The New Nikon D90!!

Finally,

The new Nikon D90 has been announced and it definately looks like a camera on my shopping list. Here's what Nikon has to say:

Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of its newest DX-format digital SLR, the D90. More than just a new camera, the D90 represents a new era of digital SLR fun and creativity.

The first thing that will amaze photographers about the D90 is its stunning image quality, which takes its inspiration from Nikon’s flagship DX-format digital SLR, the D300. The D90’s image sensor and 12.3 effective megapixels combine with Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED image processing to deliver outstanding images featuring fine details, smooth tones, rich colors and low noise across a wide ISO sensitivity range.

The D90 is the world’s first* digital SLR camera with a movie shooting function that delivers genuinely cinematic results, enhanced by the creatively shallow depth of field made possible by the DX-format sensor. This is further refined by the optical quality and broad selection of NIKKOR lenses — the same lenses relied upon by professional photographers the world over. Thanks to the D90’s large image sensor, D-Movie images exhibit less noise than those of a typical camcorder, most notably in low-light situations.

The D90 also provides remarkable performance and operability, featuring Nikon’s exclusive Scene Recognition System that advances precision in auto focus, auto exposure, and auto white balance in diverse shooting situations. Live View mode allows shooting while confirming the subject on the large 3-in., approx. 920k-dot high-density color LCD and offers three contrast-detect AF modes to allow photographers to focus on any point in the frame, enabling a greater variety of composition. In addition to wide and normal area AF, the D90 offers face priority AF in Live View mode for even sharper pictures of people.

All of these powerful features and more are housed in a compact, comfortable-to-hold body, with intuitive controls. In other words, the D90 is a camera that will satisfy the requirements of passionate photographers who demand superior image quality and crave exciting new photographic possibilities.

Nikon D90 Feature Highlights
Newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with wide ISO sensitivity range with low noise

D90’s 12.3 effective megapixels provides outstanding resolution, delivering images with extraordinarily defined detail and expanded enlargement capacity. The extremely wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200 delivers incredibly low-noise characteristics throughout. Furthermore, sensitivity can be increased to Hi 1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) and decreased to Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) to expand shooting versatility. The camera also employs the Image Sensor Cleaning function that works to free image-degrading dust particles from the sensor’s optical low-pass filter.

EXPEED for smooth tones, rich colors and fine details
Nikon’s comprehensive digital image-processing EXPEED technology is optimized for the D90 to realize the high-quality, high-speed image processing capability. EXPEED also contributes to the outstanding performance of other powerful features such as Live View and the new Face Detection System.

D-Movie: the world’s first* D-SLR movie mode
In a world first* for D-SLRs, the D90 offers a movie function, allowing you to shoot 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. The D90’s sensor, which is much larger than the sensor of a typical camcorder, ensures higher image quality and exceptional low-noise, high ISO sensitivity performance, even during movie shooting. Capturing creative movie clips or the drama of life’s moving moments is further enhanced by the wide selection of incredibly sharp NIKKOR interchangeable lenses that are available, from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto. And Micro NIKKOR lenses bring the magic of extreme close-up imagery to movie making.

*As of August 27, 2008, according to research conducted by Nikon CorporationNote: Autofocus and some other functions are not available when recording movies.
Scene Recognition System integrated with Face Detection System
The D90 precisely reads the color and brightness information of each scene from the 420-pixel RGB sensor, and applies this to auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance. The D90 also recognizes human faces using the new Face Detection System, data which is incorporated during calculation, resulting in faces with newfound definition and accuracy as well as enabling face priority AF in Live View mode and immediate zoom into people’s faces in playback zoom.

Easy-to-use Live View mode
One press of the Live View button activates the D90’s Live View mode, delivering a bright, crisp image to the 3-in., approx. 920k-dot color LCD and allowing comfortable shooting without looking through the viewfinder. There are three contrast-detect AF modes that let you focus on any point in the frame: Face priority AF automatically detects up to five faces and focuses on that calculated to be the closest. Wide area AF offers a large AF area suitable for handheld shooting, and normal area AF provides focus with pinpoint accuracy when using a tripod. And when Nikon VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses are in use, photographers will enjoy the benefit of a VR-smoothed image, even in Live View mode.

Picture Control System: Customize the visual style of your images
Nikon’s Picture Control System enables users to customize the look and mood of images. Six original setting options are available — Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape — for easy customization of image preferences.

Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast lighting
The D90’s Active D-Lighting accurately restores details in the shadows and highlighted areas, which are often lost in high-contrast lighting situations, by localizing tone control while shooting. There are four levels, including the new “Extra High.” Active D-Lighting can be used manually or set to Auto mode. It is also possible to bracket your pictures, allowing the capture of one image with Active D-Lighting and one without.

Versatile, practical 11-point AF system
Thanks to the Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module, the D90’s 11-point AF system offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame with the most sensitive AF sensor operating from the center. In addition, the D90 features versatile AF-area modes to handle most shooting situations: Single-point AF is recommended for stationary subjects, dynamic-area AF for moving subjects, auto-area AF for spontaneous shooting and 3D-tracking (11 points) AF for when you want to change the composition after focusing on your subject.

Bright pentaprism viewfinder featuring frame coverage of approx. 96%
The D90 has a precise eye-level pentaprism viewfinder with approx. 96% (centered) frame coverage and an easy-to-view 19.5 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m-1). The built-in 16-frame superimposed grid display can be activated to assist in the creation of better-balanced compositions.

Advanced Scene Modes for superior image quality
The D90 features Advanced Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports and Night Portrait. These modes not only adjust exposure and image processing, but also judge the optimum Active D-Lighting and Picture Control settings to obtain the best results. The D90 also recognizes if VR (Vibration Reduction) is on or off and minimizes noise even in dimly lit scenes.
Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus

The D90’s designers incorporated a wide variety of image editing functions, making it easy for users to enhance images within the camera. The D90 introduces several new retouch options: Distortion Control adjusts lens aberration, Straighten corrects inclination of the image, while Fisheye produces optical effects similar to a fisheye lens.
Engineered for precision and durability

Accurate exposures rely on precise shutters and the D90’s electronically timed shutter mechanism was specifically engineered for long, accurate service. To ensure this, D90 shutters, assembled in D90 bodies, underwent exhaustive 100,000 shutter-release cycle testing.

Nikon D90 Other Features
Gives you quick response, with 0.15-second start-up, 65 ms shutter release time lag (CIPA standard) and 4.5 fps continuous shooting.

3-in., approx. 920-k dot high-resolution LCD monitor with wide viewing angle that lets you change composition of the frame during shooting from various angles and easily confirm your image during playback.

Built-in flash with 18mm lens coverage, guide number of approx. 17/56 (ISO 200, m/ft., 20°C/68°F) and Nikon’s original i-TTL flash control; works as a commander; controlling up to two groups of remote Speedlights.

Highly efficient energy-saving design allows approx. 850 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e. (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, with 50% of pictures taken with flash)

Extensive playback functions offer ample options for viewing and selecting the right shot, including 72-frame playback, calendar playback and histogram display for magnified portion of the image.

Versatile Pictmotion menu creates slideshows combining five choices of both background music and image effects.

Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output.
Supports the Nikon Creative Lighting System when using the SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 Speedlight, or Wireless Close-up Speedlight System R1C1; ensures accurate exposures via i-TTL flash control.

Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 (Optional, in common with the D80) gives you the choice of using one or two Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries EN-EL3e or six R6/AA-size batteries to extend battery life.

New optional Remote Cord MC-DC2 enables shutter release and long time exposures (bulb) remotely.

With the new optional GPS Unit GP-1, location information such as latitude, longitude, altitude and time is automatically recorded to each image’s EXIF data.
Included Nikon ViewNX image browsing and editing software lets you organize, label and select images as well as perform RAW (NEF) image editing adjustments and conversions.
Optional Capture NX 2 photo-editing software features patented U Point™ technology and powerful tools for quick and easy photo editing including enhanced RAW (NEF) Editing.

Nikon Digital SLR Camera D90 Specifications
Type
Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount
Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
Effective picture angle
Approx. 1.5 x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Effective pixels
12.3 million
Image sensor
23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
Total pixels
12.9 million
Dust-reduction system
Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 required)
Image size (pixels)
4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S]
File format
• NEF (RAW) • JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression • NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
Picture Control System
Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls
Media
SD memory cards, SDHC compliant
File system
DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge
Viewfinder
Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage
Approx. 96% horizontal and 96% vertical
Magnification
Approx. 0.94 x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint
19.5 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Diopter adjustment
-2 to +1 m-1
Focusing screen
Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed)
Reflex mirror
Quick-return type
Depth-of-field preview
When depth-of-field preview button is pressed, lens aperture is stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (other modes)
Lens aperture
Instant return, electronically controlled
Compatible lenses
• DX AF Nikkor: All functions supported • Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported (PC Micro-Nikkor does not support some functions). IX-Nikkor lenses not supported. • Other AF Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported.• AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II and auto focus. • Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Shutter type
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter speed
1/4,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, Bulb
Flash sync speed
X = 1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200s or slower
Release modes
Single-frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response
Frame advance rate
Continuous high speed: up to 4.5 fps, continuous low speed: 1-4 fps
Self-timer
Can be selected from 2, 5, 10 and 20 s duration
Exposure metering
TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
Exposure method
• Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses) • Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6-, 8- or 10-mm circle in center of frame • Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2% of frame) centered on selected focus point
Exposure range (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)
• Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0-20 EV • Spot metering: 2-20 EV
Exposure meter coupling
CPU
Exposure modes
Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)
Exposure compensation
±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Exposure bracketing
2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
Exposure lock
Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)
ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3 EV, can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) over ISO 3200, ISO sensitivity auto control available
Active D-Lighting
Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low or off
Active D-Lighting bracketing
2 frames
Autofocus
Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including 1 cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft. 8 in.-9 ft. 10 in.)
Detection range
-1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C /68°F)
Lens servo
• Autofocus: Single-servo AF (S), Continuous-servo AF (C), Auto-servo AF (A), Predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status in single- and continuous-servo AF• Manual (M): Electronic rangefinder supported
Focus point
Can be selected from 11 focus points
AF-area modes
Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) AF
Focus lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (Single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Built-in flash
Auto, Portrait, Close-up, Night Portrait modes: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release
Guide number (m/ft.) at 20°C/68°F
• At ISO 200: Approx. 17/56, 18/59 with manual flash • At ISO 100 equivalent: Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash
Flash control
• TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-400 • Auto aperture: Available with SB-900, SB-800 and CPU lenses • Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27 or SB-22s • Range-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Flash modes
Front curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync
Flash compensation
-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, or 1/2 EV
Flash bracketing
2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
Flash-ready indicator
Lights when built-in flash or SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output in i-TTL or auto aperture modes
Accessory shoe
Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-R200 as remotes; Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
White balance
Auto (TTL white-balance with main image sensor and 420-pixel RGB sensor); 12 manual modes with fine-tuning; color temperature setting; preset manual white balance
White balance bracketing
2 or 3 frames in steps of 1, 2 or 3
Live View AF modes
Face priority AF, wide area AF, normal area AF
Live View focus
Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face priority AF is selected)
Movie image size (pixels)
1,280 x 720/24 fps, 640 x 424/24 fps, 320 x 216/24 fps
Movie file format
AVI
Movie compression format
Motion-JPEG, with monaural sound
LCD monitor
3-in., approx. 920k-dot (VGA), low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment
Playback function
Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9 or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, Pictmotion, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters)
USB
Hi-Speed USB
Audio video output
Can be selected from NTSC and PAL; simultaneous playback from both the audio video output and on the LCD monitor available
HDMI output
HDMI Mini connector; camera monitor turns off when HDMI cable is connected
Accessory terminal
• Remote Cord MC-DC2 (Optional) • GPS Unit GP-1 (Optional)
Supported languages
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Battery
One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e
Battery pack
Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 (optional) with one or two Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e or six R6/AA-size alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium or nickel-manganese batteries (Battery Holder MS-D200 is required when using R6/AA-size batteries.)
AC adapter
AC Adapter EH-5a (optional)
Tripod socket
1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
Approx. 132 x 103 x 77 mm/5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.
Weight
Approx. 620 g/1 lb. 6 oz. without battery, memory card, body cap or monitor cover
Temperature
0-40°C/32-104°F
Humidity
Less than 85% (no condensation)
Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area)
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-21, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-DC1, LCD Monitor Cover BM-10, Body Cap, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, Software Suite CD-ROM

Canon 50D specifications leaked!

Wow, the specification on the new Canon 50D has been leaked from a chinese site and boy does it look good.

Here's what you get:

• Sensor: 15 megapixels (大：约1510万像素（4752 x 3168） means: big, 15.1 MP （4752 x 3168） 中：约800万像素（3456 x 2304） means: "middle" 8 MP （3456 x 2304） 小：约370万像素（2352 x 1568） i.e.: small, 3.7 MP, （2352 x 1568）)


• Crop factor: 1.6X


• LCD screen: 3 inch VGA Scree (920,000 pixels)


• Processor: New DIGIC 4 Phantom Processor


• Sensor: CMOS (22.3 x 14.9mm)


• Size: APS C


• ISO: 100 – 12800


• Shutter speed: 6.3 fps (high) and 3 fps (slow)


• Shutter life: 150,000


• Dust reduction


• Auto Brightness Processing


• 95% viewfinder with 0.97 magnification


• Autofocus: 9 point (All Cross Type)


• Metering: 35 meter area equipped with high-precision sensors


• AF Fine Tuning


• Buffer: 16 RAW - 60 JPG - 10 RAW+JPG


• Rugged magnesium alloy body


• Built-in flash: Recoverable, auto-flash


• Battery: Battery BP-511A (1) * AC adapter can be packaged using the AC ACK-E2
  * Installation of the battery box and handle BG-E2N or BG-E2, you can use on the 5th (AA/LR6) batterySize and weight Size (Width x x high-thick): 145.5×107.8×73.5 mm / 5.7 x4.2×2.9 inches Weight: About 730 grams / 25.7 ounces (body only) Operating Environment

Here's the translation if you can make sense of it:

"EOS 50D, to satisfy the high-end numerical code list counter-camera user to live to the high picture archery target demand. Please heartily understand condenses the Canon unique technology and the rich experience, has the remarkable expressive force high fine image. Uses the Canon independent development production the CMOS image sensor, has approximately 15,100,000 effective picture element Gao Huazhi. The high sensitivity luminosity high clear beautiful image, the nature reappearance is absorbed the object the detail. Provides the new generation DIGIC 4 digit phantom processor, brings exquisitely, the lifelike color performance! The DIGIC technical performance further enhances. Is absorbed from the detail faithful reappearance the object the tone, the shadow. The lens built-in against shake the function, reduces blurring which, because the hand shakes creates, brings the more photography pleasure! Against hand shakes easily, to focus, lays out satisfaction picture EOS synthesis dust removal system, further reduces the dust to the phantom the influence. Unique dust removal countermeasure. On the effective reduced sensor the dust adsorption with accumulates.
Provides approximately 15,100,000 effective picture element APS-C size CMOS the image sensor, the lens focal distance conversion ratio approximately is 1.6. 22.3×14.9 millimeter CMOS size, single picture element size approximately for 4.7μm, not can only present the splendid phantom which exquisitely the lens catch, may realize the beckoning background empty effect.
The performance remarkable DIGIC 4 digit phantom processor brings ISO100~ISO3200 the superelevation photosensitiveness commonly used establishment scope, when night photography may also expand to ISO6400 and 12800. At the same time, has the splendid signal-to-noise ratio, has suppressed when largely the high sensitivity luminosity particularly dark spot noise spot (C.Fn II-2), as well as when long time to make public photography produces noise spot (C.Fn II-1). May divide 4 scales according to the noise reduction degree (standard/weak/strong/closure) to carry on the establishment, “strong” outside three establishments, will not reduce the camera to pat the performance.

Regardless of being the highlight, the shadow may clear gorgeous present. May carry on the high light tone first to photograph, presents splendidly from the shadow to the highlight color transition, suppresses the high light part effectively the detail loss. Through (C.Fn II-3) carries on the menu establishment from the definition function, in the high light tone first photographs in the process, in the liquid crystal monitoring device and the viewfinder will demonstrate

Has the approximately 15,100,000 effective picture elements, the approximately 6.3/second high speed companies to pat the performance. While realizes high speed Lian Pai, guarantees the high resolution, and in instantaneous completes high accuracy focusing! Provides the high accuracy 35 area light measuring sensor, may act according to the photography environment, through 4 kind of light measuring patterns, grasps the optical fiber the subtle difference, photographs a more splendid phantom. Performance remarkable 9 spot wide area cruciform type automatic focusing (AF) system.

Uses magnesium alloy fuselage which firm reliable, is worth trusting; Classical contour design, stimulation photography phantom creativity. The shutter service life achieves the approximately 150,000 times! Splendid dustproof, against water-drop performance, lets the photographic amateur deal with the severe photography environment calmly.

Uses the brand-new 920,000 VGA3.0 inch liquid crystal monitoring device, suppresses the reflection, even if may also with ease glance over under the bright optical fiber. In photography process, but direct-viewing adjusts the photography establishment on the liquid crystal monitoring device, simple convenient. The lens built-in against shake the function, reduces blurring which, because the hand shakes creates, brings the more photography pleasure! Carries on the photography intuitively through the liquid crystal monitoring device “the real time display photography” the function."