Nikon D3s, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 coming in October

[jpeyton]

Text

The camera announcement probably won't matter to 99% of you, since I see few pro-photogs on this forum. It'll be interesting to see how Nikon's full-frame 1080p video stacks up against Canon's. 14FPS is stupid fast (the original D3 did 9FPS; the 1D3 does 10FPS). I would be shocked if they didn't add a few other small touches as well (dust-removal, better ISO performance, etc.)

What many (including myself) do care about is the new f/4 wide-angle. I wonder if it will be a lukewarm lens like the 10-24DX, or a home-run like the 14-24/2.8?

 

[soydios]

Why are they sacrificing a whole stop of aperture for an extra millimeter of wideangle? Not sharp enough or too heavy at f/2.8?

1080p video is intriguing. 14FPS is pretty insane. Of more importance IMO is how fast it can go and still maintain continuous autofocus tracking.
Another two stops of sensitivity? I thought five-digit ISO was impressive, but now we're at SIX?!?

Assuming all of the rumors are true.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: soydios
Why are they sacrificing a whole stop of aperture for an extra millimeter of wideangle? Not sharp enough or too heavy at f/2.8?

Could be one (or a combination) of three reasons:

1) As you mentioned, resolution...there's no doubt that Nikon is designing all their FX lenses from here forward to post solid resolution numbers on 24MP+ sensors. In a few years, even the low-end APS-C bodies will have 15MP+, and the full-frame bodies will be in the high 20s to low 30s...they don't want to go back to the drawing board that soon.

2) Cost...they wanted to create an alternative to the 14-24mm, not a replacement. It might not compete directly in price with the 6 year old Canon 17-40mm f/4, but it should be much easier to afford than the $1900 14-24mm.

3) Size...something not only smaller/lighter than the 14-24mm, but also able to take front filters.

1080p video is intriguing.

Probably the most intriguing aspect for me. There is a very important hole right now that's currently unfilled by Canon: 1080p24 on a 35mm sensor. Whereas Nikon's 720p video has remained the same since the D90 was released (the D5000 and D300s video features/quality is nearly identical), I think they are cooking up something far better with the D3s. They've had nearly a year now to examine what the 5D2 did right, and what it did wrong.

Canon, in the meantime, is still working on a firmware fix to their framerate dilemma. But many pros who were using the 5D2 for production video work are tired of waiting and are switching to the 7D.

Another two stops of sensitivity? I thought five-digit ISO was impressive, but now we're at SIX?!?

I'm not sure where you heard that rumor, but the D3s won't have anywhere near a 2-stop improvement. Maybe that was a D4 rumor. The D3s might have some minor tweaks, like the D300s received. Maybe a 1/3rd stop improvement, with better color and contrast.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

*drool*

Hope the 1080p is really good, and trickles down to cheaper bodies.

 

[Eug]

I wonder what they will be using and what will be the bitrate.

On some of the camera forums, Nikon is criticized for using Motion JPEG. While Motion JPEG can be good, it takes very large bitrates to be good, and at the bitrates used H.264 is highly preferred. Presumably, if Nikon were to incorporate the use of a better codec like H.264 for their video files, they'd need a whole new CPU that can do on-board video encoding acceleration.

As for Canon, and full frame video, I suspect we might see something about that on Tuesday. Or not. We'll see. I'm personally predicting a 1D-class replacement, with full H.264 video.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Eug

As for Canon, and full frame video, I suspect we might see something about that on Tuesday. Or not. We'll see. I'm personally predicting a 1D-class replacement, with full H.264 video.

why would the copier division in sweden announced the new 1D?

 

[albertreyes]

I think Nikon makes the best cameras in the world.

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: albertreyes
I think Nikon makes the best Point & Shoots in the world.

FIXED!!! LMAO

Well I think Canon makes the best copiers in the world,

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: twistedlogic

Originally posted by: albertreyes
I think Nikon makes the best Point & Shoots in the world.

FIXED!!! LMAO

Well I think Canon makes the best copiers in the world,

Heck no, Canon makes waaaaay better point & shoots I'm a Nikon fan for dSLR's myself, but I'm not ruling Canon out with that 7D's video features....nom nom nom

 

[jpeyton]

Canon does make the best P&S in the world. I think Nikon makes the best DSLR bodies in the world.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Eug

As for Canon, and full frame video, I suspect we might see something about that on Tuesday. Or not. We'll see. I'm personally predicting a 1D-class replacement, with full H.264 video.

why would the copier division in sweden announced the new 1D?

The non-believers must burn!!!

Seriously though, even if they don't announce a video-endowed 1D(s) replacement tomorrow, they will within a few months. The line is in need of an update, and the DIGIC 4 CPU includes H.264 acceleration right on the chip, so they may as well use it.

 

[Deadtrees]

Originally posted by: Eug

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Eug

As for Canon, and full frame video, I suspect we might see something about that on Tuesday. Or not. We'll see. I'm personally predicting a 1D-class replacement, with full H.264 video.

why would the copier division in sweden announced the new 1D?

The non-believers must burn!!!

Seriously though, even if they don't announce a video-endowed 1D(s) replacement tomorrow, they will within a few months. The line is in need of an update, and the DIGIC 4 CPU includes H.264 acceleration right on the chip, so they may as well use it.

I'm telling ya, it must be a TV announcement.

 

[twistedlogic]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Heck no, Canon makes waaaaay better point & shoots I'm a Nikon fan for dSLR's myself, but I'm not ruling Canon out with that 7D's video features....nom nom nom

I was being sarcastic, nikon's P&S blow.

I'd figure you where eyeing the 7D, the video samples I've seen(when done right) are just amazing.

 

[pennylane]

Originally posted by: soydios
Why are they sacrificing a whole stop of aperture for an extra millimeter of wideangle? Not sharp enough or too heavy at f/2.8?

I think both the 14-24mm f/2.8 and this 16-35mm f/4 are successors to the 17-35mm f/2.8, with the 14-24mm f/2.8 being the higher end one. Hopefully the 16-35mm f/4 is priced low enough.

 

[Deadtrees]

What I gathered:

D3S.
Same Sensor,
2 crop modes: a. 1.25 crop (800MP), b. 1.5 crop (600MP),
14 fps only available on 1.5 crop mode,
Video mode is included but not full HD
6 digic ISO as a "catalogue feature" to claim the 1st spot.

On the other hand,
Canon will soon announce 1d mk4. It'll be a monster that'll reclaim the fame of 1d series.
Nikon, of course, will fight back by D4 which will be an another monster.


All this is from a Nikon source guy and he predicted that D3s will be put on a tough spot as 1d mk4 and D4 is around the corner.


What I'm interested in:
Will Nikon FIX current problem of EXPEED. If so, hallelujah!