Following its announcement earlier this week, we have prepared a sample gallery from the new AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8 G. Nikon has made clear that this lens is aimed squarely at entry-level users and its low price seems to have generated a lot of interest, so we rushed out the moment it arrived in the office. We've included a couple of shots with the lens wide-open and in a variety of conditions to give a little taste of what you can expect. It's also joined our lens review queue, so we're aiming to provide more in-depth analysis in the coming months.

There are 17 images in the samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it.

Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. A reduced size image (within 1024 x 1024 bounds) is provided to be more easily viewed in your browser. As always the original untouched image is available by clicking on this reduced image.

All images with ACR in the filename have been processed using Adobe Camera Raw v5.2 with corrections made to white balance but no attempt made to remove chromatic aberrations.

AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm F1.8 G Samples Gallery - Posted 13 Feb 2008

Following the launch of its 35mm F1.8 lens, we spoke to Nikon to discuss why it has chosen this particular lens to address the commonly-cited lack of cheap, fast primes for owners of its D40, D40X and D60 DSLRs. Robert Cristina, Manager of professional products, Europe and Ludovic Drean, Product Manager for lenses, Europe, offered to explain.

The majority of lens systems have offered 50mm lenses as the most accessible way for new DSLR users to experiment with fast prime lenses (a legacy from 35mm film cameras on which they acted as 'standard' lenses). Yet Nikon has decided that its new offering should be a 50mm equivalent. Ludovic Drean explains why: "The concept was to give a 50mm equivalent lens on the DX format. A lot of people have bought the 50 1.8 because it was all that was available. It may seem rather late for the APS-C system, but we believed that entry-level users wanted a standard lens."

Nikon already builds a full-frame 35mm F2 lens, but this doesn't quite fit the bill, he says: "That's an older lens, a slower lens and, in terms of product placement, a more expensive lens. Updating that and making it an AF-S, 'G' version might have cost twice as much. The new lens is a step above the 35mm F2 in terms of image quality. It's specifically designed for DX and the aspherical element helps it give better results."

The other obvious question was why the lens should be restricted to the DX format, given that Nikon now makes three FX, full-frame bodies: "It's about price, size and weight. We wanted this to be a lens for the entry-level. If we'd tried to make an FX 35mm F1.4 it might cost €1400, rather than €200, and we wanted to make sure it was an affordable lens." Drean says.

Robert Cristina offers some context: "The main target is D40/D60/D90 owners. They make up 80% of our DSLR sales and there wasn't really an inexpensive prime lens for them. So far, the lens offering for that market has included some really good zooms, but this offers them something they were missing."

Being a standard lens, the 35mm focal length offers flexibility, but doesn't lend itself to portraiture as a 50mm lens (that many APS-C users have become used to), could at a push. And, while neither would be drawn on specific future lens plans, they did hint that more primes might be seen for the DX format: "DX is not over," Drean says: "we plan to increase the offering. The prime lenses were definitely something that was missing."

Drean says the company's lens plans are not contingent on the 35mm being a hit, though Cristina is optimistic about its chances: "If even 5% of the D40, D50, D60, D80, D90 owners buy this lens, that's a huge number," and, he adds: "this is not the last lens announcement we'll be making this year."

Fujifilm has unveiled the FinePix F200EXR digital compact, incorporating its new 1/1.6” Super CCD EXR sensor. The camera is the first to use the company's EXR technology that can use the sensor in three different ways to optimize resolution, dynamic range or low-light performance. The F200EXR has a 3.0" LCD, 5x optical zoom, dual image stabilization and HD (stills) output. An EXR Auto mode lets the camera select which of the three sensor modes is used or the user can make that decision themselves.

• Super CCD EXR 12 megapixel switchable sensor (6MP in low-light and dynamic range modes)
• 5x (28-140mm equiv.) wide-angle optical zoom lens
• Dual Image Stabilisation
• 3” clear view LCD screen
• High sensitivity modes (ISO 6400 at 6MP resolution & 12800 at 3MP resolution)
• Manual controls (including aperture and shutter priority)
• EXR Auto mode selects sensor and scene mode (Portrait, Night, Macro, Landscape. Night portrait & Backlit portrait)
• Film Simulation mode (Provia/Standard, Velvia/Vivid, ASTIA/Soft, Black & White, Sepia)

Press Release:

The latest F-Series compact with revolutionary Super CCD EXR switchable sensor technology; the FinePix F200EXR

February 4, 2009: First announced at Photokina 2008, Fujifilm’s new EXR technology makes its first appearance in a new camera announced today, the FinePix F200EXR.

Following a long line of famous Super CCD sensors in cameras like the FinePix F10 and FinePix F31fd, the FinePix F200EXR is designed by Fujifilm to be the perfect camera for the photographic enthusiast. Primed to be the class-leading compact of 2009, the FinePix F200EXR utilises brand new, ground-breaking technology to create an unprecedented level of image quality from a consumer level compact.

Using the human eye as the basis for the perfect camera sensor, Fujifilm has yet again extended technological boundaries, creating a Super CCD capable of registering excellent levels of detail when switched to its high resolution mode, but at the same time, capable of offering excellent quality in low light and superb highlight detail in contrasty light when switched to its high sensitivity and wide dynamic range modes respectively.

In addition to the 12 Megapixel 1/1.6”Super CCD EXR and completely redesigned EXR Processor, the FinePix F200EXR inherits its rich feature set from the FinePix F100fd, which includes a powerful Fujinon 5x wide angle optical zoom lens, and the most powerful face detection technology on the market, Face Detection 3.0, with auto red eye removal.  On top of this, the F200EXR offers 5 Film Simulation Modes, a 3.0” high-resolution 230,000 dots wide view LCD, HD Photo Output, Dual Image Stabilisation and sensitivity up to ISO 12800 (3 million pixel only).

This combination of cutting-edge technology encased within a pocketable digital compact body means that advanced amateur photographers through to professionals will be able to take breathtaking pictures in the most challenging of conditions.

The world’s most versatile photographic sensor
Faced with a market driven by the demand for higher pixel counts, yet conscious that high concentrations of pixels on small sensors can produce diminishing quality returns, Fujifilm engineers had a radical rethink about sensor technology.  Why not make a sensor that can flex its behaviour according to the scene to be photographed?  Why not give full resolution when bright light allows, but use the pixels in a different way when the light is not ideal?  The FinePix F200EXR offers 3 switchable modes in one sensor:

• High Resolution mode, which deploys all twelve million pixels, and is designed to offer the finest detail of intricate subjects when light is full and even
• High Sensitivity and Low Noise mode, which caps two adjacent pixels together to produce 6 million large photodiodes, which are big enough to absorb light in the darkest of conditions, to produce low-light shots of extraordinary quality with minimal noise and grain; and
• Wide Dynamic Range mode, which captures different exposures with two sets of six million pixels, which, when combined, gives an excellent level of detail in highlights that would otherwise be lost.

In EXR Mode, the photographer can choose which sensor setting is preferable for the subject to be photographed by choosing High Resolution Priority (HR) to maximise resolution, High ISO and Low Noise Priority (SN) for high quality low-light work or D-Range Priority (DR) for the best detail with contrasty subjects.

Perfect Pictures - Automatically
The FinePix F60fd was the first digital camera to introduce SR AUTO (Scene Recognition AUTO), allowing photographers to let the camera determine the settings to ensure correct exposure, colour reproduction and lighting.

The FinePix F200 EXR takes the next technological step by combining Scene recognition technology with EXR technology by automatically and intelligently choosing the correct Super CCD EXR Priority in conjunction with a range of other controls (image quality, exposure, focus, white balance etc).  Now, the photographer can let the camera choose the best sensor mode by using the revolutionary EXR AUTO mode, which is the most efficient mechanism yet invented to quickly optimise the camera’s settings to allow the photographer to concentrate on capturing the perfect shot. 

EXR Auto offers six modes to choose from:  Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Backlit Portrait, Night, and Night Portrait.  As an example, when taking close subject, FinePix F200EXR will intelligently choose Macro mode by recognizing the scene.  Then the sensor will switch to the best EXR mode that is suitable for the scene.  Intelligently switching into one of High Resolution Priority (HR), High ISO and Low Noise Priority(S/N), and D-Range Priority (DR) to capture the best possible shot.

The FinePix F200EXR also retains Fujifilm’s improved exposure modes.  New “Super intelligent flash” can control technology that even lets you take flash assisted macro shots without flash washout.  Enables to capture subjects and background in bright, clear a natural detail over the full flash range including ultra close-ups. Other popular exposure modes such as Natural Light and with Flash (giving the user a choice of flash ‘on’ or flash ‘off’ shots) or Natural Light, is featured to capture great candid portraits when powerful flash might be intrusive.

Like all great compacts, the FinePix F200EXR lets the photographer decide the best shooting mode.  On AUTO, the camera deploys 12 million pixels and operates like other standard high-class compacts.  On MANUAL, the aperture and shutter speed can be chosen independently, while PROGRAM mode offers a choice of Program AE and Aperture Priority AE.

Don’t Leave Without Your Favourite Film
Photographic versatility is stretched yet further with the addition of five Film Simulation modes. Producing beautiful images is something which is in the very DNA of Fujifilm, and Fujifilm engineers are determined to leverage the considerable strengths gained through years of perfecting film to making the best sensor possible.  Introduced to compacts for the very first time, the FinePix F200EXR offers Velvia/ Vivid mode for rich and luscious landscapes, Provia/ Standard mode for excellent, sharp, standard photography, ASTIA/Soft mode for fine, smooth tonality, Black and White for dramatic monochromes and Sepia for a warm-toned period look are also featured. 

Great on TV Also
Images captured by the FinePix F200EXR look breathtaking when displayed on an HDTV.  With standard HD cameras, HD-out means pictures can de displayed in the correct aspect ratio in excellent resolution.  But with the FinePix F200EXR, noise and grain in the shadows is hardly noticeable while highlights, so often poor with conventional cameras, can be seen in excellent detail.  And colour, sometimes washed out and insipid, looks bold and dramatic, especially when Film Simulation modes are used.

The Full Package
The FinePix F200EXR is fitted with the same sharp lens that made its predecessor such a winner. With its precision optics and massive 5x zoom range, from wide 28mm to long telephoto of 140 mm, the optic delivers sharp, crisp pictures to the sensor every time.  And with CCD shift image stabilisation combined with high sensitivity, shots will be blur-free time after time, even in the most difficult of conditions. The FinePix F200EXR can shoot up to super high sensitivity ISO 12800.

Finally, to help with quick focusing, the FinePix F200EXR is fitted with Fujifilm’s Face Detection 3.0, which is regarded to be one of the most accurate and speedy on the market.  Faces can be ‘found’ instantly and accurately at any angle.

Availability & pricing
The FinePix F200EXR will be available from end of February. Pricing will be announced nearer to the date of the launch.

Source: www.livingroom.org.au]]> http://photoworld.cc/reviews/nikon-unveil-new-coolpix-range/

Pre-PMA 2009: Nikon has unveiled the Coolpix P90 superzoom with 24x optical zoom. With 26mm - 624mm (35mm equiv.) zoom range this superzoom camera sports a 12.1 MP sensor, 3.0 inch tilting LCD and includes manual and auto features such as Scene Auto Selector, Smile Mode, Blink warning and P/A/S/M exposure modes. In addition, continuous shooting mode can deliver 45 images at 15 fps, with images being recorded before pressing the shutter button.

Press Release:

Nikon introduces 24x zoom compact camera

Nikon UK is proud to announce the P90 compact camera that boasts an impressive 24x wide angle optical zoom. Its high-performance super-telephoto zoom, wide-angle capabilities and other powerful features are combined in an easy-to-use camera, making it ideal for users looking for the famous Nikon quality, in a camera that’s compact and portable.

Mark Pekelharing, Product Manager Consumer Products at Nikon Europe B.V: “This camera demonstrates Nikon’s devotion to camera enthusiasts. The amazingly powerful 24x zoom, 3.0-inch LCD screen with vari-angle tilt function, vibration reduction, and high sensitivity make the P90 a no-compromise bridge between a compact camera and a D-SLR.”  

Features to write home about
The P90 has an immensely powerful 24x optical zoom that offers the 35mm-equivalent of a 26mm wide-angle to a 624mm telephoto and is capable of shooting pictures as close up as 1cm. High-speed continuous shooting up to 45 shots at 15 fps means it is an ideal camera for sports photography and can even record images before you’ve pressed the button. Add to this its 12.1 effective megapixels and sensitivity up to ISO 6400, and it is clear why it excels in almost any shooting situation. Users can set it to full automatic or various manual settings using the camera’s four exposure modes (PSAM) and compose their ideal picture using the electronic viewfinder. The camera offers many other Nikon-quality features such as four Anti-blur technologies, Auto Scene and Face Priority AF, recognising up to twelve faces. It also includes the latest features, such as Smile Mode and Blink Warning, Nikon’s proprietary D-Lighting for optimising contrast and Quick Retouch. The camera can also record movies, including time-lapse movies and its 3-inch vari-angle LCD screen makes taking pictures easy even in challenging situations.

The P90 comes supplied with a USB cable, audio/video cable, strap and a software suite for COOLPIX CD-ROM. It will be available in Black All Nikon cameras come with 2GB free online image storage at Nikon’s my Picturetown service on mypicturetown.com.