[MRG] Official Nikon Announcement: FF D3 and D300 dSLR + slew of new lenses

[TenzoR]

D3 - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/eight_years_after_changing_pro.php
D300 - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/nikon_introduces_the_new_d300.php
Pro Lenses - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/professional_zoom_lenses_enter.php
Super Telephoto - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/nikon_adds_three_new_supertele.php

http://www.dpreview.com/ for pics and close ups



D3

* Full frame (FX) 12 megapixel Nikon CMOS
* Live view LCD
* 9fps in FF mode, 11fps in HSC mode (at 1.5 crop factor / DX size)
* ISO 200 - 6400 with LO (ISO 100 equivalent), H1 and H2 (ISO 12800 / 25600, respectively)
* 51 point autofocus system (15 cross sensor)


D300

* DX format 12 megapixel CMOS (supposedly possibly the same as the D2X)
* Live view LCD
* 6fps, up to 8fps with power grip (no HSC mode)
* ISO 200 - 3200 with LO (ISO 100 equivalent), H1 (ISO 6400)
* 51 point autofocus system (15 cross sensor)


And five new rumored lenses: AF-S 14-24/2.8 G, AF-S 24-70/2.8 G, AF-S VR 400/2.8 G, AF-S VR 500/4 G, AF-S VR 600/4 G.


Translated:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/22/nikon-to-announce-d3-and-d300-dslrs-tomorrow/

Original in Japanese wording:
http://f2f4d1x.at.webry.info/200708/article_20.html

[NDman]

Everything sounds good. But live view LCD? What's the point, on a dSLR no less? I'll wait for the official press release. Nikon said not too long ago that there wasn't any urgency to dip into the FF right now. We'll see

[tridium]

Nice improvements over their previous offerings...

I was going to say if Canon drops the 5D price to $2000 USD, it's game over, but a quick search on Froogle shows FotoConnection having a kit for just about $2000 (though they bundle an EF-s lens in there?). Reputable companies (4+ star ratings) are still selling it for $2500 USD or more. It's still highway robbery what they do up here with the cheapest being FutureShop at $3200 less Canon's $350 rebate.

[AirTimid]

The D300 doesn't sound right, since it basically drops the pro autofocus system into a prosumer camera, which Nikon never does. Even the "new" D200 has the cam1100(1 cross sensor), whereas the 7yo D1X has the cam1300(3 cross sensor) focusing engine.

[akito925]

alright more used cameras everyone gonna off load to get newer ones

Wouldn't mind reading rewviews on theses lens

AF-S VR 400/2.8G
AF-S VR 500/4 G
AF-S VR 600/4 G

[tridium]

Everything sounds good. But live view LCD? What's the point, on a dSLR no less? I'll wait for the official press release. Nikon said not too long ago that there wasn't any urgency to dip into the FF right now. We'll see

Agree on the FF comment. They've been so stubborn in the past saying that the DX format is here to stay and there's no need for a full frame sensor because that's the old train of thought. Then again, right now might be the "right time" for a full frame.

Live view is for composition in hard to read places. Haven't you had times when you were trying to get low to the ground but you just simply couldn't get your eye to the viewfinder? It's not really a gimmick anymore like the 20Da, but it's a feature that I wouldn't mind having on my next upgrade.

[KorruptioN]

The D300 doesn't sound right, since it basically drops the pro autofocus system into a prosumer camera, which Nikon never does. Even the "new" D200 has the cam1100(1 cross sensor), whereas the 7yo D1X has the cam1300(3 cross sensor) focusing engine.

Again, strictly rumours... CAM1300 in the supposed D300 will be badass. I'm not expecting it to happen though.

The full frame speculation is nice as well... but I thought Sony wasn't producing a completely full frame sensor? Last I heard, it was about 1.25X, to accomodate for their sensor-shift image stabilization.

[NDman]

Live view is for composition in hard to read places. Haven't you had times when you were trying to get low to the ground but you just simply couldn't get your eye to the viewfinder? It's not really a gimmick anymore like the 20Da, but it's a feature that I wouldn't mind having on my next upgrade.

That I agreed. But to me, it still nothing more than a little perks to attract mainstream crowd. It helps sometimes, but that's about it. Many more enthusiastic users probably wouldn't mind going a little bit of distance to geto to the view finder. It might sell a few more to the general crowd, but for the more serious users, I suspect it'll be hardly significant, not to mention it'll kill the battery quick.

Anyway, to sell it as one of the main features/upgrades (as per the rumour, that is) for a pro/prosumer-body, that's a bit weak. That's all

[tridium]

That I agreed. But to me, it still nothing more than a little perks to attract mainstream crowd. It helps sometimes, but that's about it. Many more enthusiastic users probably wouldn't mind going a little bit of distance to geto to the view finder. It might sell a few more to the general crowd, but for the more serious users, I suspect it'll be hardly significant, not to mention it'll kill the battery quick.

Anyway, to sell it as one of the main features/upgrades (as per the rumour, that is) for a pro/prosumer-body, that's a bit weak. That's all

That I agree with... but there have been a few situations that I've literally had an unfocused sliver of the viewfinder that I was composing my shots with just simply due to the impossible angle. I would think that serious shooters would be the ones getting most use out of it. Amateurs probably won't even know how to enable it!

[NDman]

My money is on that it'll be on default, until people start question why the battery doesn't last long at all. :D

we'll see how it goes. FF will be nice (the price will likely be ridiculous), but I'll believe it when I read it.

[TenzoR]

it's official! I wonder if there will be a slew of 12-24 for sale now ;)

[NDman]

it's official! I wonder if there will be a slew of 12-24 for sale now ;)
Cool!

[rubberband]

Both the new bodies are damn appealing.

Then again, I'm still grumbling because I can't get the same out-of-the-camera quality from my D80 that I was used to with my D50. That old thing is still the best bang for your buck imho. :lol:

[KorruptioN]

Damn, full frame fo' real! I'm really impressed by the low megapixel count on the D3... this should work very well for noise performance. I personally don't have a need for 21mp. The D300 looks like a nice incremental upgrade from the D200.

The D80 has a similar meter to the D50...

Personally, I am waiting for Sony's prosumer body. I don't want to dump all my awesome Minolta glass.

[TenzoR]

Both the new bodies are damn appealing.

Then again, I'm still grumbling because I can't get the same out-of-the-camera quality from my D80 that I was used to with my D50. That old thing is still the best bang for your buck imho. :lol:

I am still struggling to get the best out of my D50. The only thing I'm aftering is a tripod and ultra wide angle lens for travelling.

[hagbard]

The info on Nikon Canada's website for the Overview on the D300 is actually for the D3. They need to fix that.

[2000fordfocus]

This announce is really exciting! The new FX sensor with 12mp is great for ISO lover and D300 is great for the money!

I am in the Nikon camp myself and if I had the money, the D3 is definitely the cam to get.... but not too sure about the D300 yet... with the old D2X sensor, which I dont think is all that good, i would probably be better off with S5 pro...

Just my thought right now... not like I am going to get a new camera soon... My D50 will have to keep me going for now...

[KorruptioN]

but not too sure about the D300 yet... with the old D2X sensor, which I dont think is all that good, i would probably be better off with S5 pro...

It's not the exact same. The processing (which makes a big difference) is different.

[2000fordfocus]

It's not the exact same. The processing (which makes a big difference) is different.

I hope you a right on this! but D200 wasn't that great as compare to 5D or S5pro~

[KorruptioN]

I hope you a right on this! but D200 wasn't that great as compare to 5D or S5pro~

Wasn't great how? The D200 is significantly cheaper than the 5D, let alone the S5 Pro. It is faster than both as well.

[tridium]

Wasn't great how? The D200 is significantly cheaper than the 5D, let alone the S5 Pro. It is faster than both as well.

Yeah, but the technological feature set of the D200 was closer the Canon 30D. The 5D had the full-frame chip and the S5 Pro had the high dynamic range abilities.

[KorruptioN]

Yeah, but the technological feature set of the D200 was closer the Canon 30D. The 5D had the full-frame chip and the S5 Pro had the high dynamic range abilities.

Bottom line is, they all do different things. You can't compare them directly to one another.

[robbiex1]

Nikon, showing they are not be outdone by Canon, recently announced two new dSLR cameras, the D3, D300 and five new full-frame lenses.

I am truly excited to see Nikon release these two pro cameras. Yes, I consider the D300 pro as it exceeds the existing pro D2Xs in almost every aspect except for build quality. Specs are available online and so far, things are looking good and initial impressions of both cameras are extremely positive.

I'm going to hold onto my D200 and my infrared D70 for the time being but this definitely good news for advanced amateur and pro Nikon shooters.

Is anyone else excited or elated about these new cameras!?

[KorruptioN]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480842

You're two days late...

[CameraBill]

Is anyone else excited or elated about these new cameras!?

Yes because it'll push the tech down into consumer bodies in the next generation.

[Outsider]

This announce is really exciting! The new FX sensor with 12mp is great for ISO lover and D300 is great for the money!
Usable ISO as high as 12800 and 25600? Holy smokes!
Low light photography takes on a new meaning with this sensor!

[tridium]

Usable ISO as high as 12800 and 25600? Holy smokes!
Low light photography takes on a new meaning with this sensor!

Err... I will await to see samples from the D3. Nikon has consistently been behind Canon in terms of high-ISO noise suppression. They haven't been all bad, but they've always been behind Canon at the highest values.

Couple this with Nikon's first foray into the full-frame chip market (they'll have to write software to best use the chip and that'll be hard since it's not their own chip) and I won't be holding my breath for silky smooth ISO 25600.

[KorruptioN]

Err... I will await to see samples from the D3. Nikon has consistently been behind Canon in terms of high-ISO noise suppression. They haven't been all bad, but they've always been behind Canon at the highest values.

Couple this with Nikon's first foray into the full-frame chip market (they'll have to write software to best use the chip and that'll be hard since it's not their own chip) and I won't be holding my breath for silky smooth ISO 25600.

Not really. The D80 for example, performs very well at higher ISO values. The film-grain that is left behind is desirable compared to the coloured blotches left behind by the 400D, for example. The more noise you blast away, the more detail you remove as well.

ISO25600 is "only" three stops above ISO3200. Remember, the D3 has full-frame sensor with "only" 12mp. Larger pixel sites is pretty much always a good thing for noise. The Canon 1Ds-MarkIII doesn't offer such an option. Don't jump to conclusions so soon.

[klam]

Not really. The D80 for example, performs very well at higher ISO values. The film-grain that is left behind is desirable compared to the coloured blotches left behind by the 400D, for example. The more noise you blast away, the more detail you remove as well.
Um... sure.

Canon 400D @ ISO 1600
http://kammagamma.com/articles/canonEOS400D/scene002/CanonEOS400D_1600ISO_3.jpg

Nikon D80 @ ISO 1600
http://kammagamma.com/articles/nikond80/scene002/NikonD80_1600ISO_3.jpg

You said, Canon is blasting away detail with its aggressive noise reduction? Go figure.

[robbiex1]

Klam, what are the details of that test? lens used? in-camera settings? Focus mode? Is this your own test?

Given both cameras, I could easily make the results of that test look however I wanted.

[KorruptioN]

You said, Canon is blasting away detail with its aggressive noise reduction? Go figure.

I didn't say that. That last thing I said about noise reduction was more general, read it again if you need to.

[klam]

Klam, what are the details of that test? lens used? in-camera settings? Focus mode? Is this your own test?

Given both cameras, I could easily make the results of that test look however I wanted.
I'm sure you could. But this is not my own test. Blame the testers if you don't agree with their results.

JPEG Fine
Standard/Normal
Auto WB
ISO 1600
Canon 1/100s, Nikon 1/125s
50mm lens @ f/9

[sabesh]

Klam, what are the details of that test? lens used? in-camera settings? Focus mode? Is this your own test?

Given both cameras, I could easily make the results of that test look however I wanted.

I've had a D200 and now a 5D. The Nikon is more aggressive in NR: Details are lost. Canon images are quite clean @ high ISO. Taken with a 5D @ ISO-1600 after midnight with 5D (handheld). Similar pics were not possible with my D200:

http://static.flickr.com/1283/978982055_538f9db684.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabesh/978982055/)

[hagbard]

I've had a D200 and now a 5D. The Nikon is more aggressive in NR: Details are lost. Canon images are quite clean @ high ISO. Taken with a 5D @ ISO-1600 after midnight with 5D (handheld). Similar pics were not possible with my D200:

http://static.flickr.com/1283/978982055_538f9db684.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sabesh/978982055/)

Wow, Mississauga looks just like the inner harbor in Victoria!

[sabesh]

Wow, Mississauga looks just like the inner harbor in Victoria!

Heh heh .. It's Victoria! :D

[KorruptioN]

I've had a D200 and now a 5D. The Nikon is more aggressive in NR: Details are lost. Canon images are quite clean @ high ISO. Taken with a 5D @ ISO-1600 after midnight with 5D (handheld). Similar pics were not possible with my D200:

Of course, its got a full-frame sensor and a "relatively" low resolution. Larger photosites is a good thing.

[robbiex1]

Yes, I agree, the 5D blows the D200 away in terms of image quality at high ISO. There's no doubt about it. However, the D200 has much better ergonomics. I can be shooting a still landscape scene with a single focal point and in a second, I can setup the camera to shoot a highly dynamic fast-moving object (such as a bird, etc.). One thing Nikon has done right over the years is their ergonomics.

Klam, I was not intending to belittle the example but I was curious about the test parameters as there are so many that could affect the results of that test that it is critical to account for these factors, such as in-camera sharpness settings, lens choice, aperture, exposure, etc.