Nikon today introduced two new DSLR camera bodies and five new lenses. All of the new products will be available around November 2007.
The new D3 is a 12mp FX (same size as film frame) DSLR that supposedly offers clean ISOs up to 6400 (and noisier ones two stops higher via the usual HI1 and HI2 settings). A new 51-point AF system runs with the cheetahs (see above picture) at up to 9 fps.
Introduced with the D3 is the D300, a 12mp DX (same size as current Nikon DSLRs) DSLR that essentially offers pretty much the same features as the D3, only in a smaller, lighter, less expensive body (that, by the way, was what I was referring to as the big surprise: that a D3 Junior would accompany the D3).
Five new lenses were introduced:
- 400mm f/2.8G VR AF-S. This is the expected nano-coated update to the existing 400mm. US$8800.
- 500mm f/4G VR AF-S. This is the expected nano-coated update to the existing 500mm. US$7900.
- 600mm f/4G VR AF-S. This is the expected nano-coated update to the existing 600mm. US$9500.
- 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S. D3 users will find this their primary lens of choice, I think. That little bit of extra focal length at the wide end makes a big difference compared to the classic 28-70mm Nikkor. US$1700.
- 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S. Surprise, surprise, someone at Nikon still loves us wide angle lovers (though where are the smaller, faster primes?). Personally, I think 14mm is going too wide for 35FF, though perhaps this is supposed to be a crossover lens for both 35FF and APS users (where it would be a 21-36mm equivalent). US$1800.
Since there's a lot of news and very little front page, I've put details and my comments on the following pages:
- My Nikon DSLR comparison table now has the new models integrated with the current ones.
- My full comments on today's news can be found here.
- The lenses have been added to my Nikon Lens DB page.