Well it looks like Nikon opens the big ball for the release of new equipment we usually see here in august. They have now released two new cameras being a D3000 entry dslr and a slight upgrade from D300 to D300s.

There are no huge news in any of this. The D3000 is more or less a D5000 without video and liveview. The D300s is a D300 with added 720p HD video.

Nikon also released info on two new lenses being the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II and AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II. Both lenses are upgrades to already existing lenses and again not any huge news.

I will make a short thing on each of the products, this will properly be a bit long because of sample and product images.

Nikon D3000

The D3000 is placed somewhere between the D60 and the D5000. It looks very much like a D5000 without video and liveview.

Key features in the D3000:

  • 10.2 megapixel DX-format CCD sensor (effective pixels: 10.7 million)
  • 3.0″ LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
  • Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
  • 11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
  • IS0 100-1600 range (3200 expanded)
  • 3 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
  • Expeed image processing
  • Picture Styles – image parameters consistent with all current Nikon DSLRs
  • ‘Miniature effect’ mock-tilt/shift effect as retouch option
  • Higher capacity battery from D5000
  • 72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback

D3000 only has a few things over the D60…

  • Guide mode
  • 11 AF points (MultiCAM 1000 autofocus system)
  • 3D AF tracking
  • 3.0 inch LCD (vs 2.7inch LCD in D60 – both 230,000 dots)

The D5000 has a fair few point that are above the D3000….

  • 12.3 megapixels
  • Liveview
  • Adjustments to D-lightning where D3000 only has on/off
  • Moviemode
  • Bracketing
  • And a few more possibilities for in camera editing.

The D5000 however does only have a 2.7″ lcd where as the D3000 is at 3.0″ the resolution is 230.000 dots for both.

D3000 Product images

Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Nikon D300 top view

Nikon D300 top view

Nikon D3000 back

Nikon D3000 back

Sample images from the Nikon D3000:

If you click the sample images they will open up in full ress so take care since they are about 1mb each. Press escape to go back.

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D3000 sample image

Nikon D300s

The D300s is a small upgrade to the much used D300. The biggest thing in this upgrade is no doubt the addition of HD video. Nikon is still a bit behind Canon and the D300s is only recording in 720p where as the Canon 5D Mark II is at 1080p.

Key features of the Nikon D300s:

  • 13.1 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
  • 720p HD video
  • 3.0″ LCD monitor (920,000 dots)
  • Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
  • 51 AF points (with 3D tracking)
  • IS0 200-3200 range (6400 expanded)
  • 7 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 17 RAW, 44 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
  • Expeed image processing
  • Picture Controls – image parameters consistent with all current Nikon DSLRs
  • Same EN-EL3e battery as D300
  • 72 thumbnail view in playback

So what does the D300s have over the D300 – well there are a few thing more than the video…

  • 720p HD video, including autofocus while recording
  • SD card slot in addition to existing CF slot
  • Faster continuous shooting (7fps, vs. 6fps)
  • Socket for external microphone
  • Live View and Info buttons
  • Discrete ‘OK’ button in multi controller
  • Interactive settings display screen
  • Auto and Extra High Active D-Lighting options
  • Quiet drive mode
  • Virtual horizon

So if you don’t need the video function the reason to drop the more money the D300s will be over a  D300 is properly to few.

Nikon D300s product images

Nikon D300s

Nikon D300s

Nikon D300s top

Nikon D300s top

Nikon D300s back

Nikon D300s back

Nikon D300s Sample images

With these sample images I have put a link to the full ress below each images since they are just to big. They are between 5mb and 8mb.

Nikon D300s Sample image

Full ress

Nikon D300s sample image

Nikon D300s sample image

Full ress

Nikon D300s sample image

Nikon D300s sample image

Full ress

Nikon D300s sample image

Nikon D300s sample image

Full ress

Nikon D300s sample images

Nikon D300s sample images

Full ress

Nikon D300s sample images

Nikon D300s sample images

Full ress

Nikon D300s sample images

Nikon D300s sample images

Full ress

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II

This is a upgrade to the already widely used 70-200 tele zoom. I think that is upgrade is to bring the 70-200 up to the level of the new 24-70 and 14-24 lenses.

Key features of the 70-200:

  • Vibration reduction (VR II) equivalent to increases in shutter speed by four steps
  • A new optical design utilizing seven ED glass elements
  • Ghost and flare suppression with Nano Crystal Coat
  • A Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for superior autofocus that is smooth and quiet
  • Three focus modes built in: M, M/A, A/M
  • Aperture diaphragm utilizing an odd number of rounded blades (nine) for natural blur characteristics
  • Shooting at distances as close as 1.4 m throughout the entire zoom range
  • High-quality exterior design


Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II product image:

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II


Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

Nikon has also upgraded their super zoom minded on their DX format cameras. The main thing here is the new VR version that should help you in the realm of slow shutter speeds.

Key features of the 18-200:

  • A zoom lens offering a high zoom ratio with magnification of 11.1x
  • E quipped with a zoom lock switch
  • E quipped with a compact Silent Wave Motor (SWM)
  • Built-in Vibration Reduction (VR II)
  • Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) adopted
  • Two focus modes available — M/A (manual-priority autofocus) and M (manual focus)

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II product image:

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II