Less than two weeks after Nikon acknowledged problems with a batch of camera batteries, the company has confirmed that some D4 and D800 cameras also face reliability issues. Some users have reported that the DSLRs may lock up during usage, interrupting shooting sessions and forcing users to reset the camera by removing and reinserting the battery.
As promised, Nikon's latest D3200 DSLR camera is now shipping over at Best Buy in black, with the red version still listed as coming soon. The $700 bundle includes an 18-55 kit lens and the $60 WU-1a wireless adapter isn't yet available, but Best Buy does allow customers to pre-order it. The accessory will let users send photos wirelessly to their smartphones or tablets on the go.
A small batch of Nikon batteries for the 1 V1, D7000, D800, and D800E cameras are at risk of overheating and becoming distorted during the charging process, Nikon has announced. The company has announced a battery replacement program for the affected run of the EN-EL15 battery.
Nikon escalated competition in one of the hotter fields of photography, entry-level DSLRs, with a midnight introduction Thursday for the D3200. The sequel to the D3100 ups the resolution dramatically, from 14 to 24 megapixels, while adding a unique Wi-Fi component. Adding a WU-1a wireless adapter will let users share photos directly to a nearby smartphone, letting photographers post online and even preview or control the camera remotely.
The rumored Nikon D3200 DSLR may cost the equivalent of about $940 or less, according to a new report from Japan. One close-cropped image of the side of the camera shows off its red hue, which is also offered on the D3100. The Japanese prices are likely to be a little higher than the US equivalent, and two bundles may also be offered.
A rumor late on Wednesday had Nikon trying some uncharacteristic features for the long-in-development sequel to its entry-level D3100. Pegged as the D3200 by Nikon Rumors, the camera would jump from 14.2 megapixels to 24 megapixels, giving the DSLR a sensor whose density would only be challenged by the 36-megapixel D800. It may also be one of the first DSLRs with built-in networking, as it should have Wi-Fi with "very interesting new features."
The upcoming Sony Alpha 99 (A99) may sport with a 102-point cross-point autofocus system, Sony Alpha Rumors learned from trusted sources. Prototypes of the Single-Lens Translucent (SLT) camera are reportedly equipped with the feature, which offers nearly twice as many autofocus points as some flagship DSLRs from competitors. The Nikon D800 has 51 points, for example, while Canon's EOS 5D Mark III has 61. Sony's own A77 camera has 19 cross points.
Two high-end digital SLRs have begun hitting retailers' shelves. The 36.3-megapixel Nikon D800 has started to ship to Japan and Europe as of Wednesday, and is expected in Australia today as well as the US tomorrow for Nikon Professional Services customers. The 22.3-megapixel Canon 5D Mark II was anticipated at US stores on Sunday, but B&H Photo has it in stock and already has begun shipping.
The Nikon D4 flagship DSLR is shipping in the launch countries with a free 16GB Sony XQD memory card and reader, NikonRumors reported. This applies to those who pre-ordered the camera, and is estimated to be worth about $185. XQD cards haven't shipped yet, however, so the free storage might be included only with the first batch. The D4 is priced at $6,000 for a body only.
In a promo video for its recently released D800 at its Bangkok launch, Nikon included footage that not only was used without permission but also shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Once the video was shared on YouTube (below), people who recognized their work began calling Nikon out on its mistake. One such party was Norwegian pro photographer Terje Sørgjerd, whose work is seen in Nikon's video, was used without permission, and was shot with a Canon 5D Mark II.
Sony may be hoping to one-up Canon's PowerShot G1 X with a more ambitious camera of its own. A rumor originating from multiple "trusted sources" of Sony Alpha Rumors has a future camera using a DSLR-grade sensor at APS-C size but with a non-removable lens like its Canon alternative. The lens itself is described as a pancake-sized compact zoom that would keep the camera relatively small.
A new patent application found online on Monday has lent strong support to the belief Canon is working on a mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera. The patent is for an 18-45mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens explicitly meant for APS-C mirrorless cameras. Allowing for the crop factor, the lens is equivalent to 29-70mm if it were full-frame.
Nikon's French subsidiary may have confirmed shipping dates for its newest DSLRs. The camera maker will begin shipping the flagship D4 to at least France on March 15, it said. The basic D800 will begin shipping March 22, while its sibling, the D800E will hit shelves April 12.
Nikon will reveal more DSLRs in 2012, the company's general manager for marketing, Nobuaki Sasagaki, revealed in an interview with Amateur Photographer. Thus far, the company revealed the D800 and the D4, but Sasagaki said these won't be the only two. He gave no details regarding any of the upcoming cameras.
Nikon ended a years-long wait Tuesday by unveiling the D800. Its sequel to the D700 claims a record-setting 36.3-megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor. The camera not only competes with medium format cameras in resolution (though not sensor size) but can boost the focal range by 50 percent while still keeping a 15.3-megapixel image.
The Nikon D800 has had much of its mystery taken away after a leak of details and photos through Brazil. The full-frame DSLR will shoot at 36.3 megapixels, ZTOP saw, and will take a very different approach than the 16-megapixel D4. In return for more than double the resolution, it would have a smaller normal ISO sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 6,400 and a lower maximum ISO as a result, most likely the 25,600 of the D700.
Digital camera maker Nikon has posted its third-quarter earnings on Friday, revealing the company took a one-time 10.9 billion yen loss (about $143 million) due to the flooding of its factories in Thailand. For the quarter ending December 31, Nikon called the loss extraordinary, though it did include the 500 million yen ($6.6 million) insurance payment as a result of the property damage. Any further insurance payments will be received as extraordinary gains when the amounts are fixed.
Apple on Wednesday afternoon posted Mac OS X 10.7.3 (release notes). The Lion upgrade adds several languages, including Catalan for Spaniards as well as Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian. RAW photo compatibility has expanded to several new cameras, including the Nikon J1 and V1, Olympus' current PEN cameras, and current Sony Alpha and NEX cameras, such as the NEX-5N.
One more set of Coolpix updates from Nikon on Tuesday has focused on the budget end but included a new category of camera for the company. The S30 is one of the least expensive rugged cameras yet and can take going underwater, down to 9.8 feet, or drops of up to 2.6 feet. Its lens shoots at just 3X but is self-contained to minimize the impact.
Nikon's Coolpix upgrades continued Tuesday with four S-series camera upgrades. The S3300, S4300, S6300, and S9300 all have 16-megapixel sensors. The S6300 and S9300 have backside-illuminated CMOS sensors that give them much better low-light performance.
Nikon led a slew of Coolpix camera launches Tuesday night with two models straddling the line between pro and amateur shooting. The P510 has one of the longest zooms ever on a non-removable lens camera and can shoot at 42X (24-1,000mm equivalent) with a purportedly more aggressive image stabilization engine. A 16.1-megapixel, backside-illuminated CMOS sensor helps combat shake along with helping in low light and improving autofocus speed.
CEO of camera and lens maker Sigma, sadly, has passed away. The 78-year-old Michihiro Yamaki succumbed in Tokyo, Japan on January 18 after a fight with liver cancer. Yamaki founded the company in 1961 and was heading up the company up to 2011, on its 50th anniversary.
Nikon's long-expected D800 full-frame DSLR may have a firmer ship date from a collation of tips. The pro camera is now believed with confidence by Nikon Rumors to be unveiled on February 6, with numerous events scheduled on February 7. The timing would be a deliberate prelude to the CP+ camera show starting February 9 in Japan.
Two Japanese camera lens manufacturers have signed onto the Micro Four Thirds standard pioneered by Olympus and Panasonic. They include Kenko Tokina and Tamron, while a third Japanese company, Astrodesign, has also jumped onboard, though it makes video measuring equipment and not lenses. This should give those how have bought into the new type of camera, which allows for interchangeable lenses on digital camera bodies that are smaller than DSLRs, more options for lenses.
Nikon appears to be in the process of discontinuing its D300s and D700 cameras, which have been added to the "old products" listing on the company's Japanese website. The discontinuations are viewed as an indication that Nikon may be ready to finally release the D400 and D800 models that have appeared in several leaks.
Nikon Germany's camera page briefly posted (since edited) an image confirming the existence of the D800. The shot showed what was clearly a smaller FX-mount camera with the sloped shutter controls of the D4. A telltale angled logo on the right side lined up with a previous leak of a side photo.
Sony has officially launched the first XQD flash memory card , a new high-speed format designed to replace CompactFlash cards. The new format is primarily aimed at high-end SLR cameras and uses the PCI Express serial communications link interface from computers to achieve transfer rates as high as 125MB/s initially.
Nikon late Thursday confirmed the D4. The new full-frame flagship DSLR moves up cautiously to a 16.2-megapixel sensor but is a major leap in image quality over both the D3 and D3s. It doubles the maximum sensitivity to ISO 204,800 and shoots as low as ISO 50 (normally 100 to 102,400). An upgraded 51-point autofocusing system can focus at f8 (up from f5.6) with face recognition an option, and a new color matrix metering system samples from 91,000 pixels.
A premature Wells Fargo wire release has unwittingly leaked the full details of the Nikon D4. The new full-frame flagship DSLR moves up cautiously to a 16.2-megapixel sensor but is a major leap in image quality over both the D3 and D3s. It doubles the maximum sensitivity to ISO 204,800 and shoots as low as ISO 50 (normally 100 to 102,400). An upgraded 51-point autofocusing system can focus at f8 (up from f5.6) with face recognition an option, and a new color matrix metering system samples from 91,000 pixels.
A slew of invitations worldwide have given away Nikon's plans to unveil what will likely be the D4. Sometimes teasing it as "the image you are waiting for," the launches and demos are all pegged for January 6, with Nikon Rumors understanding that the US gets a midnight press release January 5. Along with the full-frame pro DSLR, an 85mm f1.8 AF-S prime lens is expected to show.
The Nikon 1 mirrorless compact camera range will get its anticipated F-mount adapter next week in Japan. The F-mount adapter will allow users of DSLR cameras who have collected standard lenses over the years use them in conjunction with the new CX-format camera. The FT1 adapter will go on sale on December 22 for the equivalent of $300.
New rumors from historically accurate sources may have narrowed down the details of Nikon's long-expected D4 full-frame camera. The DSLR would only see a modest resolution upgrade to 16.2 megapixels, but Nikon Rumors heard it could be the first camera with the new XQD card format. Combined with a regular CompactFlash slot, it could have support for very high speed storage without shedding legacy support.
Ricoh will soon add a new lens module to its GXR camera, the company's Japanese website and roadmap revealed. It will be based on an APS-C sized CMOS sensor and use a 24-85mm equivalent zoom lens. The sensor is likely to use a Sony 16-megapixel chip for the module like that in the NEX-C3.
A press release for the NIkon Speedlight SB-910 camera has slipped on to the net, only to be pulled. The new flagship DSLR camera uses the latest implementation of Nikon's creative lighting system (CLS) and marries it to an upgraded and easier to use to GUI. The Speedlight SB-910 will ship with a wide zoom lens that will incorporate FX/DX-format identification that optimizes zoom settings based on the camera body.
Nikon's upcoming D800 has been seen in the field for the first time through a new leak Saturday night. The full-frame camera should be smaller and lighter than the D700 but, as Nikon Rumors heard earlier, will have the highest-ever resolution for a Nikon DSLR. At 36 megapixels, the 7360x4912 shots (confirmed by EXIF data) will compete with those from even modern medium format cameras for sheer image size.
Nikon has released an updated version of its iP-PJ Transfer app (free, App Store). With it, an iPad or iPhone user who has access to a Coolpix S1200pj camera can use that device to project a broader range of content than previously possible. In the past, users were limited to just slideshows and YouTube videos.
Kodak is hoping to sell its Kodak Gallery online photo service to stay afloat, according to leaks. The camera pioneer was said by the Wall Street Journal to be talking to other photo hosting services, retail stores, private equity groups, and even rival camera makers to interest them in a sale. Advisors from FTI Consulting, which led to the sale of the image sensor group, was supposedly involved in this sale as well as part of an attempt to find buyers for as many non-essential divisions as possible
Nikon is faced with a new supply shortage due to the popularity of its 1 series cameras. While the company has faced production shortfalls for its DSLRs and lenses as a result of the recent flooding in Thailand, the new mirrorless interchangeable hasn't been affected at all and has been at full capacity. Interest has been so high that the supply hasn't kept up with the demand, Nikon said.
Apple has posted a new Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update, v3.9. The patch extends support for different RAW formats within Aperture 3 and iPhoto '11. Newly supported camera lines include Nikon's 1 J1, 1 V1, and CoolPix P7100, as well as Sony's NEX-5N, Alpha SLT-A65, and Alpha SLT-A77, and Olympus' PEN E-PL1s, PEN E-PL3, and PEN E-PM1.
Seagate and Western Digital both warned late this week that continued flooding in Thailand was worsening shortages. Western Digital has been the worst affected and anticipated a major hit to supply of its hard drives made in the country. Seagate's main plants were unaffected so far, but many of the smaller companies supplying parts were temporarily shut down, the company said.
Nikon's new 1 System-based mirrorless cameras, the V1 and J1 are now available for pre-order, with a ship date of November 15 at Amazon. This is slightly behind schedule, as they were promised to be available on October 20, but may have been affected by the supply shortage due to the factory flood in Thailand. The J1 is priced at $649 while the V1 costs $899.
As a result of the flooding of its factory in Thailand's Ayutthaya Province over the weekend, Nikon has stopped operation until October 6. The update, shared by Nikon Rumors, has the first floor of all buildings currently submerged. The factory manufactures digital single-lens reflex cameras and interchangeable lenses for these DSLRs.
The Nikon 1 range has been listed for pre-order on Amazon. Prices start at $649 for the J1 and top out at $1,149 for the V1 depending on model and specification chosen. The launch of the Nikon marks a rare start to a new camera format with its CX-format.
Some more unofficial specs on the upcoming Nikon D800 have been revealed by Nikon Rumors. The D700 replacement should retain that camera's ISO sensitvity range, or at least be very close, with a 100-6,400 spread and respective low and high options of ISO 50 and ISO 25,600. It might also launch alongside two other products, likely to be lenses.
The long awaited replacement for the Nikon D700 may actually be closing in on reality. Digital Camera info claims that the high-end 36.3-megapixel camera may be officially announced on October 26. The DSLR may be available in late November, still in time for holiday shopping.
Adobe has posted the final editions of the Lightroom 3.5 and Camera Raw 6.5 updates. In both circumstances the software adds support for over 20 cameras. Consumer-level additions include the Fuji FinePix F600EXR, Nikon Coolpix P7100, Pentax Q, and Ricoh GXR Mount A12, as well as Olympus' E-P3, E-PL3 and E-PM1, Panasonic's DMC-FZ150, DMC-G3 and DMC-GF3, and Sony's NEX-C3, NEX-5N, SLT-A35, SLT-A65 and SLT-A77.
Nikon on Wednesday marked the rare start to a new camera format in launching the 1 System. Starting off with the J1 and V1, the two use a new CX-format, 2.7X crop factor 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor and mirrorless interchangeable lens system that's below Micro Four Thirds but still larger and richer than in compact cameras. They also become the first with the dual-core Expeed 3 processor and are key to getting a fast 73-point, phase-based autofocusing system that Nikon claims is even faster than on newer Olympus PEN cameras.
Nikon appears to be the company behind a marketing campaign labeled "The Big Hands." Individuals in Europe have begun receiving postcards referencing The Big Hands and showing people holding their hands as if they are taking a picture with a camera, however the camera itself is absent from the images.
Nikon on Tuesday slipped out a teaser page giving a strong clue as to its mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. While just saying "I am coming," the page has a countdown that ends on Wednesday, coinciding neatly with the rumored launch date. The camera maker rarely ever builds up the public for a launch, either for its regular compacts or its DSLRs, supporting the notion that it's a genuinely new platform and not just a sequel.
The upcoming mirrorless cameras from Nikon will indeed get 10.1-megapixel image sensors and the ability to record 1080p video, according to two sites citing the unofficial information. Furthermore, a technical drawing that is said to represent the V1 camera was leaked to PhotographyBay. The cameras will use what is called Nikon's CX format, which sports a 2.7X cropped sensor smaller than Micro Four Thirds.
