The Dark Side Strikes Back - New Nikon D3 & D300

[mr_ballroom]

Yeah D300 uses the *NEW* sony 12.8 MP sensor...supposed to have more hardware noise reduction capabilities.

[C4S]

Awesome . . 14-24mm .. DAMN ..

I wish Canon will make that range .. but for sure they won't kill their own $2500 14mm II and $1800 16-35II!

[Mitsu3000gt]

Here's some more info
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1187901361.html

The poster of that on dpreview included a quote that suggests significantly better ISO performance than the IDS MKIII:

"The D3's high ISO is really impressive I'll remain at least somewhat skeptical until we can get a D3 back in the lab and test it under controlled conditions, but Nikon showed some incredibly impressive prints at the event. They had enlargements that must have been 30x45 inches or more in size, comparing identical shots taken with the D3 and Canon EOS-1D Mark III at ISO 3,200 and 6,400.

After the disappointment of the D2H, I have to say I was taking Nikon's claims of low noise at high ISOs with a rather large grain of salt. When I saw the aforementioned prints though, I was literally flabbergasted. The D3 didn't just surpass the 1D Mark III, it far surpassed it. Well, that may be a little strong; the Mark III is a fantastic camera, but the difference between its images and those from the D3 was anything but subtle. As I say, I'll remain a skeptic until we can test a production sample of the D3 ourselves, but if the images shown had any basis in reality (and Nikon would be foolish to have doctored them in any way), it looks like there's a new leader in the high-ISO / low-noise derby, and it's the D3."



I'm looking forward to the actual reviews of production cameras on dpreview.

[turboMiata]

Originally posted by AccentAE86

This isn't even supposed to really compete with the 1Ds3, is it? Yeah it's got a FF sensor, but it's 9mp less than the 1Ds3, which means it's processing a helluva lot LESS data too. 5fps @ 21MP is much more impressive to me than 9fps @ 12MP. The 1Ds3 is supposed to compete with Hasselblad.

No, I really didn't think it is a direct competition to the 1D3. But a FF 9FPS sensor at 5000USD opens up more options for consumers. I believe most intermediate to advanced users have no need for 16MP or 21MP, so for the flakey guy on the street willing to shell out 4500 for the 1D3, he/she might consider slightly better performance and quality for another 500bux. I'm just comparing value and bang for buck.

In fact, this announcement actually made me wonder if I did the right thing buying the 1D3 - but only for a very tiny moment. I still love my Canon!

[Mitsu3000gt]

TCS is taking orders already, I'm #8 on the list for the D300. Given Nikon's history of supply issues, if you want one I suggest you get your name down ASAP

Also, more and more "hands on" writeups are popping up on Dpreview. One guy was saying a Nikon tech told him on the D300, ISO 1600 is the same as ISO 400 on the D200 as far as noise.

Another guy who apparently got to play with a D3 took some images at ISO 25,600 and tried to swap memory cards but was quickly stopped by Nikon employees haha. He said it is indeed grainy, but better than ISO 3200 on most current cameras.

[AccentAE86]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
TCS is taking orders already, I'm #8 on the list for the D300. Given Nikon's history of supply issues, if you want one I suggest you get your name down ASAP

#8? That should mean you can get yours about... what.... 14 months after the release date? Given the history of nikon releases...

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by AccentAE86


#8? That should mean you can get yours about... what.... 14 months after the release date? Given the history of nikon releases...

Yeah I meant to call yesterday but I forgot =(. They better get more than 8 in

[BerserkerCatSplat]

You think that's bad? Imagine what the wait list for that 14-24 is going to be like.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Heres a neat D3 video, you get to hear 11FPS and see the LCD screens apparently....I don't have sound at work.

http://www.nikonistas.com/digital/vi...os.php?IDN=879

[Mitsu3000gt]

Here is an ISO 6400 example from the D300, looks pretty good:

http://www.slrclub.com/bbs/vx2.php?i...c=asc&no=20929

The EXIF says it's from a D300 but I suppose there is no real way of knowing 100% for sure.

Obviously taken under less than ideal conditions and probably extremely quickly but it still looks pretty good.

Here is a link to the discussion on Dpreview: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=24549527

Here's another one, looks similar to the first one but much better.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bkmd/12...on_d300_users/

[blam]

noise levels look pretty good at 6400!

I dont htink it will hold to 25600 though.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by blam
noise levels look pretty good at 6400!

I dont htink it will hold to 25600 though.

ISO 6400 is it's maximum, only the D3 will do 25,600.

[blam]

oh right. Im getting my shit mixed up.

impressive either way!

[Mitsu3000gt]

Here are some D3 ISO 3200 Samples (link to thread on dpreview):
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=24564293

Apparently the EXIF data is incomplete but for ISO 3200 that looks pretty good to me. No definitive proof that is from a D3 though, but interesting nonetheless.

[blam]

very impressive.

[svtlight]

Nice, I was about to grab a 17-55 but I'll wait and get the 14-24 and 24-70 to match my 70-200 yay

[mboldt]

Anyone wanna buy a Nikon D2X? hahah

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by mboldt
Anyone wanna buy a Nikon D2X? hahah

It will be very interesting to see what happens to the D2X(s) cameras with the D300 being (on paper) as good and better in some ways than the current D2Xs for $2700 less. I bet they will stop making it and use that factory to make the D3.

[msommers]

Originally posted by BerserkerCatSplat
New lenses are the VR versions of the 400/2.8, 500/4 and 600/4, plus two new zooms, the 14-24 f/2.8 and 24-70 f/2.8.

There is a god, and he is good

[Mitsu3000gt]

Here's a D3 ISO 5000 pic (confirmed by EXIF), 100% crop only 1000 X 705 pixels. Pretty damn impressive IMO if it's all true:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/re...ssage=24588928

Some more various examples here: http://masterchong.com/v2/choosing/n...iso-640-4.html