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

[TenzoR]

D3 - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/ei...anging_pro.php
D300 - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/ni...e_new_d300.php
Pro Lenses - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/pr...nses_enter.php
Super Telephoto - http://press.nikonusa.com/2007/08/ni..._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/n...slrs-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.

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.

[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.

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.