Nikon unveils D780 DSLR!

Nikon has unveiled the D780, a 24.5-megapixel prosumer DSLR capable of capturing 4K video, alongside the beefy AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f2.8E FL ED SR VR super telephoto lens.

Nikon Australia has informed Inside Imaging the D750 will be available for $3899 (body only) or $4699 (kit). While no pricing has been supplied for 120-300mm f2.8, it doesn’t look cheap – overseas it’s been clocked at a whopping US$9500.

The D780, successor to the popular D750, has similar features to the Z6 mirrorless full-frame camera – such as the BSI CMOS sensor.

Inside Imaging is implementing a fresh approach to reporting new products in 2020. If a press release is overly verbose, we will no longer wade through the hyperbolic marketing speak to edit down into a readable copy. We hope readers understand why we’re doing this – life’s too short to translate this stuff into straight information.

Instead we will run the full press release as it was supplied – either in PDF form, or a straight copy-and-paste from the e-mail announcement.

So, let’s read along.

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Get into the heart of the action with the launch of the new D780 and AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR
Nikon expands the possibilities of imaging with the launch of new DSLR camera and lens.

Sydney, 7 January 2020 – Nikon Australia has bolstered its DSLR range with the launch of the new D780 and AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR. Unveiling cutting-edge developments in innovation and optical performance, the latest from Nikon offers professionals and photography enthusiasts incredible tools to capture the best of life’s astounding moments.

Succeeding the Nikon D750, the new D780 delivers remarkable refinements in image quality, performance and versatility. It sets the standard for next-generation cameras featuring an evolved autofocus (AF) system and high AF precision in low light situations. As a result, shooting with higher accuracy is achieved with better clarity and no time lag.

The D780 is further complemented by Nikkor’s extensive selection of high-performance interchangeable F mount lenses along with improved battery life, all condensed into a compact, high performing body.

The new AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR is a fast and lightweight telephoto zoom lens that realises new shooting possibilities with superb operability and reliability. Even as a zoom lens, it achieves the high-resolution equivalent of a prime 300mm lens, delivering superior optical performance and quality.

With its focal-length coverage from 120 to 300 mm[1], zoom in and out for a flexible capture of a wide variety of scenes with a single lens. From closeup shots to wide shots, you can capture it all with an instant switch of the angled view instead of changing lenses.

‘We’ve combined the latest in optical technology and performance with the launch of the D780 and AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR. These powerful additions mark the continued dedication to imaging excellence and passion in the field. From capturing sprawling landscapes to athletes in motion, these next generation products allow for new possibilities at every turn,’ said John Young, General Manager of Marketing for Nikon Australia.

Availability
For more information on the new D780, AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR, and other Nikon products, please visit www.nikon.com.au.

D780 Primary Features
Capture Subjects with Precision 
Be it adrenaline-filled motor sports or precious moments on a wedding day, the D780 offers two powerful AF systems to suit different situations.
Experience smoother and faster AF accuracy with the advanced 273-point[2] hybrid AF which automatically switches between focal-plane phase detection AF or contrast-detection AF that covers approximately 90% of the image area. Enhanced accuracy achieved with Eye-detection AF[3] is also readily available.

For viewfinder shooting, the D780 uses a 51-point AF with 15 cross-points employing an algorithm equivalent to Nikon’s FX-format flagship, the award-winning Nikon D5 that delivers a powerful acquisition performance.

Equipped with the 180K-pixel RGB sensor, Expeed 6’s powerful calculation capabilities and improved AF fine tune greatly increases the precision and accuracy of automatically controlled functions including autofocus (AF), auto exposure (AE), and auto white balance (AWB). Perfect for subject acquisition during night shots and concerts, the D780 excels in low-light illumination AF detection down to -5.0 EV[4] and -7.0 EV[5]. Swiftly capturing all the action in high-speed continuous shooting at up to approximately 7fps with both viewfinder shooting and live view photography.

The silent photography mode is ideal for sensitive situations, using full pixels with up to approximately 12fp. This camera’s focus shift automatically takes images while moving focus position from the starting point to infinity (max. of 300 shots) for focus stacking. This makes the camera ideal for jewellery, portraits and landscape photography.

Expressive Moviemaking Capabilities
Featuring an effective pixel count of 24.5 megapixels and high sensitivity at ISO 51200 (expandable to ISO 204800), the D780 also supports 4K UHD with full pixel readout, Full HD/120p[6] recording, allowing users to record movies that make the most of wide-angle lenses’ and broad angles of view delivering edge to edge sharpness. AF speed[7] and AF tracking sensitivity can also be set during movie recording which means smooth focusing is possible, utilising the advantages of focal-plane phase-detection AF.

For serious videographers and video creators, enjoy the 10-bit N-Log[8] profile or the new HDR (HLG[9]) profile for true-to-life movie output with HDMI 10-bit output. This HDR (HLG) picture profile supports instant HDR workflow which allows acquisition of rich tonal gradation movies without colour grading.

Increasing workflow efficiency, this camera’s timecode output makes it easier to synchronise footage to other movie materials by recording time information. Syncing with equipment that supports ATOMOS Open Protocol is also available in 4K UHD.

The camera’s auto time-lapse movie production function in-camera also enables users to view the footage instantly after interval timer shooting. Other useful moviemaking features include electronic vibration reduction and focus peaking, making D780 a full-fledged tool for aspiring to professional moviemakers.

Ingenious operability and connectivity
For those who enjoy long exposure or astrophotography, the D780 is now capable of extending its shutter speed up to 900 seconds making it possible for more creative output. High-Speed Frame Capture[10] of 2-megapixel images at up to 120fps in Full HD movie recording, or 8-megapixel images at up to 30 fps with 4K UHD movie recording, both with AF/AE tracking, are also possible with this camera.

Through the D780’s retouch menu, users can adjust the in-camera image overlay to lighten or darken even after shooting. Images adjusted using the Special Effects mode can also now be saved as RAW images.

The D780’s touch-operable, tilting, high-resolution, approx. 2359k-dot, 3.2-in. monitor enables detailed confirmation of the subject during playback zoom. The camera features a negative digitiser, using the optional ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter, that easily converts films into digital data for added enjoyment.

Other significant D780 features include its energy saving design that supports longer shooting time, and a double memory card slot compatible with UHS II SD cards. For the user’s comfort and ease, the retouch menu sees changes with improved trim and resize options, while a new user interface with flexible and easy-to-see i menu is introduced. These features enable users the ability to capture their creations with greater ease and convenience.

Responding to a wide range of communication needs, the D780 also features SnapBridge with RAW transfer and filtering settings, Bluetooth® remote control operation, together with enhanced built-in Wi-Fi functions and WT-7/A/B/C compatibility.

AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR Primary Features 
Get in on the action no matter where you are. Weighing at approximately 3250g, the new AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR lens also features the application of the fluorine coat that effectively repels dust or dirt for easy removal, even if it adheres to the lens surface. For a stress-free shooting experience over extended periods in various unpredictable environments, this telephoto lens is designed with anti-dust, anti-drip and anti-fouling capabilities.

The lens is employed with the newly developed Short-wavelength Refractive (SR) lens element, a Nikon original high and specialised dispersion glass to achieve depiction with effectively suppressed colour bleeding and minimal chromatic aberration. To reliably support sports and wildlife photography, the lens also features a powerful vibration reduction (VR) function and superb autofocus (AF) performance equivalent to that of prime telephoto lenses. When VR [SPORT] mode is employed, it enables easy tracking of fast-moving subjects, making it ideal particularly for shooting sports scenes.

Experience superior agility and operability with this carefully designed lens built for professionals. Its intuitive controls, such as the smooth rotation of the zoom ring, memory set button, focus function button, and its common operability with Nikon’s latest telephoto lenses, allows one to operate the lens with ease so that you are ready to photograph the fleeting moments.

The AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR provides:

• A high reproduction ratio across the zoom range with a constant minimum focus of 2 meters and a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.16x.
• Sharp and clear images with reduced ghost and flare with the use of ARNEO Coat and Nano Crystal Coat that realises ultra-low reflectance across the entire visible light range.
• Noteworthy chromatic aberration compensation for sharp and stunning outputs thanks to Nikon’s original SR lens technology. Highly precise chromatic aberration compensation is realised by controlling the short-wavelength light that is usually difficult to compensate. This allows lights of various specific wavelengths to be effectively collected and thus, suppresses any colour bleeding. With the SR lens element, the AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR also attains a flexible optical design that enables the lens build to be more compact and lighter without compromising image quality.
• Smooth and continuous shots with its VR function that delivers reliable and steady images with an effect equivalent to a shutter speed of 4.0 stops[11].
• Great AF performance even for unpredictable action movements as a more accurate subject tracking based on AF detection results and improved tracking performance of moving objects are realised with an enhanced AF servo drive control and a higher-speed inversion of the AF drive.

1 When attached to a DX-format camera, the angle of view is equivalent to that of a 180-450 mm lens in 35mm format
2 With recording of still images using the FX (36×24) image area and single-point AF. 231 focus points with movie recording
3 With live view photography in auto-area AF mode
4 231 points during movie recording
5 In still photography with settings at f/1.4, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F, single-servo AF (AF-S)
6 Image area is fixed at FX-based movie format
7 AF speed setting is not supported for some lenses
8 Footage is recorded only to the external device; it cannot be recorded to the memory card inserted in the camera
9 HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) is a standard for transmission of HDR video to a display for which an external movie recorder is required
10 When CH, CL, or QC release mode is enabled with movie live view. Photos will be recorded at the same image size and continuous shooting speed as specified for movie frame size/frame rate. Still-image capture is not possible with 10-bit HDMI output
11 Based on CIPA Standard; in NORMAL mode; this value is achieved when attached to a digital SLR camera equipped with 35mm film size image sensor. Measured at maximum telephoto position.