========================================================== NEWS FROM THE NIKONIANS COMMUNITY http://www.nikonians.org 05-MAR-2005 Thank you for your interest in Nikonians(R) - The worlwide home for Nikon(R) photographers. With over 27.000 members from 130 nations, the largest resource on Nikon globally. =========================================================== CONTENT =========================================================== * EDITORIAL NOTE * COMPACTFLASH 3.0 * PICTURE OF THE WEEK * NEW SIGMA DC LENSES OUT * NOTES FROM FOCUS ON IMAGING, UK * MEET OTHER NIKONIANS * IF YOU MISSED #27 OF THE NIKONIAN Dear Nikonian, The exhibition "Focus on Imaging" in Birmingham, UK is just over and our Brian Tilley was there. We have a short report for you in this newsletter. Also, the CompactFlash 3.0 standard is out and we have some info for you on that too. Let's see how long it takes until the manufacturers have CF3 cards out. We have several new moderators on the team and we are happy to see those ladies and guys on board. Check out the moderator team pages starting at http://www.nikonians.org/html/about/nikonians_moderators.html and find out who are taking care of the daily chores at your favourite waterhole :-) We have received many emails with supportive words - Our sincere thanks goes out to you and to all photographers around the world supporting the community. We would not be what we are today - the largest Nikon resource - without you. For quite some time now, we have ran selected advertisement from companies that provide products and services we believe benefit you, the members of Nikonians. The membership payments are partly securing the community's growth and they have also increased - thank you all Silver level members and up! To be able to secure our very strong growth and to get the new functionality we need online, we have to secure further revenue. Thus, the marketing team at Nikonians is working on getting selected companies advertising with us. Should you want to comment or have any feedback on this, feel free to get in touch with us at bo-and-jrp@nikonians.org Thank you all! Bo Stahlbrandt & J. Ramon Palacios Nikonians Founders COMPACTFLASH 3.0 =========================================================== CompactFlash 3.0 The CF+ and CompactFlash Specification Revision 3.0 is now ready. 3.0 increases the CompactFlash interface data transfer rate from 16MB/sec to 66MB/sec, while maintaining forward and backward compatibility with old and new host systems. For discussion on computers, storage devices and scanners, see: http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID11&conf=DCConfID9 There are many CF2 flash cards out there. A short overview with the facts can be found here: http://www.nikonians-images.com/new_guides/flash_cards/flash_cards_1.html --------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ---------------------- FotoStation PRO - the professional's choice FotoStation Pro enables professionals to capture, view, store and retrieve all kinds of visual information on your computer system. More than 2.5 million licenses world-wide! Visit us at http://www.fotoware.com ----------------------------------------------------------- PICTURE OF THE WEEK =========================================================== Congratulations to Harry Jasper (HJasper) from The Netherlands for his D100 shot "Flower" http://www.nikonians.org/dcforum/DCForumID115/18.html NEW SIGMA DC LENSES OUT =========================================================== Sigma have released three new lenses for the digital photographer. They should be out in the stores now in March. Also check out what Brian Tilley says about them further down. 1) 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM Construction: 7 Elements in 7 Groups Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements and an hybrid aspherical lens corrects various types of aberrations. Equipped with Sigma's HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system 2) 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM Construction: 14 Elements in 10 Groups It covers a very wide angle from 102.4 to 63.8 degrees Three pieces of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements and three aspherical lens elements for excellent optical performance. Inner focusing system ensures that the length of the lens remains unchanged whilst controlling aberrations. Equipped with HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system. Minimum focusing distance of 24cm (9.4") at all focal lengths. A relatively compact and lightweight lens for an ultra wide-angle zoom lens. 3) 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Construction: 15 Elements in 13 Groups High zoom ratio of 11:1. Compact and lightweight construction with a diameter of 70mm (2.8") at a length of 78.1mm (3.1") coming with a weight of 405g/14.3oz. Minimum focusing distance is 45cm (17.7") at all focal lengths. For Sigma and other third party lenses, visit our third-party lenses forum: http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID17&conf=DCConfID4 and don't miss the reviews we got on various third-party lenses for your Nikon cameras: http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/index.html NOTES FROM FOCUS ON IMAGING, UK =========================================================== 28th February 2005, by Nikonian Brian Tilley (briantilley) Nikon Nothing really new was announced. There was no sign of the D2HS, nor was there any literature available on this camera. The staff that I spoke to were either unaware of, or not allowed to talk about any future product plans. I asked specifically about a D100 replacement and VR lenses. I got to handle the F6 (without MB-40) and D2X. The F6 feels extremely solid. AF was very quick, and the controls fell to hand as you'd expect. Interestingly, the camera did not feel quite as natural in my hand as my F100, but maybe that's down to familiarity (with the F100). I picked up the D2X with 17-55mm attached, and... WOW! This camera just felt right, and was incredibly easy to handle in both landscape and portrait orientation. I also got to try a few of the lenses released this past year. The 300mm f/2.8 VR seemed hand-holdable, which is something I would not have attempted with the previous model. The 200mm f/2 VR also impressed, once I'd got used to the weight; for a relatively short lens it felt heavier than I expected, but would I think be hand-holdable. The bright viewfinder with a 200mm's FoV was very nice. Canon (--Editorial note: Brian, it is written "Kwanon") Just to check out the opposition, you understand! The 20D doesn't seem as well-designed ergonomically as the Nikon DSLR's, and even though it's a nice weight, it doesn't feel as substantial as my F100. The 350D was also available on the stand; to me it's just too small to hold securely. AF speed was snail-like compared to the D2X and F6 that I'd just put down, but also seemed slower than the 20D. Konica-Minolta (--Editorial note: Brian, there you go again, you are not supposed to go there) I was a Minolta user for 30 years until converting to Nikon, so I had to check out the Dynax 7D. I was quite impressed. Not sufficiently to regret moving to Nikon, but it is a nice camera. Focus speed seemed faster than the Canon 350D, about equal to the 20D. The additional vertical grip is very nicely shaped; better than the MB-15 on the F100, for example. I liked the way the shutter release is an inch or so "down" from the top when the camera is held vertically; this makes the release-viewfinder relationship similar in portrait and landscape. Lowepro There were two new bags on display. The Computrekker Plus AW is (as you'd guess) a larger version of the Computrekker AW, with space for a 17" laptop, but otherwise laid out in the same way. It's still within airline carry-on regulations, I understand. There is also a Rolling Computrekker Plus AW, which is the same size but has wheels and an extendible handle like the Rolling Mini Trekker AW. Tamrac The new versions of the Expedition 5, 7 and 8 were on display. I'd not seen these before, and was quite impressed. The "digital pocket" arrangement on the front of the bag seemed very practical. Domke At last! A proper distribution arrangement is being set up to import Domke bags into the UK, by a company called OpTex - www.optexint.com - and the whole range should soon be available from places like Calumet, Speedgraphic, etc. This was the first time I'd handled a Domke, and I can see why people rave about them. KATA A new range of bags that I'd not heard of before. KATA - www.kata-bags.com - is expanding from the film and video industry into still photo bags. The bags have some unique features; for example the larger bags and backpacks will fit on to a collapsible wheeled trolley that is available separately. These are also being imported through OpTex, I think. Definitely worth looking out for. Manfrotto I had a long chat with one of the UK Product Managers. He explained the philosophy behind the new 190MF and 055MF Magfibre tripods. They are heavier than the older carbon fibre models, but the design has been revised to favour strength and durability over weight. They are still about 0.4kg lighter than the comparable aluminium models. The new (to me) centre column design means you can get lower to the ground; in fact I would consider leaving the bottom section of the centre column off permanently, and this would reduce the weight somewhat. Manfrotto are evaluating the Neotec concept. I got the impression they are not selling too well. Apparently the Neotec leg design is not amenable to smaller tripods than the one they currently sell, though it could go larger. The new 468 Hydrostatic ball head was also on display. They see it as an Arca Swiss / Kirk / Markins competitor, and it does feel nicer than the 48x model range, but I'm not convinced yet. It is usefully cheaper, though, at around 70% of the price of an Arca-Swiss B1. Sigma Prototypes of the newly-announced DC lenses were on display (but not to be touched!) The 10-20mm looks a bit smaller than the Nikkor 12-24mm, and unlike the Sigma 12-24mm, has front filter threads and a petal hood. The 30mm f/1.4 DC looked very nice - about the size of a Nikkor 20mm f/2.8. The 18-200mm seems very similar in size to a 28-200mm. All three lenses are "G" type (no aperture ring). There were no examples of the range of lenses that have just had DG versions announced. The guy I asked had not seen the new versions, but he expects them to retain their aperture rings. Great attention has been paid to coatings on these lenses, to reduce off-sensor reflections. Sigma have re-designed each lens's coatings individually, rather than adopt a "one size fits all" approach. ++ Are you interested in the F6 or D2x? subscribe to our camera specific newsletters: http://www.nikonians.org/html/whatsup/index.html ++ We discuss bags, backpacks and cases here: http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID9&conf=DCConfID4 ++ If you want to bash Brian for mentioning off-topic companies, best place to do so is the Nikonians Cafe (-- Editorial note: Member bashing is against our Terms of Use) http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID38&conf=DCConfID10 MEET OTHER NIKONIANS =========================================================== If you are up for meeting other Nikonians in NYC, Dallas, Ohio or any other place you fancy, you should visit our Travel & Getting together forums http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID30 IF YOU MISSED #27 OF THE NIKONIAN =========================================================== Did you miss the latest edition of our eZine, THE NIKONIAN? No worries, it is online (40 pages, 2.2 MB). You can download it for free from here: http://www.nikonian.org It is a PDF document, so you need the Adobe(R) Acrobat Reader to be able view, and if you so desire, to print it. If you don't have the reader you can download it here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html In this issue you'll find information about the Nikonians photo contest finals, an interview with the author James Balog, a report from Photokina, tips for winter photography by James H. Egbert, an article on the nik color Efex Photoshop filters, D2X information, calendar, event updates and much more. =========================================================== If you have any questions regarding our newsletters or eZine, or if you want to advertise with us, please get in contact with us here: http://www.nikonians.org/contact.html You receive our newsletter because you requested it. We hope you find it useful. However, if you'd like your name to be removed from the newsletter, you can do so at any time here: http://www.nikonians.org/html/whatsup The nikonia, nikonian, nikonians domains and THE NIKONIAN are not associated with Nikon Corporation nor with any of its subsidiaries or affiliates in any way. All registered trademarks mentioned in this newsletter are owned by their respective owners. Nikonians(R) is a registered trademark of nikonians.org The content in this newsletter is Copyright (c) Nikonians 2005. All rights reserved. Nikonians and its owners do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within this newsletter. Nikonians and its owners shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits, which may result from the use of the information held in this newsletter.