The D5, Nikon’s most powerful camera announced

The latest Nikon camera, the Nikon D5, was launched at CES after several months of rumours and speculations of its existence.

 

Nikon’s latest flagship model features a new autofocus system, expanded ISO sensitivity, and the flexibility to shoot both stills and 4K movies.

 

Commenting on the launch, Takashi Yoshida, Managing Director, Nikon Middle East FZE, said, “We understand the importance of a millisecond when it comes to capturing a remarkable competitive sporting moment or the intensity of a ground-breaking news piece. The camera companion has to outperform the expectations by delivering a potent fusion of extensive image capturing power alongside a detailed and immediate acquisition performance, regardless of the environment.”

 

“Following this train of thought, Nikon presents the new FX-format flagship DSLR, the Nikon D5. Engineered with all of the mentioned, and housed in a camera body of exceptional reliability and operability, the D5 is a professional’s formidable photography partner. Nikon D5, I am vision outperformed.”

 

A few of the camera’s main features include a new 153-point autofocus (AF) system and a stable viewfinder image that makes tracking moving subjects easy, even with high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 12 fps.

 

The 20.8-megapixel D5 features the Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and a new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine, producing the highest standard ISO sensitivity in Nikon history with up to an ISO of 102400. It also sports a high-resolution touch screen LCD monitor, double memory card slots.

 

• New AF system that demonstrates excellent response to moving subjects and tracking performance, even under a variety of circumstances: Pivotal moments happen in the blink of an eye, and photographers are constantly on their toes to capture the action regardless of the lighting conditions. These needs are addressed with a complete overhaul of the D5’s AF system with an adoption of the Multi-CAM 20K autofocus sensor module. The AF sensor module offers 153 focus points, 99 of which are cross-type sensors, for broad and dense coverage of the image area. The centre focus point has a detection range beginning at an incredible −4 EV, and detection with other focus points begins at −3 EV, enabling autofocusing even under extremely dim lighting, and with subjects exhibiting very low contrast. In addition, equipping the camera with a dedicated AF engine capable of high-speed calculation and collaboration with the 180K-pixel RGB sensor have ensured that extremely reliable AF performance is demonstrated with a variety of scenes.

• High-speed continuous shooting at approximately 12 fps with a stable viewfinder image that makes tracking moving subjects easy: Photographers will find their new photography companion being capable of approximately 12 fps continuous shooting with AF and AE tracking in all image quality modes, and across all ISO sensitivity settings. The addition of a new mirror drive mechanism achieves a more stable viewfinder image that makes constant tracking of rapidly moving subjects easy. Matching to the pace is the accessibility of capturing up to 200 12-bit lossless compressed RAW images with a single burst.

• Higher standard ISO sensitivities that ensure superior image quality within the most frequently used high sensitivity range: The potent combination between the new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor and the new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine have enabled the highest standard ISO sensitivity in Nikon history of up to ISO 102400. High-sensitivity image quality at these never-before-seen levels achieves superior imaging quality, even within the high ISO 3200 to 12800 range that is often used with sports photography and the likes. In addition, the image sensor’s broad dynamic range enables rich and natural expression of tones for accurate reproduction of the finest details, even extremely vivid subjects with difficult texture expressions.

• Cinematic brilliance with 4K UHD (30p) movie capability: The D5 supports 4K movies, which offers higher resolution than HD or Full-HD movies, capable of recording 4K UHD (3840 × 2160)/30p, 25p, 24p movies to a memory card inserted in the camera. Alternatively with a simultaneous HDMI output, movies can also be displayed on an external monitor or recorded as uncompressed video to an external recorder. With the maximum standard sensitivity of ISO 102400, as well as even higher sensitivity settings up to Hi 5 (equivalent to ISO 3280000), superior picture quality is still assured even when recording movies at these high sensitivities. Rounding off the spectacular movie-making experience is the capability to generate 4K UHD time-lapse movies in-camera.

• A high-resolution 3.2-inch, approximately 2,359k-dot touch screen LCD monitor: Adoption of a touch screen for the display monitor enables nimble confirmation and high-speed navigation of a large number of images using a frame advance bar, and supports an efficient workflow with text input and the like. The high-resolution monitor enables extremely clear display with live view photography, even when the display is enlarged, for fast focus confirmation.

 

• Greatly increased communications performance with both wired and wireless networks: The communications system has been significantly improved to support communications at least twice as fast as with the D4S, with both wired networks using the Ethernet connector built into the D5, and wireless networks when the new Wireless Transmitter WT6 (available separately) is used with the D5.

 

• Versatile image storage options: Two versions of the D5 are available. Both are equipped with double memory card slots supporting a single media type, one being for XQD cards and the other for CompactFlash cards.

• Wireless Transmitter WT-6, available separately, comes handy for high-speed wireless network communications: When connected to the D5, high-speed transfer of image data to a computer or an FTP server over a wireless network is possible with a maximum range of approximately 200 m. Communications are significantly faster with support for the new IEEE 802.11ac (2×2 VHT80) standard. Wireless control over the camera from a computer is also possible using Camera Control Pro 2 (available separately). With the WT-6 connected to a D5, the combination also serves as a wireless LAN access point, enabling possibilities of direct connection to a computer or smartphone.

 

For more information on the new D5 and other Nikon products, head here.