Nikon is aiming to please a wide gamut of its customers at CES 2020, with product announcements for its SLR, mirrorless camera, and bridge camera fans. A full-frame SLR, the D780 is the headliner, and is joined by the P950 bridge camera, a new 70-200mm F2.8 zoom for the Z mirrorless system, and a 120-300mm F2.8 zoom, which can be used on both SLRs and Z cameras.
D780 Adds On-Sensor Phase Detection
It's slightly surprising to see Nikon introduce a new entry-level full-frame SLR, one that will certainly compete with its own Z 6 mirrorless camera for sales. Mirrorless cameras represent the future of interchangeable lens photography, but not everyone is ready to give up on the optical viewfinder.
The D780 hopes to deliver the best of both worlds. It uses the same 51-point phase detection autofocus module as the previous model in the series, the D750, now powered by the same algorithm that drives the
When using Live View, you now get the same on-sensor phase detection (PDAF) system as found in Z 6. This provides a wider area of autofocus coverage, as well as features like eye-detection focus, and speedy focus for capturing video. With the addition of PDAF on the sensor, there's no performance penalty for switching to the rear LCD for framing a shot.
The image sensor, a full-frame 24MP chip with a BSI CMOS design, is also shared with the Z 6. It's among the best 24MP cameras we've seen in terms of image quality, so that's a good thing. In addition to Raw and JPG stills, the camera captures compressed 4K UHD video internally and offers clean 10-bit output via HDMI.
Other sundry features include a tilting rear LCD with touch support, dual UHS-II card slots, SnapBridge wireless connectivity, and in-camera charging via USB-C.
We'll take a closer look at the D780 soon. It is priced at $2,299.95 as a body only or at $2,799.95 when bundled with the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Nikon expects to start shipping the camera later this month.
Coolpix P950 Offers Ultra Zoom Power
Pocket point-and-shoot cameras have given way to smartphones for the most part, but there's still a good amount of demand for bridge models—fixed-lens cameras with smartphone-sized image sensors and big lenses with lots of zoom power.
The P900 was Nikon's first head-turner in the category. Photographers were wowed by its 83x lens, which could zoom in and get tight shots of the surface of the moon from the comfort of your patio.
The new P950 is a refined version of its predecessor. It still uses a 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor and 24-2,000mm (full-frame equivalent) lens. But there are some updates, including support for Raw image capture, 4K video recording, and an electronic viewfinder with significantly more resolution. It also adds a hot shoe, so you can use a Speedlite flash, or add an external microphone.
The P950 will go on sale in February, priced at $799.95.
A Pair of Telezooms
Finally, Nikon is bringing two new lenses to market. The first is a high-end telezoom which works with both SLRs like the D780 and mirrorless cameras like the Z 6 with the addition of Nikon's autofocus FTZ lens adapter.
The AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR isn't a lens that many will buy. It's heavy for one, tipping the scales at more than seven pounds, and priced at $9,499.95. But photographers who cover indoor sports will see the appeal of its zoom range and f/2.8 aperture.
Conversely, the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S is one that every pro photographer with a Nikon Z kit will want to add to the their kit. It's the go-to focal range for events, reportage, and portraiture, after all. This version, which works exclusively with Nikon Z mirrorless cameras, you get five stops of stabilization, anti-reflective and fluorine optical coatings, and 1:5 reproduction at its closest focus distance.
The 70-200mm is priced at $2,599.95. Both it and the 120-300mm will ship in February.