NIkon’s new D 90

Just days after Canon announced it’s new 50D with a huge 15MP sensor (thats big for a cropped sensor), Nikon has announced its new D90.  The big news here is that is shots HD video -  a first on a SLR camera.  Otehr spec’s are:

• Newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels and Integrated Dust Reduction System
• Incredibly low-noise performance throughout a wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200; can be set to ISO 6400 equivalent
• Incorporates Nikon's comprehensive digital image-processing EXPEED concept
• The world's first D-SLR movie function: D-Movie, selectable from 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or 1,280 x 720 pixels in AVI format
• Scene Recognition System, utilizing 420-pixel RGB sensor, improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance and is also integrated with the new Face Detection System
• Live View enables face priority AF with the 3-in., approx. 920k-dot, high-density color LCD featuring 170° ultra-wide viewing angle
• Picture Control System offers new Portrait and Landscape options for more vibrant customized colors
• Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast lighting
• Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame
• Viewfinder with approx. 96% frame coverage and an easy-to-view 19.5 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m^-1)
• Advanced Scene Modes that automatically adjust exposure, image processing, Active D-Lighting and Picture Control settings for superior image quality
• Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus including several new retouch options such as Distortion Control, Straighten and Fisheye
• 4.5 fps continuous shooting and quick response of 0.15-second start-up and 65-ms shutter release time lag (CIPA standard)
• Built-in flash with 18mm lens coverage and Nikon's original i-TTL flash control that commands Advanced Wireless Lighting
• Highly efficient energy-saving design that 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)
• Versatile Pictmotion menu that creates slideshows combining five choices of both background music and image effects
• Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output
• Optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 extends shooting capability and enables use of six R6/AA-size batteries
• Included Nikon ViewNX software makes browsing and organizing your images easy
• Optional photo-editing software, Capture NX 2 allows users quick and easy photo editing
• Lightweight compact body

SLR purists must be turning over in there grave (unless they are still alive of course).  First DSLR get live view (thats what the view finder is for), now it gets video!

If I was to be choosing a new camera out of the Canon 50D or the Nikon D90, I am not sure which one I would choose (larger sensor v video).  However, since I already have Canon Lens, I will stick with this system.  By the time I upgrade, Canon will probably offer video as well.

Canon to release new 50D?

News broke on the Internet that Canon China put the specs of the new 50D up on their website for a brief period. Some one spotted it and the specs have been leaked.

When the story first broke, people though it had in body IS which would have been a giveaway that it was fake (Canon makes great IS lens and have said they wont do in body).  Apparently people just misread the Chinese – it actually said it works well with in lens IS.

The specs are as follows:

• 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 4
• 1.6x crop
• Dust Reduction
• Auto Brightness Processing
• 95% viewfinder .97 magnification
• 9 point af (All Cross Type)
• 35 meter area equipped with high-precision sensors AF Fine Tuning
• ISO 100-12800
• 6.3 fps (high speed) 3fps (low speed)
• Buffer: 16 RAW - 60 JPG - 10 RAW+JPG
• 920,000 points VGA 3.0-inch LCD monitor
• 100,000 cycle shutter
• Rugged magnesium alloy body

I don’t think it justifies a body upgrade for me (I am using a 20D) – I can justify the money at the moment.  For me 8mp is more than enough and the rest is incremental improvements.  A better autofocus and less noise at higher ISO would be the main reason for me to upgrade.

People are also expect the full frame 5D to be upgraded.  It will be interesting to see what the specs on that camera are.

Go to Photographybay for a more detailed spec list.

 

 

Microstock photography results for July 2008

Sales picked up which is great as they had been going down for the past few months (total earnings up 25% this month).  I still haven’t got round to upload which is very disappointing.  I have some ready to upload and have another batch ready for editing.  StockXpert had a great month and iStock picked up a bit after a couple of disappointing months.  Shutterstock put in another solid effort but is still way of its highs.

Below are percentages for the month to show how I have been going:

22% shutterstock
15% dreamtime
7% Fotolia
22% istockphoto
3% bigstockphoto
7% 123RF
23% StockXpert
1% Featurepics

Since I have been doing this for about 2 1/2 years now, I thought it would be interesting to see annual trends.  Ignoring the fact that I was constantly upload until about August 2007 ( I have uploaded very few since then), you can see that we have just gone though a slow patch and things should increase now till about November.  Most of my photos are travel shots (not a Christmas one amongst them) so my trends may be different to those which different photo mixes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous results for 2008:

June 2008 Earnings
May 2008 Earnings
April 2008 Earnings
March 2008 Earnings
Feb 2008 Earnings
Jan 2008 Earnings