After years of rumours, Nikon has announced the arrival of the new D4 DSLR camera aimed at professional photographers.
Limits are there to be pushed. And this SLR is made to push them.
The D4 offers a powerful combination of up to 11 fps, a 16.2 megapixel FX-format sensor and phenomenally high ISO (extendable up to 204,800, equivalent). D-movie delivers all the flexibility you need for broadcast quality video. The Kevlar/carbon fiber-composite shutter unit boasts a standard life cycle rating of 400,000 releases, thirty percent more than its predecessor.
Ready for anything, the D4 has the durability and the versatility to realize every shooting opportunity out there.
Key features:
16.2 megapixel FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor with fast channel readout and up to 11 fps consecutive shooting in FX-format.
ISO 100–12800: extendable up to 204,800 (equivalent) and down to 50 (equivalent). High signal-to-noise ratio and wide dynamic range.
Multi-area format D-Movie: records Full HD (1080p) movies in FX- and DX-format, as well as in native Full HD (1920×1080) crop. Offers uncompressed full-resolution HDMI output to external devices.
Newly developed, highly durable Kevlar/carbon fiber-composite shutter unit: standard life cycle rating of 400,000 releases, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 to 30s and flash synchronization at up to 1/250 sec.
Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system: individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings. Sensitive down to -2 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F).
EXPEED 3 image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb tonal gradation.
8 cm (3.2-in.), 922k-dot LCD monitor with auto brightness control. Anti-reflective with wide color reproduction.
3D Color Matrix Metering III: 91k pixel AE AF sensor with full-time face recognition.
100% viewfinder coverage and three Crop Modes: 5:4, 1.2x and DX-format. With viewfinder masking.
Movie frame rates: offers 30p, 25p and 24p and a max recording time of approx. 20 minutes.
High-fidelity audio control: features a stereo microphone input and an audio out for external headphones, which lets you fine tune audio in isolation both before and during recording. A line input setting for PCM linear recorders is also provided.
Storage media: two card slots. One for high-speed CF (UDMA 7) cards and one for high-speed, high-capacity XQD card slots.
Wireless LAN and Ethernet support via optional Wireless Transmitter WT-4 or the newly designed compact Wireless Transmitter WT-5.
Just Added: Our samples galleries of the Ricoh GXR camera system. We've been given a chance to get out and about with both the lens modules the company announced this morning. So here are a selection of Beta samples from both the A12 APS-C 50mm equiv. prime and the S10 1/1.7" 24-72mm zoom modules. We've prepared 52 shots taken at a range of ISOs, apertures and (where appropriate) focal lengths, including a mixture of camera JPEGs and RAW conversions.
After several weeks of rumors Ricoh has unveiled its first digital system camera, the GRX. The system takes a novel approach by offering interchangeable slide mount 'lens units' - sealed modules containing both optics and sensor, meaning it can switch from a large (APS-C) 12 MP CMOS with a fast prime lens to a tiny 10 MP CCD (with a 24-70mm lens). We've had a pre-production GXR system in the office for a week and have produced an in-depth hands-on preview which you'll find after the link. We've also taken lots of pictures with both lens modules so look out a little later today for an extensive gallery of samples.
Pentax Europe has said its forthcoming online store will provide wider access to accessories, rather than cameras as previously reported. The move will allow the company to directly sell a wider range of products to consumers in UK, Germany France, Switzerland and Hungary. A statement from the company corrects an earlier press release from online shopping specialist Digital River about an online store that will be established before the end of the year. Pentax has struggled to achieve widespread distribution of its full product range in some European markets in recent years.
Just Posted: Our in-depth review of the Canon EOS 7D. With a new 18 MP sensor, a 100% viewfinder, weather-sealed body, a new 19 point AF system and Dual Digic 4 imaging processors the EOS 7D is clearly aiming for the top spot in the semi-pro/enthusiast bracket of the market. What does the competition have to say about that? How does the camera fare in our studio tests? Read our in-depth review and find out.
Olympus has announced the E-P2 just five months after the launch of its first Micro Four-Thirds camera, the E-P1. It's a minor upgrade with the addition of a port for a new high resolution electronic viewfinder (or external microphone), two new Art filters and a pearlescent black finish. It also gains AF tracking and includes a new i-Enhance 'colour boosting' function. Available from January 2010, the E-P2 with VF-2 electronic viewfinder and either 17mm pancake or 14-42mm zoom lens will sell for a suggested retail price of $1099.99.
The strong Yen has resulted in fifth consecutive quarter of falling sales income for Canon's camera division, compared to the same period in previous years. Despite this, the company's operating profit and profit margin increased, prompting the company to improve its forecast for the next quarter. Total sales for the division fell 8.3% to ¥229 bn ($2,545m) once currency effects have been taken into account, though they actually grew 6.2% in the currencies they were sold in.
Kodak has reported that its business division that includes digital cameras suffered a 49% fall in sales (compared to the same period last year) in the third quarter of 2009. "Continued declines in consumer spending have had significant impacts in the company's digital camera and digital picture frame businesses," it said. The sales drop has primarily been due to a decline of approximately $157 million in intellectual property royalty revenues, the company said.
Toshiba has announced the development of a back-illuminated CMOS sensor suitable for compact digital cameras. The technology, as used by Sony in its Exmor R sensors, will now be used in a 14.6MP, 1/2.3" sensor. The company says it will start shipping the Dynastron-branded chip by the third quarter of 2010. It will initially produce 500,000 units and expand in response to demand.
Steve Sasson, the man credited with inventing the first digital camera, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Rochester for his work. Sasson developed the first prototype, with a resolution of 0.01 megapixels, in 1975 while working at Kodak and received a patent for it in 1978. Although the diagrams included in the original patent won't look too familiar, its description of 'a solidstate light responsive device' for image capture is instantly recognizable. Earlier this month, Sasson also received an 'Innovation Award' from The Economist magazine for the same work.
Leaf has released the Aptus II 5 digital back. Priced at €5,995, the new back is expected to ship from November 2009. Phase One's 645AF camera body with 80mm lens can be purchased along with the back for an additional €2,000. With a total price of €7,995 for the camera system, we are seeing a trend of affordable medium format cameras trickling into the market. Featuring the fastest capture rate of 0.9 fps in the Aptus-II product line-up, the back includes a 22 MP sensor, 2.5 touch screen LCD, 12-stop dynamic range and 25-400 ISO range.
