Nikon D3 announced

[fivegrand]

Who's gonna bite on this one?

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-8742-9083

[John Stutz]

Sweet!! Thanks for the heads up. I knew one was around the corner, but I wasn't keeping tabs. Count me in - eventualy. For now, I'm sticking with my turn-of-the-century D1x, which is a dinosaur in comparison. I'll probably upgrade camera bodies to Nikon's latest and greatest as soon as I switch from fitness to other genres at the middle-to-end of next year.

Sad as it may seem, this first-generation D3 full-frame sensor camera seems almost like a step back (or sideways) in some regards, but it looks like a positive step by combining the distinct x-vs-h models into one unit, which is a big bonus for consumers. Plus, the full frame (which I honestly couldn't care less about) will open the door to humongous image sizes (and file sizes) in future generations I'm sure.

Ok, so those are just a few ramblings that no one really cares about... BUT... for many of you who lurk around these pages, check this tid-bit-o-information out...

The D3 has an HDMI HD video output. Imagine that, pay-site owners -- shooting HD video with an SLR camera!! Try attaching a 300/2.8 or a super-wide angle lens to your current HD video camera. Heck, even I might be inclined to give that a try.

[Tre]

Who's gonna bite on this one?
I dunno, man. Depends on what Rockwell says.

[John Stutz]

I dunno, man. Depends on what Rockwell says.Now that's the Tre I know and love!!

[fivegrand]

I dunno, man. Depends on what Rockwell says.

:drinkA: :420 man:

That guy thinks all everyone needs is a box with a hole in it.

LOL

[fivegrand]

The D3 has an HDMI HD video output. Imagine that, pay-site owners -- shooting HD video with an SLR camera!! Try attaching a 300/2.8 or a super-wide angle lens to your current HD video camera. Heck, even I might be inclined to give that a try.

I'm not certain that Live View video capture is a real intent, though with a few easy hacks and patches it could be done easily enough.

Live View is pretty interesting though, and should help out the macro and product guys that don't want to move to MF or are film holdouts. When used on a small view camera with a digital back it is the only way you can focus the camera. It is also used to verify focus in all parts of the frame after you've adjusted the camera for perspective. It is used quite frequently in product and food photography as well as applications that call for very specific selective focus. You have to be careful with it though because it warms up the sensor, leading to increased noise in the image if left on too long (on the BIG mp backs anyway - it will be interesting to see if that remains true with the little guys like the 1DsM3 and the D3). So I'm not certain that Live View can be really meaningful to the video guys with this camera.

According to the rumours that I've heard, John, you might be more inclined to wait a little bit more - what I'm hearing is that the D3 is not the new flagship camera with high speed, it's the new high speed flagship camera. Rumours are that Nikon will release a 22+mp camera with yet another top-secret, manufacturer-not-disclosed CMOS sensor that is supposed to bring the Red Check back up to par with The Big C.

[HDPhysiques]

According to the rumours that I've heard, John, you might be more inclined to wait a little bit more - what I'm hearing is that the D3 is not the new flagship camera with high speed, it's the new high speed flagship camera. Rumours are that Nikon will release a 22+mp camera with yet another top-secret, manufacturer-not-disclosed CMOS sensor that is supposed to bring the Red Check back up to par with The Big C.

I've heard the same. However, it's not important to me anymore, as I've just become a proud member of the Canon family. LOL. I'm really liking this 50mm 1.4 L-series, btw.

As far as the video goes, there are many interesting technologies due to emerge in upcoming years. I'm not as interested as John is, in a D-SLR that might be able to someday do HD video. Having worked with professional and prosumer HD Cams, and D-SLR's, I simply wouldn't like it ergonomically. Plus, I'd have to *really* be convinced that quality and convenience would be near equal. It might work in the professional arena, but as we've seen over the past 7-8 years in consumer products, the still cams that try to do video, or the video cams that snap stills, never do as good a job as their dedicated counterparts at the crossover task.

[HDPhysiques]

I dunno, man. Depends on what Rockwell says.

ROFL!!!!!!!!

[fivegrand]

the still cams that try to do video, or the video cams that snap stills, never do as good a job as their dedicated counterparts at the crossover task.

Yes, exactly - I always say that a camera that does both, does neither very well.

[John Stutz]

According to the rumours that I've heard, John, you might be more inclined to wait a little bit more - what I'm hearing is that the D3 is not the new flagship camera with high speed, it's the new high speed flagship camera. Rumours are that Nikon will release a 22+mp camera with yet another top-secret, manufacturer-not-disclosed CMOS sensor that is supposed to bring the Red Check back up to par with The Big C.I haven't heard any rumors, but upon first impression, it wasn't hard to see into the future. That's why I said, "Sad as it may seem, this first-generation D3 full-frame sensor camera seems almost like a step back (or sideways) in some regards..." It is prety apparent that Nikon is merely realigning for a future product line. The X vs. H was a pretty hokey marketing ploy. The D3 just seems to put the 2 product lines together, not a whole lot more. If they weren't intent on making some future leap, they probably wouldn't have switched away from the DX sensor, which they've invested [or now should I say wasted] a lot of energy on. FF / DX, it makes no difference to me. But the D3 is obviously a quantum step away from its predecessors with no substantial benefit [yet]. The last time Nikon came out with their own proprietary sensor, the D1h, it was a huge flop. I do feel sorry for the people who purchased that one. I therefore wouldn't be too eager to own the latest proprietary sensor. Not that this camera will be bad, I'm sure it'll be the best camera on the market as is typical of each and every Nikon flagship camera announced, but since I don't need a new body, I'll patiently wait for the next rev.

As for the HD, I'm not a videographer. Never will be. I haven't even seen an HD porn flick yet. I was just suggesting that it would be very neat to see what one could do with alternative lenses that one can't get on a HD video camera.

[HDPhysiques]

The last time Nikon came out with their own proprietary sensor, the D1h, it was a huge flop. I do feel sorry for the people who purchased that one. I therefore wouldn't be too eager to own the latest proprietary sensor.

I thought that Nikon developed their own sensor for the D200 (10MP), that was then later sold/licensed/whatever to Sony, Pentax and Olympus for use in their D-SLRs. Is that incorrect?


As for the HD, I'm not a videographer. Never will be. I haven't even seen an HD porn flick yet. I was just suggesting that it would be very neat to see what one could do with alternative lenses that one can't get on a HD video camera.

Agree, the creative possibilities would be huge.

[John Stutz]

I thought that Nikon developed their own sensor for the D200 (10MP), that was then later sold/licensed/whatever to Sony, Pentax and Olympus for use in their D-SLRs. Is that incorrect?I'm just counting the D# series of course.

[fivegrand]

Hands-on preview and full specs:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond3/

*51 point* focusing?!?

I saw an ISO 6400 jpeg shot out of one of these - it looked like Velvia 50.

:Popcorn2: