Nikon Coolpix S800 - Upcoming Android-Powered Camera

Nikon Coolpix S800

(Image Credit: http://www.crave.cnet.co.uk)

Earlier reports had hinted that an Android-powered camera was being developed by Nikon. According to Nikonrumours, this Android-powered camera is the Nikon Coolpix S800.

The Nikon Coolpix S800 will supposedly come with a 25 to 250mm lens, 3.5-inch OLED display, integrated GPS, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The reported Android-powered camera will use the Gingerbread Android 2.3, which is way behind the current version of the mobile OS, the Jelly Bean Android 4.1.

Access to the Google Play store may add to the appeal of the Nikon Coolpix S800, which may allow users to download apps into the device. This may give users something to do while waiting for the perfect ‘Nikon’ moment that they can capture with the supposed Android-powered camera from Nikon.

It remains uncertain whether the report on the Nikon Coolpix S800 is authentic or not since the site has not revealed its sources. However it did indicate that the reported Nikon Coolpix S800 may be unveiled by August 22, which gives potential buyers some time to save up for the device.

A number of reports had also hinted at the possibility that Samsung will be releasing its own Android-powered camera although nothing much was heard about these reports. Although some industry watchers are looking forward to the release of the reported Nikon S800, the performance of the product itself remains up in the air following the hands-on experience on the Polaroid SC1630, which also featured an Android OS.

Whether the Nikon Coolpix S800 will perform well in the market or not remains to be seen although it will be an interesting addition to the Android-powered devices that are already in the market.

Nikon J2 Camera – Latest 1-Series Entry

Nikon J2 Camera

(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

A new entry to the 1-series cameras was announced by Nikon less than a year after its launch. The Nikon J2 camera will feature a 2.5x standard zoom lens or an 11-27.5mm lens, which is not up to the 3x standard of the 1-series camera of the company.

The Nikon J2 camera appears similar to its predecessor although it features a Creative Mode setting found on the back of the device. It also feature an enhanced LCD display compared to the Nikon J1 camera. In addition to the Creative Mode, the Nikon J2 camera of Nikon features a number of other scene modes including Selective Color, Miniature, Night Portrait, and Night Landscape.

Two new color options will be available for the Nikon J2 camera including a red and orange color option. Although the lens of the latest camera offering of Nikon is not up to the standard 3x lens of its predecessor, it also comes with a 10 – 30mm lens, which will have a price tag of around $190. The Nikon J2 camera will reportedly have a price tag of around $550 and will become available in the market by September.

The upcoming Nikon J2 camera will be quite appealing for compact camera enthusiasts since its 11-27.5mm lens is smaller and lighter compared to the typical 10 -30mm lens.

In addition to the Nikon J2 camera, the company is also set to release its latest underwater housing offering. The WP-N1 will be ideal for sports divers since it is rated for depths reaching 130 feet, the depth limit for the sport. The underwater housing is also compatible for the 10 – 30mm lens and will have a price tag of around $750.

Two New Nikon Lenses Unveiled

Canon EOS-1DX

A pair of new Nikon lenses is set to be released by Nikon into the market. The first is designed as an all-in-one travel lens while the second is an alternative to the midrange zoom lens of the company which features image stabilization.

The first new Nikon lens is the AFS-S DX Nikkor 18mm-300mm f/3.5–5.6G ED VR super-zoom lens that is priced at around $1000. This particular lens is designed for travelers who are willing to make do with a versatile lens while sacrificing optical quality.

This new Nikon lens is compatible with the mainstream DX-format SLRs of Nikon that has an image smaller compared to the 35mm film frame. Due to this, the equivalent range of this particular lens is 27mm to 450mm.

The second new Nikon lens that was unveiled recently is the AF-S Nikkor 24mm-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR that is priced at around $650. It is designed for use on full-frame FX-format Nikon SLRs like the latest Nikon D800. It is offered as a cheaper alternative to the 24mm-85mm f2.8 lens of Nikon as well as the 24mm-70mm f2.8 lens. This particular new Nikon lens also offers image stabilization for owners of Nikon DSLRs.

These two new Nikon lenses are set to be available in the market within the month and offer the second-generation vibration reduction technology of Nikon. This particular technology supposedly provides users with the capability of shooting four stops better than other lenses. Although these claims by Nikon are considered exaggerated, the VR will allow users to shoot better in low-light situations.

The first new Nikon lens also features a nine-blade aperture, three ED or extra-low dispersion glass elements, a 1.48 foot focus distance as well as a zoom lock switch to prevent it from being extended while travelling. The second new Nikon lens features a seven-blade aperture along with a single ED glass element.

These new Nikon lenses will definitely be something that Nikon enthusiasts can look forward when they are finally released into the market.

Nikon Suggest Patience Amid Shortage of Nikon D800

Nikon D800

(Image Credit: dpreview.com)

It appears that customers who have ordered the Nikon D800 will have to wait a little bit longer as the demand for the DSLR has resulted to the shortage in the supply ofthe high-end camera.

According to the UK marketing manager of Nikon, Jeremy Gilbert, consumers have started to order the Nikon D800 following its announcement in the market. There was no time following the announcement of the high-end DSLR that consumers were still thinking about acquiring the device.

Although the situation resulted to the current shortage of the Nikon D800 supply, the company is obviously benefitting from it. For the moment, the demand for the camera is higher compared to the inventory of the company, which is currently unable to increase the production level of the DSLR.

It will be necessary for consumers to exercise more patience since the company will not compromise on the quality of the Nikon D800.

The Nikon D800, which will feature a 36-megapixel sensor, was initially introduced by thecompany last February.  Following its introduction, a systems error was discovered which resulted to a lower price tag of the device.

The company later increased the price tag of the Nikon D800 by around $300, which resulted to criticisms from a number of consumers. However the company still honored the price for the cameras that were pre-ordered before its price was adjusted. But the current shortage in the supply of the Nikon D800 resulted to some changes in the release date for the device along with the Nikon D4.

The company initially revealed that around 30,000 units of the Nikon D800 will be produced every month together with around 5,000 units of the Nikon D4.

Nikon D3200 - The Latest DSLR Offering From Nikon

Nikon D3200

(Image Credit: nikon.com)

The successor to the Nikon D3100 was unveiled recently by Nikon. Although it looks like its predecessor, the Nikon D3200 has a number of features that makes it an enhancement to the previous model of the DSLR from Nikon.

The main feature that makes the Nikon D3200 a definite enhancement from the Nikon D3100 is its 24-megapixel sensor. This is a major upgrade from the D3200 which only had a 14-megapixel sensor. The Expeed 3 image processor of the latest DSLR offering from Nikon allows it to shoot four frames per second in its burst mode.

The Nikon D3200 also offers a high ISO at 6400 although its expanded mode will allow an ISO of 12800. Its video mode allows the DSLR to record 1080p videos at 24 frames per second and 30 frames per second. It also features an HDMI output and a 3.5 millimeter mic-in port.

Focusing on the images will be facilitated with the 11-point autofocus system of the Nikon D3200.

Wireless image sharing to smartphones is also possible with the Nikon D3200 although it will be necessary to purchase the WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter which has a price tag of around $60. The wireless adapter can be clipped on the side of the Nikon D3200 and allows users to control the DSLR using the smartphone art a maximum distance of fifty feet. The Android app will be released near the end of May while the iOS app will be available by autumn.

The Nikon D3200 will come with the AF-S DX Nikkor 18mm-55mm kit lens and it is expected to be available near the end of April at a price tag of around $700. The upcoming Nikon D3200 will be available in two color options, the standard black color option and a red color option.

Aside from the Nikon D3200, the camera manufacturer also unveiled the latest full format prime lens, which is a 28mm / D1.8 lens with a price tag of around $700. The latest prime lens offering of Nikon is compatible with the FX and DX cameras.

Nikon D800 Tops Recent Image Sensor Test

Nikon D800

(Image Credit: dpreview.com)

A recent sensor test evaluated the latest high-end DSLRs that were introduced by the biggest digital camera manufacturers in the world. Basing on the image sensor test conducted by DxO Labs, the Nikon D800 has outclassed some of its competitors in the market.

The latest 36MP high-end DSLR from Nikon scored 95 in the sensor test of DxO Lab. The test evaluated a number of sensor attributes whenever the Nikon D800 is used in shooting raw images and the sensor of the Nikon D800 reportedly has “no weak points”

Three features were reflected by the score achieved by the recently unveiled Nikon D800, the color depth, low-light performance, and dynamic range.

The color depth measures the accuracy and vividness of the color. Low-light performance evaluates the capability of the camera sensor in capturing images under dim light with little image noise while dynamic range is the range between the full complete white and full black of the image.

For the moment the inventory of the Nikon D800 is still short and it may take some time before the supply will be able to equal the demand for the DSLR. The score is shows the quality of the image when it is converted into an 8MP image. The resolution of a camera can overcome image noise when the image is viewed in a particular size.

However zooming into the image will show a different story and photography enthusiasts who would want to look into the performance of the Nikon D800 can look into the pixel-by-pixel image based on the scores given by DxOMark.

The dynamic range of the Nikon D800 topped the test for dynamic range as it spanned 14.4 exposure values. Each step up will increase the amount of light by twofold.

The color depth of the Nikon D800 was also the best among dull-frame DSLRs or cameras with a sensor size of the 35mm of the old film camera. The medium-format image sensors were the only models to outperform the upcoming Nikon DSLR although these models were much more expensive compared to that of the Nikon D800.

However the Nikon D800 finished third in low-light photography due to the high megapixel number which results to smaller individual pixels. The Nikon D4 SLR is the top the low-light performance test since it has a smaller number of pixels, which were also larger.

The performance of a camera is based on its sensor although this is only one factor that will determine whether a camera is a good buy or not. The Nikon D800 is far much better compared to the Nikon D700 and is considered similar to that of the Nikon D4, which is designed for use among photojournalists due to its better durability and low-light performance.

 However despite the result, it is still uncertain if the Nikon D800 will outperform the Canon 5D Mark III. Until an evaluation is made, it will remain uncertain.

Shortage in the Nikon D800 Supply Anticipated

Nikon D800

(Image Credit: dpreview.com)

It appears that the supply of the new Nikon D800 DSLR may be running low, which would make it much more difficult for Nikon fans to purchase the device.

Nikon Japan reportedly posted a notice which will make it quite frustrating for a number of consumers who may wish to get their hands on the Nikon D800. The latest 36.3 MP full-frame Nikon DSLR, which entered the market on March 22, comes with a number of features including the capability of recording 1080/30p videos.

According to the company, the reservations and rather high demand for the Nikon D800, the inventory appears to come out short and it remains uncertain as to when additional units will be available for Nikon fans.

However the notice posted by Nikon Japan has not given any information on whether the D800E is also affected by the shortage. This alternative to the Nikon D800 does not come with the anti-aliasing filter, which facilitates the increase in eth sharpness of the image.

For the moment Nikon USA has not issued any statements in connection to the shortage in the supply of the Nikon D800.

Which One is Better? The Canon EOS 5D Mark III or the Nikon D800?

Canon 5D Mark III

(Image Credit: usatoday.com)

Following the introduction of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, industry watchers immediately made some comparisons between the Canon DSLR with the Nikon D800, which was announced earlier.

The two devices are upgrades of their respective full-frame DSLRs with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III an upgrade from the Canon EOS 5D Mark II while The Nikon D800 serves the replace the Nikon D700.

Among the first comparisons that observers will immediately see is the megapixel count. The Nikon D800 features a 36MP sensor compared to the 22MP sensor for the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. This has given the Nikon D800 a huge advantage over the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

However for some industry watchers, the more notable distinction between the two devices is their lens mount. The main advantage of the Nikon D800 over the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is the fact that the autofocus of the Nikon device will continuously work while a video is being recorded. Users of the upcoming Canon device will have to click on a button each time they will want to re-focus while shooting a video.

Nikon D800

(Image Credit: dpreview.com)

But the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is faster in terms of continuous shooting as t offers a six frames-per-second continuous shooting rate compared to the four frames-per-second for the Nikon D800. The ISO setting for the Canon device reaches ISO 102400 on its expanded mode. The Nikon D800 is only limited to ISO 25600 while on an expanded mode.

Although the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 are full-frame cameras, the eyepoint of the Canon device is longer compared to the Nikon D800, which will facilitate shooting for users who wear glasses. The Nikon D800 has the advantage of featuring a USB 3.0 port which is faster compared to the USB 2.0 port that is found on the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

However whichever camera a user will acquire will basically depend on personal preference. Some photography enthusiasts are lifetime Nikon users while others are die-hard Canon enthusiast. In the end both the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 will offer a number of features that are definite upgrades compared to the devices they are replacing.

Nikon Announces 36MP DSLR, the Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Following the announcement of the full-frame flagship DSLR of Nikon, the D4, the company has revealed another full-frame camera, the D800.

The upcoming camera may have some similarities as the D4, but it also has some significant differences including the smaller design and the absence of Ethernet connectivity. The D800 also features a 36MP CMOS image sensor that is more than a twice the resolution of the D4, which only has a 16MP resolution.

A number of the features on the D4 are also found on the D800 including the HDMI video output that is uncompressed and the RGB Matrix 3 meter that has 91,000 pixels. The camera is also capable of recoding QuickTime videos and the image sensor has the capability of supporting ISO 100 up to ISO6400 although it can even reach to around ISO 25600 that can be used during an rather lowlight situation.

The D4 and the D800 both utilize a 51-point autofocus system which can be used on lenses that have an aperture of f/8 and during low lighting situations. However the D800 comes with a pair of memory cards slots. The first is for the Compact Flash Card while the second support SXC.

The F-mount DX and FX lenses of Nikon are compatible with the D800. The crop mode is used by the camera each time DX lenses are used giving users 15.4MP images but would allow it to capture five frames per second compared to the FX mode which offers four frames per second.

Another variant of the D800 will also be offered by Nikon, the D800E, which removes low-pass filters and enhances of the capability of the camera in recording fine details in the images. However there is a possibility that moiré patterns may be formed particularly if it is used in photographing some types of fabrics. The sharp capture capabilities will also appeal to landscape photographers.

The Nikon D800 is expected to be released by March a price tag of $3,000 while the D800E will e released by April with a price tag of $3,300.

Nikon D3100 - a DSLR with 1080p HD video

Canon has always lorded over the video functions of DSLRs due to the fact that it produces video cameras, which allows it to incorporate the technology into their DSLRs. However, Nikon has recently announced the release of its latest entry into the market, the Nikon D3100, a DSLR with 1080p HD video capabilities. The successor to the highly popular D3000, the D3100 has Live View or a round-the-clock autofocus function which allows it to track and focus on a total of 35 subjects or faces at one time (which is quite similar to what regular camcorders do). The latest Expeed2 image processor allows it to do this. This processor together with the 14.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor also allows you to shoot rather great-looking pictures using the numerous Nikkor 2 lenses available for use with the camera.

The key features of this latest offering from Nikon include:

• Excellent picture and video quality using the 14.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor
  
• Enhanced movie recording with the latest Expeed 2 image processor
  
• Increased ISO sensitivity of up to ISO 3200
  
• Capability of recording full HD movies at 24 fps
  

• A 3-inch or 7.5 cm LCD screen which allows you to share your videos and photos with your family and friends immediately after taking them
  
• Live view function that allows you to autofocus while recording a video
  
• Active D-Lighting which prevents bright lights from ruining the images that you take
  
• Video and image editing within the camera, allowing you to edit any image or videos even without a PC
  

• An 11-point autofocus system that allows you to capture high quality images
  

With the D3100, Nikon is definitely giving Canon a run for its money. I'm just wondering what Canon will have up its sleeve after this rabbit's already out of the bag.

Stay tuned.

sources: Gizmodo and Nikon