prices down to a level which most professionals could afford (around the US$5,500 mark). Since then we have seen a steady progression of this line of cameras, while the core values of a high quality full size body with integrated grip have remained the line split into two halves, one targeted at high resolution photography the other high speed sports type photography (lower resolution but faster continuous shooting); the X and H suffixes. It's been almost three years since Nikon introduced a completely new digital SLR with a new sensor (the D2X) and there has been much anticipation that Nikon's next move would be a full-frame chip.
This predictions have come true with the introduction of the 'FX format' (new moniker created by Nikon) D3 which features 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) and a 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (which it has to be said is lovely).
Some will undoubtedly question Nikon for 'only' delivering twelve megapixels on their first full frame digital SLR, all we can presume by looking at past model line history is that this camera is designed for speed (both in sensitivity, auto-focus and continuous shooting).

Price (body only)
• US: $ 4999 • UK: £ 3399 • EU: € 5180

Body material
Magnesium alloy

Sensor
• 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor

• FX format

• RGB Color Filter Array

• Built-in fixed low-pass filter

• 12.9 million total pixels

• 12.1 million effective pixels

• 3:2 aspect ratio

Image processor
Nikon EXPEED

A/D conversion
14 bit

Image sizes(FX format)
• 4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP]

• 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP]

• 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP]

Image sizes(DX format)
• 2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP]

• 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP]

• 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]]

Image sizes(5:4 format)
• 3552 x 2832 [L; 10.0 MP]

• 2656 x 2120 [M; 5.6 MP]

• 1776 x 1416 [S; 2.5 MP]

File formats
• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)

• NEF + JPEG

• TIFF

• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)

NEF compression
• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80%

• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60%

Lens mount
• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts

• No field of view crop (full-frame)

• When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop

Usable lenses
• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported

• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/5:4 (30x24) image size

• AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II

• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II

• Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data* IX NIKKOR lenses cannot be used* Excluding lenses for F3AF

Auto Focus
• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)

• Multi-CAM 3500FX

• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature)

• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode

Lens Servo
• Single Servo AF [S]

• Continuous Servo AF [C]

• Manual focus [M]

• Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in [S] or [C] AF

Focus Point
• Single point from 51 or 11 focus points

• Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame

AF Area Mode
• Single point AF• Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points, 51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)]

• Automatic-area AF

Focus Lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button

AF assist
External Speedlite only

Exposure modes
• Program Auto [P] with flexible program

• Shutter-Priority Auto [S]

• Aperture-Priority Auto [A]

• Manual [M]

Metering
TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor

• 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed)

• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame

• Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selectedfocus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)

Metering range
• 3D Color Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV

• Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV

• Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV

• At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens

Meter coupling
CPU and AI
Exposure lock
Locked using AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure bracketing
• 2 to 9 frames

• 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps

Exposure compen.
• +/-5.0 EV

• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps

Sensitivity
• Default: ISO 200 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps

• Boost: 100 - 12800 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps, HI2 = ISO 25600

Shutter
• Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter

• 30 to 1/8000 sec (1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps)

• Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec• Bulb

DOF Preview
• Stop-down lens aperture by pressing button

• Activates modelling flash

White balance
• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)

• Presets (seven) with fine tuning

• Manual presets (four)

• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps)

• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)

Picture Control
• Standard• Neutral

• Vivid

• Monochrome

Image parameters
• Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels

• Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve

• Brightness: 3 levels

• Saturation: Auto, 5 levels

• Hue: 5 levels

Color space
• sRGB (Standard and Vivid modes)

• Adobe RGB (Neutral mode)

Viewfinder
• Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism

• Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1m-1)

• Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0m-1)

• Focusing screen: Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen

• Frame coverage 100%

• Viewfinder magnification approx 0.7x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens

Focusing screen
• B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II

• Superimposed focus brackets

• On-demand grid lines

LCD monitor
• 3.0 " TFT LCD

• 922,000 pixels (VGA; 640 x 480 x 3 colors)

• 170° viewing angle

• Brightness adjustment

LCD Liveview
• Handheld mode: TLL phase-difference AF with 51 focus areas (15 cross-type sensors)

• Tripod mode: focal-plane contrast AF on a desired point within a specific area

Shooting modes
• Single frame

• Continuous Low [CL]: 1 - 9 fps

• Continuous High [CH]: 9 fps (9 - 11 fps with DX format)

• Liveview [LV]

• Self-Timer (programmable)

• Mirror-up mode

Continuous buffer
• JPEG Large/Normal: 64 shots (at 9 fps)

• RAW: no data yet

Self-timer
• 2 to 20 sec custom

Flash control
•TTL flash control with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash available with SB-800, 600 or 400

• AA (Auto Aperture-type) flash: Available with SB-800 used with CPU lens

• Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 28, 27, and 22S

Range-priority manual flash; available with SB-800

Flash Sync Mode
• Front-curtain Sync (normal)

• Red-Eye Reduction

• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync

• Slow Sync

• Rear-curtain Sync

Flash Accessory Shoe
ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided

Flash Sync Terminal
ISO 519 standard terminal, lock screw provided

Flash compensation
• -3 to +1 EV

• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps

Creative Lighting System
With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock

Orientation sensor
Tags images with camera orientation

Playback mode
• Full frame

• Thumbnail (4 or 9 images)

• One-touch zoom

• Slideshow

• RGB histogram

• Shooting data

• Highlight point

• Auto image rotation

Languages
• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)

• Dutch

• English

• Finnish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Japanese

• Korean

• Polish

• Portuguese

• Russian

• Spanish

• Swedish

Custom functions
48 custom functions

Connectivity
• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector

• HDMI video out (version 1.3a, Type A connector)

• Remote control 10-pin terminal

• PC Sync flash terminal

10-pin terminal
• GPS: NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)

• Remote control: via 10-pin terminal

Communications
FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (IEEE 802.11 b/g)

Storage
• Compact Flash Type I or II

• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported

• 36 characters of text can be input and stored in EXIF header

Power
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a/EL4

• Included dual battery charger MH-22

• Optional AC adapter EH-6

Battery monitoring
The LCD monitor on the camera back displays the following informationabout the EN-EL3e battery:

• Remaining charge (%)

• No. of shots taken since last charge

• Battery life (5 stages)

Dimensions
160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in)
Weight (no batt)
1240 g (2.7 lb)
Operating environment
Temperature: 0 - 40 °C / 32 - 104 °F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation)

Box contents
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-22, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-D3, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-2, Eyepiece DK-17, Battery Chamber Cover BL-4, USB Cable Clip, Software Suite CD-ROM

Optional accessories
Wireless Transmitter WT-4, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-17M, AC Adapter EH-6, Capture NX Software, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software

Digital camera Nikon D300 Preview

Nikon D300

Just under two years since the D200 Nikon reveals the D300, the range of changes is so significant that it wouldn't be inappropriate to call it a 'compact D3' (less the full-frame sensor of course). From the top there's a new CMOS sensor with twelve megapixels, a new auto-focus sensor with 51-points (15 of which are cross-type sensitive), there's focus tracking by color, scene recognition, Picture Control presets, six frames per second continuous shooting (or eight frames per second with a battery pack), Compact Flash UDMA support, Live View (with contrast detect AF) and the mighty impressive 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (oh and HDMI video output). It's an impressive list, the D200 was a fair step up from the D100, the D300 can be seen as just as big a step, certainly more than enough to make the competition sweat.
Model line history

Nikon D300 Key Features

12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor
Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration)
ISO 200 - 3200 (6400 with boost)
14-bit A/D conversion
Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 45 ms, black-out 100 ms)
Shutter life 150,000 exposures
New Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III)
Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
Six frames per second continuous shooting (eight frames per second with battery pack)
Compact Flash UDMA support
3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
HDMI HD video output
'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
New MB-D10 vertical grip fully integrates into body, multi battery type compatible
Buttons sealed against moisture
Available November 2007

Nikon launches the D300

Nikon uk is pleased to announce the D300 digital single lens reflex (D-SLR), a camera that sets new standards of compact professional performance. The easy-to-use DX-format D300 offers outstanding image quality, multi-functional technologies and fast response. With class-leading 12.3 megapixel resolution, speedy 6 fps frame advance, self-cleaning sensor unit and high definition 3” VGA LCD display, combined with Nikon’s legendary durability, the D300 is a breakthrough solution for photographers searching for an advanced compact SLR.
“Packed with the latest technologies and Nikon’s renowned ergonomics, the D300 sets a new standard for professionals on a budget,” said Robert Cristina, Brand Manager, Nikon Professional Products, Europe. “The D300 is a true ‘go-anywhere’ camera, delivering fast response, high performance and ease of use that will appeal to anyone serious about their photography.”
Speed and Performance
The D300 is loaded with the latest professional technologies designed to produce images of the highest quality. The high-resolution 12.3 MP DX format CMOS sensor generates image files suitable for almost every type of output, combined with a fast standard frame advance rate of 6fps (up to 8 fps with optional Multi Power Battery Pack). The D300 offers fast power-up, quick response and outstanding flexibility to meet the needs of a wide variety of photographic assignments. The D300 powers-up in just 0.13 seconds, with an almost imperceptible 45 millisecond shutter lag.
Accuracy
The D300 boasts a self-cleaning sensor unit, which vibrates at high frequencies to remove any loose dust on the surface of the sensor’s optical low pass filter. The camera has a broad ISO range from 200-3200 plus Lo 1 (the equivalent of an ISO 100) and Hi (ISO 6400 equivalent). Image accuracy is also enhanced by the new Nikon Scene Recognition System, which uses the acclaimed Nikon 1005-pixel RGB colour sensor modified to recognise subjects’ shape and position before the image is captured. This also aids the new 51-Point Autofocus system in tracking subjects by their colour, while enhancing the accuracy of exposure and white balance metering. The D300 also offers Live View, which presents photographers with a live image on the LCD screen, with two modes suited to either hand held or tripod shooting. Autofocus is possible in both Live View modes.
Enhanced Images with EXPEED
The EXPEED image processing system is at the heart of the D300’s ability to capture and process high definition image data so quickly. The EXPEED system includes both hardware and years of Nikon image processing expertise. The D300 EXPEED system features 14-bit analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion with 16-bit image processing, both of which contribute to delivering results with Nikon’s signature ‘look and feel’ of rich accurate colours, smooth skin gradations and exceptional detail.

Ready for tomorrow
The D300 is completely high definition. From the 3-inch VGA LCD screen with 170-degree viewing angle, to the HDMI interface for HD ready displays, the D300 is ready for tomorrow’s imaging environment. The controls of the D300 were designed for ease of use, with an easy-to-view top LCD panel and an information display on the rear LCD screen that can change colour according to the ambient lighting conditions.
The totally intuitive 8-directional multi-area selector makes selecting any of the 51-Point autofocus settings simplicity itself.
Durable and Dependable
The D300 continues Nikon’s long tradition of sturdiness and durability. The camera body is built from a magnesium alloy, while the camera’s shutter has been tested for 150,000-release cycles. The D300 is also designed for a high level of dust and water resistance.
Total Imaging System
Like the D3, the D300 isn’t just a camera, but part of a complete Nikon system to help photographers create great images. The D300 is compatible with the Nikon Total Imaging System of NIKKOR lenses, Speedlights, accessories and software that provides a complete solution for any photographic challenge.
One accessory that can extend shooting life, add ergonomic vertical shooting practicality and increase frame rate to up to 8 fps* is the MB-D10 optional Multi-Power Battery Pack. The compact MB-D10 simply attaches to the base of the camera. Unlike other grips, the MB-D10 does not occupy the camera’s battery space, so one can shoot with two EN-EL3e batteries, or add a powerful EN-EL4a battery into the mix. The D300 and MB-D10 can also be powered by AA size batteries as well. *Requires EN-EL4a.
Wireless Networking
Nikon pioneered wireless image transmission. Now, with the new Nikon Wireless Transmitter WT-43, the era of the multi camera network has arrived. Not only can one transmit (‘push’) images to servers and remotely control the camera from afar, the WT-4 also enables remote browsing of the camera’s image thumbnails as well. In a wireless environment, networks of up to 5 D300 cameras can be established and image thumbnails from all connected cameras browsed simultaneously and relevant image files ‘pulled’, while the photographers continue shooting.
The D300 body measures 147.2 (W) ×112.8 (H) × 74(D) mm and weighs just 795 grams.
Available in November 2007.