by Marcelo Duran
Assistant Editor

Nikon Inc. recently introduced the D100, a 6.1 effective megapixel single-lens-reflex digital camera.

The price of the D100 is not yet available, but customers will be able to purchase the camera sometime in the second quarter. The D100 features the optional multi-function battery pack, voice-memo, vertical shutter release button, command and sub-command dials, auto-focus start button and a 10-pin remote terminal.

“We developed the D100 in response to the high level of interest among photographers looking for a camera with advanced digital competence and high image quality in an intuitive SLR design,” said Richard LoPinto, vice president for SLR Camera Systems at Nikon.

The camera can produce 3,008-by-2,000 pixel images. Integrated features include the 3-D Matrix metering system and digital-through-the-lens (D-TTL) flash control capability, which work with the camera’s image-processing abilities to ensure well-balanced exposures and rich, true colors. The D100’s new one-chip system, Large Scale Integrated Circuit, provides fast image processing while keeping power consumption to a minimum.

The Nikon Coolpix 5000 incorporates a high-resolution, wide-angle, 3x optical zoom Nikkor lens with a 
28 mm to 85 mm focal length — a 35 mm equivalent.
Photo courtesy of Nikon

The top shutter speed is 1/4,000 of a second with D-TTL flash control. Users can customize different color gamut environments with the three-color mode option. The D100 also includes on-demand grid lines and a five area auto-focus with dynamic operation. The plug-and-play USB 1.1 interface enables images to be quickly downloaded.

The design of the D100 has controls, operation, weight, balance and handling consistent with other Nikon SLR products. It also offers system-wide compatibility with more than 40 AF Nikkor lenses, advanced speedlights, including the new SB-80DX, and other accessories.

A new version of Nikon Capture 3 software will also be available separately to complement the D100 and will include new features for post-picture making processes. Among the new features will be computer remote control capabilities. Compatible post processing software for the D100 includes Adobe Photoshop 5 and higher.

Coolpix 5000

In November 2001, Nikon introduced the Coolpix 5000 digital camera, which features a 5.24 megapixel charge-coupled device 3x optical zoom Nikkor lens with a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 of a second and shooting speed of up to three frames per second at full resolution.

Nikon feels that the camera is complementary to existing digital and film SLR cameras for those times when smaller is better.

The Coolpix 5000 has a 1.8-inch LCD monitor that swivels in virtually any direction for easy subject framing. The Coolpix 5000 also packs a Macro shooting mode to capture images as close as three-quarters of an inch and a movie mode that shoots up to 40 seconds of video with audio, into a compact magnesium alloy body weighing 12.6 ounces.

The Coolpix 5000’s optical zoom Nikkor lens features a 28 mm to 85 mm focal length, equivalent to that of a 35 mm. Three aspherical lens elements minimize color blur and distortion, even in extreme close-ups. The lens is combined with a two-thirds-inch, 5.0 effective megapixel CCD and 12-bit analog-to-digital converter resulting in sharp images with vivid color and saturation.

The Clear Image mode of the Coolpix 5000 provides accurate color, low noise, smooth edges and wide dynamic range images at resolutions of up to 1,280-by-960 pixels. The camera also features additional custom mode settings to enhance picture-taking capability by putting the photographer in control.

The Coolpix 5000 comes with a built-in five-mode flash and also has a dedicated hot shoe to add a speedlight, such as the Nikon SB-50DX for maximum creative control and flash coverage.

The camera features multiple capture modes including continuous shooting of up to three frames per second in full size (2,560-by-1,920 pixels) and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 of a second.

The camera delivers accurate exposures with Nikon’s 256-segment Matrix Metering in a four-mode D-TTL, metering system, with center-weighted, spot and spot autofocus capabilities. Exposure can be further controlled through settings such as automatic with flexible, shutter-priority automatic, aperture- priority automatic and manual. The camera can reach an ISO equivalent of 800.

The Coolpix 5000 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger, and also supports a new optional power pack that uses six 1.5-volt AA batteries.

The camera can be connected to any computer with a USB port. A 32 mb CompactFlash Card is included with the camera, and the Coolpix 5000 is compatible with type I or II CompactFlash Cards.