Nikon Stuff [ Nikon Gear that matters ]

Nikon’s D300S isn’t exactly tailor made for D300 owners, but for those waiting patiently to jump into the semi-pro DSLR game, it offers up a pretty delightful array of specs. Boasting SD and CF slots, a 720p movie mode and 12.3 megapixels of sharp shooting goodness, this here cam received overwhelmingly positive reviews late last year. Strategically positioned between the full-frame D700 and the lesser-specced D90, we’re sure the D300S found its way into quite a few hearts (and under quite a few trees) between then and now. If you’ve been firing off snaps with one of these for a few months now, we’re curious to know how you’d tweak things if the power were yours. Does the “S” really add enough to the D300 package to warrant the boost in price? How’s the image quality? Is the video mode a-okay for your purposes? Spill your heart out in comments below — we’re here to hold your hand if necessary.

How would you change Nikon’s D300S? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I had a few people ask about how I mounted the SB-800 in the ceiling for the John McIntyre photo last week. I used a Matthews Scissor-Clip, a sweet little light stand / cable clamp made just for suspended ceilings.

Hit the jump for more info and pics.
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Here it is with nothing attached — and upside down from its normal orientation. The grooved, “X-Wing” style base opens and closes to securely grab the panel-holding framework of a suspended ceiling, and drop down with a 5/8″ male stud.

It’ll hold any small light, obviously including an umbrella clamp and speedlight combo. Best yet, it wastes very little space beneath the ceiling before you get down to the strobe head. Which is usually a very good thing in a (low-ish) suspended ceiling environment.

An AlienBees light might be pushing it a little. (Please sound off in the comments either if you are doing that successfully, or had an AB drop and electrocute a subject.)

The little wire spring is a cable restraint. So if you stick a plug-in head up there, you can use a couple extra clamps to keep the cable out of the frame. Never had much use for that, as a few inches of gaff tape works just as well and takes up way less space in the bag.

But I will usually have two in the bag if I am headed to an office — they are just too cheap and small not to. My Matthews brand clamp was less than $20, or you can get generic versions for under $10.

Here is a crop from the shoot which shows it all set up. It is serving as a mount for an umbrella swivel and an SB-800. The gaff tape on the flash head gobos it from flaring into my lens.

I can’t remember what prompted this expression on John. I may be mistaken, but I think he was trying to remember the difference between “your” and “you’re.” Copy desk folks are picky about such things, you know.

From an interview with Hiroshi Takashima (General Manger of Imaging Division at Nikon) at Photofair:
Q: What can we expect from Nikon in 2010?
A: We plan to surprise the market. We will concentrate only on better quality and better line-up of cameras. So you can expect surprises.
Me thinks the surprise will be the rumored Nikon EVIL [...] Related posts:

1. Thom Hogan working on a “special surprise book”
2. Nikon press conference scheduled for February 3rd, 2010
3. Nikon stock ticker, financial info missing for the US market – what’s going on here?

Nikon will have only one press conference on February 3rd, 2010 (the actual announcement could be on February 2nd, depending on your time zone). I never got any information about a second press conference (like they did last year). It is now also too late to schedule one. This could only mean that Nikon doesn’t [...] Related posts:

1. Nikon Coolpix S3000 and Coolpix S8000 will also be announced
2. Nikon press conference scheduled for February 3rd, 2010
3. D60 replacement in “early August”

Download link. This issue should be fixed for Mac users now.
What’s new after the break: Windows: Compatibility with 32-/64-bit versions of Windows 7 Home Basic/ Home Premium/ Professional/ Enterprise/ Ultimate has been added.
However, under 64-bit versions, the software operates as a 32-bit application.
An issue that caused ViewNX to quit unexpectedly when the following operations were performed during playback [...] Related posts:

1. Nikon ViewNX 1.2.2 now available
2. Camera Control Pro 2.7.0 & Capture NX 2.2.3 just released
3. Nikon Capture NX 2.2.4 released

At the end of this month, I head to Costa Rica on my 4th Mentor Series Trek. I’m really looking forward to visiting Costa Rica, this will be my first time there. I thought I’d give you an idea how I’m packing for this trip.

Like a lot of you, I’ve owned a lot of different camera bags over the years. I own rollers, backpacks and belt systems to carry my gear. I choose the carrying method based upon the assignment at hand. On this particular trip, I’ll be taking my new Lowepro Vertex 200 AW. I’d have to say it is one of the finest constructed backpack style camera bags I’ve had the pleasure of using.

As usual I’ll be taking two camera bodies, my primary, a Nikon D700 and my Nikon D300 as backup. I’ll also be taking along a new snap and shoot from Nikon, the CoolPix P90. I’m looking forward to play with that.

The lenses I’ll be taking with me will include the following: My Nikon 14-24 f/2.8, Nikon 24-70 f/2.8, Nikon 80-400 f/4.5/5.6, Just to keep the weight down, I’ve opted for the 80-400 instead of the 80-200 f/2.8. I’ll be also bring a cleaning kit, loupe, neutral density filters and a polarizer filter and my tripod. I’ll be taking plenty of CF cards, a laptop to download images to as well as an external HD for backup.

Here is what the inside of the Vertex 200 AW looks like packed.

What I like in particular are these clever outside zipper pockets that allow me to arrange my various filters and CF cards. You’ll also notice a nice tripod holder on in the center of the pack. I might also add that the pack is very comfortable to wear, it’s harness system allows for a variety of adjustment to fit your particular body type.

I’m just amazed how much camera stuff we take as photographers when we travel and how important it is to protect it. Not only the protection offered by well made camera bags but also when your gear is in your hotel room. I’ve used a clever device called PacSafe for years. My PacSafe 85 is large enough to secure my Lowepro backpack safely in my hotel room. Basically, it is a high-tensile stainless steel locking mesh device that allows me to lock my bags to a secure fixture in the room ie. toilet.

During the Mentor Series Treks I’ll be giving lighting demonstrations using speedlights. With that in mind, I’ll be bring 2 SB-800’s, a small Bogen light stand and Justin clamp. The modifiers I’ll take with me will be the double folding 43″ inch Wescott umbrella as well as my 33″ folding Lastolite Tri-Grip.

Two more interesting images appeared on xitek.com from the same user in the past hour (Google translation). The first looks like a larger crop (but a tiny image) of the previously reported Nikon D700x sensor: The second one (Google translation) is for a new lens – Nikkor AF-S 18-50 f/3.5-4.5G: There is also some talk about Nikon D95 (?), AF-S [...] Related posts:

1. Need help from France and the UK (Nikon D700x & Nikkor 35mm f/1.4)
2. Nikon D700 discontinued, price going up in China?
3. This may be the Nikon D700x sensor

Just got this picture with questionable quality of a Nikon D700x sensor from xitek.com (Google translation) – it seems to be the same sensor used in the Nikon D3x: Can anyone give us a quick translation? Thanks!
Update – here is the translation:
Nikon D700X
Price 350000 yen (around?)
Special Feature: Fitted with the 24MP CMOS sensor that is the [...] Related posts:

1. More rumors from China (Nikon D700x and Nikkor AF-S 18-50 f/3.6-4.5)
2. Nikon D700x sooner than expected
3. Nikon D700x