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NIKON D100 DIGITAL SLR CAMERA

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NIKON D100 OVERVIEW

 

Nikon has announced a major development in SLR interchangeable lens digital cameras, the new Nikon D100, with a huge 6 megapixel RGB CCD which produces picture files of 3,008 by 2000 pixels (yes 3008). The camera is relatively lightweight and compact at just 24.7 ounces (without battery). The CCD itself is aprox. the same size as the Nikon D1 series, which results in a lens image coverage factor of 1.5. The camera has 3D Matrix Image Control with 10 segment SPD to help achieve accurate exposure control and TTL enhanced auto white balance for color accuracy. There is a built-in D-TLL speedlight for multi-sensor flash fill with balanced results and manual control GN 51 at ISO 200. The camera has ISO speeds of 200 to 1600 and the spec sheets indicates the ISO can be boosted even higher than 1600 equivalency (we assume using features in Nikon Capture 3 software on the 12 bit uncompressed RAW file format images). There are three color modes, 5 area autofocus including a dynamic AF operation with focus tracking and Nikon's "Lock-on". There is a whole new one-chip system LSI for high speed image processing. There is a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 of a second and a flash sync speed of up to 1/180th of a second and 30 second long exposures. The camera has plug and play USB 1.1 connectivity to a computer, but not firewire. The features also include an on-demand grid linos which can be displayed in the viewfinder, custom settings storage that are selectable in the LCD monitor (1.8 inch 110,000 dot low temp polysilicon TFT LCD with LED backlighting), and CompactFlash Type II compatibility which includes support for the 512 and 1 Gig IBM Microdrives.

The camera comes with new Nikon View 5 (which can read & convert single D100 NEF files to .jpg) and cables, Nikon Capture 3 (Nikon Capture 2 will not read D100 NEF files) for advanced editing of Nikon's RAW file format is available as an optional purchase allowing considerable image management controls, batch conversion and remote operation. Playback features include image magnification, 4/9 segment thumbnail viewing, slideshow and Histogram Highlight point display. The camera is powered by a Li-ion Battery Pack EN-EL3 7.2 DC or AC adapter EH-5. An optional Multi- Function Battery Pack is available which can operates on 6 AA batteries and also has voice memo recording & playback function, vertical shutter release button, command and sub command dials, AF start button and a 10 pin remote terminal built into the Battery Pack. Nikon indicates that the camera is fully compatible with over 40 of its AF Nikkor Lenses. There is a flash sync type X contact only allowing flash synch up to 1/180th of a second and Nikon indicates that the camera has Non-TLL control using Nikon's SB-80DX/28DX and 50DX speedlights. The camera is clearly aimed at the advanced and/or high-end amateur or business professional photographer, and is expected to have a much more affordable price compared to the Nikon D1 series which normally started out at over $5,000.00 dollars.

Nikon has set a MSRP for the D100 at $2,500.00, however the "street price" is expected to be several hundred dollars lower. For full details on purchasing a Nikon D100 check out our retail partner RitzCamera.Com at the following link. All sales are shipped in order of the date and time your order is placed, your credit card is not charged until your unit ships. There is no shipping fee and no sales tax. Ritz Cameras online is expecting one of the largest flows of cameras from Nikon anywhere is the USA, so if you want to get a D100 sooner then later, use our link and place your order NOW!

BUY THE NIKON D100 NOW FROM RITZCAMERA.COM

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WORLD SERIES NIKON D100 PRE-GAME 1 GALLERY
WORLD SERIES NIKON D100 GAME 7 GALLERY
NIKON D100 WORLD SERIES DISNEYLAND PARADE SAMPLES

 

 

NIKON D100 PRODUCTION SAMPLES POSTED (07/23/02)
 
We have posted our first set of Nikon D100 photos using a final production model. These photos were just taken out at Disneyland and Downtown Disneyland located in Anaheim, California in the afternoon and evening hours. We have indicated all the settings and the lens used to obtain these pictures on the gallery page at the link below. Most of the shots were taken using the built-in flash for a flash fill effect, with results that are just outstanding. We have to say that based upon our first use of the camera, we are very pleased with the outstanding colors the D100 produces. So far we have found the Auto Focus to work fast, the camera feels very solid & good to hold, (much lighter then the D1x we shot with for 2 months last year) and the shutter is quiet and smooth. The pictures we have posted include links to download the original files, or you can view them in 2 smaller sizes. In an effort to keep the jpeg compression low, the smaller pictures on the gallery page are still rather big in file size, as are the 1024 by 640 versions, which we saved using 100 quality, or very little compression. We will have a lot more information about our findings on the Nikon D100 as we test it over the next few weeks, and we will have a lot more samples to let you see how the camera is performing in real world settings. In addition, our first use of Nikon Capture 3 today was very positive as we loaded NEF raw data files in very quick times, and the controls over the images is very impressive. For now we hope you get a change to check out these initial pictures we are posting, we think you will agree they are very colorful, sharp and pleasing!
 
 
NIKON D100 DISNEYLAND GALLERY I

 

 

NIKON D100 FINDINGS

We first saw the Nikon D100 back at the PMA show in February and are excited that this camera has finally hit the streets with an impressive array of features with a street price of $2000. The camera body looks somewhat similar to the Nikon N80, and comes in at a nice 25 ounces without battery, which is lighter than the Canon EOS-D60 and FujiFilm S2.

The camera is well laid out and easy to find and change the camera settings. There are two control wheels, one in front accessed by your finger and the one in back, easily accessed with your thumb. The one in front is called the sub-command dial, the one under your thumb is the main command dial. (A custom setting can reverse these functions). The mode/settings dial on the top left let you select the main operating modes: Manual, Aperture, Shutter priority, Program mode, also ISO, White Balance, Picture Quality, and Focus area. Underneath the mode/settings dial is sub-dial that lets you choose single frame, continuous shooting and self-timer.

The D100 uses a CCD with an imaging area of 23.4 x 15.6 mm. This produces an image with 3008 x 2000 pixels which is a 3:2 aspect ratio which allows you to print 4x6 prints without any cropping. The viewfinder is bright and a menu setting lets you put display grid lines to help you line up your subject. Image review is quick and bright on the rear lcd, which now has a
clear plastic cover to protect it. Since the CCD is slightly smaller than 35mm film, there is a 1.5 multiplication factor for the lens. This means that your telephoto lens get a boost, a 300mm lens is now a 450mm, however you loose out at the wide-angle end. Your 24mm lens is no longer wide-angle, it's now a 36mm lens.

The D100 allows you to save pictures in JPEG-Fine, Normal and Basic, TIFF, and NEF (Nikon's raw file format). Previewing an image is quick with a touch of a button. Zoom in 9 times to verify the image is sharp and scroll around to check out the entire picture. Shooting information can be superimposed on the preview to check out shutter speed and exposure information, scroll right or left rotates through exposure information, histogram, and blinking highlights that indicate possible overexposure.

What is nice about this layout is that it allows you to leave the histogram setting on, and scroll up or down to select the previous or next picture with the histogram overlaid on the preview. No need to find a preview of a picture and then find the histogram function in the menu system. Leave the histogram setting on, take another picture, hit the preview button and
the histogram setting is remembered and displayed with the preview of the picture!

Software
The Nikon D100 comes with Nikon View 5 and a 30 day trial of Nikon Capture 3. Nikon View 5 installs a plugin for Photoshop to open NEF files, and if you have Canto Cumulus ( a nice photo management system), it will load a plugin for that as well.

Flash
Three flashes are recommended for the D100. First the most powerful SB80-DX, second the SB50-DX, and then the less powerful SB30. The SB80-DX is powered by 4 AA batteries, with a tilting and rotating head. The SB80-DX also has an auto-focus light that helps focus in low-light situations. The SB50-DX is powered by two CR123 lithium cells, which last
quite a long time, but there is no rechargeable battery solution for this flash. The SB50-DX allows for the D100's built-in flash to work, whereas the SB80-DX prevents the built-in flash to raise. The SB30 lacks a tilting head but has a diffuser and a built-in sliding infrared filter. The D100 has a fastest sync speed of 1/180 second, which limits you in some high-speed situations.

ISO
The camera has ISO settings from 200 - 1600, with very little noise, where the Canon EOS-D60 has ISO settings from 100-1000. The D100 also has ISO settings of HI-1(ISO 3200) and HI-2(ISO 6400) which exhibit quite alot of noise.

Conclusions
The Nikon D100 breaks new ground in affordability for serious amateurs and professionals. It is loaded with features and with Nikon's 3-D Digital Matrix Metering allow you to take pictures that will be perfectly exposed.

 

 

NIKON UNVEILS SOPHISTICATED NEW
HIGH-PERFORMANCE DIGITAL SLR CAMERA

6.1 Megapixel Nikon D100™ Makes the Power of Digital and
Appeal of SLR Accessible in a Compact, Lightweight Design

 

MELVILLE, NY, February 21, 2002 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today introduced the high-performance D100™ digital SLR camera, a 6.1 effective megapixel camera that provides a unique combination of advanced SLR functionality and powerful digital capabilities that deliver high-quality images. Designed for high-end amateur photographers and photo enthusiasts, as well as a wide range of business applications, the D100 now makes digital SLR photography more accessible with Nikon's exclusive advanced capabilities, intuitive ergonomics and powerful feature set. The D100 is part of Nikon's highly successful digital SLR series.

"We developed the D100 in response to the high level of interest among photographers looking for a camera with advanced digital competence and high image-quality in an intuitive SLR design," said Richard LoPinto, vice president for SLR Camera Systems, Nikon Inc. "The D100 makes digital SLR photography accessible to those photographers who enjoy SLR photography and are ready to take a serious step into digital. The camera reflects Nikon's commitment to empower all serious photographers with the precise combination of total image quality, performance, durability and system compatibility. In addition, it will provide an excellent opportunity for the expansion of high quality digital photography for a wide variety of business applications." he added.

Advanced Technology for Advanced Image Quality

Incorporated within the D100's compact body is a high-definition CCD that features 6.1 million effective pixels, producing high-definition 3,008 x 2,000-pixel images. The D100's improved image-processing algorithm ensures superior image quality with increased detail, while its enhanced auto white balance system assures accurate color rendition. Integrated features including the 3D Matrix metering system and D-TTL flash control capability work with the camera's advanced image-processing abilities to ensure well-balanced exposures and rich, true colors. The D100's new one-chip system LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) provides super-fast image processing while keeping power consumption to a minimum.

Innovative Features for Maximum Control

The D100 incorporates innovative new features and controls that offer photographers a variety of choices and options to best suit their needs. A top shutter speed of 1/4000 second, a high-performance built-in speedlight with D-TTL flash control and a flash sync speed of up to 1/180 second offer convenience with impressive results. Three-color mode options customize the camera for different color gamut environments. Additionally, on-demand grid lines and a five area autofocus with dynamic AF operation make composition, autofocusing and manual focusing with the D100 fast and accurate. A plug-and-play USB 1.1 interface enables images to be downloaded quickly onto the computer.

Camera-ness, Digital-ness and Nikon Total Image Quality

The D100 was developed with a combination of what Nikon refers to as "camera-ness" - the ergonomic design and convenience, created to enable photographers to follow their instinct and to feel totally comfortable as they use the camera, and "digital-ness" - the image recording and post-picture making processes such as saving, file transfer and computer-related workflow issues. Both are essential for photographers to be able to maximize the benefits of digital SLR photography. The D100 offers camera-ness by providing controls, operation, weight, balance and handling consistent with other Nikon SLR products. It also offers system-wide compatibility with more than 40 AF Nikkor Lenses, advanced speedlights, including the new SB-80DX, and other accessories. This camera-ness is complemented in the D100 by Nikon's digital-ness, which is evident in its high performance, super-fast image processing and Nikon Capture software's post-picture making processing abilities. The two combined qualities make the D100 a compelling option for many photographers.

Nikon Software - An Integral Part of Digital SLR Photography

The D100 is complemented by the new Nikon View 5 software that offers photographers a host of facilities to enable easy transfer and viewing of images on a computer. A new version of Nikon's optional camera control and image-editing software package, Nikon Capture 3, will be available separately to compliment the D100. Offering innovative new features and abilities for post-picture making processes, Capture 3 software allows the D100 to be controlled remotely from a computer. Capture 3 works seamlessly with Nikon's exclusive NEF (Nikon Electronic File) RAW image file format to enable reading and adjustment of these files. Once images are downloaded into the computer, the full advantage of Nikon's Total Image Quality processing algorithms can be applied to the files to produce 16-bit color depth images. Additional post processing of images from the D100 will be possible using many of today's advanced image editing software, such as Adobe's Photoshop 5 and higher.

The D100 will be available in the second quarter of 2002, along with the optional Multi Function Battery Pack that features voice-memo, vertical shutter release button, command and sub-command dials, AF start button and a 10-pin remote terminal.

 

Specifications

 


Type of Camera Lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera Nikon D100
Effective Pixels 6.1 million
CCD 23.7 x 15.6mm RGB CCD; 6.31 million total pixels
Image Size L (3,008 x 2,000); M (2,240 x 1,488), S (1,504 x 1,000)
Sensitivity ISO equivalency 200 – 1600 (can be boosted to higher ISO equivalency)
Storage System: EXIF file (uncompressed TIFF or compressed JPEG); uncompressed
RAW (12-bit), Media: CompactFlash™ (CF) Card (Type I/II) and 512MB/1GB IBM
Microdrive™
Shooting Modes 1) Single frame shooting (S) mode, 2) Continuous shooting (C) mode, 3) Self-timer mode:
time duration can be set
White Balance 1) Auto (TTL control using image sensor), 2) Manual (6 settings with fine tuning), 3) Preset
Colour Setting 3 modes available
Colour Adjustment +3 to –3 step for each colour setting
LCD Monitor 1.8-in., 118,000-dot, low-temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with LED backlighting
Playback Function 1 frame; Thumbnail (4/9 segments); Magnifying playback; Slide show; Histogram indication;
Highlight point display
Delete Function Card Format, All frames delete, Selected frames delete
Video Output NTSC or PAL (switchable)
Interface USB 1.1
Viewfinder Optical-type fixed-eye level pentaprism; built-in dioptre adjustment (–2 to +1 m-1)
Eyepoint 20mm (at –1.0 m-1)
Focusing Screen B-type Bright View Clear Matte screen II
Viewfinder Frame Coverage Approx. 95%
Viewfinder Magnification Approx. 0.8x with 50mm lens set to infinity and –1.0 m-1
Viewfinder Focus indications, Shutter speed, Aperture value,
Information Exposure indicator, Exposure compensation, Flash output level compensation, Frame
count, etc.
On-Screen Information Focus frame, Grid lines, Centre-weighted metering area
Autofocus TTL phase detection, Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module; Detection range: EV –1 to
EV 19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature: 20°C)
Lens Servo 1) Single Servo AF (S), 2) Continuous Servo AF (C), 3) Manual focus (M)
Focus Area One of five focus areas can be selected
AF Area Mode 1) Single Area AF
2) Dynamic AF (Dynamic AF Mode with Closest Subject Priority is available)
Focus Lock Focus is locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button or lightly pressing shutter release button in
(S) AF
Compatible Lenses 1) D-type/G-type AF Nikkor: All functions possible, 2) D-type Manual-Focus Nikkor:
All functions except autofocus possible, 3) AF Nikkor other than D-type/G-type: All
functions possible except 3D Matrix Metering, 4) AI-P Nikkor: All functions except 3D
Matrix Metering and autofocus possible, 5) Non-CPU: Usable in [M] mode (camera’s
built-in exposure meter does not work)
Electronic Rangefinder usable with lens with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster
IX-Nikkors cannot be used.
Picture Angle Approx. 1.5x focal length in 35mm [135] format equivalent
Exposure Metering TTL full-aperture exposure metering system;
1) 3D Matrix Metering with 10-segment SPD, 2) Centre-Weighted , 3) Spot Metering
Exposure Metering Range 1) Matrix Metering: EV 0-21
2) Centre-Weighted Metering: EV 0-21, 3) Spot Metering: EV 3-21
(at normal temperature, ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens)
Exposure Mode 1) [P] Auto-Multi Program (Flexible Program possible), 2) [S] Shutter-Priority Auto
3) [A] Aperture-Priority Auto,
4) [M] Manual; shutter speed/aperture adjustable in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
ISO Automatic Control Mode (Custom setting) is available in any exposure
mode (P, S, A, M)
Exposure Compensation Exposure compensated in ±5 EV range in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
Auto Exposure Lock Detected exposure value locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Auto Exposure Bracketing Number of shots: two or three, Compensation steps: 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 step
Shutter Speeds 30 to 1/4,000 sec. and Bulb
Sync Contact X-contact only; flash synchronisation up to 1/180 sec.
Flash Control 1) D-TTL Auto Flash (Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash controlled by five-segment TTL Multi
Sensor) with a built-in Speedlight or an external Nikon Speedlight such as SB-80DX,
28DX, 50DX: three modes available
2) Non-TTL Auto Flash with an external Speedlight
Flash Sync Mode 1) Front-Curtain Sync (normal sync), 2) Red-Eye Reduction
3) Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync, 4) Slow Sync, 5) Rear-Curtain Sync
Built-in Speedlight Manual pop-up type, GN: 11 (ISO 100, m)
Sensitivity range: ISO 200 – 800 equivalent
Sync flash system with external Speedlight: Not available
Ready-light Red LED indicator inside the viewfinder
Accessory Shoe Standard ISO-type hot-shoe contact; safety lock provided
Sync Terminal Available in optional hot shoe adaptor AS-15
Self-timer Electronically controlled; timer duration: 2, 5, 10 (default), 20 sec.
Depth-of-field Preview Button Stop-down lens aperture by pressing depth-of-field preview button (Electronically controlled
type)
Voice Memo Available in optional Multi Function Battery Pack
Letter Input Multi selector enables inputting of alphanumeric characters (max. 36)
Remote Control 10-pin remote terminal available in optional Multi Function Battery Pack
Power Requirements Li-ion Battery Pack EN-EL3 (7.2V DC), AC Adaptor EH-5 (100-240V AC)
Tripod Socket 1/4 in. (ISO1222)
Custom Settings Can be selected on LCD
Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 144 x 116 x 80.5mm
Weight (without battery) Approx. 700g
Optional Accessories Multi Function Battery Pack MB-D100, Li-ion Battery Pack EN-EL3, Charger, MH-18/19,
AC Adaptor EH-5, CompactFlash™ Cards, Speedlight SB-80DX/SB-28DX/SB-50DX, “Nikon
Capture3” Control Software
*Standard accessories may differ in each country or area.

 

 

Nikon has set a MSRP for the D100 at $2,500.00, however the "street price" is expected to be several hundred dollars lower. For full details on purchasing a Nikon D100 check out our retail partner RitzCamera.Com at the following link. All sales are shipped in order of the date and time your order is placed, your credit card is not charged until your unit ships. There is no shipping fee and no sales tax. Ritz Cameras online is expecting one of the largest flows of cameras from Nikon anywhere is the USA, so if you want to get a D100 sooner then later, use our link and place your order NOW!

 

BUY THE NIKON D100 NOW FROM RITZCAMERA.COM

Please use our links to buy from Ritz as all each purchase helps to support this site. Thanks!!!

 

 

 

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