On the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show, Nikon has officially announced new D5 and D500 DSLR cameras plus a new Snap Bridge system that is designed to let cameras and smart devices communicate seamlessly.
Angled front view of the new Nikon D5. (Source: Nikon.)
Heralded in a ‘development announcement’ in late 2015, the D5 features a new 20.8-megapixel FX-format CMOS image sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor which, together, enable the camera to provide the widest native ISO range to date in a Nikon full-frame DSLR: ISO 100 to 102,400 (expandable to Hi-5, ISO 3,280,000). The new camera also supports continuous shooting at up to 12 frames/second (fps) with full AF and AE performance and has a buffer memory that can hold up to 200 NEF (RAW) and/or Large JPEG shots in a single burst.
Back and top views of the new Nikon D5. (Source: Nikon.)
The autofocusing system has been redesigned and features 153 focus points, 99 cross-type sensors and a dedicated processor as well as a new AF area mode, and a new tracking routine designed for sports photography. The system is configurable in 153-, 72- and 25-point coverage when used with Continuous AF. All 153 points are compatible with AF Nikkor lenses f/5.6 or faster and the 15 central points work with an effective aperture of f/8. A new 180K RGB Advanced Scene Recognition System ensures correct exposures in a wide variety of lighting conditions. The D5 is also capable of 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) video recording, the first time in a full-frame Nikon DSLR. Movies are recorded with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels at 30/25/24p with an angle of view approx. 1.5x lens focal length. 4K UHD Time-lapse recording is supported. Full HD video is also available at 60/30/24p. Professional video capabilities include simultaneous external and internal recording, Flat Picture Control, Zebra Stripes and a built-in stereo microphone with 20-step increment adjustments.
The D5’s memory card compartment showing the dual CF and XQD slots. (Source: Nikon.)
As well as dual Compact Flash slots, new double XQD card slots are provided for storing image and video data and easily handle the camera’s video and burst shooting capacities. A high resolution XGA Touchscreen LCD with a smartphone-like interface makes it easy to select AF points or Spot White Balance in Live View, swipe through shots, pinch to zoom and edit file names. The D5 is the first Nikon full-frame DSLR to incorporate control for its new radio controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting system. With the optional WR-A10 (Wireless Remote Adapter) and WR-R10 Wireless Remote Controller (transceiver), the D5 can control and fire up to six groups of SB-5000 Speedlights.
Full details of the new camera can be found at http://www.nikon.com.au/en_AU/about/product_news/nikon-d5.
The new Nikon D500 camera. (Source: Nikon.)
The long-awaited flagship model in Nikon’s DX DSLR line-up has arrived in the D500, which features a 20.9-megapixel DX format CMOS sensor and the same EXPEED 5 image processor and 153-point AF system as the D5. The native sensitivity range of the D500 is ISO 100 to ISO 51,200 with expansion available to Lo 1 and Hi 5 (50 ““ 1,640,000 equivalent). Like the D5, the D500 also supports cinematic 4K UHD video and continuous still frame recording at up to 10 frames/second. It is also the first Nikon DX camera to utilize the new XQD memory card technology, which provides faster read/write and transfer speeds and has dual memory card slots can also accept SD cards.
Back view of the D500 showing the tilting LCD monitor. (Source: Nikon.)
The D500 also features a 3.2-inch 2,359,000-dot tilting RGBW LCD touchscreen monitor which facilitates Live View shooting from high or low angles. Another new feature is D500’s SnapBridge functionality, which enables multiple built-in connectivity options, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC) and built-in Wi-Fi. The D500 is also compatible with the optional WT-7A, enabling transmission of files to an FTP server or computer at speeds of up to 866.7 Mbps.
Full details of the new camera can be found at http://www.nikon.com.au/en_AU/about/product_news/nikon-d500.
Nikon also unveiled a new KeyMission 360 action camera, which is waterproof to 30 metre and shockproof to two metres. Details can be found at http://www.nikon.com.au/en_AU/about/product_news/a-new-360-experience-with-nikon.
