Nital, an Italian distributor of Nikon has announced the release of Nikon D200 on 01 November 2005. Click on this link to check out their site. The site contains the specification of the camera. For translation to that site, click on this link.
Following are the translation of the specs into English, thanks to Andy Evans in DPreview Forum:
As the Nikon D200 gets closer, more and more pictures have started to roll into the infodigitalcamera site. An interesting one is the D200 for left handed people which I’m sure is not real. (Second picture)
Overall, the Nikon D200 will be an awesome camera which is solid, well engineered and with superior ergonomics. The Nikon D200 package with the AFS VR 18-200mm zoom lens is even better as this works out to be 11.11 times zoom (Wow!).
Nikon is preparing their websites for the release of the much awaited D200. Here is the link to the genuine Nikon Digital site. For a site currently hosting the Nikon D200 screen visit here.
Screenshots of the Nikon D200 on the Nikon Digital site is shown below.
One thing for certain is the Nikon D200 is priced extremely well and will be a great seller with a 10.2 megapixel sensor. Considering the large amount of material appearing, it won’t be long before Nikon makes the BIG official announcement.
A Norwegian site Fotografi.no says from independent sources that Nikon will release a new Digital SLR next Tuesday or the 1st November 2005. They go on to say that they have reason to believe that the new SLR Nikon will release next week has a sensor with 10,2 MP resolution and will be priced at 17000 NKR.
“(25.10.2005) Fotografi.no har pÃ¥ bakgrunn av uavhengige kilder grunn til Ã¥ tro at det nye speilreflekskameraet Nikon lanserer i neste uke, har en bildebrikke med 10,2 megapiksler og at det kommer til Ã¥ koste 17.000 kroner uten objektiv. Kameraet fÃ¥r navnet Nikon D200″
A rough translation of the article is as follows:
Nikon will, on a press conference Tuesday next week, release a new DSLR. There is a lot of secrecy around the new camera, which is supposed to have professional features for price not only professional photographers will be able to pay. The people who know anything about the new camera are obliged not to reveal anything about it, but we have from other, independent sources confirmed our information regarding name, price and features. In other words our earlier speculations, that this was a “cheap” DSLR with a price of about 7000 NKR, were wrong. We will be back with more information when the camera is released.
At the same time it is probable that it was this camera the management of Nikon Nordic had in mind when they earlier this year hinted about a new Nikon-camera before Christmas. On our question if we should expect any news this autumn they answered evasively, “but you could have a look under the Christmas tree when that time comes.
Source: http://www.fotografi.no
Attached are the official Nikon D200 pictures before it was removed from the Nikon UK website. Looking at these images, the Nikon D200 looks so good, especially considering it looks like it may have a similiar Multi-CAM2000 Auto Focus module like the D2X as well as the metering system. Lets hope so as this will make it one of its biggest selling points. The 18 - 200mm VR lens is great.
Check it out
Canon has just announced the 5 megapixel, 3x optical zoom Powershot SD430 Wireless or Digital IXUS wireless in Europe. The camera is a compact model that has a built-in WiFi (802.11b) which allows wireless transfer of files . Interestingly, this is Canon’s first wireless compact camera and comes after the recently released Nikon P1 & P2. Although I do not see wireless as a great benefit, it does look like it will be one of the newest trends these days. I would prefer manufacturers to incorporate more “manual controls”, higher resolution LCD screen, image stabilization and especially low noise. The Fujifilm Finepix F11 and the Finepix Z2 are two such cameras that seem to have caught my attention.
Anyhow, wireless camera has benefits in that they allow hassle-free wireless communication for printing and transferring images to and from any room in the house. Some of the key features of the Canon’s wireless camera is that you can have direct wireless printing to any PicBridge compatible printer as the camera is supplied with a wireless print adapter. In addition, when in the “automatic transfers mode” pictures are transferred and viewed automatically on the computer monitor as soon as the picture is taken. A great novelty.
The specifications of the Canon Power Shot SD430 wireless are:
Image Sensor
• 1/2.5″ Type CCD
• 5.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes
• 2592 x 1944
• 2048 x 1536
• 1600 x 1200
• 640 x 480
Image processor
• DIGIC II with iSAPS
Movie clips
• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15 fps
• 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30 / 15 fps
• 160 x 120 @ 15 fps
• Up to 1 GB (640×480, 320×240, 30/15 fps)
• Up to 1 min (320×240, 60fps)
• Up to 3 mins (160×120)
File formats
• Still: JPEG (Exif 2.2)
• Movie: AVI (Moion JPEG and monoaural)
• Sound: WAV (monoaural)
Lens / Zoom
• 35 - 105 mm (3x optical zoom)
• F2.8 - F4.9
Digital zoom
• Up to 4x
File compression levels
• Superfine
• Fine
• Normal
ISO sensitivity
• Auto
• ISO 50
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
Focus
• TTL
Auto Focus area modes
• 9-point AiAF
• 1-point AiAF (fixed)
AF assist lamp
• Yes
Focus distance
• Macro: 3 cm
Metering
• Evaluative
• Center-weighted average
• Spot (centre)
Exposure compensation
• +/- 2.0 EV
• 0.3 EV steps
Shutter speed
• 15 - 1/1500 sec
Noise reduction
• Shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. and more operate with noise reduction
Picture Shooting modes
• Auto
• Manual
• Digital Macro
• Portrait
• Night Snapshot
• Scene mode
• My Color (9 Settings)
• Stitch assist
• Movie
Picture Scene modes
• Kids and pets
• Indoor
• Foliage
• Snow
• Beach
• Fireworks
White balance
• Auto
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Tungsten
• Fluorescent
• Fluorescent H
• Custom
Self timer
• 2 or 10 secs
• Custom
Continuous shooting
• 2.1 fps until card is full
Image parameters
• Vivid
• Neutral
• Low Sharpening
• Sepia
• Black & White
• My Colors (9 settings)
Flash
• Built in
• Modes: Auto, on, off
• Red-eye reduction
• Slow sync speed
• Range: 0.5 m - 3.5 m (W) / 2.0 m (T)
External Flash
• Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1
Viewfinder
• Optical
LCD monitor
• 2.0″ TFT LCD
• 118,000 pixels
Connectivity
• USB 2.0 High Speed (Mini-B, PTP)
• Wi-FI IEEE 802.11b
• AV out
Direct print
• Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on SELPHY CP printers only)
• PictBridge compatible printers
Storage
• SD card or MMC card
• 16 MB SD card supplied
Power
• Lithium-ion NB-4L rechargeable batt.
• Charger included
Weight (no batt)
• 130 g (4.6 oz)
Dimensions
• 99 x 54 x 22 mm (3.9 x 2.1 x 0.9 in)
Kodak has just announced the release of two high resolution CCD image sensor for professional photography. The sensors is the KAF-39000 and KAF-31600 image sensor (see below) with 39 and 31.6 megapixels respectively. These sesnors will offer professional camera and camera back manufacturers resolution and image detail that was once unimaginable for digital cameras at this current moment. The KAF-3900 is larger than full frame and therefore allows photographers to experience a new level of image quality for portrait, wedding, landscape, fashion, studio, and commercial photography. Kodak have already been selected the sensors for use by Phase One A/S for use in their upcoming P45 and P30 digital camera backs.
The KAF-39000 sets a new standard for image resolution in professional photography with 39 million imaging pixels in a 36 mm x 48 mm imaging area, while the 31.6 million pixel KAF-31600 deploys this same high-performance pixel in a smaller, 33 mm x 44 mm imaging area. The heart of these imagers is a newly designed 6.8 micron CCD pixel that enables higher sensor resolutions while still retaining the performance required by professional photographers for sensitivity, dynamic range, and color fidelity. As a comparison of how large the Kodak sensors are, Canon’s full framed CMOS sensor is 35.8 x 23.9mm in size.
General manager of Kodak’s Image Sensor Solutions operations, Chris McNiffe stated that “Our new image sensors nearly double the resolution available for professional photography – helping bring images to life in a way never before possible,†he goes on further and says “Kodak offers the broadest image sensor portfolio with the highest resolutions for medium-format photography, providing camera and camera back manufacturers great flexibility to meet the varied demands and requirements of their users. These products are further examples of Kodak’s ability to leverage our legacy of innovation to provide products that uniquely meet our customers’ needs – whatever market they may serve.â€
A pioneer in imaging science, Kodak develops and supplies both CCD and CMOS image sensors for applications ranging from medical and industrial imaging to digital cameras and mobile phones for consumer markets. Earlier this year, Kodak announced the first CMOS image sensors to arise from its manufacturing alliance with IBM (the KAC-5000 and KAC-3100 Image Sensors), and an agreement to license key CMOS Image Sensor manufacturing technology to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry. When combined with the CCD announcements made today, Kodak is again demonstrating its ability to continue as a leading supplier of high-performance CCD image sensors while also providing innovative image sensors for mass-market consumer applications.
The image sensors join the other three KODAK image sensors targeted to the medium-format market.
1. the KAF-16802, which provides 16 million pixels in a square optical configuration;
2. the 22 million pixel KAF-22000, which set the previous high-resolution benchmark for this market; and
3. the KAF-18000, a new 18 million pixel image sensor that offers a unique combination of sensitivity, resolution, and frame rate.
These senors have been widely adopted by the leading manufacturers of cameras and camera backs for medium format photography, and is utilized extensively in products developed by Phase One and Victor Hasselblad AB.
CEO of Phase One, Henrik HÃ¥konsson says “Phase One is pushing the cutting edge of digital imaging technology for professional photographers,†and “Kodak’s family of medium-format CCD sensors has allowed us to offer a portfolio of state-of-the-art solutions that provide the exceptional image quality and performance that customers have come to expect from Phase One.â€
CEO of Hasselblad, Christian Poulsen says “Kodak continues to set the standard for high-quality digital image sensors,†and “Our customers paint pictures with light, requiring the ability to capture even the most delicate and subtle features of an image. The technologies and products provided by Kodak allow us to offer cameras to professional photographers that deliver on these high expectations.â€
It will be interesting who else will use these sensors and whether other sensor manufacturers will follow suit and increase their sizes. With Canon already having a full framed sensor it will be interesting if Nikon will follow its lead.
Source: KODAK
It seems that as the release of the Nikon D200 gets closer, more information have started to appear. Below is the latest D200 specifications that have been circulating around. So far they seem more realistic and closer to the specification I would have expected. Only time will tell as the announcement date gets closer.
Body
Magnesium alloy frame
Sensor
23.7 x 15.7 mm CCD sensor
DX format
RGB Color Filter Array
Built-in fixed low-pass filter
10.4 million effective pixels
3:2 aspect ratio
High speed cropped - NO
Viewfinder
Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism
Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1m-1)
Eyepiece shutter provided
Eyepoint: 19.9 mm (at -1.0m-1)
Frame coverage 100%
Viewfinder magnification approx 0.86x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens
File formats
NEF (12-bit RAW)
NEF + JPEG
JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Color space
sRGB (2 modes)
Adobe RGB (2 modes)
sYCC
Lens mount
Nikon F mount
Full size image: 1.5x field of view crop
High speed cropped: NO
Auto Focus
11 area TTL
Multi-CAM2000-ll ( 3 cross sensor)
AF working range: -1 to 19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature)
AF Assist White light lamp
Sensitivity
Auto
ISO 100 - 1600
Metering modes
3D Color Matrix
Center-Weighted
Spot
Metering range
3D Color Matrix Metering: EV 0 to 20
Center-Weighted Metering: EV 0 to 20
Spot Metering: EV 2 to 20
[at normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens]
Meter Coupling CPU and AI (Automatic maximum aperture indexing)
AE Lock Locked using AE-L/AF-L button
Shutter
Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter
30 to 1/16000 sec
Steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash X-Sync: up to 1/500 sec
Bulb
Metering TTL full-aperture exposure metering system
3D color matrix metering II
1005 segment RGB sensor
Center-weighted: Weight of 75% (8mm circle) given to 6, 8, 10, or 13-mm circle in center of frame, or weighting based on average of entire frame
Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area
LCD monitor
2.5 ” TFT LCD
Tempered glass coating
235,000 pixels
Backlight / brightness adjustment
Shooting modes
Single
Continuous Full image - 5 fps
Price
US: $ 1750
UK: £ 1500
An interesting site, pconline.com.cn has an image of the Nikon D3. The image portrays an artist impression of what the Nikon D3 may actually look like. Is this a true representation of the Nikon D3 ? Who knows, however as they have their details on the image, it may be a way of promoting their site.
Anyhow, they say it will be announce at the end of the year. If this is true, it will be an interesting time for Nikon fans who are excitedly waiting for the Nikon D200 announcement due in November 2005.
Let wait and see.
The specification of the new Nikon D3 camera is mentioned as follows:
- Full framed 22 megapixel CMOS sensor
- Magnesium Alloy body
- 8.5 fps, 50JPEG (fine) or 40 NEF
- 2.8 inch LCD screen with 250,000 pixel
- CAM 2000 11 point Autofocus
- No internal flash
- MF lens data input - (can use MF lens with all modes)
- Battery level shown in %
- ISO 50，100，800，1200，1600，1800，3200
- Shutter speed 30s - 1/18000s + B
- Compact Flash and SD storage
- build-in WT-3 Wireless Transmitter, with optional Antenna to improve transmission
- 2150mAH Lithium battery or 6 x NiMH in Grip
- weight: 1250g
- Dimension 180 x 175 x 95 (mm)
- Announce at the end of 2005
Check out the source site here
An interesting conversation occurred between Juan José Castillo, Director of Sony in Spain and quesabesde.com representative during the Spanish Photography Fair in Barcelona, Spain. Juan José Castillo hinted that Sony had intentions of buying, merging or forming a joint venture with Nikon prior to the current Sony / Konica Minolta partnership.
Here what he said about Nikon
“Yes, buy… or merge. A wide range of possibilities were considered to see who could develop the reflex business. I believe that Nikon was one of the proposed options.
Anyway, while all these topics were being negotiated, we asked for a camera like the R1 a couple of years ago, and maybe when they had it they closed a deal with Konica Minolta. Three years ago they couldn’t over a question of prices. Time has been lost, but now we have something to compete with in this opening in the reflex sector.”