A service center in Taiwan has repaired a seawater-damaged Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED lens by boiling it. According to a post by Nikon Rumors, after investigating the damage, staff established that the AF motor of the lens needed to be replaced and some internal parts were ‘rusted’ due to salt water damage. To remove this rust, they boiled them in water. The lens was apparently fixed in three days. (via Nikon Rumors)
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
No matter what your ambitions or skill level are, this camera could arguably be an ideal option for many when it comes down to plonking the plastic on the counter or tapping the computer key to order offline. For many a budding photographer with ambitions a DSLR is the best game in town.
None of those pesky MILCs or compact digicams can satisfy the hunger!
Besides, it’s a Nikon. And the specs are damn fine.
True, the sensor is close to half the area of a 35mm full frame but, unless you’re going to indulge in heavy cropping or demand an enormous print output, the 23.5×15.6mm CMOS will work fine for many.
Besides, the maximum image size of 6000×4000 pixels can lead to a print of 51x34cm at 300 dpi.
Video in MPEG4 can be recorded at Full HD and 1920×1080 resolution.
With the help of the vari-angle screen I made some nice, controlled camera movies in shooting video, with the AF system tracking accurately throughout the moves. However, shoot a still and the video shuts down!
First, an anecdote: I like to grab a new camera, manual unread, and get shooting as soon as I pull it out of the box. OK all clear, nice, crisp display of the camera status on the rear LCD, here’s the ISO setting, current aperture, auto white balance in play etc etc.
Look through the optical viewfinder, all clear and sharp. And I’ll bet you that this is the reason you’re reading this review and considering a DSLR!
Now, where’s Live View?
In my office’s subdued light it was hard to see at first: a small black lever hanging off the mode dial. And it works, summoning up the view on the LCD. And what a brilliant place to put it! I also found that you must be in Live View to record video.
Back to the walk around: as befits its price level there’s not a jungle of external controls to bewilder the newbie or the timid.
Left and near the top: menu button.
Right and on top: power/shutter button; mode dial (PASM, scene modes, effects, macro etc); info button; exposure compensation; video record; single/continuous shooting and of course the Live View lever.
Back off the top edge: information edit button which pilots you through the rear screen menu options; exposure and AF lock button.
Rear: the multi selector wheel navigates around the rear screen options; replay; memory card access lamp; trash; screen zoom.
Overall, the camera is quite compact for a DSLR and even with the review f3.5/18-55mm lens attached was not a big bundle to carry and handle. The prominent speed grip helps handling and most controls are close to an operative right forefinger. Sorry, southpaws!
BTW in Live View the four way jog dial at the rear moves the AF outline around the screen. A big help.
The screen menu layout is typically Nikon: clear and unmistakable without being a forest of text.
In my view, the D5200 performed very well all the way up to ISO 3200 and I could quite happily use ISO 6400 for certain subjects that could ‘live’ with increased noise and a drop in sharpness, such as city lights etc.
Quality: excellent.
Why you would buy it: it’s a Nikon; well-priced DSLR; excellent video capture.
Why you wouldn’t: you don’t want a DSLR!
For a camera that I figure is very affordable for many people this has to be one of the best buys around: 24.1 megapixel capture, vari-angle screen; Full HD capture. Very appealing!
Image Sensor: 23.5×15.6mm CMOS. 24.1 million effective pixels.
Metering: Matrix, centre-weighted, averaging and spot.
A/D processing: 14-bit.
Lens Mount: Nikon F.
Exposure Modes: Auto, Program AE, shutter and aperture priority, manual.
35 SLR Lens Factor: 1.5x.
Shutter Speed: Bulb, 30 to 1/4000 second. Flash X-sync: up to 1/200 sec.
Continuous Speed: up to 5fps.
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
Image Sizes (pixels): 6000×400 to 2992×2000. Movies: 1920×1080 to 640×424.
Viewfinders: Eye level pentaprism and 7.5cm LCD (921,000 pixels).
File Formats: NEF (RAW), JPEG, NEF (RAW)+JPEG, MPEG4.
Colour Space: Adobe RGB, sRGB.
ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 100 to 6400. With expansion up to ISO 25,600.
Interface: USB 2.0, AV, HDMI mini, DC input, external stereo mic, remote.
Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, AC adaptor.
Dimensions: 129x98x78 WHDmm.
Weight: Approx. 555 g (with battery).
Price: get a price on the Nikon D5200 (body only) or Nikon D5200 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens or Nikon D520018-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED NIKKOR Zoom Lens or Nikon D5200with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR and 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lenses + EN-EL14 Battery + 10pc Bundle 32GB Deluxe Accessory Kit.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Nikon D5200 Review
DxOMark has tested 61 lenses on the Nikon D800, and drawn some conclusions about the results. So far it has published two sections of an eventual four-part article: the first discusses how much benefit the D800’s 36MP sensor really offers over the 24MP chips in cameras such as the D3X and D600, while the second looks at which lenses in the 50-100mm range come out with the best DxOMark scores. Further parts later this month will look at telephoto and wideangle lenses. Click through for the link.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon and Canon UK have announced Spring 2013 rebates with savings ranging from £30-£235. The Nikon offer applies to D3100, D3200, D5100, D5200, D700 and D600 digital SLRs. The rebates are available on purchases made between March 14th- May 31st 2013. Canon UK is offering rebates on a number of DSLRs, lenses, printers and camcorders including the EOS 5D Mark III DSLR, 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens, G1 X compact camera and Pixma Pro-1 printer for purchases made between March 7th- May 31st 2013. Click through for links to the rebates.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon has posted a gallery of ten images and a video of the new Coolpix A DX-format compact camera. The camera features a 16MP APS-C sensor with no optical low-pass filter and a 28mm equivalent F2.8 prime lens. The images that Nikon has posted are taken by documentary photographer Doug Menuez in JPEG Fine (8-bit) mode. Click through for some images and a link to the full gallery.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon Europe has announced the Coolpix L320 CCD-based superzoom, while Nikon USA has announced the Coolpix S3500. The 16MP L320 features a 22.5–585mm equiv. zoom lens, 3.0″ LCD, 720p HD recording and runs on two AA batteries. It will be available from the end of this month at a retail price of around £199.99. Nikon USA has announced the Coolpix S3500, revealed last week in Europe.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon has launched the AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, a redesigned version of the 12-year-old 80-400mm VR. The G version features an entirely new optical formulation, ring-type AF-S focus motor and revamped VR system capable of a claimed four stops of stabilization.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Nikon has unveiled its first DX-format compact, the Coolpix A, alongside the enthusiast-focused Coolpix P330. The Coolpix A fits a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter behind a 28mm equivalent, F2.8 prime lens. The Coolpix P330, meanwhile, gains a 1/1.7″ sensor and Raw-shooting capability, over its predecessor. The Coolpix A will cost around $ 1100/£1000, while the P330 will retail for around $ 380/£350.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
We’ve just posted a hands-on preview of Nikon’s latest small form-factor compact, the Coolpix P330. Externally almost identical to its predecessor the P310, the P330 features a larger 1/1.7″ BSI-CMOS sensor and raw capture mode – two additions that should make it much more popular with enthusiasts, as well as putting it in direct competition with Canon’s popular PowerShot S110. We’ve spent a little time with the P330, and for more details, images and specifications, click through to read our hands-on preview.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
We’ve had a chance to use the Nikon Coolpix A – the company’s DX-format, fixed-lens compact. The Coolpix A features a 16MP APS-C sensor with no optical low-pass filter and a 28mm equivalent F2.8 prime lens. Nikon has done a lot of work to make the Coolpix A consistent with its DSLRs, from its interface to its compatibility with accessories. Click through to find out more.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)