08/25/2008, 7:30pm, EDT
Monday, August 25thD90 official specs, new gallery of pictures leaked
In addition to preliminary sales information spotted at retailers Circuit City and Best Buy, details of the next-generation Nikon entry-level DSLR system have been revealed. According to Digital Photography Review, pictures of the new D90 were temporarily leaked on Target.com. Additional details regarding the final specs were posted on Nikon Rumors. The camera is said to capture 12.3 Megapixels with a standard ISO range of 200-3200 and additional single ISO modes of 100 or 6400. Live-view is supported from a 900,000 pixel 3" LCD used for the rear display, quite an upgrade in resolution from the 230,000 pixel display of the D80.
The D90 will feature 11 autofocus points, AF contrast, and face detection. White balance can be adjusted manually or automatically using a 420 pixel RGB matrix sensor. The camera can capture video and includes a speaker for sound output during video playback.
The lens to be initially included with the starter kit is a DX 18mm - 105mm f/3.5-5.6G with vibration reduction, AF-S from a silent wave motor, and made with Nikon's extra-low dispersion glass. Construction consists of 11 groups and 15 elements including one aspherical and one hybrid aspherical. Minimum focus will be 0.45m and the lens contains seven diaphragm blades. An official shipping date was not given but, given the current evidence, a formal announcement from Nikon seems imminent.
[Images by: Poppa on DPReview]
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Internal AF?
Does anyone know if the D90 has a built-in AF motor, like the D80 does? I really miss it in my D40x. If it does have an AF motor, why is the lens AF-S?
D90
D90 is suppose to replace the D80. DSLR cameras can operate a lens in manual/auto modes. Each "digital" lens has a motor and function. So they both need a motor of some sort to work. If not, then it would be like trying to type a letter on a computer using a pencil.
If I were you, I would read up on Nikkor lens because it sounds like you are confusing the two.
Bad Info...
There are more than a few Nikon autofocus lenses that do not have internal motors and "prosumer" and pro DSLRs like the D80, D300, etc. have built-in motors so they can be used with non AF-S Nikkors.
A large number of long-time Nikon users have a substantial number of AF lenses that were purchased before AF-S lenses were available, myself included...
DSLRs with internal AF motors make it possible to AF with these older lenses or current models that have not been upgraded to AF-S.
Most, if not all new Nikkors have internal motors so it shouldn't be surprising that the "kit" lens paired with the D90 also has a motor. I would be very surprised if the D90 does not have an internal motor.
The D40 is an amateur DSLR offered at a relatively low price. Adding an internal motor would increase its size and cost. I believe the assumption is that a person buying a D40 is new to DSLRs and will most likely be buying current AF-S lenses in addition to the AF-S kit lens that comes with the D40. If a person plans on using non AF-S lenses then they should buy another Nikon DSLR or plan on using the lenses in manual focus mode.