Faithful to its age-old fame, Carl Zeiss shows us a new wide-angle lens aiming at the high-end of the market, at least because of the “widigantic” aperture of f/1.4.

Available in Canon and Nikon mounts at 1385€, from the first quarter of 2011.

It seems a clear possibility now, seeing the number of comments about it. The replacement of the Nikon D90 that is expected to be announced by Nikon in a few days, before the Photokina fair in Köln, Germany, could be named Nikon D7000 (instead of the previously expected Nikon D95).

We’ll see…

Nikon D800?

Digital Rev, which is not used to propagating false rumours (or any rumors at all, by the way) up to now, just published a small article explaining why there will be no Nikon D700s (a minor improvement over the current Nikon D700 Full Frame DSLR camera): It would not be powerful enough to kick the very successful Canon EOS 5D Mk II (Sony probably has the same issue in order to provide a sibling to the Alpha 900/Alpha 850 offering; Pentax solved the issue by looking at a larger format in the 645D).

Instead, they would be preparing a new and better Nikon D800 with a much more powerful set of features:

• Full Frame FX CMOS 16 MP photo sensor
• Sensitivity: ISO 200-12800 (ext. to ISO 102400)
• Continuous shooting at 9 fps (or 11 fps in DX mode)
• Autofocus system: Based on the 3500FX 51-point Multi-CAM
• Full HD video
• 3″ (921,000 dots) VGA LCD

In any case, I would not expect this for the short term. Not before beginning of 2011.

Nikon did not stop at announcing the Nikon D3100 as a new beautiful entry-level digital SLR. Here are four new lenses:

• AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G (estimated selling price of $1699.95)
• AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR (estimated selling price of $1049.95)
• AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (estimated selling price of $1299.95)
• AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR (estimated selling price of $399.95)

As you can see, except the 55-300mm, these are not really cheap lenses. Their quality will be their first weapon (Even more for the 85mm which will attract the attention of some pro photographers).

Nikon D3100 & 55-200mm zoom

Nikon disclosed its new DSLR (that we will be able to see at the Photokina show in Köln, Germany at the end of September): Nikon D3100. As expected from the recent weeks of rumours, it brings at the entry-level the following features:

Nikon D3100 menu

• 1080p HD video capture, with Full AF mode during recording (through contrast detection),
• 14.2 MP photo sensor (14MP is really becoming the new standard),
• Face detection as in the Nikon D5000 (but with up to 35 faces),
• A new user menu, which also includes photographs to illustrate the different settings.

The features of the Nikon D3100 place it squarely between the Nikon D3000 (which will soon disappear) and Nikon D5000.

Pre-orders

If you are already convinced, you can immediately place a pre-order at these partners:

B&H

• Nikon D3100 kit
• Nikon D3100 2-lenses kit
• Nikkor AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens
• Nikkor AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens
• Nikkor AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens

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As we all know, the upcoming Photokina in September is already the center of rumours coming from all parts. I have been trying to give an idea of what could be coming for the major brands in the DSLR market, concentrating mostly on the new bodies to be seen. But there is no end to the list of rumours about lenses. So, let’s try to make a summary of the most common ones, with no order or no probability figures.

photo credit: nhuhoai

• Samsung NX line would receive 3 new lenses according to Korean DDaily: Pancake 20mm, 20-50mm zoom and Macro 60mm lens.
• Canon could come with 3 lenses of its own: Possibly including an EF 16-50 f/4L H-IS.
• Panasonic already announced a 3D lens for the micro-4/3 (Lumix G-series). It should be visible in September and available in December.
• Samyang (the new company you should consider for compatible lenses) is readying a 35mm f/1.4 with manual focus, for the Samsung NX line. 8mm (fisheye) and 85mm have been rumored too.
• Nikon is said to be preparing at least three lenses: Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G N, Nikkor 24-120 f/4 ED VR N, Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6 ED VR DX. They could possibly add a 18-200mm f/5.6 or a 28-300mm f/5.6.
• Sony has already said that we will see a 500mm f/4 G (big grey tele-lens for rich pro photographers) and a wide-angle lens Zeiss Distagon T* 24 mm f/2 ZA SSM, but the rumour has that it will not be the only lenses for the Alpha series. Sony could also present one or two lenses for the NEX line, on top of the 18-200mm already promised for mid-September 2010.

Of course, those could be announced a little before the Photokina show (brands try to steal the wind from the other by moving ahead of time).

Surprise at NR! They tell us that the upcoming release of the entry-level SLR photo camera could come with a radical name policy change from Nikon: Instead of being named Nikon D4000 as previously announced, it would be a Nikon D3100.

Furthermore, everybody now seems convinced that Nikon is going to get a continuous AF mode on the newest yellow SLR photo cameras, including this Nikon D3100.

As for all of photography brands, the upcoming Photokina fair in Köln (Germany) will be a major meeting point with the after-crisis market. Not only because of the launches that will be done there, but also because the photographers expectations have been piling up tidily (maybe be too high?). Let’s see what is really to be expected here and what Nikon will show in terms of news and announcements.

First and foremost, let’s notice that after a deluge of news in 2008 and 2009, the yellow brand seemed a little slow (and farming money from its advance, I should say). It is probably a coincidence and the simultaneous occurrence of several jumps in the various product families, but it should also be considered as a warning of things to come in the digital SLR product lines.

Nikon D90

The cameras that are most probably going to be replaced or renewed are (according to the data I could get):

• The Nikon D90 has grown past its normal life since the very noisy launch of 2008 and its 720p video capture needs to be upgraded to keep annoying the competition. So, probably, here comes the Nikon D7000 for early September: 16MP DX-format sensor (APS-C size), 1080p video capture @ 24fps, 26-point AF system, climbing sensitivity (but not as high as the FX sensor of the D3s, let’s not dream: Native ISO 100-6400).
• Nikon may renew, or may only give the last orientations for the evolution of its pro line after the Nikon D3s and D3x. But there may not be much more than a wooden prototype.

On the other side, no replacement for the D700 in 2010 (with an FX sensor). Both pro and amateur sales representatives where told that this impressively beautiful Full Frame photo camera will see its successor only after the professional shows of early 2011. Probably, for a real announcement before Summer 2011 and availability after Summer. We will have to be very patient and Nikon certainly did not have as many sales as needed to fully convince the marketing department that a (relatively) low resolution FX (Full Frame) sensor is the way to go. They see the competition (Canon and Sony, first) rushing for a pixel-race that may not be ideal for image quality but stays convincing for most applications.

The $1000 open question is still in front of the low-end of the market. On one side, I hear that the Nikon D4000 is ready to launch; On the other side, I hear that it does not even exist. But no source seems more reliable than another. It may simply come from the fact that rumours abound and are always less precise for entry-level photo cameras, or it may be that the new entry-level camera from Nikon will hold a completely different name and people get lost by this change. We will have to wait a little more, I guess.

Currently, Nikon’s development efforts are centered on the preparation of a a new hybrid compact camera (how should I name these photo cameras which look like a point-and-shoot, host interchangeable lenses and an APS-C sensor that would be acceptable in a mid-range SLR camera?). For Nikon, it will be the means to put a whole new range in orbit, bringing two new major features:

• Much improved video capture modes with options to simplify significantly the operation and certainly some technical details to reduce the issues linked to autofocus while shooting video.
• A deep integration with Internet and the communication networks. It is clear that these cameras (there will be a full range of them) will be very near to Flickr, YouTube and Facebook. WiFi integration will be part of the scope.

the first announcements have been done by Makoto Kimura in an interview with Bloomberg, and confirmed by others more recently. If the cameras are scheduled for the end of the year (1st quarter or 2011, at most), Nikon seems ready to lift the curtain on many of the features and details of new range in September 2010 at the Photokina.

In the last few days, we heard quite good news from both Nikon and Canon (the obvious leading companies of the Digital SLR camera market).

Nikon boasted about its first place in Japan sales of SLR cameras in the first half of 2010 (January to June). What is interesting is that they exchanged positions in the list (compared to 2009) and, also, that Panasonic is still in the third position with more than 10% of market share.

Canon moving down by 8% is a major setback. Sony being far from the third spot is also quite a surprise, but it probably reflects the aging of its SLR line of cameras. Both companies still have some work to do here.

However, Canon had also very good news to announce: Their profits tripled over a year. And this comes mostly from photo cameras and laser printers. It means that the market is here. The crisis is over in the photography world (Canon sales are up 15%).

This is the best way to prepare the end of the year 2010: Plenty of product stacking up to grab the renewed interest of avid photographers! Photokina will be interesting.

Could you use such a photo camera? Have a look at Lexar’s latest photo competition, ‘Take the Next Shot’ sweepstake competition on their Facebook page. You could win a Nikon D300s with 16-85mm VR zoom lens or a Canon EOS 7D with an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens.

photo credit: davidgsteadman

When buying a photo camera, we often research in order to decide if this is the best camera, if its features will be goo enough, but will it be robust enough? Will it be useful or necessary to purchase a warranty contract extension? Will it fail very soon?

When somebody asks me these questions (and it happens quite often since I consider myself some kind of photography expert), I am usually without good answers; Nobody really speaks about this dirty little secret: Reliability of photo cameras is a taboo issue. In most cases, talking only happens for very extreme situations (I will not mention any pro camera events in the past few years). But on a daily basis, will my camera follow me everywhere? will it survive the bad treatment I will apply? Or will it fail at the sight of the first cloud (of dust or rain)? Preferably just a couple of days after the end of the warranty period?

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I had missed it, but you should try and look at this marvelous collection of microscopy pictures found at the Nikon’s annual Small World photomicrography competition in 2009. They honored 20 images of very high-quality. Not something that everyone of us would be able to do, but a very beautiful display: 35 Years of the World’s Best Microscope Photography.

Some really look like art pieces more than mere photographs of nature phenomenons.

1996: Doxorubin in methanol and dimethylbenzenesulfonic acid (80x), Polarized Light. / Lars BechNaarden, The Netherlands. Courtesy of Nikon Small World.

According to a reader of Nikon Rumours Forum, here is the upcoming Nikon D4. Possibly a neat Photoshop job, but it looks quite nice.

Nikon D4 (front)

Nikon D4 (back)

Nikon D4 (top)

What would be the feature set of such a Nikon D4?

Do you want to participe in a Nikon community looking towards Nikon? Why not browse toNikongrapher?

Nikongrapher

Barry Fitzgerald decided to offer us a comparison of five of the entry-level D-SLR.

I invite you to read to the conclusion which should please some of the admirers of Pentax.

The reviewed cameras are:

• Sony Alpha A230
• Sony Alpha A550
• Pentax K-x
• Canon EOS 1000d/Rebel XS
• Nikon D3000

The best of all worlds, the miracle combination. But, most of all, a great little trick of engineering: a radio remote control for your photo camera which communicates with a small gadget fixed in the flash shoe of your SLR camera and transmitting the image right from the SLR direct AV connector.

Really smart thingy.

LV-W1 Wireless Live View Remote Control de PixelHK.

It works for Nikon and Canon cameras (two different models, though). You can buy it online from PhotoAddict.

Thanks to smithore.