Amazing new news, a replacement for D80 has leaked from Nikon.

Universal Vibration Reduction (uVR)

The new D90 incorporates an optional feature called Universal Vibration Reduction (uVR). This turns all lenses into uVR lenses, and offers a 10-stop advantage.

This means a person using a 500mm lens, who would normally have to shoot at 1/500th of a second, can shoot at 2 seconds when uVR is enabled.

The new uVR system isn’t sensor based, and instead requires one of the three optional vertical battery grips (see below). In this case, the MB-D90a is required. This grip provides all the normal controls and extended battery life of a regular grip. It also holds 8 EN-EL4a batteries, along with a step-up transformer.

Memory card incompatibility solved

The D50 and D80 caused some controversy by moving Nikon’s consumer-orientated DSLR models away from CF cards. This lead many Nikon users to resort to unseemly and ungentlemanly language in the forums (expressly forbidden under the terms and conditions of the standard Nikon warranty).

In an effort to avoid such distasteful events this time around, and ensure everybody can enjoy a D90, Nikon now supports the following storage formats…

• SD
• CF
• XD
• Memory Stick
• 3.5 inch floppy
• 5.25 inch floppy
• 8 inch floppy (in MB-D90b only)
• CD/DVD (in MB-D90b only)
• High-speed paper tape to maintain compatibility with Colossus
• Punch cards

New built-in artistic-effect modes

In addition to the regular scene modes, Nikon have included several artistic-effect modes. You can apply these to your image in-camera. Modes include…

• Black and white mode
• 1960s-style fast-film grain mode
• Nikon long-banding effect mode
• Canon plastic skin mode
• KM7D high ISO smearing mode
• Sony Alpha 1.3-stop underexposure mode
• Point and shoot artefact mode

A picture of the Nikon D90

You can read the full article here:

Nikon D90 Specifications Revealed

*Disclaimer – Only camera geeks will really understand this*

This is the camera I recommend most people to get if they have the budget, an excellent entry into the world of SLR and about 70% of a D200 (feature wise and build quality) for much less money. I think the D80 kit now is around RM4200.

We covered when the D80 was announced in August last year.

It’s a great camera, enough megapixels for anyone, good features, nice external controls, great image quality and the room to grow with support for plenty of pro quality lenses.

One thing I do recommend though, if you buy this camera don’t take the kit lens (the 18-135mm) as it’s not a great lens. Get the D80 body with the 18-70mm (Around RM650 second hand) lens from the D70s kit or get another lens completely like the 18-200mm VR (if you have the budget of around RM2500) or a third party lens like the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (RM1550) or the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 (RM1800).

The D40 is ok for real beginners, but people with some good photography experience might find it limiting, also the lack of support for good but cheap lenses like the 50mm f/1.8D is not there.

The reviews are generally excellent, so here’ a summary for you:

Nikon D80 Review (DPReview)

The number of cons, and the fact that there are no serious ones, is a testament to the thought and work that has gone into the D80’s design. It’s one of those cameras which just feels ‘right and sorted’ from the moment you pick it up. Things just get better the more you use the camera, you will begin to discover the usefulness of major features like the customizable automatic ISO and the subtle touches like being able to tap the DELETE button twice to delete an image (sounds insignificant, but in use things like this make the D80 far more usable than other cameras).

Nikon D80 (Nikonians)

After following the speculation in our Nikon D80 Users Group forum at Nikonians I’d say Nikon has delivered on many fronts. It’s clear this new D80 DSLR can not be slotted simply as a straight replacement for either the Nikon D50 or the Nikon D70, but that’s not to say it isn’t. It’s shaping up to be a lot like a Nikon D50 in terms of size, but these comparisons can no longer be simply made.

Nikon D80 review (Photography Review)

Like the D100-200 upgrade before it, this upgrade from the D70 to D80 is a worthwhile step up, both in ability and performance. The jump in pixel count and autofocus ability alone warrants the change, but there are literally dozens of other tweaks as you delve further into the menus. The price also seems to be pitched about right, although market forces will soon see it settle into a slightly lower slot, which is all good news. Highly recommended.

DCRP Review: Nikon D80

The Nikon D80 is a fairly inexpensive digital SLR that packs spectacular performance and excellent (though somewhat soft) image quality into a well-built, solid camera. . For under $1000 you get quite a lot of camera, and it will certainly make people think twice about spending hundreds more on a D200. The D80 was a joy to use, and I’m certainly going to miss it when it goes back to Nikon. In other words, the D80 easily earns my recommendation.

Nikon D80 (Ken Rockwell)

When the D80 came out in mid-2006 I bought one immediately because it gave the same resolution as my D200 in a more portable package. My D80 is as small and light as my D70 with the same sensor as my D200. Whoo hoo!

Nikon D80 review (Camera Labs)

The Nikon D80 is without a doubt a very classy camera. It feels great, handles well, performs superbly and has one of the best viewfinders around. At times when rivals struggled with various lighting conditions, the D80’s metering remained unfazed and quite simply delivered great-looking images every time.

Once again I say if you have the budget, go for it, you won’t regret it.

Well it’s no longer a rumour, it’s real!

Looks like a great travel camera, especially if you have a bit of budget for the excellent 18-200mm VR II lens to go along with it!

Super light flexible combo with SLR quality pictures in a compact package, this is the sort of camera for people who want SLR quality pics without lugging around a heavy camera and don’t want/need all the extra controls and confusing buttons.

It’s a top end point and shoot with more latitude almost.

I don’t think I’d use it as a backup, I’d prefer a D80 body..but for most people this would be a great choice with the new version of the 18-55mm kit lens for only $599 aswell it’s a steal.

The lightest, cheapest Nikon dSLR ever made!

Key Features

• 6 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop, as D50)
• Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (as D80 / D50)
• New Multi-CAM530 three area AF sensor
• ISO sensitivity range 200 – 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
• Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
• 2.5 fps continuous shooting (as D50), unlimited in JPEG
• No status LCD, new LCD monitor based status / settings screens
• Large 2.5″ 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
• USB 2.0 with PTP and Mass Storage device support
• Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)
• New ‘Version II’ AF-S DX 18-55 mm kit lens

It retails for USD$599 which is about RM2178, I’d guess shop price for cash should be around RM1999.

Ken Rockwell predicted it would be called the D60, but he nailed the specs almost right.

More info here:

Nikon D40 Hands on Preview – DPReview

Nikon D40 – Ken Rockwell

Personally I think the Alpha can’t fight, the only advantage it has is the in-body anti-shake system which frankly isn’t as effective as having it in the lens.

Image from dpreview.com

Having IS/VR in the lens means you can see the effects through the viewfinder and it’s more accurate as it’s tailed to the lens (each one having different focal lenghts, different aperture and different setups with more/less blades and elements).

Having tried the Alpha out the picture quality is ‘ok’ for an SLR type cam, but its not very exciting, the latitude or dynamic range doesn’t seem very great and the controls aren’t super accessible.

I’d go for the Canon 400D or the Nikon D80 everytime, if you have the budget of course get the D80 as it’s the superior cam but does cost more.

Also remember when you are buying a camera you are buying into a system, the bodies will come and go, what you will spend money on is accessories and lenses.

Sony lenses are expensive and hard to find, the second hand market is next to zero and finding anything for Konica-Minolta mount in Asia is hard.

KM was pretty popular back in Europe but it’s not here in Asia.

Anyway here is some info if you are considering getting a mid/entry level dSLR and specifically the Sony Alpha A100.

Reviews

DPReview Extensive Sony Alpha A100 Review

DCRP Review: Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Imaging Resource: Sony Alpha A100

Camera Labs Sony Alpha A100

Comparisons

EOS 400D / XTi vs Nikon D80 vs Sony A100 – Camera Labs

Sony Alpha A100 Compared to the Nikon D80 and Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi / 400D Digital SLR’s

Image from dpreview.com

Ah the new Nikon D80 kit lens looks like a peach too, yet to see any good hardcore reviews of it yet though, it’s a nice new release though to go along with my much sought after Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED as I currently don’t have any telephoto past 70mm!

I’m actually using the Nikon D70s kit lens most of the time which is the superb Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED I shall do a proper review of it one day.

It’s a very sharp lens though at least at f/5.6 and above, I find it a nice focal range too, but it does distort a bit at 18mm, but is fine again by 20mm.

The 18-135mm gives a nice boost in focal length without the weight of going up to 200mm.

From the Nikon press release:

Nikon is pleased to announce the introduction of the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED, a compact, lightweight 7.5x zoom lens. Boasting a range of state-of-the-art optical technologies, this new lens offers outstanding performance at a remarkably affordable price.

The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED features Nikon ED glass, aspherical lens elements and SWM (Silent Wave Motor) for enhanced performance. With a focal length range of 18-135mm, the lens is suitable for a wide variety of shooting situations; from sports, action and portraits to wide-angle landscapes. The picture angle is equivalent to a 27-202.5mm lens in the 35mm format.

RRP: £299.99
Sales release: September 2006.

That makes it around RM2000 in a direct conversion, so perhaps we’ll get it for about RM1800, not bad!