Nikon to push lower-end full-frame cameras
updated 04:40 pm EDT, Thu October 11, 2007
Nikon moves to full-frame
Nikon intends to put out more affordable full-frame DSLRs, says Steve Heiner, the company's senior technical manager of SLR marketing. At present, the only Nikon DSLR with a full-frame sensor is the upcoming D3, a top-end professional camera. At $5,000, it is far more expensive than many people can justify, and it is also faced with competition from Canon's $2,300 EOS-5D. Heiner explains however that the D3's FX sensor represents a size Nikon is committed to, and that "We have seen so many technologies at the highest end that migrate downward."
Full-frame cameras are valued by photographers mainly due to focal ranges. Most DSLRs use smaller sensors, which adds a cropped "zoom" to ordinary lenses. While potentially useful in telephoto ranges, this also reduces the ability to zoom out for wide shots. Full-frame sensors also tend to have increased sensitivity, while being less prone to noise due to the ability to space out electronics. The one problem though is that many shooters now have digital-ready lenses, causing cameras such as the D3 to only use a fraction of their megapixel rating. [via CNET]
