Nikon Introduces D750 FX Body, $2299.95 and 20mm/f1.8 AF-S

[ShunCheung]

<p>Officially, Nikon is positioning the new D750 FX DSLR between the D810 and D610. While that is literally true, at $2299.95 initially, the D750 is $1000 below the D810 and merely $200 above the $2099.95 initial price for the D600 two years ago. Last year, Nikon replaced the D600 by the D610 with almost the same specifications, so clearly, the D610 is merely a D600 without the bad press about oil spots on the sensor. Nikon managed to drop the initial price for the D610 to $2000, which has since dropped further to $1900.</p>

<p>Therefore, while the D750's price is indeed between the D810 and D610, it is much closer to the D600/D610. Feature-wise, the D750 is very much consumer-grade similar to the D600/D610 and Df:</p>

<ul>

<li>1/4000 sec top shutter speed</li>

<li>1/200 sec flash sync</li>

<li>150K expected shutter actuation life</li>

<li>The frame rate is slightly improved to 6.5 fps, with any type of battery and any crop.</li>

<li>The controls are very much D600-like with scene modes, with no dedicated AF-ON button.</li>

<li>No 10-pin connector</li>

<li>The sensor is still 24MP but with an expanded ISO range from 100 to 12800</li>

<li>AF is improved to the latest version of the Multi-CAM 3500 called Advanced Multi-CAM 3500 II, which is supposed to better than those on the D4S and D810, capable to AF under -3EV dim light. Quite a few people feel that the Multi-CAM 3500 probably should have come with the initial D600. There are still 51 AF points with the center 3 columns (15 AF points) being cross type.</li>

<li>Video 1080 60p, similar to the D810</li>

<li>The D750 has a vari-angle LCD that can be flipped up.</li>

</ul>

<p>The D750 is designed to be a smaller body and has a new dedicated vertical grip, the MB-D16.</p>

<p>Two years ago, we said that the D600 was essentially the FX version of the D7000. Similarly, the D750 is more like the FX version of the D7100 with essentially the same AF module and same pixel count. However, the D7100 has a 1/8000 sec top shutter speed while the D750 has a vari-angle LCD.</p>

<p>Given that the D750 is merely $300 more than the D610, it doesn't seem to make sense to have both in the lineup in the long run. Nikon names to D750 with better AF to justify the higher price ALA the D810. It also leaves more room for another true entry-level FX body in the $1500 to $1800 range. Perhaps there will be a D500 or D400 FX body later on.</p>

<p>At the same time, Nikon is adding another entry to their "affordable" f1.8 fixed-focal-length lenses, in this case a 20mm/f1.8 AF-S super wide. Similar to their other second-tier lenses, the new 20mm has a 7-blade aperture diaphragm. (The top-tier lenses use 9 blades.)</p>

<p>Finally, there is a new consumer flash the SB-500 that only uses 2 AA batteries. It has some limited capabilities to serve as a CLS master as well as CLS remote (only 2 channels and 2 groups). The SB-500 can also work as a continuous video light.</p>

<p>Prices:</p>

<ul>

<li>D750 body: US$2299.95</li>

<li>D750 with 24-120mm/f4 AF-S VR kit: <strike>$2999.95</strike> (That was the price Nikon provided me in advance. However, the official price is missing in official Nikon USA press releases.)</li>

<li>MB-D16: $485</li>

<li>20mm/f1.8 AF-S: $799.95</li>

<li>SB-500: $249.95</li>

</ul>

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20mm/f1.8 AF-S

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SB-500

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[ShunCheung]

<p>Nikon Japan news articles:</p>

<ul>

<li>D750: http://www.nikon.com/news/2014/0912_dslr_01.htm</li>

<li>20mm/f1.8 AF-S: http://www.nikon.com/news/2014/0912_lens_03.htm</li>

<li>SB-500: http://www.nikon.com/news/2014/0912_sb_04.htm</li>

</ul>

[Mike D]

<p>Shun, this camera may be advertised as "fast" but it is only 6.5 FPS so it's definitely not a sports camera. Does the grip increase the FPS like on the D700?</p>

[ShunCheung]

<blockquote>

<p>Shun, this camera may be advertised as "fast" but it is only 6.5 FPS so it's definitely not a sports camera. Does the grip increase the FPS like on the D700?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>As I pointed out earlier, Nikon may officially position the D750 between the D810 and D610, my opinion is that this is more like the real replacement for the D600, which is 5.5 fps, while the D610 is 6 fps and is the D600 without any dust/oil problem.</p>

<p>Using the MB-D16 and/or using the 1.2x or DX crop mode will not increase the 6.5 fps frame rate.</p>

<p>The D750 model number is a bit misleading as it is not at all a "D4 junior" like the D700 being a D3 junior. The D750 is dis-similar to the D700. Unfortunately, all the "sports camera" stuff was merely mis-information from rumor sites. That was the message I was trying to get across in Tim Holte's earlier thread: http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00cmgk</p>

[raczoliver]

<p>I'm pretty sure this thing is capable of much better autoficus and image quality than the D700, but I am very reluctant to "upgrade" to a more consumerish (is that a word?) body with no dedicated AF-on button among other things. For now I will just hold on to my good not too old D700. It is good to see that they are packing more and more features into the affordable bodies, but I also get the feeling that the ergonomics are being downgraded compared to previous generations of cameras at similar price points.</p>

<p>I suppose the D750 has a 100% viewfinder, is that correct?</p>

[ShunCheung]

The D700 is the only Nikon FX DSLR that does not have a 100% viewfinder.

[Barry Clemmons Photography]

<p>I shoot high school football every Friday and was hoping this would be a good second body to use for sideline and crowd shots, and maybe an occasional action shot using the 70-200mm f/2.8 when the action is close to my side of the field. Currently I use my D800E for this purpose with good results, other than action shots requiring a higher frame rate. I was hoping the D750 would deliver more than 6.5 fps. <br>

Shun, what level of weather sealing is used with the D750? I haven't seen that in the press release, or just overlooked it.</p>

[chip_chipowski]

<p>Some 20mm samples <a href="http://www.cameraegg.org/af-s-nikkor-20mm-f1-8g-ed-lens-sample-images/">here</a>.</p>

[lex_jenkins]

<p>Odd design choices. Buttons freaking everywhere, even flash bracketing and those pesky and generally unnecessary QUAL and ISO buttons, but no AF-ON button? And that weird still/video lever instead of a simpler top mounted video button. Looks perfect for snagging on clothing and switching from still to video when you don't want it to.</p>

<p>Looks like another fine candidate for complaints from folks who were never gonna buy it anyway.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

I find both products very important. For nearly 15 years I have been concerned about (and complaining) about the lack of

a lens that acts as the classic documentary lens, a fast wide angle prime, on DX cameras. The 20/1.8 is an FX lens but its

relatively low price puts it within reach of many DX users (without closing the FX door as with investing in a DX only lens

does, in a way). Thus this concern of mine is put to a rest, assuming the performance with 24MP DX is good. As an FX

user I find a compact travel-friendly superwide angle appealing; while the 14-24/2.8 is a spectacular performer for

interiors, I almost never travelled with it due to the size and weight. The 20/1.8 seems more practical to me.

 

The D750 introduces what I consider a better balance between resolution and speed (than either D4s or D810 provide)

for general purpose photography and Nikon's most sophisticated AF system available at a more affordable price point.

Provided that there are no serious manufacturing and quality control issues, I feel very positive about this product. The

smaller size may make it a viable backup body which doesn't take too much space in the bag. The tilting screen has its

own fans and I think it can help tall photographers shoot from a lower vantage point as well as from a higher one, such as

in a crowd.

[ilkka_nissila]

If you use AF-ON, you get the AF-L functionality simply by taking your finger off the button. So AF-L and AF-ON are never

needed as separte buttons at the same time, as far as I am concerned. If you use AF-ON you simply reconfigure the AF-L

button to perform AF-ON and without going back to shutter activated AF, I cannot see any situation where AF-L could be

used. Thus I never never understood this complaint.

[paul_b.1]

<p>"The D700 is the only Nikon FX DSLR that does not have a 100% viewfinder"</p>

<p>...as advertised : "Match your view and your vision with the 100% coverage optical viewfinder, which has a bright, clear organic EL display system for making adjustments without taking your eye off the action."<br>

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/dslr-cameras/D750.html</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>Well, I guess the D750 isn't what was expected (a D700 with the D610 sensor, and a lot of added speed). This only confuses the FX lines even further, and that's even disregarding the fact that there are still a lot of D800/D800E in the channel, and some D600's as well. At the current prices, the D610 and D810 aren't all that far apart, is there *really* a space between these two? A rather odd choice to spend R&D resources on this, even if all parts were already available in one way or another (I do not disagree with Ilkka that it is a better balanced product than the D610 or the D800 for most users; it's more the concern that the shelves are too crowded with 5 different FX models, plus the D810 closed the gap a bit too).<br>

If the D610 makes way for a much cheaper "D500 FX" then it makes sense, but the current line-up to me is just too much of a crowd doing the same thing. And if I'd replace my D700 today, it'll still be the D810 - not for the resolution but because it gets the ergonomics right and in my view has the least compromises.</p>

<p>That 20 f/1.8 on the other hand - now that is one interesting piece, and frankly a whole lot cheaper than I expected it to be. Nice. SB500 does look to serve as a pair of CLS slaves, but its price will have to come down, I think.</p>

[eric_arnold]

<p>kinda interested in that 20/1.8. D750 looks good too, with the good AF module. that fixes a problem, that the d7100 was arguably more performance-oriented than the 600/610.</p>

[j_wilson2]

<p>I was just getting ready to order a Nikkor 18-35mm G, but this new 20mm 1.8G looks like it may find it's way into my camera bag instead. I was hoping for a wide angle prime like that, then lo and behold!</p>

[mike_halliwell]

<p>Hey, let's put an FX sensor into a D5300, update a few toys and charge 4 times as much....!!</p>

<p><em><strong>If</strong></em> it was dead (it's not!) the D700 would be spinning in it's grave to find some sluggish upstart using the <strong>7</strong>00 series name.</p>

<p>But more seriously, it's an interesting camera. The 'better than the D810' IQ ISO wise is, I assume, just as the D610 is? I'll look forward to D610 v D750 image comparisons.</p>

<p>How's it's buffer on 14bit RAW?...the press release avoids telling us that....just 100 shots, on DX JPEG crop...or 87 on FX JPEG LARGE.</p>

<p>I wonder if Nikon's 20mm 1.8 will be better than Sigma's which is on the 'recommended' by DxO list for the 800 series?</p>

<p>$2880 body-only for us Brits...and probably the rest of Europe too knowing Nikon's pricing methods:-(</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

I don't see much unsold FX body inventory - in any case that should not prevent introduction of new products. I don't think Multi-CAM 4800 should be in an FX camera so that leaves three models to choose from: D810 for mad resolution, D4s for high speed, and the one that is general purpose, the D750. So as far as I can tell the D750 is the most viable of all the FX models as it is appealing to a large audience and almost any application (most people prefer small cameras - the D610/D7100 are a good size, even though my preference is for a bit larger body). I don't think I will buy one because I just got the D810 which I like a lot, but the combination of 24MP anf 6.5fps would be ideal for me and an improved AF system is always of interest to me.

 

The 20/1.8 I will probably get since it is priced nicely and I would love to have a fast 20mm that is not as huge as the 14-24mm. I might even sell my 14-24 if the 20/1.8 turns out optically as good as expected. I love the output of the zoom but it is overkill for my superwide needs. I also think I might use it on the D7100 as well as FX.

[pete_s.]

<p>Integrated WiFi sounds good - if the software side of it is well done.<br>

And a fast wider-than-24mm prime was long overdue. Now we have the 20, 35, 50 and 85mm in FX f1.8.<br>

B&H says availability 23rd of September so that's less than two weeks for those that want one.</p>

 

[johne37179]

<p>This looks much more like a lateral move than an upgrade.</p>

[borgis_karl_johan1]

<p>With light weight in the D750 body and built-in video, is this the end of the Df?</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>The moment I heard the rumoured 8fps drop to 6.5fps, I started thinking "updated D610" rather than a new model. It does look like a substantial upgrade to the D610 (though I'm sure some of those D700 owners not disappointed by the lack of 8fps with a grip will complain about a 1/4000 shutter!) and it solves most of the "D610 isn't really an upgrade to the D7100" problem. I'm interested that the LCD is tilt-only, rather than having the full flip-around freedom of the D5x00 series - this probably means it's a bit more robust, though I'm a bit disappointed that it didn't result in the rear camera buttons moving within right thumb range.<br />

<br />

8fps would have surprised me a little because it would have had a higher data rate than any other Nikon DSLR - the D4s hits about 178MP/s, the D810 hits about 181MP/s, and a 6.5fps D750 hits 157MP/s; 8fps would be 193MP/s. Of course, the 1-series can dwarf this by a huge margin, and the Expeed 4A in the D750 has the same name as the one in the 1 V3, but I assume there's other stuff going on there. Remembering that a D810 is a 6fps, 25MP camera (in 1.2x crop mode), the D750 restores a little uniqueness with that extra half fps. I'm glad to hear that it's got the video features from the D810 and D4s, though. (Lex - that lever's there on the other Nikons too - and the D750 has a button, like them. It's a two-stage video thing.)<br />

<br />

I really see this as a D610 replacement - though I still think there's room for a further cut-down FX model if Nikon really felt the market needed one. And I'm standing by my claim that a D750 is more of a direct competitor to the 5D3 than before. Were I still looking for a D700 upgrade (and hadn't got a D800), I'd certainly find the D750 a bit more tempting than the D610. I'll be interested to see whether the autofocus improvements actually achieve much.<br />

<br />

Next up, I wonder how that 20mm compares with the 21mm Zeiss? (I tried the Sigma a few years ago, and it was truly awful off-centre, especially wide open. It looks terrible on DxO, too - I'm unsure why they'd recommend it, at least on an FX camera. Like the older Sigma 50mm f/1.4, I'm not sure I'd have a problem with it as a DX lens with a bit of extra coverage.)</p>

[Richard Williams]

<blockquote>

<p>Well, I guess the D750 isn't what was expected (a D700 with the D610 sensor, and a lot of added speed). This only confuses the FX lines even further, and that's even disregarding the fact that there are still a lot of D800/D800E in the channel, and some D600's as well. At the current prices, the D610 and D810 aren't all that far apart, is there *really* a space between these two?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Most of the rumours pointed to a 'lightweight' body with a tilt screen, so I think we're getting something pretty close to what was expected. There were conflicting rumours about 8fps vs 6.5fps, so there'll be some disappointment about that. Agree that there's not really enough of a space between the D610 and the D810 - I'm guessing this is the end of the line for the D6xx series, and the D750 is its somewhat higher spec replacement (as with the D90 and the D7000). They'll still sell the D610 for a while, but I don't think there'll be a D620.</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<p>I'm thinking that the much-requested DX "prosumer" D300s replacement is even farther off now...</p>

[ant_nio_gomes]

<blockquote>

<p>(...) So AF-L and AF-ON are never needed as separte buttons at the same time, as far as I am concerned. If you use AF-ON you simply reconfigure the AF-L button to perform AF-ON and without going back to shutter activated AF, I cannot see any situation where AF-L could be used. Thus I never never understood this complaint.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>The AF-L is already AF-L/AE-L, so you can use it to perform and hold AE-L measurements and use AF-On to focus or hold focus, leaving shutter just to shoot the camera.<br>

If you never needed it I can understand how you find "this complaint". </p>

[ilkka_nissila]

I don't AE lock as I find manual mode simpler to use if I'm going to fix the exposure. But if you want to use AE lock and AF-ON at the same time I suppose separate buttons (toggle for AE-L) may be good to have. It is just not the way I use a camera. The Df, D810 and D4s have separate buttons.