Дон Андре's blog/

Rumors are flying high in the dpreview.com forums. One of the guys (Thom Hogan) there with connections into Nikon is claiming to know more about the specs of the upcoming Nikon D90 which are: 12MP, 4.5 fps, 3" LCD (but apparently not with 900k pixels), live view and equipped with GPS and last but not least a movie mode (there's also a microphone built in)! If he's holding us for fools, he is pretty good at it, because a movie mode would be absolutely welcomed on a DSLR. If the quality is significantly better than what the compacts offer this would give lots of possibilities regarding wideangle capture, which the camcorders usually don't do (they start at 35-40mm equivalent focal length).

The next rumor is about a new kit lens, an AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR which will probably replace the AF-S 18-135mm. Nothing is known about new prime lenses featuring AF-S and/or VR or if other lenses will be updated.

Let's see if this holds true and what the price will be. In the end it could all just be a hoax. But it's very likely that there will be "something" introduced before or at Photokina 2008 in Cologne, Germany next month.

Update: A picture has surfaced showing the new D90. While it looks very realistic there is still no official announcement from Nikon. Note the microphone above the D90 logo.

Here are some of the features:

• Gives you quick response, with 0.15-second start-up, 65 ms shutter release time lag and 4.5 fps continuous shooting.
• 3-in., approx. 920-k dot high-resolution LCD monitor with wide viewing angle that lets you change composition of the frame during shooting from various angles and easily confirm your image during playback.
• Built-in flash with 18mm lens coverage, Guide Number of approx. 18/59 (ISO 200, m/ft., 20°C/68°F) and Nikon’s original i-TTL flash control; works as a commander; controlling up to two groups of remote Speedlights.
• Highly efficient energy-saving design allows approx. 850 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e. (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, with 50% of pictures taken with flash)
• Extensive playback functions offer ample options for viewing and selecting the right shot, including 72-frame playback, calendar playback and histogram display for magnified portion of the image. ? Versatile Pictmotion menu creates slideshows combining five choices of both background music and image effects.
• Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output.
• Supports the Nikon Creative Lighting System when using the SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 Speedlight, or Wireless Close-up Speedlight System R1C1; ensures accurate exposures via i-TTL flash control.
• Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 (Optional, in common with the D80) gives you the choice of using one or two Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries EN-EL3e or six R6/AA-size batteries to extend battery life.
• New optional Remote Cord MC-DC2 enables shutter release and long time exposures (bulb) remotely.
• With the new optional GPS Unit GP-1, location information such as latitude, longitude, altitude and time is automatically recorded to each image’s EXIF data.
• Included Nikon ViewNX image browsing and editing software lets you organize, label and select images as well as perform RAW image editing adjustments and conversions.
• Optional Capture NX 2 photo-editing software features patented U-Point® technology and powerful tools for quick and easy photo editing including enhanced RAW (NEF) Editing.

Head over to dpreview.com for their hands-on preview.

There's also a new lens the 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR. It seems most of the speculations have been correct. I think this is a very good step forward in the line of the D80 introducing several new features such as live view, movie mode, better LCD and faster continuous shooting together with a shutter tested for up to 100.000 actuations in a single package. The new lens is also interesting if it's optically sound.