Today Nikon announces products that cover a huge variety of systems, including DSLRs, bridge cameras, Z lenses and FX lenses
The Nikon D780 and P950 (not to scale), Nikon's two headliners from today's announcement
The new announcement from Nikon brings some incredibly exciting new products to the market for both stills and video shooters. Keep reading to find out all about Nikon’s latest offerings…
Nikon D780
This new DSLR from Nikon offers high-end performance for creators of both stills and video. Incorporating technology from the Z6 and sporting a full-frame sensor, the D780 offers improved features throughout.
At the heart of the camera sits a 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor powered by an EXPEED 6 image processor. Featuring the same 180k-pixel RGB metering sensor as the D850, as well as its Advanced Scene Recognition system, the D780 is designed for supreme image quality.
When the user is shooting through the viewfinder, the D780 provides a 51-point phase-detect AF system that’s sensitive down to -3 EV. When shooting using Live View, you can access a 273-point Hybrid AF system, which is usable down to -4 EV or down to -6 EV when in Low-Light AF mode. This is only obtainable when using a lens with a maximum aperture of at least f/2.
For the photographers who want to capture some action, the D780 can shoot at up to 7fps with AF/AE when using the viewfinder, and up to 12fps in Silent Photography mode when using Live View.
Video hasn’t been forgotten, with the D780 capable of producing 4K/UHD definition footage down-sampled from its 6K image sensor resolution. If you plug in an external recorder, you can shoot HLG HDR footage too, which can be played back immediately through a compatible monitor (or TV). If you want to do some slow-motion shooting, that’s possible too, with the D780 recording 120p in Full HD with audio!
To place a pre-order, or to find out more about the Nikon D780 – including its exciting time-lapse mode, 120fps stills mode and fast image transfer – click here.
Nikon P950
For those photographers who always feel like they need a little more reach from their lenses, this new bridge camera will tick all of the boxes. A whopping 83x optical zoom sets the Nikon P950 apart from other advanced compacts and bridge cameras in the marketplace, but that isn’t its only exciting feature.
Any photographers worrying about shooting in difficult lighting conditions can rest easy when it comes to the P950. The lens has a wide f/2.8 maximum aperture, and inside, a 16MP backlit CMOS sensor powered by a fast EXPEED image processor means the camera can handle taking images in difficult lighting conditions. Dual Detect Optical Vibration Reduction makes it easy to capture crisp, sharp images even at the full extent of the 83x optical zoom.
The P950 sports a large, clear, electronic viewfinder – as well as a 2360k-dot OLED screen – for easy shooting on bright sunny days. The body itself has a vari-angle 3.2-inch LCD screen, allowing the photographer to shoot at high-up and low-down angles, and it can also be flipped around for self-shooting and vlogging. Designed for ease of use, the large grip and ergonomic controls help the user to stay steady when using that huge zoom range.
You can shoot 4K/UHD 30p movies and Full HD (1080p) up to 60p and with the full-size hot shoe you can easily mount Nikon accessories like microphones or the DF-M1 Dot Sight (which can be used to help track fast-moving subjects).
To find out more about the Nikon P950 bridge camera, head to our store page here.
NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
Expanding lens ranges are always good news, especially for relatively new camera systems. Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless Z-series cameras have proved incredibly popular, but they will only stay that way if there is a lens system to support their users. This new 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is therefore highly anticipated, and rightly so.
A staple for many photographers, the 70-200mm focal length is a versatile range, especially with an f/2.8 maximum aperture. In support of the Z-series' pursuit of supreme image quality, the new zoom has been designed for optimal sharpness and contrast right to the corners. In-built vibration reduction also helps to make sure the lens is capturing crisp images, even when slower shutter speeds have to be used in challenging shooting environments.
Twenty-one elements sit in 18 groups and contain ED and SR glass to help reduce distortion. Anti-reflective ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings help to minimise flare, chromatic aberration and ghosting. The lens weighs in at approximately 1,360g.
As video is such a big part of shooting with the Z series, Nikon has made sure that focus breathing has been reduced to a negligible level, while Nikon also reports a “stable aperture control [that] delivers natural exposure changes”. We assume this means that the aperture movement between stops is smooth rather than in small jumps – a welcome addition.
Like the screen in the Zeiss Batis series, a small OLED lens panel can mean you can check exact settings to easily confirm aperture, exact focal length and depth of field. You can also assign up to 21 different functions to the lens’s Fn button, for complete user customisation.
Like the look of the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S? Head to our store page to find out more.
AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR
A true masterpiece for shooting sports indoors and out, the new 120-300mm lens from Nikon is built for speed and image quality.
A high-end optical design ensures maximum resolving power throughout the lens with Nikon’s ED and SR glass as well as ARNEO and Nano Crystal coatings, minimising ghosting, flare and chromatic aberration. Twenty-five elements sit in 19 groups with the lens weighing in at 3,250g.
A super-smooth and precise AF system works to create AF tracking capabilities that are equivalent to prime lenses even on difficult, fast-moving subjects. The system’s design, using an electromagnetic diaphragm, ensures that exposures are precise even at high frame rates.
With the 120-300mm’s quick maximum aperture, attaching a teleconverter is no problem. You will even still be able to make use of the maximum of four stops of stabilisation using the in-built Vibration Reduction. The lens itself is built with usability in mind. Ergonomics are important in a lens of this type, with assignable function buttons and easy transitioning between landscape and portrait orientations.
The body is built to be tough, with a solid construction and weather-sealing that can deal with “trackside conditions in any weather”.
To pre-order the AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR or to find out more information – click here to visit our store page.
About the Author
Amy Moore is Wex Photo Video’s Content Marketing Manager. She enjoys numerous types of photography, especially landscapes and meteorological photography. Check out her instagram here!
