Nikon is known as one of the largest manufacturing companies of digital cameras. During the first boom of digital cameras, they were one of the first to produce the famous SLR digital camera, among others. Both hobbyists and professionals in the field of photography have found a model of camera from Nikon for all of their photo needs. This is due to the fact that they have such a wide range of models available.
Who is Nikon?
The Nikon Corporation was first founded in 1917 when three optical manufacturers who were leaders in the field merged. The merged and growing company furthered their business into cameras and other optical equipment. During the event of World War II, the company enlarged to 19 factories, with a total of 23,000 employees. In the year 1948, the first camera to be produced by Nikon was released to the public, known as the Nikon.
One of the most famous American photojournalists, David Douglas Duncan, made the Nikon camera extremely popular in the US during his work with the Korean War footage. Those who viewed his work were subjected to the high contrast of negatives produced with the camera and the amazing sharp resolution of the quality. Today, Nikon employs over 17,000 employees around the world.
Styles Available
Nikon currently manufactures three different types of cameras: digital SLR cameras, compact cameras, and film cameras. Each category has a variety of colors, styles and formats to choose from. The more advanced style of camera that you choose, the higher the price will be. Overall, Nikon is considerably affordable compared to other popular brands of digital cameras or film cameras.
Digital SLR Cameras
Digital SLR also stands for ‘digital single lens reflex’. This helps categorize the particular optical speed and clarity. To the eye, it can easily be mistaken for a normal oversized digital camera. However, it is very different in the type of quality photos that are provided.
To be more exact, Nikon has produced a style of digital camera that allows the user to view the picture exactly as it is without altering any other features inside of the camera. In other words, when using a compact or a regular point and shoot digital camera, the image that you can view through the screen is digitally generated to fit on the LCD screen. Whereas with a digital SLR camera, the image is reflected to the viewfinder by the use of mirrors and lenses.
A digital SLR camera from Nikon is also versatile, unlike a compact digital camera. There are multiple interchangeable lenses that allow the user to custom personalize a particular image or shot. This might include a landscape image, a portrait shot, or an up close image in which a zoom lens would be needed. Some of the most prominent features that set apart the SLR cameras from the other categories are the large sensors that help produce great quality photos, and a quick shoot capability. Many people who are looking to start photography as a profession will begin with a digital SLR camera instead of a manual or film camera. The settings are automated and help the user transition easier to a manual.
Easy to Use SLR
Nikon is also known for their easy to use digital cameras. Even though a digital SLR camera looks very intimidating, many of the models are simple enough for first time users to work. The D40 for example is one of the easiest SLR models available from Nikon. The camera is very light, at only 16 ounces in weight, as well as being considerably small for an SLR model.
First time users love the fact that the camera has a very fast startup speed, as well as an instant shutter response. In addition, the user will have rapid-shooting action that is calculated at up to 2.5 frames for each second. This allows you to be able to capture even the quickest movements on film, without the images turning out to be blurry.
To help those with even the worst eye vision, Nikon equipped the D40 with a larger and brighter LCD monitor screen. You can view images at up to 19 times the original magnification. There are also large type font settings and easy to access menu options.
Modern Appeal SLR
A more upscale version of the SLR camera is the D90. It is one of the newest additions to the digital SLR camera category from Nikon and has everything that you would expect of the newest generation in digital cameras. Using the image quality from the previous D300 model, Nikon has produced a camera that is capable of stunning photos that can capture all of the best memories. In combination with the ergonomic appeal and high performance rating, the D90 can also film high quality movies, using the ‘D-Movie’ setting.
For those quiet moments, the D90 also has a very low-noise performance quality that enables the user to take photos during any time of the day. The user also has a portrait and landscape mode to take more vibrant color photos or frames.
Compact Digital Cameras
The line of compact digital cameras produced by Nikon all bear the name ‘CoolPix’. This is one of the most commonly purchased cameras from the Nikon company, due to the affordability of the models and the enjoyment of the small compact sizes. All of the CoolPix models are priced according to the features involved and the quality of the image pixels included.
The P-Series
If you are looking for a compact digital camera from Nikon that still has the high performance ability of an SLR, then the ‘P’ models are the best choice. These include the P5000 which offers up to 10.0 mega pixels, an optical stabilization mode and a 3.5x zoom lens. The CoolPix P4 model is also recommended, with 8.1 mega pixels, a vibration or movement reduction and a 3.5x zoom lens. Both ‘P’ styles range in price at around $300 to $400.
The S-Series
For just as great images, without the fairly large price tag, many consumers are opting for the ‘S’ series of CoolPix cameras. This includes the S500, S200, S50, S50c, S10, S9, S7c, and the S4. Most of the models in this series have mega pixels of around 6.0 to 7.2. In addition there is a range of 3x or 10x zoom lens, LCD screens, and many more features. The prices vary from $200 to $300.
The CoolPix S60 is one of the newest additions to the ‘S’ series from Nikon, as well as the most popular. It is equipped with 10.0 mega pixels so that you can produce photos as large as 16 x 20 inches in diameter. The resolution is also more sharp and crisp to help produce the beautiful enlargements.
Users love the Image Stabilization mode that protects the photos from camera shake movements or to enable sharper pictures in lower lighted settings. The touch panel is unlike anything produced by Nikon before. You can write your own messages on the photos with the stylus, as well as gain easy access to all of the menu options with the touch of your finger. There has also been an anti-reflection coating applied to the LCD panel that helps the viewer see the touch panel in the brightest light.
Your participants in the picture will love the ‘smile shutter’ and ‘blink warning’ feature that ensures that you will always catch the best moment. The ‘blink warning’ also helps to let you know when your subject’s eyes are closed. Consumers can choose from black, pink, white, burgundy, bronze, or red.
The L-Series
For beginner digital camera users, or those looking to spend a smaller amount of money on a digital camera, the ‘L’ series is a much wiser choice. You can choose from the L12, L11, L10, L6, L5, and the L3 cameras. Even though the features are much smaller, these cameras still produce great photos and have enough memory for many hours of capturing the memories. For example, the L6 can capture up to 1,000 pictures and the mega pixels range from 5.0 to 7.2. The cameras also range in price from $120 to $250.
Film Cameras
The tradition of film cameras has been present for years. Without the invention, many of our most memorable events in life would not have been made possible. Consumers went many years without digital cameras, and they were not aware of the convenience of one as opposed to a film camera until there were released. Nikon was one of the first manufacturers to introduce film cameras at an affordable price, and they were also one of the first to make the switch to digital.
The following are the two categories of film cameras associated with Nikon:
FM-10
The FM-10 is the only film camera in this category. The appearance is reminiscent of the styles fro previous years, with very simple lines and materials. The metering system is known to be the most accurate and versatile, with a center weighted meter to help provide the best exposure. This style is compatible with all of the film camera lenses in the Nikon line.
F6
As with the FM-10 model, the F6 is the only model in the category. When you first glance at the device, it looks very similar to an SLR digital camera from Nikon. However, if you look at the LCD screen on the back, you will see that it is much too small to be on a digital camera. Either way, this advanced style of film cameras is enhanced with an exposure metering system. As with the FM-10, there is a flexible center weighted metering system.
If you are looking for the most modern film camera from Nikon, then the F6 is the best option. It is compatible with all of the major lenses, as well as an electronic rangefinder. The shooting modes include flexible program, shutter priority, program, aperture priority and manual.