Photos Courtesy Nikon USA

Nikon DS3

• Base ISO Range from 200 to 12,800, expandable from 100 to a staggering 102,400!
• 9 frames per second at full resolution
• 720p HD video recording with stereo microphone input
• Same amazing low light ability can be applied to movies
• 12.1 mp FX-format full frame CMOS sensor
• 51 point AF system, 3D Matrix metering and Scene Recognition System
• $5199.95 estimated selling price
• Scheduled for a November 2009 release from “authorized Nikon resellers”

Nikkor AF-S DX Micro 85mm F/3.5G ED VR lens

• VR II for up to 4 stops of correction
• Internal focusing design
• Use of an ED glass element
• 1:1 life-size reproduction ratio
• $529.99 estimated selling price
• Scheduled for a December 2009 release from “authorized Nikon resellers”

All I know is that integrating video capture capability into a $5000 camera is the least Nikon can do. Professional-level gadgets were never known for their value-for-money proposition (mostly), but every extra feature makes multiple digits seem more reasonable.

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Video capture is a highlighted feature of the new D300s, which makes use of the professional-level camera’s 12.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor. An onboard microphone is probably there to provide the accompanying audio, though an stereo microphone jack supports better sound recording. With max continuous speed of 7fps, the D300s will debut this August, at a price of $1800 for only the body.

Nikon D300s

The more consumer-friendly D3000 is also set to launch at around the same time, at $600, with a 18-55mm VR lens included in the price. Nikon’s planning to push a “Nikon Guide Mode” that promises to teach users the basics of SLR photography. Hopefully this will help more DSLR-crazed buyers take advantage of this camera’s 10.2 megapixel sensor!

Nikon D3000

Both the announced 18-200mm VR and 70-200mm VR lenses are sure to challenge any photographer’s budget, with price tags of of $850 and $2400 respectively. Planned launch deates are this September for the 18-200mm, and November for the 70-200mm.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED VR II

AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II

Marketese-laden sources:

• Nikon D300s Revitalizes the Standard and Measure of Agile, Pro-Level DX-Format D-SLR Design and Performance
• Nikon Further Refines DX and FX Lens Favorites

Galleries:

• D300s
• D3000

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Courtesy Danny Choo

He cites current Canon president Hisashi Sakamaki:

According to his book, employees can concentrate on the meeting at hand without chairs and they have been able to half the number of meetings each year.

He also says that by standing at work, the employees develop a closer relationship with each other and that problems are solved much more quicker. The company also saves on the cost of buying chairs as you can see in the photo.

Also in the photo you can see a blue sign on the floor. When Nikkei went to interview the president, while walking in the corridor a siren and flashing lights went off.

The corridor was designed to detect whether employees were walking at least 5 meters for every 3.6 seconds.

Personally, I really don’t mind working standing up—if I had a choice to work sitting down or not and my desk could adapt accordingly (the stand-up desk comes to mind). And I wouldn’t even mind having to walk a meter every 0.72 seconds, but again if I had a choice in the matter.

Both apparent Canon workplace realities are actually conducive for productivity, in my opinion. But imposing the standard on everyone, regardless of the situation or what I like to call the personal practicality of the approach, is not good.

Unfortunately, I can’t Danny Choo’s word for it. For after pointing out Canon’s workplace injustices, asking readers “Next time you take a photo on your Canon – think about the employees”, he reveals his totally drool-worthy home PC(s) setup, complete with his Nikon collection, and posts a Nikon ad featuring himself.

Courtesy Danny Choo

As commenter TheGreatest wrote:

I don’t see Nikon workers sitting down either eh?
http://www.e-fotografija.si/templates/?a=1132&z=93&page=2

Also, when were those pictures taken? These are more recent shots of Canon’s assembly line:
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/1305/pspro90isimg.jpg

Do you see any major differences?

I understand you have an overwhelming bias seeing as you got paid for a Nikon commercial, but you can at least have some integrity.

Personally, I’m calling out Danny Choo for showing off his multi-computer workspace. At least I can still consider his cable management crappy. Heh.

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And this is spooky…

But, how sexy is this?

Probably not as hot as the LG Booth Babes!

(Images from I Believe in Advertising)

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Nikon what? When the D90 as announced, it looked like Nikon would one-up Canon. The manufacturer did a great job coming out with a demo video showing how video capturing works well with dSLR lens. They probably didn’t count on Canon having an answer.

So what Canon do to promote the 5D Mark II, its own video dSLR? It went all artsy-fartsy with its demo video—a surprisingly effective approach. Check out Reverie in all its relatively high-resolution glory here. Canon must also be happy that one of the video’s creators posted a “behind the scenes” clip here.

Amazingly, Canon was apparently with the 5D showcase—even if it made one its own camcorders look bad. As creator Vincent Laforet writes:

Keep in mind – this is raw footage (not RAW) from both Canon XH A1 camcorder – and a few clips for the Canon EOS 5D MKII – you’ll see that the two are toe to toe (not really) on bright scenes… but in low light – NO COMPARISON… so I’m not sure of how Canon feels about my trashing their top of the line XH A1 camcorder… but common sense leads me to state the following: if the Canon still camera team and the video team have come together to produce the Canon EOS 5D MKII – the next HD camcorder they come out with – may just floor us all… these are very exciting times – to be someone who focuses on “creating” as opposed to the “process” and “technique” of making your vision match the “reality” of the tools you have at your disposal.

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Apparently, macro photography is really important marijuana connoisseurs. Over at grasscity.com (”world’s best online headshop”), user DayHota asks: “So, to the cannabis photographers, what are some cameras that will do my buds justice?”

The answers: The Sony DSC-W55, “a dslr or my sony wsc-w90″, “I use a Nikkon D-300 with a AF-S VR Micro-Nikkon 105mm R/2.8G IF-ED lens”, Canon 570IS, Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, and the Nikon COOLPIX P60. Wait a minute, potheads can afford the $1,500+ Nikon D300?! (grasscity.com)

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