New Gear From Nikon
Nikon introduced two new cameras today and some lenses:
(1) The Nikon D300s
As expected, it has lots of video features, including built-in HD video capabilities (720p), a stereo mic input, in-camera video editing features, auto-focus, and it has a dual card slot so you can shoot stills to a Compact Flash card, and send your video to an SD card. (Image shown above: courtesy of Nikon).
On the still side: it shoots more frames per second (7 fps, or 8 with the battery grip); it has dedicated buttons for Live View (great for switching to video quickly) and the Info Screen (like some of the Nikon’s recently released models), and a “Quiet Drive” mode for shooting in situations where you want the camera to make as little noise as possible (weddings, wildlife, etc.). Also, the D300s got the same Multi-Selector wheel as the D3/D700, which is a step up, and it includes the Virtual Horizon feature from the D3/D700 as well.
You can resize and process Raw images from within the camera (it comes with four built-in presets), it has built-in sensor cleaning, and a few other bells and whistles.
I don’t know if the noise is reduced yet, but will report as soon as I call my contacts at Nikon (and no—Nikon did not call me with a heads up, or early info on the camera. I read about it this morning along with everybody else).
The Street Price should be around $1,799.
Here’s the link with more details from Nikon USA.
(2) The Nikon D3000
At seems like this is a Nikon D5000 but without the video capabilities, and I believe it looks to be a replacement for the D60, but I haven’t heard anything official on it. (Image shown above: courtesy of Nikon).
The street price will be around $599.
Here’s the link with more details from Nikon USA.
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They also introduced two new lenses as well:
The 70-200mm VR II f/2.8
A newly redesigned version of the lens I probably use more than any other. The new VR II is supposed to give you an additional 4-stops of low light hand holding, and it’s supposed to be sharper, particularly at the edges on FX (full frame) Nikon cameras. The lens is a little shorter than the original, and a tiny bit heavier. (Image shown above: courtesy of Nikon).
It’s set to ship in November at a street price of $2,399 [ed note; Yikes!]
Here’s the link with more details from Nikon USA.
The 18-200mm VR II f/3.5 – f.5.6
Another redesigned version of the lens I probably most for travel photography, when I want one lens and don’t want to switch at all. It’s got the new VR II as well, and it addresses the big complaint of the original, which was that the zoom barrel would sometimes start sliding if you were aiming up or down by adding a zoom lock switch on the lens. (Image shown above: courtesy of Nikon).
The street price will be around $850. It’s set to ship in September.
Here’s the link with more details from Nikon USA.
Thanks for the info Scott. To bad I just purchased my 70-200 two months ago. I am beginning to feel like a Nikon old timer – I now have 2 discontinued lenses, the 18-200 and the 70-200. Oh well…
Me too, I just purchased the 70-200 about 5 weeks ago, it’s the way of these things you spend ages deciding to buy something and when you finally do they bring out a new model
Just because your lens, or camera, is discontinued does not render it unable to shoot awesome imagery! I would still purchase the old version 70-200 or 18-200 today even with the announcement of the new. What’s good yesterday is still good today, even if there’s something new with a couple of “upgraded” adjustments. Just IMO.
I know what you mean, Grahm and Steve. I Just decided I was going to start saving my pennies for the $1900 70-200mm. And low and behold, they come out with a new version thats $500 more. And by the time I’ve saved enough, the old version wont be available new anywhere. $&#@.
Hey Guys here is a site to keep in mind next time your thinking about buying. He has been reporting on a 70-200 & D300s way back. & his track record is pretty Awsome.
http://nikonrumors.com/
Keep in mind Scott is quoting Nikon retail pricing, street pricing (B&H, Adorama, etc.) will be lower.
Hey Scott,
What do you think you’re gonna do?
Are you keeping your D5000 as travel-body or are you switching to the D300s?
” don’t know if the noise is reduced yet, but will report as some as I call my contacts at Nikon (and no—Nikon did not call me with a heads up, or early info on the camera. I read about it this morning along with everybody else).”
Hi!Scott. I bougth some of your books and I’m suscriptor of Kelbytraining. When yo said that in your last travel to Italy the Nikon5000 make less noise than the D300 you demonstrate your independence of opinion. Now the towsands readers of your blog will be expecting for your words about D300s noise. It is a big responsibility for you. I want to say thank you, cause as equal of hundred readers of your blog meavy I’ll buy the D300s depending “JUST” in your authorised opinion about noise.
Many thanks for your free opinions,a fact not usual in Internet photography blogs.
I just got a D5000, so I’m not changing cameras any time soon (and anyway I would probably jump to a D90 equivalent once they add a swivel screen). I do, however, need some good lenses, and I would be very interested to know if the new 18-200 is worth the extra $200 (more if I grab a used one off ebay). I’m holding my money in anticipation.
No way am I gonna be able to afford the 70-200; I couldn’t get it at the old price point, certainly I can’t at $2000!
It just occurred to me: Why doesn’t the D300s have a swivel screen? I can understand the D3000, it’s looking like a replacement for the D40, but why not put the screen on something high end like the D300s? The D5000 has positioned it as a basic feature for even the mid-range stuff.
It was my understanding from Nikon’s press release that the 18-200mm VR II only had the zoom lock at the shortest focal length. It would infinately more useful if the focal length could be locked at any focal length.
D’oh!
I just bought a 18mm-200mm. Have taken it out on a few shoots and have found the lens creep so annoying. On your photowalk I carried it all around the city (sydney), every time i looked down it was right out at 200mm (sigh). Finally this new version of the lens has a zoom lock switch. This sucks for existing 18mm-200mm owners. Im going to New York later this year and I don’t really want to risk banging it on a wall/pole/person etc. I guess I’ll have to flog it off and upgrade. Anyone interested… I didnt think so…
Nice, Nikon, Nice…
Hey Neil…an easy fix for the 18-200 zoom creep is to pick up one of the numerous plastic bracelets (Livestrong etc) that are around now and put that around the zoom ring.
I found a clear one (so I could still read the magnification numbers) awhile back on ebay and it works great. No creep. I just used it on the Photowalk and it worked perfectly.
It does make the lens just a bit stiffer to zoom but I kind of like that.
An easier (and cheaper) fix along the same line: I use a wide elastic band that is used on bundles of broccoli. It stretches nicely around the barrel of the lens and really only needs to cover part of the two sections to stop the creeping. So I have it overlapping on the “back” of the lens and I can adjust the elastic out of the way of the numbers.
More video on DSLRs? Yawn. I’m glad to see new updates from Nikon, but I wonder what advances we miss out on because the designers are thinking about video details instead of still photo technology. If I’m alone on this, oh well.
Thanks for the updates, Scott!
You are not alone my friend! While I am itching to buy a Canon 5D, I am not purchasing for the video and I doubt that I will use the video function that much. I had the chance to be a videographer, alas I chose to be a photographer — I take still pictures, lol!
The 18-200mm Lens was the main reason I switched from Canon to Nikon. (Canon’s wasn’t out at the time) and it’s a truly excellent lens considering the range. The only problem with it for me is that it’s a little soft at 200, so lets hope they’ve addressed that. They do say in the press release that it has improved optics so if it’s sharper I’d consider selling mine and getting the new one.
Scott-
You know, I really love my D300 and 70-200 2.8 VR, and I bet the new versions are even better and I already WANT THEM BOTH NOW. But…I bet neither of them (nor the D3, nor the D700 (which I also want)) will suddenly elevate my photography to the status of Fine Art or prevent me from making some of the dumb mistakes I seem to continually make as a relative beginner in this wonderful field.
Good for Nikon–glad to see them continuing to raise the bar.
Well said Richard. Thom Hogan has a great article on his website about getting caught up in the newest, greatest thing. I re-read this often to keep my head on straight. We’re all gearheads to some level. Go here http://www.bythom.com/2009%20Nikon%20News.htm and give it a read… scroll down to the section on “Where to Spend $2000″. Most cameras and lenses today are able to produce stunning images. That said, I too am looking into the 70-200mm. Closer to release, it may be a good time to pick up a used one, especially if you’re shooting a DX camera. I’m not even entertaining upgrading from my ‘old’ D300 at this time. My two cents.
We can’t forget the noise of a D300. I have read the article you suggests. 99% is true for a medium-low photographer. Lots of times, marketing make blind customers.
But…for semi-professional photographer or more, D300 is a bad chance. I have a D70 , I’m not professional, I have then a nikonosaurius. I want to change, but I’ll not buy a D300s if it makes noise after 800 ISO. (and totally sure if makes noise after 400! in determinated circumstances). And I agree the article totally but only for beginners or small prints. With all my respect, of course. Excuse my English.
I for one am not interested in using my dSLR for video. I am an amateur/enthusiast and didn’t get involved with photography to make videos. Plus, I really don’t want to invest the time and effort to learn this. I guess if I were more interested in video the motivation would be there.
This trend to include and enhance video reminds me of a similar marketing trend with cell phones where more and more features are added in order to differentiate one phone from another in the marketplace but where few of the new differentiating features are actually used. Of course for those with a need the new features are a real plus but I wonder if NiKon and Canon are acutally seeing their sales numbers increase because they are attracting more new shooters.
I would rather see them invest their R&D money in better photography than in video.
dSLR for video (yawn) “see them invest their R&D money in better photography” Totally agree with you on this one
I am of the complete oposite view. I do stills and video both, and the fact is this: Video in SLRs have a huge potential. Over conventional videocameras it has these advantages: large sensor and a broad selection of lenses (at a fraction of the cost of cinema or broadcast lenses), much shallower depth of field, much better light sensitivity, much better dynamic range etc.
Also to concider is that the use of video in different medias is ever growing at this point, and it’s a market share that is just now startingto become aware of itself. That said, it would be great if Nikon could release versions of their cameras that would be specially targeted for video, if the video-implementation should somehow put limitations on the stills side of things. Like having a D300v beside the D300s
The problem with video on slrs today, is that there is no real manual control (except for the Canon 5D mkII). It’s extremely frustrating to be this close, and still so far away from something tuly great. Imagine if your slr didn’t have anual control in stills mode… not that great eh’?
Hi Scott,
I know you love the 70-200mm/f2.8 VR and am hoping you will post your impressions of the differences between the old and the new when you get to use the new version. I own the lens also – it is my favourite and I am hard-pressed to know how it could really be improved. Haven’t noticed any vignetting on my D700 really…
Rogier
I’ve been waiting months for Nikon to announce a replacement for the D40/D60 models, and I’m very disappointed in the specs of this new D3000. No live view. No auto-bracketing. When was the last time any camera manufacturer released a new model without live view? It’s been awhile. And even many modest point-and-shoots have auto-bracketing. With the popularity of HDR, it’s a very useful feature. And the D3000 uses the same sensor as the D60. I’m a family man and photography is only a hobby, so it’s difficult to justify spending a lot for a camera. I want live view, so I’ll need to look to another manufacturer.
N00b quesiton:
I’m curious why would someone woudl want the 70-200 over the 18-200.
Is it the larger aperature on the 70-200 ?
I’d love to hear more about how you’d use these two different lenses where they overlap\complement each other.
Really there are several reasons someone would want the 70-200 over the 18-200. First of all, the larger aperture makes the 70-200 much better in low light. The 70-200 also simply has higher quality glass than the 18-200 and therefore is regarded as being sharper (at least thats the way it was with the “old” versions of the lens, I imagine the new versions will be the same). As far as where they overlap and compliment each other, the 18-200 obviously has a much larger zoom range than the 70-200, making it useful in a more diverse range of situations. That and its realatively small size and weight make it an excellent travel and all-purpose lens.
One additional factor: while the 18-200mm zooms the standard way, by getting longer, the 70-200mm( unless they changed it for some reason with the new version) is Internally Zooming. The lens never changes size no matter what zoom you are at, and by extension does not suffer from the old 18-200’s biggest flaw, the zoom creep.
As other’s said already. it can handle lower light better, has higher aperture, sharper, higher quality build, internal zoom. And what to me is one of its main features, is faster focusing.
Hey Scott,
Any clue to what the third ring on the far end of the 70-200 is. Maybe their isn’t one but it sure looks like it. You got zoom barrel, focus ring, and then what?
Yes baby, does this mean i can rid myself of the mk1 70-200, i for one will be glad to see the back of it as mine has been as soft as ummhhhh, well without swearing a soft thing, and have been using 80-200 for past few months as cant trust it at F4 especially not at 2.8
It would be really cool if nikon would come out with a MB-D10II battery grip that would do everything the MB-D10 does but adds the ability to recond voice memos into the camera as well as a LCD screen to check and change f-stop, shutter speed, ect.. from the vertical position.
This would be a great addition to the D300s, and would alow one to have those added features in a entry level profesional camera.
just my 2 cents
-AJ
that 70-200mm seems to be missing a few things and has placed others in odd locations.
1. I do not see any Focus Lock Buttons. Where they used to be, is now what looks like a 3rd ring on the end(maybe that’s the new focus lock system? if so cool) If they removed the feature, that is a deal breaker for me. and ill covet my old 70-200 for years to come.
2. Where the heck is the pretty gold plate with serial number! When i pay that much for glass, i want it to make me feel like royalty with shiny gold plating!
3. they changed the location of the window that shows where you’re focusing from the very end of the lens, to the middle. Not sure i will like this as much.
4. I do not see any wording on it stating it was made in Japan like the current 70-200mm is, and proudly states on the gold plate.
5. It looks like the diameter of the lens does not widen as much near the front as it used to. Seems likes its more flush with the zoom ring this time than before. Which could prove problomatic for manual focusing. As having the ridge on the focus ring made for some of the easiest focusing on any lens i have ever owned.
6. It might just be the photo, but it seems like the paintjob of past nikon lenses has changed with this to a more smooth coating. Not that big of a deal, but i really do love the dark black textured paintjob of the current 70-200.
Other than those five issue’s, it looks great. From what i can tell they kept the same foot collar system for it. Which i got my fingers crossed is true, as i really do not want to have to buy another RRS quick release foot for the new one.
I have a friend who wants to buy my D80, and I’m about to take a big leap of faith and upgrade my camera. I would love to know your opinion as to which would be better, a D300s or a D700.
If I get the D700, I’ll only have a 50mm and a 70-300mm lens (fortunately, my friend also wants to buy my 18-200mm VR). What would be a good multi-purpose lens that wouldn’t break the bank (obviously the 70-200mm VR II f/2.8 is not an option—I second the “Yikes!”)?
I had a great time at the Proverbs 31 Ministries She Speaks conference this weekend and introduced a new group of ladies to NAPP when I co-lead a session on photography for bloggers (and clarified that a NAPP Evangelist was a lover of Photoshop and not a religious heretic).
Blessings,
Dawn
Due to the photography bug spreading rapidly in my family, we’ll be looking for another body soon so I’m wondering similar things myself.
I’m very happy with my D90 (as I was with my D40, which I still like). Compared to the D90, I would appreciate the greater ability of the D300s to endure the elements, have more & better AF points, ability to meter with older manual focus lenses, faster speed & deeper buffer, autofocus fine tune, and the more flexible (up to 9 frame) bracketing. The viewfinders in both are terrible compared to what I’ve got in my F100 (the D700 probably has as good or better finder than the F100). But then, the sensor & meter of the $1800 D300s is no better than that of the $700 D5000 ….
But considering the $700 or so difference between the D300s and D700 I’d have to consider both. Obviously the D700 has a better sensor with better dynamic range, world class high ISO performance with lower pixel density (which gives less scope for cropping e.g. bird shots). But with a D700x due out soon I wouldn’t buy a D700 now.
You can get good lenses cheap for a D700 (or film body). For example I’ve got a 28-80mm AF-S, a 20mm f/2.8D (both picked up cheap off of craigslist). The 70-300 VR is slow but about as good as it gets for telephoto reach without dropping 5 grand (or going 3rd party). There are 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S/AF-D lenses in good shape about that can be had for $700-$1k as well. There are also $300 85mm f/1.8 lenses to be had etc. So I wouldn’t let the lack of lenses stop you. Of course to go _really_ wide there’s no “cheap” way to match the DX 10-24mm. If 20mm isn’t wide enough, you’ll be dropping 2k for a 14-24mm f/2.8 or $1k+ for a 17-35mm f/2.8.
Tradeoffs tradeoffs …. no matter the choice, a $700 D5000 $1k D90, $1.8k D300 or $2400 D700 will get you a much more capable body.
Wow. I had no idea there was a D700x coming. I’m afraid I’ll never buy anything because I’m waiting for upgrades. Maybe this is why the price on the D700 just got so much better. Maybe that’s the route to go…
I just bought my first Nikon d3000. I am looking for a good zoom lens for under $300. Any suggestions would be appreciated…..