Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Until now, the mirrorless camera market has remained a bit of a niche, never quite distracting snappers away from entry level DSLRs or top end compacts.
Nikon, one of the photographic big two, and its entry into this camera category with the Nikon 1 system, might just change all that. Of the pair - the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1 - it's the higher-end latter that has us most excited. Priced in at £829 (with a 10-30mm lens) it comes directly up against Sony's NEX-5N camera. So, with both brands carrying some serious DSLR pedigree, which is the one you should go for?
Take a look at Pocket-lint's Nikon 1 V1 vs Sony NEX-5N spec challenge to get a better look at how the two match up.

Build

1st: Sony NEX-5N

Magnesium alloy, 110.8 x 58.8 x 38.2mm, 269g

2nd: Nikon 1 V1

Magnesium alloy reinforced, 113 x 76 x 43.5mm, 383g

At the kinds of price points you find these models, one would hope for something that feels pretty solid in the hand. The NEX-5N comes in a full magnesium alloy which is strong and extremely light. It makes for a decent looking machine and definitely feels premium. The V1 on the other hand is magnesium alloy reinforced rather than the same material all the way through. We're not going to quibble about that too much as they both feel good to hold, but we do have to say that the Sony has the edge with its metallic finish over the more plastic-look Nikon 1 cameras.
On top of that, and more telling when being compact is the aim of the game, the Sony NEX-5N takes the round in the weight and size battle, bouncing in at 269g to the Nikon's 383g. Similarly the super-pocketable Sony is 110.8 x 58.8 x 38.2mm against the V1 which measures up at larger 113 x 76 x 43.5mm. Neither are exactly massive but, if compact is what you are after, we say the Sony wins this one.
The only thing that you might want to bear in mind is that, by virtue of the Sony's larger sensor size, the lenses that you stick on the front of it are going to be bigger as well, and that might ruin those easy-pack claims. So, although this is a Sony win, in reality, the more compact might be the Nikon.

Screen

1st: Sony NEX-5N

3-inch, 921k dot TFT, vari-angle

2nd: Nikon 1 V1

3-inch, 921k dot TFT

Most of the shooting done on both cameras will be via the screen on the rear, so it's vital that it performs well. Crucially the screen must be nice and bright, viewable in varied conditions and reproduce images as faithfully and accurately as possible.
The NEX-5N has a 3-inch, 921,600-dot TFT display with TruBlack technology. This translates to rich, crisp and balanced shots turning up on the back of the camera after the shutter has been pressed. It also means a responsive and highly accurate screen to use for composing shots themselves and filming video.
The V1 has an almost entirely identical 3-inch 921k dot TFT display, making it very difficult to choose between the two. The XtraFine tech on the Sony and TruBlack does give it the slight edge when it comes to viewing angles and picture reproduction, but it's the vari-angle ability of the Sony for more flexible shooting that puts the NEX-5N on top again. It also happens to be a touchscreen, if you're into that sort of thing.

Viewfinder

1st: Nikon 1 V1

TFT LCD 1440k finder, 100 per cent coverage

2nd: Sony NEX-5N

Accessory, XGA OLED 2359k dot finder, 100 per cent coverage

Viewfinders aren't something that every photographer uses in this day and age but, if you're from the DSLR school, then it's probably an important consideration for you.
Both the Sony and the Nikon can use proper eyepieces - albeit electronic ones - the difference is, however, that the Nikon's is built-in. That, for us, is a serious deal-breaker because, otherwise, you're looking at an extra £200 to turn the NEX-5N into a more conventional prosumer shooter. Until then, you're limited to composing shots via the rear screen, which while very good in its own right, might not feel like proper photography to you.
It also means a lot of the covert and compact nature of these mirrorless cams is lost. As you stare at a back screen you make yourself obvious; not the best thing if you're intending on using them for street photography. It's also arguably easier to hold a camera still when you've got it locked to your eye than when it's right out in front of you.
The Nikon 1 V1 ships with a 100 per cent coverage viewfinder built-in and, as such, claims the win in this round.

Sensor

1st: Sony NEX-5N

Exmor APS-C (1.5x crop) HD CMOS, 16.1 megapixel

2nd: Nikon 1 V1

CX-format (2.7x crop) CMOS, 10.1 megapixel

Now to the real beef of every digital camera - the sensor; the thing that really makes the difference when it comes to the quality of your photos.
Crop factor is a major issue when it comes to mirrorless systems, as is the amount of megapixels you cram onto such a tiny space. The more megapixels, the more problems with noise - something you definitely don't want. The smaller the sensor, the less bokeh (area of defocus) at low apertures, and the greater amount of processing power required to clean up images.
It might seem like Sony has the edge simply because of the higher number of megapixels but, believe us, 10 megapixels is more than enough unless you're shooting for billboards.
Where the Sony does come out on top, however, is that the sensor size is markedly larger than the Nikon, resulting in a 1.5x crop rather than the V1's 2.7x. In the case of the Nikon, when you mount an AF-S lens using the FT1 adapter, you can expect a huge increase in zoom range. This means any wide angle lenses you currently own will transform into 50mm shooters when stuck on the V1.
We personally find both the Sony and Nikon to turn out very good quality images. It is, however, the smaller ISO range of 100-6400 on the V1 that puts the Sony in the lead this round. The NEX-5N can shoot in much lower light conditions, boasting a 100-25600 ISO range, and probably backs those stats up with less noise as you increase the ISO. However, we're prepared to stand corrected on this, once we get a chance to test it out the results in the Pocket-lint labs.

Processor

1st: Nikon 1 V1

EXPEED 3

2nd: Sony NEX-5N

BIONZ

The processor is what is responsible for all the technical trickery that goes on inside a digital camera. It deals with things like noise reduction, image processing, video recording and colour reproduction. A good processor can make a serious difference to the way a camera behaves and both Sony and Nikon are reliabe in this department.
That said, it's in this category that Nikon's photographic pedigree really comes into play, with the brand new EXPEED 3 processor making a debut appearance in the Nikon 1 cameras. It features a pair of engines for processing images and can manage to process 600 megapixels per second making it more than a match for Sony BIONZ at present.
The EXPEED 3 allows for serious levels of noise reduction and things like Motion Snapshot which can record both slow motion movies and stills. The BIONZ inside the NEX-5N is no slouch either, however, particularly when you think of the ISO range the camera can manage.

Autofocus

1st: Nikon 1 V1

Hybrid auto focus AF (73-pt phase detection/135-pt contrast detect)

2nd: Sony NEX-5N

25-point contrast AF system

Camera manufacturers appear to be engaged in a permanent auto focus speed race at the moment. Nikon currently retains the crown with the V1 which uses a combination of two types of autofocus and so claims to be the fastest shooter in the West right now.
It's important to remember, however, that all this obsession with speed does mean a lot of the mirrorless cameras sacrifice focus points. Why are focus points important? Well, the more you have, the easier it is to selectively focus objects within a frame. This is important because it can, in the end, speed up how you focus an image, regardless of the speed the camera is capable of. As it goes, the Nikon 1 V1 blows the Sony NEX-5N out of the water here as well, so it's Nikon all the way on the AF front.

Burst speeds

1st: Nikon V1

Up to 60fps

2nd: Sony NEX-5N

10fps

The standard mechanical shutters of both of these cameras fire away at a seriously impressive 10 frames each and every second when you’ve got your finger held down on the trigger. However, as part of Nikon’s fastest claims, both the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1 have electronic modes that ramp things up to either 30fps or 60fps and at full resolution too.

What you do sacrifice at those speeds is autofocus with only 10-point AF possible for each shot at 30fps and only an initial focus for the first of the volley available when you’re running at 60fps. Nonetheless, the stats are seriously impressive. When it’s all about capturing the action, it’s a big win for Nikon.

Video

1st: sony nex-5n

Full HD, stereo mic, 25p/50p

2nd: nikon 1 V1

Full HD, stereo mic, 30p/60i

There's a sneaking suspicion here at Pocket-lint that Nikon has gone for video in a big way on its Nikon 1 system. Well aware that there's a growing thirst for the stuff amongst consumers - especially at these mid and upper price points - the company has made sure to offer as much in the way of movie shooting potential as possible. Naturally, what you get is full, 1080p HD recording which you can either capture at 30fps or interlaced at 60fps. (If you do drop down to 720p recording, then this becomes a bonafide 720/60p for what should be some excellent slow motion videos.)

The technical side on the V1 is also supported, as it should be, with stereo sound recording capabilities whether you're using the built-in mics or the optional external accessory. Either way, with audio arguably the better part of video, it's a welcome inclusion; one feature that users will find a real bonus is that, while recording in movie mode, you can also snap as many full resolution stills as you want.

Finally, Nikon has included a dedicated video-shooting, power zoom lens for the CX cameras, the automation of which keeps pulls smooth while also cutting down on any external judder.
As for the Sony NEX-5N, it too has no issues with Full HD and stereo sound recording in-body and it even outclasses the Nikon 1 V1 by shooting at a 50fps when in 1080p mode which purists would argue beats the interlaced 60i on the Nikon. What's more, videos are encoded in excellent AVCHD wrapper on the NEX-5N rather than the MOV files one gets with the V1.
Both cameras are top notch at video on paper, but it's the Sony that has the edge for now.

Accessories

tie: Nikon 1 V1

Cases, flash, external microphone, GPS unit, grip, lens mount

tie: Sony NEX-5N

Finder, cases, flash, finder, wireless remote, lens mount

When you buy into a new camera system you want to know that there is plenty to get your teeth stuck into accessory-wise, should you choose to splurge later. Both Nikon and Sony know this and, as such, haven't exactly skimped on the accessory front.
The usual range of camera cases, lens cases, hoods and general Nikon and Sony branded accoutrements are all available. Where things get exciting, and where the pair come into conflict, is over the relative expensive of NEX and V1 treats.
We already know that the NEX-5N needs an external finder if you want to use it more like a conventional camera, but then the V1 requires a plug in GPS unit if you want to geotag shots. The GPS on the Sony NEX-5N is built in. It all depends which is more important to you.
We definitely think the decision to make the V1 compatible with Nikon's external mic was a good one - especially for video fans who will likely be picking up either the NEX or V1 partly due to to the quality of their 1080p video.

Lenses

1st: Nikon 1 V1

10-30mm, 30-110mm, 10mm, 10-100mm

2nd: Sony NEX-5N

50mm, 24mm, 55-210, 30mm, 16mm, 18-55mm, 18-200mm

Sony quite clearly has the advantage in the lens department with the NEX-5N. There's just a lot more to choose from. The company has also opted to put the Zeiss name on a few of them, including the f/1.8 24mm ZA, which we have spent plenty of time shooting with and know it's definitely a performer.
That aside, don't forget that Nikon has gone and stuck the NIKKOR brand onto the new Nikon 1 system camera lenses. This means you're going to get the same imaging expertise that you get on its DSLR cameras. We can't really ignore the pedigree on this front and are excited to really put some of the new lenses through their paces.
While you can also pick up an adapter for the Sony to fit the company's top end A-mount DSLR lenses to the NEX-5N, it just doesn't compare with the range, number and quality that Nikon has produced over the years.

Price

1st: Sony NEX-5N

£799 for double lens kit

2nd: Nikon 1 V1

£829 for single lens kit

Sony pretty much claims the throne immediately on this one, shipping the NEX-5N with both a 18-55mm and 55-210mm set of lenses for £799.
The Nikon 1 V1 is priced in at £829 with just a 10-30mm lens kit. Quite simply you're getting one extra lens for your money on the Sony front.
It is important to consider, however, the pricing for separate lenses for each system. A 10mm f/2.8 will set you back £229 for the V1. Something similar on the NEX - say the for example the 16mm pancake - is £219. On every front Sony manages to keep things cheaper than the Nikon and as such grabs the points for this one but, as ever, prices may change.

Conclusion

1st: Nikon 1 V1

2nd: Sony NEX-5N

First of all, hats off to both Sony and Nikon for producing a pair of cameras that not only innovate but impress with their photographic capabilities. Neither has sacrificed the fundamentals of shooting (albeit maybe an analogue finder) for technological gimmickry and, for that, we salute them.
Deciding between the two is a bit like choosing between Mac or Windows. They're both good in their own right. Sony definitely has the jump in the sensor, screen and build department. Of those three, however, it's only the sensor that really, really matters in terms of affecting your photography fundamentally. The other big category it wins in is video.
The Nikon 1 V1, though, is probably the camera that has all the boxes checked in the right places. It's got an insanely powerful image processor running the show offering absurd shooting speeds and the ability to back up an AF system that should keep your image capture super fast and super sharp. It might even be enough to keep the noise levels down at comparable low light levels despite its shortfall in sensor size.
On top of all that, there's an in-built viewfinder, healthy batch of accessories and access to a vast array of high quality glassware with which Sony just can't compete at the moment.
Narrow depth of field shooting might be a casualty of smaller Nikon sensor and we'll have to wait and see how that affects overall image quality too but, for the minute, our gut feeling is that the Nikon 1 V1 will impress more than the Sony NEX-5N.
Naturally, there are functions on one what you won't get on the other - 3D Sweep Panorama on the Sony vs Smart Photo Selector on the Nikon - and we're not yet convinced whether the interface on the Nikon 1 system is something that would appeal to the enthusiast photographer; but, for plain old shooting, we're siding with the Nikon 1 V1 until full reviews.

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Nikon 1 V1 hands-on

Nikon has announced two new compact system cameras: the Nikon 1 V1 and the Nikon 1 J1. We got our hands on both new cameras today, so until we can bring you our Nikon 1 V1 review, we’re happy to pass on our first impressions.

The Nikon 1 V1 is the more serious of Nikon’s two new cameras. It features a larger battery, built-in viewfinder, a mechanical shutter and a hotshoe for accessories in order to separate it from its sibling the J1.

It also only comes in black and white, whereas the J1 comes in a glorious range of colours, so you’re left with the sense that this is supposed to be photographer’s camera.

In the hand the Nikon 1 V1 is surprisingly weighty. It isn’t the smallest or lightest of the compact system cameras out there, but offering up a built-in viewfinder, it finds itself up against the likes of the Sony NEX-7.

It is well built, but has a sort of toy-like glory to the design, the curved ends and the rounded bump of the viewfinder giving it - especially in white - something of a plastic MacBook look and feel. It feels slightly removed from the raw metal or anodised finish of some Olympus or Panasonic Micro Four Thirds models.

The Nikon 1 V1 offers a small hotshoe that will accept accessories - of which there are plenty- but without a built-in flash, you’ll find yourself reaching for the £129.99 bespoke Speedlight flash. With compact system cameras being hammered in the past for not including a flash, it’s a surprising move from Nikon.

The electronic viewfinder, however, is very impressive. With a resolution of 1440k-dots, it is bright, clear, sharp and thanks to the eye-sensor in the housing, will activate as you lift the camera to your eye. It will be a great asset for those shooting in bright conditions where the screen isn’t as visible, or just for those moving from a DSLR who prefer the stability of holding the camera up to your face.

Around the back the controls look rather conventional. Those who don’t get on with the stripped-down controls of Sony’s NEX range, might find themselves more at home with the Nikon 1, but that statement comes with a caveat.

Many of the settings are accessed through the menu, which is rather conventional, lacking the sort of graphical approach of the Samsung NX200. If you want to flip over to manual shooting (or aperture or shutter shooting modes) it isn’t as immediate as we’d like, because you have to dig it out. Immediate shooting options for the mode you are in are offered by the F (function) button, but those are limited.

The mode dial on the back offers four positions - surprising considering the empty space on the dial. These cover video capture, Auto and two modes Nikon are calling Smart Photo Selector and Motion Snapshot. At this price, and given that Nikon are considered a “traditional” photography company, we suspect that many will wonder why something as conventional as aperture priority doesn’t make it onto the dial. 

From the demos we saw, the two new shooting modes are clever. Motion Snapshot combines a MOV video file with a JPEG, essentially giving you a moving picture. This can be viewed on the camera (and presumably played on a large screen using the HDMI), but it does seem like an odd thing to commit to the dial over some more conventional options.

The Smart Photo Selector is more common (best shot selector on some rival models) which takes a series of photos and then presents the best five to you. The prominence of these modes makes it appear as though the Nikon 1 V1 is pitched at those wanting good results easily, rather than the more creative photographer looking to experiment with traditional photography techniques.

We also got to play with a couple of lenses. The pancake lens is 10mm (27mm in 35mm terms) and gives you a nice compact package. The kit zoom (10-30mm) locks down for compact storage rather like the Olympus Micro Four Thirds lenses, while the PD-Zoom (10-100mm) - along the same lines as Panasonic's Lumix G X lens - gives you a powered zoom control, ideal for shooting video, with a nice smooth, and silent action.

The results we viewed on the back of the camera were all very impressive, but as is normal with these sorts of hands-on opportunities, we weren’t allowed to take any of the test shots away with us.

Ultimately, that means that we have to leave any decisions on quality and whether the choice of a fairly small sensor is right for this new line of cameras until we get the camera in for a full review. 

What do you think? Has Nikon got its compact system camera right? Let us know in the comments below…

Take a look at how the Nikon 1 V1 compares to the Sony NEX-5N

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Nikon D7000

These are hard times for camera manufacturers trying to create an attractive body that offers the kind of performance to sell to both semi-professionals and the aspiring photographer set. Nikon has done just that by delivering a good DSLR body with the D7000. The D7000 is positioned between the D90 (the lower end, entry model) and the D300s (on the higher end). For Canon users who are interested, the Nikon D7000 is on par with the Canon 60D.

Summary of the D7000’s key selling points

- Approx. 16.2 megapixels DX-Format CMOS sensor at 6 frames per second
- Magnesium alloy, all weather resistant body
- 39 AF points capable sensor with 9 cross-types
- New energy saving EXPEED 2 imaging processor
- Wide range ISO up to 6400
- Full HD 24p video recording with scene recognition, compatible with external stereo microphone
- Double SD card slots. SDXC compatible
- New battery grip system allows seamless switching of power
- Approximately 100% frame coverage in viewfinder. (0.94x)

General appearance

Let’s dive right in and examine Nikon’s latest pumpkin. Something most users will immediately notice is that it is very sturdy. Just like the Apple commercials, one would dare to say: “It just feels how it’s supposed to feel”. Which is very rugged, mainly due to the aluminum alloy used in the manufacturing process?
Look and feel are very good. The reliability of the device can only benefit from Nikon’s upgrade to fully weather-seal it. Meaning the D7000 has superior weather-resistance and anti-dust capabilities. Even the hinge mechanism that accommodates the 2 SD/SDXC slots is well sealed to make your memory cards survive the worst downpour possible.

Memor-ability?

The first thing we noticed is the fact that this darling does not come with any CF slots. This might affect the take-up of the D7000 by the more serious photographer who already owns a small bucket of CF cards. Nevertheless, SD cards are a good alternative, and there are few downsides to not incorporating them. Still, we cannot deny the fact that instead of 2 SDs, we would have prefered to have seen 1 SD and 1 CF slot, just like the D7000’s big brother (D300s).

Shutter

Nikon claims that the D7000 has a shutter unit inside that’s tested for at least 150 000 cycles ranging from 1/8000 to 30 seconds with a flash sync speed of 1/250 seconds. In real world tests this gave us the same excellence and precision we felt with the D300s. At 6 frames per second it will cover most of your general purpose needs.
A nice little feature is the “Q” symbol below the mode dial. Just like in the James Bond franchise, “Q” unlocks the sniper mode of the D7000. It stands for “Quiet” mode. Nikon claims it is excellent for photographing sleeping children, school plays, shooting wildlife and insects. We do recommend turning the flash unit OFF before testing it at public places such as no-camera allowed museums and nude beaches. *jokes*

Mode dial- Auto suits all

When first using the mode dial on this device, things feel very natural. It clicks and snaps into place very solidly, has 2 U-options to create personal presets (commonly used settings) and a mind blowing 19 out-of-the box fixed presets.
The trouble of coming with 19 presets is that they might be overwhelming to new users. The presets include: Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, Night portrait, Night landscape, Party/Indoor, Beach/snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Pet portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn colors, Food, Silhouette, High key and Low key.
Now even after reading the manual and supposing you bought the shiny new Nikon D7000, we have a question for you: Which mode do you use when a child (child) is sitting on a beach (beach/snow), with your dog (pet portrait) next to him, when the sun sets in behind (sunset). YES exactly, you set it to automatic (auto), like almost everybody does. There are small nuances between the preset modes. The only ones that stand out are: Silhouette, high key (overexpose) and low key (underexpose). Luckily for the all-weather semi-pro, the D7000 still has the toys that pro photographer can’t live without, namely Aperture priority, Shutter priority and Manual settings.

Live view & AF points are very impressive

Nikon states in its press release that the live view mode is easier to use compared to the older models. By testing, one can clearly say it does feel far more natural and smooth compared to the Nikon D90 and D300. The main selling point here is an excellent feature called “Virtual horizon”, which superimposes your camera’s LCD view to the opposing real world horizon it detects. Essentially meaning you get a more professional looking frame compared to the potentially shoddy shots you used to take with your small pocket camera.
Auto focus is probably one of the most deciding factors for the purchase of a new DSLR camera. And Nikon lives up to expectations in this department. The AF Servo, being Single-servo or full-time-servo, is a charm to work with. With 39 AF point (delivered by the Multi-CAM 4800DX chip), you will find yourself geared up to capture whatever it is you want it to capture.
Clever, clever camera; the new AF chip can detect foregrounds and backgrounds, and focus on subjects via advanced recognition patterns. It picked up people’s faces and detected the position/statue out of any scenery we put it to the test with. It can also differentiate skin and/or hair tones of the subjects.
The 6 frames per second combined with 3D-tracking sensor will track (and keep focus) of ANY fast paced item moving from one side to the other. Sports, wildlife/birds, even bumblebees never looked this good in our tests with other cameras in the same price range.
In video mode it features an excellent face-priority option that automatically detects any faces in your image, thus assuring you that everybody’s face is in focus. Other options we tested were Normal-area AF (good for close ups), Subject-tracking AF (great for sports) and Wide-area AF (landscapes, general architecture, etc.). We must say that the ability to use certain AF points as pin point positions really makes this device shine.

Video, HD as it’s supposed to be, and better

D-movie, as Nikon calls it, is the full HD movie capability of the EXCEED 2 chip inside the D7000. We didn’t have much time left to play around with all its glorious features, but can give you the essence of what you can expect from the camera. It can record mono sound by default, but if you want to get true stereo we advise you to buy the external stereo microphone from Nikon’s range of accessories.
Full HD means the D7000 can record in a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at a frame rate of 24 images per second. You might think “any camera nowadays can do full HD, so what makes this one stand out?” Straight to the point: The AF! Nikon has managed to put such a potent auto-focussing system in this camera, that the creative possibilities are truly amazing. We can assure you, there is hardly any competition at this price point that will turn you into a professional looking director. The level of configurability and flexibility this D7000 can handle is breathtaking. All out of the box, no film school degree required!

Other tidbits:

This camera has many features, so it isn’t easy to keep a review compact and to the point, but one of the mentions we would like to make is the fact that the D7000 was developed to work together flawlessly with the Speedlight SD-700 flash-unit. A wireless remote controlled flash-unit that allows for multiple flash unit control.
Retouch menu: This menu allows you to do some easy post editing on your camera. You can apply various effects, but the best one in our opinion is still the straighten option which works in cooperation with the virtual horizon feature previously mentioned.
HDMI is supported, and there is an optional accessory in the form of a remote control.
Accessories wise, you are never left in the cold with Nikon, since the new D7000 comes with a newly developed Multi-Power Battery pack and the GP-1 GPS Unit (for geo-tagging).

What we liked

The overall feature package is very good; we liked the fact that you actually get a lot for a camera that that does fit in well in between the semipro and general consumer market. The AF system is top notch and everything we could have asked for coming from Nikon. Video-wise this device really shines! Combining the advanced AF technology with the new chipset delivers high quality performance in a small package. The magnesium body is very rugged and feels professional in every way.

What we didn’t like

When this review was written, we didn’t know about the price tag of this pumpkin. Now priced at about 1149€ it is a big leap to take. With the D300s selling for about the same price, and Canon’s 60D available at 949€, we feel it is a risk Nikon is taking. Since this camera is by far not for professionals or wintered semi-pros who usually have the budget to spend on gear that tops the 1000€ mark for just a camera body. Also the accessory list does come with quite a sheer price tag. A lack of USB 3.0, with memory cards going up to 64 GB now, an upgrade for faster communication ports could have gained Nikon a boost over the competition.

Conclusion.

Wait until the price of the D7000 drops is the best advice we can currently tell you. At the moment is the similarly priced D300s still a big improvement if you intend to use it mainly as a DSLR. The D7000 only gains slight advantage if you shoot a lot in low light environments where the higher ISO will benefit your goal. Also for video performance the D7000 has elements that surpass the D300s in possibilities. On the other hand, the D300s had the advantage of combining memory formats, whereas the D7000 is locked to dual-SD. This last point may be an absolute no-go for the serious photographer out there.
If you already have a collection of Nikon lenses or just like Nikon for its supreme image quality, you are probably better off with a D300s. Yet, if you haven’t got any relation with Nikon at this current point, we do recommend you looking at Canon’s lineup. The Canon 60D priced much lower than the Nikon D7000 has almost the exact same features, yet higher ISO, more megapixels and in our tests had a slightly better battery life.
From a price perspective, for about 1149/1199€ you get the most bang for your buck with a Canon 7D., which is even better than Canon’s 60D and surpasses Nikon’s higher level D300s in general performance. The Nikon D7000 is absolutely not a bad device, it just isn’t carrying it’s ideal price tag yet.

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Release of New Laser Rangefinder by NIKON

Nikon Vision, a subsidiary of Nikon has introduced Laser 1000A S, a new laser rangefinder with a golf mode feature. The new 1000A S in addition to displaying the actual distance, height and horizontal distance, is capable of displaying slope-adjusted distance in the viewfinder, a useful feature, helping user to easily understand the distance to the target in a hilly surroundings. The new 1000A S’s Golf mode is a slope-adjusted distance and actual distance mode. The golf mode is among the several display mode cycle on this newly released laser rangefinder. The 1000A S comes with Actual distance and height mode, horizontal distance and height mode, Actual distance mode, as well as golf mode.
Among some of the key features on this new laser rangefinder are wider filed of view of 7.5 degrees, active brightness control viewfinder for easy, clear viewing, improved light transmittance for a brighter field of view, larger ocular for easy viewing (18 mm), to name a few. The new 1000A S is in compliance with RoHS and WEEE.

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Nikon D7000 Sold Early And Unboxed

While the Nikon D7000 DSLR camera is slated to go on sale this Sunday, Best Buy has actually let some customers purchase the hotly-anticipated camera ahead of time, and inevitably, unboxing pictures and videos have been posted online. In case you're wondering, you'll get the camera, an 18-105mm kit lens, soft pouch, lens hood, LCD protector, neck strap and the usual cables in exchange for your hard-earned cash. Unboxing video after the jump.

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Nikon D3S DSLR Unveiled and Coming In November For A $5,199 Price

When it comes to DSLRs you cannot not think of Nikon who is always working on something new that will definitely improve your experience as an amateur / professional photographer. The latest in a long list of DSLR series is the Nikon D3S which was unveiled last night by the Tokyo-based company. The Nikon D3S is a 12.1-megapixel DSLR which comes packed with a ISO range of 200 to 12,800, but which can be increased up to 102,400.
I know what you’re thinking because I’m thinking it too: that’s pretty impressive but where on Earth did we say this before? Of course there are other cameras capable of that, but how many of them can shoot videos at 720p at 24 fps with Auto-focus, and a new algorithm that prevents shuttering? The problem with the Nikon D3S as well as other Nikon’s DSLRs is that it doesn’t feature image stabilization.
Nikon also released the pricing and availability details of the D3S DSLR which is going to become available in late November for a price of $5,199 for body-only. What do you think? Isn’t this a little expensive? I think it is, but let’s just wait for November to come.

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Nikon D3100 DSLR is First to Bring Real Video Autofocus; Nikon D3100 Debuts With Low Pricing & Fancy Specs

Nikon are at it again, this time with their new Nikon D3100 camera that is supposedly the first DSLR in the market to bring real video autofocus. The perfect DSLR for taking stunning photos and shooting amazing Full HD (1080p) video, the Nikon D3100 not only has real, constant autofocus powers during video recording, it costs around $700 — a great price for a DSLR.

The Nikon D3100 comes with a compact, lightweight body, and makes you wonder how the company has managed to cram everything inside. That’s because the D3100 has an impressive specs lists. Everything starts with Nikon’s new 14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor that allows you to capture stunning Full HD 1080p resolution (1920×1080) movies in h.264, cinematic quality 24p video clips, or shoot at 24 or 30 fps at 720p quality.
For those out of the know, the real video autofocus feature allows the camera to constantly autofocus (even tracking faces, up to 35 of them) on subjects or points while you shoot. And for those who guessed that there’s a second sensor to do all these things, you’re wrong, Nikon’s new Expeed2 image processor with a “very fast” contrast-based AF is capable to do it.

“With its new 14.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor and Nikon’s new EXPEED 2TM image processing system, the D3100 delivers exceptional image quality with low noise. The new EXPEED 2TM image-processing engine enhances camera performance and helps to ensure brilliant image quality while managing color, contrast, exposure, noise and speed for optimal results.”

But Nikon D3100 is also good for taking pictures as you’d expect. ISO goes from 100 to 3200, and expands up to 12,800 — “enables versatility in environments such as indoors or in the evening hours”. There’s an 11-point autofocus system, and metering’s powered by a 420-pixel RGB color 3D matrix meter.
Regarding pricing and availability, the Nikon D3100 will go for around $700, will include an 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 kit lens and should be released sometime next month (second half).

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Nikon Unveils D7000 DSLR with Full Specs, Price and Release Date

Nikon has introduced the D7000 digital SLR camera which will be creating a new class of Nikon camera by providing exceptional quality, control and innovative features. The camera wedges itself between the highly popular D90 and power packed D300.

The D7000 comes equipped with a new 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, with low-light ability, and Nikon’s new EXPEED 2 image processing system for enhanced performance. EXPEED 2 will also manage the camera’s speedy 50-millisecond shutter response, blazing AF speed and rapid six fps burst speed for up to 100 images.
It also comes with the new 39-point AF system and a new 2,016-pixel RGB 3D Matrix Metering System which will be delivering amazing image quality in different conditions.
Better still, the camera also provides full 1080p HD movie capability with full time auto focus. The compact design is lightweight and the camera is dust and moisture sealed. The camera body consists of a Magnesium-alloy top and rear covers and a 150,000 cycle-rated shutter system.
The camera will be available throughout the US in mid-October 2010 at an MSRP of $1199.95 for body only and $1499.95 for a body and lens combination that includes the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-105mm lens. The D7000 will be running right up against the recently announced Olympus E-5 and Pentax K-r.

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