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Nikon users get in line.  Everyone’s about to get enlightened.  A new training video titled “A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting” is on its way for Nikonians of all experience levels.

Two very knowledgeable photographers lead the training: Bob Krist and Joe McNally.  Both have done work for National Geographic and have a close relationship with Nikon.  Both are multi-award winners, authors/photographers of best-selling photography books, and have shot for major magazines and companies.  Both men also teach seminars and workshops.  It is without question these men know their stuff.  Who better to learn from than masters of the craft?

Read on for more info on the DVD…

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When it comes to cameras, there is a great big variety to choose from, from camera phones to point and shoot to those fancy SLRs.  It seems like every company is trying to sell you on the fact that you need their model.  So, how do you know which one is right for you?

It’s about you

What it boils down to is what you are actually going to be doing with your camera.  Are you just going to be taking a few pictures to email to your friends of you guys hanging out in the dorm partying?  Do you want one that you can use to take shots of little Johnny playing soccer?  Are you into wildlife photography?  Do you want one where it does all the work for you, or do you want to have full control over the settings?

There’s plenty more after the break.  Gadgetell’s resident photography expert, Jodie Andrefski, lays it all out for you.  Plus, get some tips on how to make any of your photos better.

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Rumors about Nikon’s next DSLR model, the D90 started surfacing as early as December last year. This was heightened a couple of days ago when leak photos and specs started appearing again. But finally, Nikon has ended all the speculations and announced the D90 with a new feature which some may love while others may not like at all. We’re talking here about the D90’s video function which is a first among DSLR cameras.

The D90’s D-Movie mode function allows for capturing high-definition movie clips at 720p. For some this might be the realization of a long time longing for a DSLR function, while DSLR purists might find this simply unacceptable. At any rate, we all have to accept the fact that from now on, the camera that we used to know is now a hybrid of a point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras.

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Supposedly confirmed as of a few days ago, however we are still awaiting official word from Canon on their newest baby, due any day now. Complete specs, (translated from Chinese) are here for the time being. Apparently there had been a big bru-ha-ha when a photo hit the internet apparently taken by the new Canon according to it’s metadata (and the info right on the web page itself), on what many believe to be a Media Temple client page. This being a big oops, since they are a web dev for high profile clients such as Sony, Adobe, ABC and others. The others, in some people’s mind’s, could include Canon. Thus, a page that had Canon photos which was leaked onto the net before it was discovered and subsequently password protected.

The Canon 50D is pictured here with what’s sure to be a kit lens option, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. A short list of what is most likely going to be key features is as follows:

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Next up in the new Coolpix models which Nikon has recently introduced is the S710 digital camera featuring an effective 14.5-megapixel CCD sensor with 3.6x optical zoom which can cover a wide-angle 28mm. This ultra-compact Nikon camera also boasts of four exposure modes (P/S/A/M) which give you full control of the camera’s settings. But if manual operation is not your thing, you could also use the S710’s scene auto selector feature.

Additionally, the S710 also has four anti-blur features which give you sharp images even when taking photos of moving subjects and these are the lens-shift Vibration Reduction, ISO sensitivity range of up to 12800, Best Shot Selector and Motion Detection. Other nifty features of the S710 include Face-priority AF, a 3-inch wide-viewing angle TFT monitor with anti-reflection coating, approximately 48MB internal memory, high-speed USB interface, and the camera takes around 290 shots per battery charge using the Nikon supplied rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12.

Read [Nikon]

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Nikon has announced the new COOLPIX P6000, a professional looking digital camera featuring an effective 13.5-megapixel camera resolution, 4x zoom Nikkor lens and 2 ED glass elements. Equipped with Nikon’s image-processing system EXPEED, the P6000 brags of being Nikon’s first digital camera with built-in GPS.

If the idea of a digital camera with GPS feature excites you then read on to find out more features of the P6000. This point-and-shoot features an integrated Ethernet connector for image sharing through Nikon’s “My Picturetown” service, a 2.7-inch TFT screen, RAW format and picture control capabilities which are similar to DSLR camera features. Aside from these, the P6000 prides of three ways by which it reduces image blur and these are through Lens-shift Vibration Reduction, noise-reduction technology and Best Shot Selector.

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Nikon has added two new mid-range digital cameras to its COOLPIX line-up, the S610 and S610c which both boast of an effective 10-megapixel CCD camera sensor. Both models offer almost the same details and specs except for the Wi-Fi feature that only the S610c has. The S610c complies with WPS or Wi-Fi Protected Setup which secures internet connectivity to Wi-Fi routers.

Both cameras offer easy operations and a first time feature called Scene Auto Selector which automatically selects portrait, landscape, night setting or close up mode depending on the environment. Aside from this, the S610 and S610c also features Active Child Mode and Smile Mode settings. Design wise, both cameras sport elegant aluminum bodies with sharply-cut contours that makes them attractive to look at as well as easy to handle.

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As promised, Nikon has started shipping its newest camera, the 12-megapixel D700 DSLR. The D700 is already listed at Ritz Camera and is retailing for $2,999.99 (body only). Ritz Camera said that it’s got limited supply of the D700 so if you’re keen on getting this new camera, you better hurry up and reserve your unit now. The store promises to deliver the D700 within 24 hours after an order is placed.

Looking back at our previous coverage of the D700, we told you that this camera packs a 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor complemented by Nikon’s EXPEED image processing technology, an ISO sensitivity of up to 6,400, continuous shooting speed of 5fps, a 3-inch VGA color display with 170-degree wide-angle viewing, two live shooting modes. In addition, the D700 is encased in magnesium alloy body. It also employs the Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System and Nikon’s Scene Recognition System. This is also Nikon’s first DSLR that comes with a built-in flash.

Product [Ritz] Via [I4U]

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Good news for those not quite ready to take the plunge to purchase the new Nikon D700, but tiring of some of the problems they may have been experiencing with their D3 or D300; Nikon has made some more adjustments. The latest in the D3 firmware upgrades include some nifty function button customization options, although before you get too excited… no these are not the same ones featured on the D700.  There were also some adjustments to the AF and white balance mode, as well as the playback mode.

A major concern for many users of both the D3 and D300 was one that has come to be known as “Dead Battery Syndrome”, wherein the battery indicator would incorrectly register an empty battery. Nikon fixed this issue as well.

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Sections: Imaging, Digital Cameras, Web, Downloads

So the photo of the new Nikon DSLR model that has been circulating on the web the past couple of days is actually true. Nikon has made the D700 official and its product page its up at the Nikon USA site. From the looks of it, the Nikon D700 seems to be a powerful new Digital SLR camera and it has a price to match, retailing for $2,999, it is definitely geared for the prosumer market.

So, what do you get from the price? A 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor with Nikon’s EXPEED image processing technology, ISO sensitivity of up to 6400, continuous shooting at 5 fps, a 3-inch VGA color monitor with 170-degree wide-angle viewing, two live shooting modes, rugged magnesium alloy body, Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System, Nikon’s Scene Recognition System, and much more. But more importantly, this is the first DSLR that has a built-in flash.

This Nikon D700 will be available sometime in July.

Product [Nikon] Via [Engadget]

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