The Nikon D300 is the highly anticipated replacement for the successful Nikon D200, sporting tons of advanced new features that makes me itch to upgrade mine. 12.3-megapixels CMOS sensor, Nikon EXPEED image processor, Multi-CAM 3500DX with 51 autofocus points, self-cleaning sensor unit, 3.0-inch LCD with 922,000 pixels, and LCD Liveview shooting mode are the most notable changes and additions.

As for the Nikon D3, it is a dream come true for all the Nikon shooters who have been praying for a full-frame camera. Full-frame sensors offer various advantages such as having no crop factor and better noise control. Headline features include ISO sensitivity of 100-25600, 12.3-megapixel full-frame sensor, Nikon EXPEED image processor, Multi-CAM 3500DX with 51 autofocus points, 9fps continuous shooting or even 11fps in DX crop mode, 3.0-inch LCD with 922,000 pixels, and LCD Liveview shooting mode.

Nikon D300
Price: US$1800
Availability: November 2007

Nikon D3
Price: US$5000
Availability: November 2007

It has only been about four months since Nikon introduced the entry-level D40 digital SLR. But Nikon’s updating it anyway with the new D40x.

Differences:

• 6-megapixel to 10.2-megapixel
• Range of ISO setting starts at 100 instead of 200
• 2.5fps to 3fps
• 1/200 flash sync speed, down from 1/500

Looks like the slightly higher price than D40 won’t get you much of an upgrade. Forum discussions have shown that most people would rather pay a little more and get a D80 instead.

The D40x will be available next month for US$729.95 for the body only, or US$799.95 for the package including its 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S lens.

Taking over Nikon D50’s spot as the Nikon entry-level digital SLR is the new 6-megapixel Nikon D40. Looks like the rumors were real!

Compact, good list of features and with a bargain price tag, the D40 seems perfect for amateurs looking to step up into DSLR photography.

The slick-looking new user interface is truly worth praising. Especially the graphics of the aperture, which helps beginners remember that small f-number means a larger opening and not the other way around.

The new Flash Off mode is an excellent addition, making it possible to shoot in full-auto in situations where the flash would spoil the mood of the picture.

While the in-depth reviews are yet to be out, I’m pretty confident that the Nikon D40 will deliver great results, just like the D50 and the new D80, albeit with fewer controls.

The suggested retail price is at $599, which comes with the new Nikon AF-s DX 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens. This is really great value, so what are you waiting for? Ditch that puny IXUS and join the DSLR club!

Blogger Allen George managed to spot german retailer website neckermann.de with pictures and specifications on a new Nikon D40 digital SLR camera before they took it down. Could this be real?

Neckermann.de seems like a pretty highly-trafficked and reputable site. And it’s hard to tell if the pictures are results of elaborate Photoshop-jobs. Any eagle-eyed readers care to share your opinions?

To me, it does look real. The button layout looks vastly different from Nikon’s existing offerings, and it is indeed about time the Nikon D50 gets a refresh or replacement.

More photos below.

Specifications:

• 6.1 Megapixels
• Compressed 12-bit NEF, JPEG
• 3 autofocus points
• 2.5″ (230,000 pixel) LCD with up to 19x magnification
• ISO 200 – 1600, HI1
• 3 metering modes (420-pixel meter): 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted metering (75% of center field), 8mm spot
• Program modes including flash (Portrait, Landscape, Night, Spot, Child, Night Portrait)
• i-TTL compatible
• 1/500 Flash Sync
• USB 2.0
• SD, SD-HC
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL9
• 94 × 126 x 64mm (3.7 x 4.9 x 2.5in)
• 475g (16.7oz) without battery, memory card, LCD cover or body cap

This new Nikkor lens comes as a kit lens for the Nikon D80. Looks like an improvement to the D70’s 18-70mm kit lens, in terms of zoom range and equivalent spacing between each focal length. But it has lost the useful distance scale. Image quality? Gotta wait for the pictures taken with it, the MTF charts and what not.

It features Nikon ED glass, aspherical lens elements and SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for enhanced performance.

• 27 – 202.5 mm equiv. FOV on a DX format digital SLR
• Maximum aperture: F3.5 (W) – F5.6 (T)
• Minimum aperture: F22 (W) – F38 (T)
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 13 groups, 2 ED glass elements, 2 aspherical elements
• Minimum focus range: 45 cm (1.5 ft) throughout the zoom range
• Filter diameter: 67 mm
• Dimensions: 73.5 x 86.5mm (2.9 x 3.4 in)
• Weight: 385 g (13.6 oz)
• Included accessories: 67mm Snap-on front lens cap (LC-67), Rear lens cap (LF-1), Bayonet hood (HB-32), Flexible lens pouch (CL-0915)

The curtains are finally drawn for the new Nikon D80 DSLR! Other than the exterior button changes and rearrangement that we’ve went through some time ago here, these are the rest of the features:

• 10.2-megapixel DX format CCD sensor (which means like D50 and D70, no metering with primitive lenses).
• 0.18sec start-up time. No big deal, just 0.2sec faster than D70.
• 3fps shooting rate like D70.
• New EN-EL3e battery that claims to provide up to 2,700 shots per charge in ideal conditions! Amazing.
• Built-in flash can command up to 2 groups of external flashes wirelessly. D70 can only control 1 group while D50 has no commander mode.
• 2.5-inch 170-degree viewable LCD display.
• 11-area AF system just like D200. But it runs on Multi-CAM 2000 system, newer than D200’s Multi-CAM 1000! (no thanks to your typo, Nikon!)
• 11-area Multi-CAM 1000 AF system just like D200.
• 0.94x pentaprism viewfinder, equivalent to D200’s and bigger than D50 and D70’s.
• Viewfinder shows ISO information, unlike D50 and D70 which didn’t.

I would say the best reasons to upgrade to D80 from D50/D70 are for the better viewfinder, the better 11-area Multi-CAM 2000 AF system and the superior button layout. For D50 users, the built-in flash commander mode opens doors to creative wireless lighting. And for D70 users, the D80 probably has the same low noise in high ISO settings as the D50. The only problem for D70 users is the change to SD memory card format.

Available from next month, the camera body alone is expected to be $999.95. While packaged with the new Nikkor 18-135mm DX Zoom will cost $1299.95.

I can’t wait!

Remember the new Nikon DSLR that is expected to launch on August 9th? Looks like we found some real pictures of it, which seem to be leaked from their Nikon Europe website.

The new model will be name Nikon D80, not the D90 (50, 70, 90, get the drift?) that some of you might have guessed. Let’s round up some observations from the pictures:

• Button layout looks like a combination of D50 and D70/D70s, with the Playback/Menu/WB/etc buttons looking more like the former, and the dual-wheel setup more like the latter.
• It has the physical self-timer and IR remote button like the D50, which D70/D70s doesn’t have.
• It has the physical Matrix/Spot/Center-weighted button like the D70/D70s, which D50 doesn’t have.
• It has a new AF button beside the top LCD panel.
• The Bracketing button went from D70/D70s’ dedicated button to a shared button, which is shared with the ISO/ZOOM button.
• The Bracketing button got shifted to a dedicated button below the flash activation/mode/compensation button.
• It has a new dedicated OK button, which was previously shared with the QUAL button and was named ENTER.
• It has the DOF Preview button that is found on D70/D70s and not D50.
• The Trash/Delete button changed in position.
• From the small memory card compartment similar to the D50, we can assume that the D80 uses SD cards instead of D70/D70s’ CF cards.
• It has the 4-way controller lock switch like the D70/D70s, which is handy for preventing accidental change in focus zone.

Notice that there is also a new button right below the flash-activation button. Could this be a dedicated flash compensation button? Or the Vibration Reduction that many have been dreaming of? Go on, make a wild guess.

Check out Nikon Imaging Global website right now and you’ll be in for a little surprise. From the flash animation, it seems like Nikon has snuck up on us and will release a new DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera in 20 days from now.

For those who can’t be bothered to watch the animation, it reads as follow:

“More power… More control… More versatile… More excitement
Next Nikon
New 10.2 megapixel D-SLR addition to the lineup
Integrating quality and affordability to meet the demands of passionate photo enthusiasts”

Affordability, sounds like an upgrade to the Nikon D70s! From the looks of the shutter release area, it is likely not an upgrade to the D200. So if you’re a fellow Nikon shooter who is looking to upgrade your D50/D70/D70s body, hold on to your money untill the curtains are drawn for this new baby.

Update: Nikon D80 Pictures Unveiled

It looks like the end of film cameras is coming soon. Nikon has announced this week that production of most of its film cameras will cease, as the digital format has been very successful for them, accounting for 95% of their business. Thankfully, Nikon will still continue making its flagship film model, the Nikon F6. Similarly, the Nikon FM10 will also continue outside Europe, together with a number of interchangeable manual lenses listed below.

• Nikkor 20mm f/2.8
• Nikkor 24mm f/2.8
• Nikkor 28mm f/2.8
• Nikkor 35mm f/1.4
• Nikkor 50mm f/1.2
• Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
• Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8
• Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8
• PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D

So for those looking for a Nikon film camera, you’d better act fast. For once they get sold out in retail stores, they’re gone for good. And for the Nikon film camera owners, fret not, as after-sales service will continue as per Nikon’s policy.