Nikon 10.2 mp DSLR in 20 days

wholenewlight · July 20, 2006

On DPReview
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0607/06072001nikondslrteaser.asp

"Nikon Japan has today started a teaser campaign promoting a new compact 10.2 megapixel digital SLR which will be announced in 20 days, we can only guess that this would be the natural successor to the D70/D70s. The teaser gives away few details other than the fact that the camera will have 10.2 megapixels (just in case you were thinking of buying a Sony Alpha). "

wholenewlight · July 20, 2006

And the teaser in english on Nikon's European site:

http://www.nikon-euro.com/DoesNotDisappoint/

DoctorIt · July 20, 2006

nrChris just pointed out that out to me as well. There's a flash teaser right on their main site too:

http://nikonimaging.com/global/

Brooks P · July 20, 2006

It's on nikonusa.com too.

Harryb · July 20, 2006

Thom Hogan predicted a 10 MP D80 release in 8/2006

http://bythom.com/roadmap.htm

looks like he was on the mark.

MrBook2 · July 29, 2006

This *might*be true
Saw this linked from one of the "other" photography forums. Ken Rockwell seems to have some inside info:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80.htm

I don't know how much is true, but if it is even close, I intend to be on the waiting list the day it announces.

--Aaron

PS Sorry if this was posted before, but I didn't see it, and the search still won't allow anything as short as "d80".

DoctorIt · July 30, 2006

Aaron, thanks for the link - I was really excited until I got to the part that said SD instead of CF. :bluduh

jfriend · July 30, 2006

SD is inevitable

DoctorIt wrote:

Aaron, thanks for the link - I was really excited until I got to the part that said SD instead of CF. :bluduh

It looks like the photography world is moving from CF to SD (at least for non-pro cameras, but probably eventually even for pro cameras in time). It will be painful for some in the transition (will involve orphaning some perfectly good CF cards or having to own both types of storage if you have multiple cameras), but it appears we're just going to have to get used to it.

You can fight the idea for awhile, but sooner or later, you won't be able to avoid it.

For reference:

SD cards now come in pretty much all the same capacities as CF cards
SD cards connectors are less expensive in the camera than CF connectors
SD card connectors are smaller than CF card connectors
SD cards themselves are smaller than CF cards
SD cards are widely supported by card readers

These benefits will allow the camera company to make a smaller body, a less expensive body or a body with more features in the same size. All of these will ultimately benefit the user.

luckyrwe · July 30, 2006

According to Ritz Camera here, the D70s is being discontinued, so this is a replacement I assume.

MrBook2 · July 31, 2006

jfriend wrote:

For reference:
SD cards now come in pretty much all the same capacities as CF cards

SD cards connectors are less expensive in the camera than CF connectors

SD card connectors are smaller than CF card connectors

SD cards themselves are smaller than CF cards

SD cards are widely supported by card readers

From my brief search, it also looks like SD are slightly cheaper than CF for the same capacity/speed. Still, I do have to have to switch. Oh, well. I only have 5 GB of CF...

--Aaron

Harryb · August 9, 2006

DPR has a preview of the D80. Looks like a major improvement over the D70.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond80/

MrBook2 · August 9, 2006

Harryb wrote:

DPR has a preview of the D80. Looks like a major improvement ove rthe D70.

My only two concerns are the slow flash sync (1/200 vs. 1/500 on D70) and the metering (420 pixel sensor vs. 1005 pixel sensor on the D70). They say it is the same metering as the D50, but I haven't really handled a D50 enough to know how to feel about that.

--Aaron

Andyman · August 9, 2006

Yeah I don't know what's up with the 1/200 flash sync. Even my D50 has 1/500.

MrBook2 · August 9, 2006

I hear the metering on the D80 is supposed to be as nearly as good as the D70s (even with the lower resolution metering) but I am still a bit concerned with the flash sync.

Anyway, here is another preview with comparisons to other models:

http://www.digitalreview.ca/cams/NikonD80_intro.shtml

--Aaron

MrBook2 · August 9, 2006

Looks like Ken Rockwell has updated his D80 page to reflect some of the things that are known for sure after the press release:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80.htm

Also, Mike Johnston has some of this thoughts on his blog:

http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_theonlinephotographer_archive.html
(I think this link will always get you the the August 2006 posts of his blog, so when we all look back at this in six months when we actually manage to get a D80, we don't have to dig for it.)

--Aaron

MrBook2 · August 9, 2006

And, since I can't seem to post enough links today, Adorama is now taking pre-orders:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD80.html?searchinfo=nikon%20d80&item_no=3

Now I am torn. Do I get one or simply save for a D200?

--Aaron

Harryb · August 9, 2006

Lets add one more link to the mix. Thom Hogan as always has an interesting overview of the D80.
http://bythom.com/d80comment.htm

ziggy53 · August 9, 2006

Harryb wrote:

Lets add one more link to the mix. Thom Hogan as always has an interesting overview of the D80.
http://bythom.com/d80comment.htm

Note in the article that he thinks there will be a "D40", or something, which will be a "dumbed down" (my words) D80. 10MPix for $600-700USD? (Current price for a D50 with lens is $700.)

ziggy53

ziggy53 · August 9, 2006

MrBook2 wrote:

And, since I can't seem to post enough links today, Adorama is now taking pre-orders:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD80.html?searchinfo=nikon%20d80&item_no=3

Now I am torn. Do I get one or simply save for a D200?

--Aaron

There are still a lot of unknowns.

For example, I think I could live with the D200 at ISO1600. The Sony Alpha at ISO1600 seems worse. It's anybody's guess what the D80 will be like.

ziggy53

MrBook2 · August 10, 2006

ziggy53 wrote:

There are still a lot of unknowns.

For example, I think I could live with the D200 at ISO1600. The Sony Alpha at ISO1600 seems worse. It's anybody's guess what the D80 will be like.

ziggy53

This page seems to have a comparison of the D80 and the Sony Alpha, but I don't read Japanese, so I can't prove it.

http://photo-cafe.jp/scoop/index.html

--Aaron

ziggy53 · August 10, 2006

MrBook2 wrote:

This page seems to have a comparison of the D80 and the Sony Alpha, but I don't read Japanese, so I can't prove it.

http://photo-cafe.jp/scoop/index.html

--Aaron

Good find!

At the bottom of that page are (supposedly) direct comparisons and links to full-sized JPGs. I downloaded the bottommost images at full res, and the EXIF also confirms the camera types.

The Nikon D80 image at ISO 1600 looks much, much better to me.

These are the links to the images and then the full EXIFs via IrfanView:

http://www.photo-cafe.jp/scoop/archives/20060810/a100_1600.JPG
File: - C:\My Documents\My Pictures\a100_1600.JPG

ImageDescription - SONY DSC
Make - SONY
Model - DSLR-A100
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - DSLR-A100 v1.00
DateTime - 2006:08:01 15:35:04
YCbCrPositioning - Centered
ExifOffset - 390
ExposureTime - 1/40 seconds
FNumber - 4.50
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 1600
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2006:08:01 15:35:04
DateTimeDigitized - 2006:08:01 15:35:04
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 8 (bits/pixel)
BrightnessValue - 0.75
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 3.49
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired, auto mode
FocalLength - 18.00 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 3872
ExifImageHeight - 2592
InteroperabilityOffset - 25212
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 0 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 27 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - High gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal

Maker Note (Vendor): -

http://digitalcamera.impress.co.jp/photocafe/scoop/archives/20060810/d80_1600.JPG
File: - C:\My Documents\My Pictures\d80_1600.JPG

Make - NIKON CORPORATION
Model - NIKON D80
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - Ver.1.00
DateTime - 2006:08:01 15:19:16
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 216
ExposureTime - 1/20 seconds
FNumber - 3.50
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ISOSpeedRatings - 1600
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2006:08:01 15:19:16
DateTimeDigitized - 2006:08:01 15:19:16
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 4 (bits/pixel)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 3.48
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired
FocalLength - 18.00 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 0
SubsecTimeOriginal - 0
SubsecTimeDigitized - 0
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 3872
ExifImageHeight - 2592
InteroperabilityOffset - 28896
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 27 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - High gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Unknown

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Data version - 0210 (808595760)
ISO Setting - 1600
Color Mode - COLOR
Image Quality - FINE
White Balance - AUTO
Image Sharpening - AUTO
Focus Mode - AF-S
Flash Setting - NORMAL
Flash Mode -
White Balance Adjustment -
White Balance RB - Æ
Exposure Adjustment -
Flash Compensation -

Tone Compensation - AUTO
Lens type - AF
Lens - "
Flash Used - Not fired
AF Focus Position - Center
Bracketing -
Color Mode - MODE1a
Light Type - NATURAL
Hue Adjustment -
Noise Reduction - OFF
Total pictures - ö
Optimization - NORMAL

DoctorIt · August 10, 2006

Andyman wrote:

Yeah I don't know what's up with the 1/200 flash sync. Even my D50 has 1/500.

Yeah, but per Thom Hogan's review - it has full commander mode. To be honest, thats one of the things I find the coolest about the D200 - the ability to only have to own one big flash (SB800).

claudermilk · August 10, 2006

Wow, that Alpha really sucks with noise! I had to drop the the D80 ISO800 to even tell it was an indoor shot. Personally I'm not too impressed with either at 1600, but then I'm spoiled. Given a choice between the Nikon or Sony, though, it's a no-brainer.

Andyman · August 10, 2006

DoctorIt: You mean the camera itself acts as the commander? Wireless or corded?

I have a SB800 also but am not interested in buying bunch of other stuff to be able to control it wirelessly.

DoctorIt · August 11, 2006

Andyman wrote:

DoctorIt: You mean the camera itself acts as the commander? Wireless or corded?

I have a SB800 also but am not interested in buying bunch of other stuff to be able to control it wirelessly.

Wireless, as if you had one SB800 onboard acting as a master, and a second SB as a wireless slave. Commandar mode means the onboard pop-up flash is able to act as the master, so you can trigger a remote SB.

Very cool. My friend has a D200 and it lets him do some really cool lighting even while traveling with minimal kit.

Justiceiro · August 11, 2006

This looks really nice- particularly the price point. Much better upgrade than the lame 30d. Looks like Canon got juked.

Alexandra_Marie · August 11, 2006

I feel a little slow, I work in a camera store and I just found out about the D80 yesterday...I am shamed.
Ok, moving on. I own a D50 right now and am looking forward to being able to "play" with one.

Jeffro · August 11, 2006

DoctorIt wrote:

Wireless, as if you had one SB800 onboard acting as a master, and a second SB as a wireless slave. Commandar mode means the onboard pop-up flash is able to act as the master, so you can trigger a remote SB.

That is very cool. I know a crime scene guy who uses that set up, very slick. I wish my 20D could do that.

Nikon 10.2 mp DSLR in 20 days

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