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Nikon D3 and D300 preview
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Nikon D3 the first FF Nikon Camera
It’s here, after perhaps the longest period of speculation ever Nikon has today lifted the covers on their first full-frame digital SLR, the new 12.1 megapixel D3. The D3 is all about speed and sensitivity, twelve megapixels on a big CMOS chip means large photosites (8.45 ?m pitch to be precise) and that adds up to base sensitivity of ISO 200 to 6400 with an additional two stop boost over that (up to ISO 25600). The other side of the speed story (apart from blistering AF and shutter lag) is that the D3 can shoot at nine frames per second with AF tracking or eleven frames per second without. Other headline features are a newly branded EXPEED image processor, a new 51-point AF sensor, color AF tracking, dual CF compartments (with UDMA support), an amazing 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor with Live View (including contrast detect auto-focus), HDMI video output and even a virtual horizon function which can tell you when you’re holding the camera perfectly level. There’s too much to fit here so we crammed as much as we can into a preview. The D3 will be available in November, at around US$5000.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082312nikond3.asp
Nikon D300 12.3 Mpix DX Camera
In addition to the FX format (Full-frame) D3 Nikon has also announced the new DX format D300 which also features a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, EXPEED image processor, sensitivity up to ISO 6400 (with boost), the new CAM3500DX AF sensor (51 point), HDMI video output, UDMA CF support and last but not least the super-impressive 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor with Live View. No ordinary Live View either as this one supports Auto Focus in two ways; using the current ‘normal’ mirror-drop / mirror-raise but also contrast detect in the same way as a compact camera (although slower). The D300 will be available in November, at around US$1800.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082313nikond300.asp
I looked at these specs and went ‘Wow, this is better than the second coming!’, look at the amazing lenses too!
Only one thing to say, anyone want to buy three TV’s, two DVD players, one dog, fridge, microwave, table, four chairs and one moderately used kitchen sink ;)
Great to see a bit of competition between the two rivals again, but I don’t think it’s really going to have that much of an impact on prices. Nikon and Canon models seem to be pitched at different users. If anyone thinks the D3 is direct competitor to the EOS 1Ds MkIII, think again:
And it doesn’t exactly compete against the recently released 1D MkIII either because that’s not a full frame camera and is aimed at a different user again.
The comparison of 230,000 pixels & 922,000 pixels is the LCD screen resolution!
What makes you think its not a direct competitor to the 1D MkIII?
well, apart from the crop factor?Good to have more choice,
and better cameras around the corner-Though I can see the used sink market fall through the floor
:D
j
Well, the point I was getting at is that it seems to fall squarely between the EOS 1D MkIII and the 1Ds MkIII (based on specs alone).
One other thing I can’t help wondering is on the FOV crop when using it with DX lenses. I’m not at all familiar with Nikon’s lens range, but does this mean that there are likely to be photographers out there that will have to replace their lenses in order to benefit from the full frame advantage of the D3?
Presumably the FOV crop will work with any lens-
Nikon has used this before to get higher frame rates-Most Nikon digital users will have DX lenses-
unless they’ve been shooting exclusively at the long end-Most of Nikon’s glass is full frame though-
and they continue to make film cameras-Canon users might have the same problem replacing glass-
If it turns out that the resolution of the sensor exceeds that of the lenses-j
jb7 wrote:
Canon users might have the same problem replacing glass-
If it turns out that the resolution of the sensor exceeds that of the lenses-j
That’s something that seems to be a real possibility and would pose an interesting challenge for both Canon and Canon users!
That’s one reason why an updated 5D might be an altogether better proposition-
As you well know yourself :wink:j
Canon users might have the same problem replacing glass-
If it turns out that the resolution of the sensor exceeds that of the lenses-Thats the problem, if you can spend ?8,000 on a sensor that your lenses can’t match anyway, you probably would want to go the whole hog and get a MF back and body.You would also need to abandon tripods and have the camera embedded in concrete to get full benifit!
I think Nikon made the right choice, resolution that matches current 35mm lens technology and optimises noise performance instead of bowing to the pixel race. I wonder how the D300 will fare in this regard though. And what Sony have up their own sleeve!
At long bl*dy last, some real FF competition. All good for all consumers.
Its good to see Nikon now adopting a quick turn around on delivery dates for both models i.e. “available in November”.
Gone are the times when you had to wait ages between an announcement and actual delivery.
August has turned out to be a busy month for the top two.jb7 wrote:
Canon users might have the same problem replacing glass-
If it turns out that the resolution of the sensor exceeds that of the lenses-
jYeah, I wonder how many Canon lenses will match a 21mp FF sensor? :?
btw, my guess is its only a matter of weeks before we see a Sony 12mp FF dslr. Remember those mock-up Sony cameras at the last PMA show?
If anyone thinks the D3 is direct competitor to the EOS 1Ds MkIII, think again:
The D3 is not meant to be competition for the 1ds mk III – compare it to the Canon EOS-1D Mark III.
The D3X will be competition for the 1ds, and it’s not expected to be announced until early 2008.
Also – as far as I can tell – there is NO crop factor with the D3 UNLESS you are useing a DX lens. Of course this means you get the benefit of using non-DX and DX lenses. Nice.
Looking at the d300, I stopped thinking of the upgrade. Lot of features were added to serve the point and shoot type of users (huge screen, live view, more pixels, self cleaning sensor, in-camera post-processing, etc.) and it’s only the new autofocus system, longer battery life and support of faster cf cards that would interest me. I think, it’s got a bit uglier as well. I was really curious if I will be crying for one of the new bodies, but I think, I will keep saving for that 70-200vr instead. Manual focusing helps keeping my fingers fit and healthy anyway…
The D3 looks very impressive though.
The D3 Switches automatically to the crop mode (shown in viewfinder) when a DX lens is attached. D2H / X users will find it an easy upgrade (Unlike Canon 1DMkll > Mklll where functions have apparently been moved about). The greatest advantage of the D3 for D2H users should be it’s claimed quality at High ISO settings. I have seen comparison hardcopy prints made with the Nikon D3 and Canon 1D MKlll and the Nikon appears to be as good if not better all the way up to 6400 ISO ( A Major feat as the D2H was rubbish at 800+). Also nice is the Dual CF slots which allow Raw to be saved to one and JPEGs to another. This camera may at last stem the tide of Nikon users changing to Canon!
I believe it can and be compared directly to the MKlll Canon adn look forward to hearing some real life comparisons.Hold on hold on, The D300 looks and sounds like a cracker, but isn’t it basically using the sensor from the current D2x, which is three years old (light years in electronics), and if I understand correctly the sensor is not exactly raved about by users. Just my tupence worth.
Also, over on a Sony/Minolta forum I hangout on from time to time people are expecting a 21Mp FF from Sony, which is also expected in the Nikon line up too.
Brian_C wrote:
Hold on hold on, The D300 looks and sounds like a cracker, but isn’t it basically using the sensor from the current D2x, which is three years old (light years in electronics), and if I understand correctly the sensor is not exactly raved about by users. Just my tupence worth.
what gave you that idea? It’s a brand new sensor design.
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