Nikon 2009 / 2010 DSLR Roadmap Leaked

August 4 introduction: (Apparently the end of July presentation is for compact cameras)

• Nikon D3000
• Nikon D300s with Full-HD movie 24 fps, improved AF, self timer + mirror-up, cf + sd-slot
• AF-S DX 17-65/3.2-4 G VR with 72(!) mm filter

October 15 presentation:

• Nikon D700x with 24.5 MP, Full-HD movie 24 fps, improved AF and self timer + mirror-up
• AF-S Nikkor 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (The FX-dream-walk-around-lens?)
• AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II (What everybody waited for! 82 mm filter, 1530 g)
• AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G
• AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G (No VR?)

Q1/2010:

• AF-S Nikkor 14-28mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
• AF-S Nikkor 120-450mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR II (Replacement for 80-400? 82 mm, 1480 g)

Q2/2010:

• Nikon D4 with 15.7 MP, improved 1 EV, Full HD-movie 30fps
• Nikon D400 with 13.8 MP, improved 1 EV, Full HD-movie 24fps

Q3/2010:

• AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4G VR (On the waiting list for many!)
• AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/5.6G VR (Have been missing a long time!)
• AF-S Nikkor 70-240mm f/3.5-4.5G VR (The missing medium size telezoom!)
• AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/2G DC (A small surprise. No VR?)
• AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/4G VR
• AF-S DX Nikkor 60-95mm f/2G VR (The DX dream-telezoom!)
• AF-S DX Nikkor 17-60mm f/2.8G VR (Replacing 17-55 with addition of VR)
• Nikon Coolpix P1DX with DX 12.3 MP stabilised sensor, 28-85/3.5-5.6 zoom (comparable to FX, actually 18-56), 2.9 inch 920k-display, movable upwards for macro.

Q4/2010:

• Nikon D4X with 30.2 MP with 1 EV improved sensitivity

Via Cameratown, NikonRumors

Nikon D5000 DSLR previewed: HD Movies, Hinged LCD, Scene Recognition, Live View, New Battery

Imaging-Resource has a hands-on preview of the Nikon D5000. Most important features: HD Movies, Hinged LCD, Scene Recognition, Live View, New Battery, 12.30 Megapixels, 2.7 inch LCD, EXPEED image processing system, 1,280 x 720 resolution movies @ 24fps, optional GP-1 GPS Unit for geotagging, Auto Active D-Lighting.

Built on a smaller frame, like the D60, the Nikon D5000 takes up the top position in Nikon's consumer SLR camera space, and joins a small set of competing digital SLRs that offer HD movie recording: the Nikon D90, Canon 5D Mark II, and Canon T1i; and though not strictly an SLR, the Panasonic GH1 will also be considered by many looking for an interchangeable lens digital camera.

Since the Nikon D5000's 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is said to be the same as the D90's, we expect it to have excellent imaging characteristics. ISO ranges from 200 to 3,200, with a Lo 1 setting of 100 and a Hi 1 setting of 6,400. Nikon's EXPEED image processing system should easily handle noise suppression and image optimization with the somewhat slow four-frame-per-second frame rate.

Buy a Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Check out the D5000 preview at imaging-resource.com

Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR reviewed

Gordon Laing at cameralabs.com has posted a review of the Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR general purpose wide angle telephoto zoom DSLR lens, make sure you also check out the full details and his other reviews, great stuff over there.

The DX 16-85mm VR is clearly a well-featured general-purpose lens, but the Nikkor range is not short of alternatives for DX-format bodies. Beyond the existing DX 18-70mm, the standard D80 and D90 kits came with good quality 18-135mm and 18-105mm lenses, while the DX 18-200mm VR remains one of the best super-zoom options around; even the DX 18-55mm kit lenses deliver respectable quality. None may boast the 24mm equivalent coverage of the DX 16-85mm VR, but the question is whether there’s sufficiently compelling reasons for owners of DX-format Nikon bodies to switch to this model instead?

Buy a Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR Nikkor Wide Angle Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

Read the full Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR review at cameralabs.com.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX available in the US

NikonRumors says that B&H is now accepting orders for the new Nikon lens called Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606792-USA/Nikon_2183_35mm_f_1_8G_NIKKOR_DX.html

Via NikonRumors

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens discontinued

Nikonrumors via BHPhotoVideo says that the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR lens was discontinued. Not a surprise seeing that price tag of $8200. Phew.

Via Nikonrumors

DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G lens

Nikon has announced a new wide aperture DX Nikkor lens, the AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G.

The lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 which promises a bright viewfinder experience, and incorporates Nikkor's compact ring type Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet focus operation, even with cameras like the Nikon D40 and D60 which don't have built-in motors.

The lens also features an optical design that gives a different look and feel to images taken with a zoom lens, and features a picture angle that is similar to the human eye.

It has a rounded seven-blade diaphragm opening, which makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural, and can focus down to 0.3 metres. When mounted on a DX-format SLR, the picture angle is the 35mm equivalent focal length of 50mm.

The AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G has two focus modes, M/A (manual override autofocus) and M (manual focus), where the M/A mode allows for instant manual switching during AF operation.

The lens will be available from 6 March for £199.99. It comes supplied with 52mm snap-on front and rear lens cap, bayonet hood HB-46 and a flexible lens pouch.

Via photographypress

Nikkor 13mm f/5.6 reviewed by Ken Rockwell

Ken Rockwell has a review of the old but still very impressive (and ridiculously expensive) Nikon/Nikkor 13mm f/5.6 classic lens. Head over to his site to check it.

From the review:

Just as no man or nation has repeated America's multiple landings of men on the moon, there has never been any lens equal to Nikon's 13mm.

Not only does the 13mm cover a wider undistorted angle than any other professional SLR lens ever made, it does so with much less distortion Nikon's ordinary normal and wide lenses!

It's slow, at f/5.6, however it's unusual in having been designed to perform well at full aperture. Falloff and definition doesn't improve much stopped down; shoot at f/5.6 all the time if you like. Depth-of-field is so great that it's unusual that you'd need to stop down.

Forget about ever seeing one; only about 350 were made, and only to special order. That means less than one out of every 100,000 lenses Nikon has ever made is a 13mm. Forget about finding one anyplace other than eBay, where they turn up a couple of times a year in various places around the world.

Read the full review and check the awesome sample images here or buy a Nikon DSLR lens here.

How to buy a digital SLR lens? tips from Which? Advice UK

Lenses for digital SLR cameras (DSLRs) come in many different sizes and types. Two of the most common types are zoom lenses, and 'fixed focal length' lenses (lenses without a zoom).

Fixed focal length lenses can give you better image quality, but zoom lenses are far more practical, and the best ones are very good.

You can also buy macro lenses for better extreme close-up photos, for example butterfly-on-a-flower type shots.

Read the article here.

Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G review at CameraLabs

The Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G is the company's new flagship standard prime lens. It shares the same bright f1.4 aperture and focal length as the much older AF 50mm f/1.4D, but features an SWM focusing motor, which allows it to autofocus on all Nikon DSLRs, including the D40, D40x and D60. It's compatible with full-frame models, on which it'll deliver standard coverage. Mounted on a DX format body it delivers an equivalent of 75mm, which is perfect for portraits.

Buy Nikkor AF-S lenses at Amazon.

Check the review diary at CameraLabs

PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED lens reviewed by SLGear

Until 2008, Nikon lagged behind other manufacturers in its output of Tilt-shift lenses. Now that has changed, with their introduction of 24mm, 45mm and 85mm PC-E lenses. All Nikon PC-E lenses cover the 35mm film or FX frame; on a DX-sensor body the 24mm ƒ/3.5 PC-E will give an equivalent coverage of 36mm.

The 24mm ƒ/3.5 PC-E comes standard with a bayonet-mounted bowl-shaped lens hood, a lens pouch, and a price tag just shy of $2,000.

Read the full review here.

Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR lens review at Camera Labs

The Nikkor DX 18-55mm VR is the company's latest budget kit lens, designed for use with its entry-level DSLRs. It's the standard bundle with the D60 but also available separately for anyone who wants an affordable stabilised lens for their Nikon DX-format body. The DX 18-55mm VR delivers the same 27-83mm equivalent range as its predecessor, the DX 18-55mm II, and also shares the same f3.5-5.6 focal ratio, but the big new feature is the inclusion of Vibration Reduction to counteract camera-shake. Find out how this budget kit lens compares to other general-purpose zooms.

Read the full review here or watch the video review here.