Nikon

Nikon has announced a flurry of new lenses and cameras, some of which are shipping and some of which can be pre-ordered. B&H has been kind enough to pull information on all the new lenses together on one page for your convenience and also made it easy to take advantage of all the current Nikon Rebates by placing them together as well.

The folks at B&H realize how interesting but also how complicated the addition of video to the D-SLR has made our buying decisions and how many new accessory needs it has created. So they've created a really nifty interactive guide to HD-Video D-SLRs that you can benefit from for free. Just click the Start button in the HDSLR logo to the left of this post to get started. And make sure and let us know what you think about their information on the subject.

In the continuing barrage of new digital cameras, Canon has fired the most recent shot with the new 60D mid-range consumer/prosumer D-SLR--a solid upgrade to the popular 50D. With a stunning 18MP sensor firing away at over 5 frames per second the Canon certainly doesn't have entry level specs. One nice twist (if you'll pardon the pun) is the addition of a fully adjustable LCD, typically only found on video cameras and some point and shoots.

You can drool over the Canon 60D page at B&H, but it isn't expected to ship until September. Canon estimates the sale price as $1099. You can read the full release online.

New NIKKOR Glass Yields an Unprecedented Seven Lenses Released to Date in 2010

MELVILLE, N.Y. Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nikon Inc. announced four new lenses to the legendary NIKKOR line to meet the needs of all types of photographers, from those looking for the ideal lens for capturing memories of the school play to pro glass that captures client work in the studio. The new AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 85mm f/1.4G deliver the optical excellence and stunning image quality that consumers have become accustomed to with AF-S NIKKOR lenses. Nikon's optical engineering experience and devotion to extraordinary standards of excellence have contributed to the strength and legend of the NIKKOR brand. With the addition of these four lenses, 2010 has seen the introduction of a total of seven new NIKKOR lenses, reinforcing Nikon's role as the world leader in optics.

Nikon released minor updates for many of its software packages today, including: View NX 1.5.3, Nikon Transfer 1.5.3 (Windows) / 1.5.2 ( Macintosh), WT-4 Setup Utility   1.1.4, Thumbnail Selector  1.1.4, WT-4 Camera Control Utility for 64-bit OS (v.1.1.4 Windows only). View NX and Nikon Transfer primarily add support for both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6.x), but there have also been several bug fixes, and a few added features as well...
The WT-4 Setup Utility and Thumbnail Selector add Wireless Transmitter support for the D3S, Mac OS 10.5.8 (Leopard), and Windows 7.

Nikon has just rolled out a very useful firmware update for most of their Pro D-SLR line (except the D3S which presumably already has these improvemnts). The new firmware includes support for CF cards up to 64GB, improved Auto White Balance, some focus options and my favorite which sets the time from a GPS clock. You can download it from the Nikon USA site. For more details...

Nikon has updated the already excellent 300mm f/2.8 AF-S lens with VR II (enhanced VR) and a Nano Crystal coat for reduced glare, and the least favored sibling of the Nikon TC family the TC-20E III...

Nikon is notifying NPS members that they're planning to ship the much anticipated "II" version of the popular 70-200mm lens in late November to NPS members IF they make sure to contact NPS and give them their pre-order information. The lens is especially anticipated by D3 and D700 owners who may have noticed increased vignetting when using the current version with full frame digital cameras. If you're an NPS member and haven't gotten the information from Nikon, make sure and contact NPS with your pre-order information to get your lens in a timely fashion.

Sony today introduced three new D-SLRs, ranging from the value priced A500 (APS-C sized sensor, 12MP for $749 list) up to the breakthrough A850 at a stunning full-frame 24MP for less than $2000. With these trend-setting prices is Sony ready to take on Nikon and Canon for leadership in the high-end of the camera market?...For the last 50 years various other brands have tried to challenge the hegemony of Nikon and Canon. One by one they have all fallen by the wayside, unable to overcome the tremendous distribution networks, product quality and breadth and customer loyalty of Nikon and Canon.

Nikon has launched updates to the Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR lens and the popular Nikon 18-200mm DX f/3.5-f/5.6G lens....