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Wednesday August 9, 2006
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 Nikon announced it's new D80 D-SLR today, the latest in a long line of D-SLRs for the camera giant. The camera will replace the wildly popular Nikon D70s. The specs are impressive, 10.2-megapixel resolution, 2.5-inch LCD, 11-area AF system. The ISO range is an ample 100 to 1600. And perhaps most importantly, it is compatible with a wide range of Nikkor lenses and accessories. But Nikon isn't rushing to adopt some of the new technologies that other vendors have brought to market. What is missing? As Terry Sullivan, PC Mag's Camera Analyst, sees it:
The technologies include a Live View mode (Olympus, Panasonic), sensor-cleaning technology (Olympus, Sony), and a mechanical image-stabilization system (Panasonic's Mega O.I.S and Sony's Super SteadyShot system). Also, Olympus' Evolt E-330 includes an articulating LCD to view the Live View mode with. The only real technology shift is moving from CompactFlash to the increasingly popular SD memory card. Big deal. No doubt, this is going to be a killer camera that takes great pictures, but it seems to lack a bit in terms of innovation. Nikon doesn't seem concerned, which is good news for its competitors.
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August 9, 2006 1:44 PM
These "innovations" that Nikon is avoiding are not all they're cracked up to be. The Olympus/Panasonic live view system in particular has been almost universally panned on the serious photography review sites. It offers two live view "modes", both of which are problematic - a mode which uses a subsidiary image sensor, which is not 100% frame-accurate and which is almost useless in low light, and a mode which uses the main image sensor but which can't auto-focus. Moreover, and most importantly, the live view system seriously compromises the usability of the traditional SLR viewfinder (it's much dimmer than on a conventional SLR because it has to share light with the live view sensor). This is an "innovation" that many of us could do without. The sensor-based image stabilization system provided by Sony/Panasonic is a much better thought-out feature. However, it's not as though Nikon doesn't believe in image stabilization: they have a very advanced and effective "VR" system incorporated into select lenses. Unlike sensor-based systems, the Nikon VR isn't automatically available for every lens, but the lens-based systems perform better in practice.
August 9, 2006 8:08 PM
Features like live view can be easily added via firmware updates at a later date. And Nikon knows it better than the noobies. Glad I did wait on getting the D200, although will be sad to see my CF cards go out of use.
August 10, 2006 8:52 AM
I agree completely with Mark. If the D80 delivers essentially the same level of image quality as the D200 (and there is ever reason to expect that it will), then these supporting technologies like Live View, sensor cleaning, and stabilization are very, very secondary considerations. Plus, Nikon does offer an image stabilization solution with its VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses. Jim
August 11, 2006 3:47 AM
and the D80 is certainly not aimed at amateurs. What's seems to be missing are features such as more than 3 picture bracketing and time lapse photography.
August 12, 2006 7:04 PM
If you want liveview, go buy something else (ie. not a DSLR) My guess if you are looking for this then you won't be using anything else but the 'Auto' setting....