simon's blog

Nikon today released a new version of firmware for its D300 digital camera.

Focus acquisition performance in both the dynamic AF and contrast detect AF has been improved as well as an increased range of options are available for selection in the Auto-ISO mode.

Full details of the improvements contained in the firmware are available on the Nikon website.

Nikon is offering a memory upgrade on it's D3 camera. The upgrade will increase the number of photos that can be stored in the cameras buffer from a burst of shots before having to write to the memory card. The upgrade expands the number of shots taken in continuous shooting in some circumstances by up to almost 60%.

Nikon says that the upgrade will take up to 10 days to perform, will cost £300 + VAT and requires that the camera be sent to a Nikon repair centre.

More details on the buffer upgrade service are available from the Nikon website.

After a few weeks of rumours, some believable others not quite so much, Nikon today announced that it was launching its 'mini-D3' - the D700.

The D700 shares much of the technology found in the fantastic D3, including it's 12.1 megapixel full frame 'FX' sensor. 

Nikon's press release states that the D700 has an RRP of £1999.99 and that sales will start at some point in July 2008. 

dpreview.com have been lucky enough to get their hands on a sample and have published their D700 preview article which lists all of the features of the new camera. 

As well as the new camera, Nikon are also releasing a new Speedlight to their range of flashes, the SB900.

dpreview has finally released their in depth review of the Nikon D3 - a full eight months after the camera was announced.

As expected from dpreview, the article gives a thorough breakdown of the D3's features and specifications and compares the D3 to it's main competitior, the Canon EOS 1DS Mark III as well as Canon's lower spec full frame DSLR the EOS 5D, and the D3's stablemate, the Nikon D300.

The review notes the D3's leading ISO handling and goes on to say "at ISO 1600 and over the D3 really starts to shine, leaving the competition behind and producing perfectly usable results at ISO 6400".

Whilst the article is largely positive about the D3, it does mention that the Canon 1DS does have the advantage when it comes to resolution, prompting the author to suggest that Nikon might be hiding something up their sleaves to be announced at photokina trade show later in the year.