nikon

Nikon goes zoom crazy with latest Coolpix cams

The Nikon Coolpix P500, the manufacturer's latest full-size megazoom, is packing a 36x f3.4-5.7 21.5-800mm-equivalent lens. That blows away its predecessor, the P100, which had a 26x, f2.8-5 26-678mm lens (35mm equivalent) and narrowly beats Canon's PowerShot SX30 IS and its 35x, f2.7-5.8, 24-840mm (35mm equivalent). At least in magnification, since the Nikon starts wider; it doesn't surpass the Canon, though really the "36x" spec is all that will matter to most consumers.

It will likely beat the Canon in shooting performance, too. The P500 has a 12-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor … Read more

43rumors: Nikon will announce mirrorless ILC in April

The good folks over at rumor blog 43rumors are quite certain that come April, Nikon will unveil a professional mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC). The article has been stamped "FT5," a label the site uses to indicate that its sources are almost certainly correct.

While there have been plenty of rumors about Nikon entering the mirrorless ILC segment to compete with Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung, it seems those speculations have so far remained, well, speculations.

43rumors has a good track record when it comes to accuracy. Rumors deemed FT5 on the blog site always turn out to … Read more

Free software tethers Nikon dSLR to computer

Professional studio photographers who use Nikon dSLRs often employ the company's Camera Control Pro to tether the camera to a computer. This allows them to control the shooter from the PC and view images immediately after they are taken. However, this program costs $150 and isn't compatible with lower-end dSLRs.

Nikontrol 3K, however, is free and supports the Nikon D3000, D40, and D90. It was developed using the Nikon software development kit and users simply have to connect the camera to a computer via USB to start tethering. There are some limitations, though, such as Windows-only compatibility.

You … Read more

Trends in digital photography: The good

A photographic landmark of sorts took place at the end of 2010. Dwayne's Photo accepted the last roll of Kodachrome slide film for processing. Kodachrome was long a favorite of many professionals and advanced amateurs but required a unique and complex development process; Dwayne's was the last lab to provide this service.

Digital has replaced film for most, pros and amateurs alike. And it's not standing still. The current trends are mostly positive--which isn't to say there aren't a few product and technology areas that couldn't stand improvement.

Here I look at the good. … Read more

Apple releases Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.5, adds Nikon D7000

Apple has released version 3.5 of its Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update, which includes support for several new cameras including Nikon's D700 and Coolpix P7000.

Other cameras included in the update are:

Canon PowerShot G12 Leica D-Lux 5 Leica D-Lux 7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Users can find a running list of compatible cameras, here.

If you do not see Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.5 in Software Update, be sure you are running Mac OS X 10.6.5. If you have a lesser version of Mac OS X installed, the update will not … Read more

Faster raw shooting for Nikon's P7000

Nikon has released a new firmware update to its 10.1MP high-end enthusiast compact the Coolpix P7000. The firmware update, v1.1, speeds up raw shooting by reducing image recording time. They also state that lens control has been optimized to reduce instances of the "Initializing lens. Cannot focus" message being displayed. It fixes a rare issue that prevented zoom operation. It also corrects an issue that would cause the LCD display to exhibit blown-out highlights when the shutter-release button was depressed halfway while Active D-Lighting was enabled.

We generally recommend installing the latest firmware updates for your … Read more

Is this Nikon's mirrorless system camera?

Update, 10:51 a.m. PT: Per Nikon Rumors, the above photo is actually a picture of a concept from at least as far back as 2009 that's displayed in the Nikon Sapporo showroom, where photography is banned--hence the lack of a previous viewing.

Rumors of Nikon's mirrorless system shooter have been circulating on the Web for a while, but this time there are pictures to prove the Japanese firm may be introducing such a camera soon.

Over at DCHome's forum, a user posted a photo of what seems to be Nikon's concept for a snapper … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 22: Samsung Tab or iPad?

This week on Android Atlas Weekly, Android is sued again, a 3D Android Picture Frame and everything you ever wanted to know about the Samsung Galaxy Tab, All that and more coming up on this week's edition of Android Atlas Weekly for Thursday, October 28st, 2010. Join Justin Eckhouse along side guest host, Senior Editor, Donald Bell.

News Stories

Android Market tops 100,000 applications http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-20020616-265.html

Paypal support should hit the Android Market … Read more

Android-powered NF-300i frames pics--in 3D

In today's slightly bonkers gadget news, Nikon has unveiled the NF-300i, a digital photo frame powered by Android that turns your photos into a 3D extravaganza--all without the aid of funny glasses.

The frankly rather ugly 7.2-inch digital frame boasts a double-density lenticular screen with 800x600-pixel resolution. It works in 2D mode or displays your 2D photos in 3D, after they're converted in the cloud by Nikon's online photo storage service.

The NF-300i packs 4GB of internal memory, alongside a USB socket, and Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi to show pictures from the Web.

Read … Read more

Nikon interchangeable-lens camera for 2011?

Sitting somewhere between point-and-shoot bridge cameras and digital SLRs are mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (ILC). Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, and Olympus are the manufacturers leading the way, while Canon and Nikon are seemingly waiting it out. However, according to Taiwan's DigiTimes, Nikon is ready to move forward.

Of course, there are no specifics about the cameras, but a comment sourced to Nikon says its new mirrorless camera will help expand its ILC market share in Asia Pacific to 40 percent in 2011 and 50 percent in 2012.

Not that Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, and Olympus aren't big names, but it's … Read more