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Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

 

Astronaut Don Pettit in Space With Lots of Nikon DSLRs

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Check out astronaut Don Pettit and his big collection of Nikon DSLRs and lenses.  NASA has been big on Nikon for several years, ordering 11 Nikon D3s bodies a couple of years ago and 76 Nikon D2Xs bodies before that.

The cameras are modified to withstand the rigors of photography in space – including capturing extravehicular activities with the Nikon D2Xs based on the last word we had from Nikon.

I wonder when they will get the new D4 or D800 on board the International Space Station?

[NASA via OnOrbit via PetaPixel]

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS MACRO Lens Announced

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Sigma 18-250mm f:3.5-6.3 DC OS MACRO Lens

The Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS MACRO lens was unveiled today as an all-purpose APS-C lens.  No pricing yet, but it should be available in July.

The new lens differs from the non-macro version in magnification ratio, but it also contains new material called Thermally Stable Composite (TSC). TSC is incorporated into the lens barrel and is often compared to polycarbonate. It has a high degree of elasticity and exhibits little variation in its structure in extreme temperature conditions. This means that internal barrel expansion and contraction due to extreme temperature variations is less prevalent.

TSC also contributes to the lens’ size reduction. The non-macro 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 without TSC weighs 22.2 ounces and is 3.1 by 4 inches in diameter, whereas the new macro lens is 16.6 ounces and 2.9 by 3.5 inches in diameter. As a result, this is a more compact, multi-purpose lens for APS-C sized sensor cameras.

More details in the press release below. [Read more…]

Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR and AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR Officially Announced

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Nikon DX 18-300mm Lens

Nikon has just announced the addition of two new lenses to NIKKOR DSLR lens lineup, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR and the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR lenses.

Nikon AF-S 24-85mm Lens

Both lenses should be available later this month.  The 18-300mm DX lens retails for $999.95 and the 24-85mm FX lens retails for $599.95.

Also, Nikon announced that total production of NIKKOR lenses for Nikon SLR cameras and Nikon 1 advanced cameras with interchangeable-lens reached seventy million at the end of May 2012.

More details in the press release below. [Read more…]

Nikon D400 Rumored for Fall

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Nikon D400

Amidst a flurry of recent rumors about a Nikon D600 and new lenses, the rumor mill has been relatively quiet about a replacement for the Nikon D300s.  However, Mansurovs has posted a detailed spec list attached to a rumored Photokina 2012 announcement for the Nikon D400 – sporting a 24MP APS-C sensor and a $1799 price tag.

Check out the spec list below and let us know your thoughts about such an APS-C pro shooter in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

[Read more…]

Nikkor AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR and AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Coming Soon?

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Nikkor AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

Recent leaks and rumors suggest Nikon is planning to launch a pair of new lenses soon – the AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR and the AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.

The 24-85mm lens is rumored to be an affordable full frame lens (possibly a kit lens?) to accompany the rumored Nikon D600.  And the 18-300mm is an all-purpose DX lens for cameras like the Nikon D7000.

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

The lenses are rumored to be available by the end of June, which (if correct) puts an announcement any day now.

[via Nikon Rumors]

Nikon D600 Specs Update

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Nikon D600

Nikon Rumors has posted an update list of specifications for the rumored-to-be-coming-soon, full frame Nikon D600.  Notably, Nikon Rumors seems rather confident that the previously rumored absence of an AF motor is not true and that the D600 will, indeed, feature a built-in AF motor for legacy Nikon AF lenses.

The revised Nikon D600 spec list is as follows: [Read more…]