Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Nikon Rumors is reporting that Nikon will be dropping a new J2 mirrorless camera later in August as a replacement for the Nikon 1 Series J1 model. Additionally, Nikon is expected to release several new mirrorless accessories, including an underwater housing.
This is just one of the many rumored announcements due for Photokina 2012.
[Update 2 – 7/25/12: It’s now in stock at Amazon here. Again, don’t expect it to last.]
[Update: 4 hours later and it’s already gone at Newegg.]
The Nikon D800 has been ridiculously hard to come by. Right now, you can find it in stock at Newegg.com.
Don’t expect this to last long though.
Lexar will begin supporting the XQD memory card format this year. Lexar has plans to bring XQD cards to market in third quarter 2012.
Currently, the only camera supporting the XQD format is the Nikon D4 and Sony is the only XQD card manufacturer with cards on store shelves, including Sony’s second batch of new S Series 168MB/s cards that are available for pre-order.
No word on pricing, but expect Lexar to be in the same ballpark as Sony during these early months of availability – with Sony starting at $130 for a 16GB card (an H Series at 125MB/s).
Maybe Lexar has word on “future XQD-based camera models” mentioned in its press release that will increase demand for the new format. My money is on the next Sony full frame model (the A99?) to feature at least one XQD card slot. Expect to hear more about XQD format support (SanDisk, Kingston?) and new camera models in the coming weeks as we lead up to Photokina 2012.
Check out Lexar’s full press release on upcoming XQD card support below. [Read more…]
Pricing and availability are now official for the new Sigma APO Macro 180mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens. It will be available on July 27 for $1699 for Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony and Pentax mounts. It’s currently available for pre-order at B&H Photo.
More info on the new lens in the latest press release below. [Read more…]
Nikon has announced the upcoming 800mm f/5.6 super-telephoto lens. The lens is the longest Nikon AF lens – ahead of the 600mm f/4G VR.
The new 800mm monster will be on display at Photokina 2012.
No price or release date has been announced yet. My estimate is that it will be in the same $14k range as the Canon 800mm f/5.6L and maybe Nikon will get more official about availability around Photokina.
Update – Here’s a closer look at the lens:
See the full press release below. [Read more…]
Nikon’s Recollections section on its website just added the Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8P IF-ED beast of lens from 1990. The lens was constructed of 18 elements in 13 groups and had a minimum focusing distance of 10 meters. It weighed in at a hefty 35lbs. [Read more…]
Nikon Rumors picked up word that a new AF-S 800mm f/5.6 VR Lens should arrive in September around the time of Photokina 2012. The longest current lens in Nikon’s line up is the 600mm f/4G ED VR AF lens. Given that this lens is priced at $9800, I would expect to see the 800mm lens in the same $14k ballpark as Canon’s 800mm f/5.6L.
A new firmware update is available for the Nikon D4. Firmware version 1.02 provides the following fixes and updates: [Read more…]
Online buyers of DSLR cameras pay $1,291, on average, for their camera, up from $937 in 2011, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera Online Buyer ReportSM released last week.
I was a little surprised to read those numbers, considering the affordable DSLR options available now – with cameras like the Nikon D3200, Rebel T3 and Sony A37. However, I’m also a little curious if the consumer move toward affordable mirrorless cameras like the Sony NEX-F3 and Olympus E-PM1 has impacted these figures (which may not be factored into “DSLR” sales evaluated by JD Power).
Additional notes from the report points to Pentax’s lead in buyer satisfaction and durability. Finally, note that these scores are based on consumer surveys rather than objective test data.
More excerpts from the press release below. [Read more…]
NASA satellites and astronauts are capturing some compelling images from space that show just how massive the wildfires in the western US have become. [Read more…]