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Info from a Nikon representative at an Expo in CO today

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LuMax

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From the FWIW department:

I was at Mike's Camera in Boulder CO earlier today at a big "Digital Photography EXPO" where I had the joy of playing with a PRODUCTION D300 and a couple of new lenses. I didn't think to bring along a CF card and snag a few pics (my bad), but a couple of other fellas did and hopefullly they are posted somewhere on the internet.

Here is what I remember (I did not take notes):

-Shipping; the Nikon rep (I did not ask permission to post his name so I will refrain from doing so) specifically said that the D300s are in the wherehouse and will ship out via UPS from Louisville KY on the 20th, no sooner. They are doing a "staggered" shipment in an attempt to have the cameras arrive at all of the dealers on the same day regardless if you happen to live in KY or on one of the coasts. So (example) CA bound cameras will ship out first followed by the locals. He did state that the Thanksgiving holiday would indeed mess up the delivery a tad due to everything being closed. By this estimate and with Thanksgiving and the weekend thrown in, I am guessing it will appear at most dealers on the 26th, no sooner.

-Look for the D3 the first week of December, no production D3s "in country" yet. Initial supplies will be slim and they sincerely feel that once the reviews start coming in that the line to get one will increase dramatically. Same feeling about the D300.

-Expect the D300 grip (MB-D10) and other accessories to be available in roughly 2 weeks. The D300 I played with had the grip on it, 8fps is really fast! :-)

-CaptureNX is indeed included in the first 300,000 units. If v2.0 is not in the D300 box, look for it in the very near future. He described it as a major upgrade.
  • No graininess whatsoever at ISO 3200 on our test shots in the store.
-The rear LCD is spectacular, so is live view

This is all I can recall for now, if I remember more I will add it later.
 
Interesting. I thought I had had my fill of these "hands on" reports. But there was some new info here.

Something I don't think I've heard before was that the included NX will be v2.0. I assumed it would be 1.2.

Thanks.

Leroy
 
Oh, the CaptureNX thing came up because I asked his opinion on what he thought was the better CaptureNX book out there since I have not used the software. He then told me about version 2 but did say that he was not certain if it was in the D300 box or if it was just the license key for the current version. Either way he described v2.0 as a major upgrade and said it will be here shortly if it is not in the box.

-One mroe thing, in addition to the few new lenses coming out at the same time as the D3 and 300, he said to expect a significant number of new lenses in the coming months. I pried for more info but that is all he would divulge.

-D3 features; he described two features in the D3 that I was not aware of;

Artificial horizon - not unlike the attitude indicator in an aircraft cockpit, you can display it on the LCD to ascertain exactly when your camera is level, very precise. Great for stitching panoramas and no need for a bubble level.

Lens calibration - let's see if I can describe this accurately. The D3 has the ability to remember custom focus setting for individual lenses that the user sets. So if you have a lens that is a bit soft in focus at a certain zoom point, the user can adjust the D3 focus so it is sharp at that position and from that point forward the D3 will automatically use that custom setting whenever that specific lens is attached. Numerous points avaiable for each specific lens and you can export those setting to other bodies via the CF card.

Man, I really wish I had taken notes or brought a voice recorder...sorry

One more, the D300 manual is 400 pages! Not multilingual either, the english version is 400 pages itself! Zowie!
 
LuMax said:
  • No graininess whatsoever at ISO 3200 on our test shots in the store.
-The rear LCD is spectacular, so is live view

This is all I can recall for now, if I remember more I will add it
later.
Click to expand...
How did you possibly check graininess from a 3 inch screen?

--
just me :)
Teddy
 
Of course it will NOT be the new version. Why would Nikon, after phenomenal pre-orders, give away for free Capture NX? It is because they are giving away the current version which will become worthless just as soon as version 2 is released. This way we all get to try out the current version and they hope we will pony up the money and turn right back around and upgrade to version 2.0. It would make no sense business wise for Nikon to give away a brand new version. They spent development dollars getting this new version out the door and they need immediate sales in order to pay off the R&D costs; they won't give it away free.
pL86 said:
Did the Nikon rep mention if the upgrade to 2.0 would be free to
buyers of the D3 and D300?
Click to expand...
--
Scott
 
Your response is speculation and not very attentive or informed speculation at that. The original poster wrote the Nikon rep indicated that there was a possibility that the software that's coming with the D3 and D300 may be version 2.0. That raises the possibility whether, if the included software isn't 2.0, whether there would be a free update. This happens all the time in the software business; if an upgrade is imminent, software companies routinely offer free upgrades to recent purchasers of the software. Microsoft and Apple always offer free upgrades to people who bought computers just before their latest operating systems released. It's hardly as earth-shattering as you seem to believe.
 
Scott Weierich said:
They spent
development dollars getting this new version out the door and they
need immediate sales in order to pay off the R&D costs; they won't
give it away free.
Click to expand...
Why do you think Nikon doesn't make money off software that's included with its cameras? The price of the software is built into the cost of the camera. Just because you don't pay an separate, itemized fee for the software doesn't mean Nikon isn't making money off it. The software may be "free" in the sense you don't aren't charged for it separately but Nikon is certainly not giving it away for "free." Or do you think that Microsoft or Apple didn't make money off the Windows or Mac OS that comes installed on your new computer?
 
LuMax said:
From the FWIW department:

I was at Mike's Camera in Boulder CO earlier today at a big "Digital
Photography EXPO" where I had the joy of playing with a PRODUCTION
D300 and a couple of new lenses. I didn't think to bring along a CF
card and snag a few pics (my bad), but a couple of other fellas did
and hopefullly they are posted somewhere on the internet.

Here is what I remember (I did not take notes):

-Shipping; the Nikon rep (I did not ask permission to post his name
so I will refrain from doing so) specifically said that the D300s are
in the wherehouse and will ship out via UPS from Louisville KY on the
20th, no sooner. They are doing a "staggered" shipment in an attempt
to have the cameras arrive at all of the dealers on the same day
regardless if you happen to live in KY or on one of the coasts. So
(example) CA bound cameras will ship out first followed by the
locals. He did state that the Thanksgiving holiday would indeed mess
up the delivery a tad due to everything being closed. By this
estimate and with Thanksgiving and the weekend thrown in, I am
guessing it will appear at most dealers on the 26th, no sooner.

-Look for the D3 the first week of December, no production D3s "in
country" yet. Initial supplies will be slim and they sincerely feel
that once the reviews start coming in that the line to get one will
increase dramatically. Same feeling about the D300.

-Expect the D300 grip (MB-D10) and other accessories to be available
in roughly 2 weeks. The D300 I played with had the grip on it, 8fps
is really fast! :-)

-CaptureNX is indeed included in the first 300,000 units. If v2.0
is not in the D300 box, look for it in the very near future. He
described it as a major upgrade.
  • No graininess whatsoever at ISO 3200 on our test shots in the store.
-The rear LCD is spectacular, so is live view

This is all I can recall for now, if I remember more I will add it
later.
Click to expand...
 
Just like you said, software companies routinely offer free upgrades to recent PURCHASERS of the software, but not for copies that are included FREE in a bundle.

For example, someone bought an Epson printer that included Adobe PhotoShop Elements 3 in the box. At the time, PhotoShop Elements 4 had recently started shipping. Adobe's free upgrade program was only for people who bought the retail boxed version, not people who got a copy bundled with their printer.

I hope you are right and I am wrong, but given other bundled software with printers and scanners as examples as well as marketing 101, I think your assumption is a long shot.
pL86 said:
there would be a free update. This happens all the time in the
software business; if an upgrade is imminent, software companies
routinely offer free upgrades to recent purchasers of the software.
Click to expand...
--
Scott
 
Nikon is not making money off of including the current (soon to be old) version of this program as they have a gazillion pre-orders for both the D300 and D3 AT RETAIL PRICE before they even bothered to mention the free software being included for the first however many buyers. Why would a "for profit" company add additional retail software to their package 3 months after announcing it? Only two reasons I can think of. Either it is because pre-sale orders are way below expectation and they have way overestimated initial demand and they want to increase demand without lowering the price OR it is because they are getting ready to release a brand new improved version of this software and they think it would be a brilliant marketing move to include the older version free, get several hundred thousand users to immediately start using this older version and then release the new version hoping to capitalize. I personally think it is brilliant marketing on the part of Nikon. I have not used Capture before and will very likely try it out since it will be included free. If it turns out to be a good tool, I will likely buy the upgrade. If they had not included it free with my D300, I likely would not have tried the current version let alone the new version...sorta like out of sight, out of mind for me. Too many things grabbing my attention these days and Nikon will definitely get me to try it out now. Again, I think this is brilliant marketing by Nikon.

Now, if I am wrong about my assumption, I will be just as happy as you will be (that is if you are buying a D300 or D3 now!). :-)
pL86 said:
Scott Weierich said:
They spent
development dollars getting this new version out the door and they
need immediate sales in order to pay off the R&D costs; they won't
give it away free.
Click to expand...
Why do you think Nikon doesn't make money off software that's
included with its cameras? The price of the software is built into
the cost of the camera. Just because you don't pay an separate,
itemized fee for the software doesn't mean Nikon isn't making money
off it. The software may be "free" in the sense you don't aren't
charged for it separately but Nikon is certainly not giving it away
for "free." Or do you think that Microsoft or Apple didn't make
money off the Windows or Mac OS that comes installed on your new
computer?
Click to expand...
--
Scott
 
I have heard that the resolution of the new screen is sufficient to make a reasonable determination of noise, without downloading pics to a PC.
--
Larry
 
Just because Nikon publicly announced the inclusion of the software recently does not mean it hasn't been planning and pricing its inclusion all along.

Let's use some common sense. Nothing included in the box is "free." I don't mean that in a negative, critical way but as a simple statement of business reality. The included software is "free" in the same way that the cleaning cloth and the manuals and the camera strap that will also come in the box are "free." Each item has a cost and the retail price reflects their costs. Nikon accounting has run the numbers and the software is accounted for in the retail price. Nikon is a business and a well-run business at that. It's not in the habit of giving stuff away. Buyers of the camera are paying for the software, indirectly, but without a doubt they are paying for it.

Peter
Scott Weierich said:
Now, if I am wrong about my assumption, I will be just as happy as
you will be (that is if you are buying a D300 or D3 now!). :-)
pL86 said:
Scott Weierich said:
They spent
development dollars getting this new version out the door and they
need immediate sales in order to pay off the R&D costs; they won't
give it away free.
Click to expand...
Why do you think Nikon doesn't make money off software that's
included with its cameras? The price of the software is built into
the cost of the camera. Just because you don't pay an separate,
itemized fee for the software doesn't mean Nikon isn't making money
off it. The software may be "free" in the sense you don't aren't
charged for it separately but Nikon is certainly not giving it away
for "free." Or do you think that Microsoft or Apple didn't make
money off the Windows or Mac OS that comes installed on your new
computer?
Click to expand...
--
Scott
Click to expand...
 
Not necessarily. Many companies do in fact offer free upgrades not just to recent retail purchasers but to bundled users. As I briefly alluded to in my first post, if you bought an Apple computer on or after October 1, 2007 but before Apple released its latest OS on October 26, Apple is giving you a free upgrade:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/

This is not a new practice but routine for Apple. Microsoft does the exact same thing whenever they release a new OS. I think the fact that Nikon also makes the software that's it's including in the box increases the likelihood they may offer a free upgrade to new purchasers of the camera. We'll have to wait and see.
Scott Weierich said:
For example, someone bought an Epson printer that included Adobe
PhotoShop Elements 3 in the box. At the time, PhotoShop Elements 4
had recently started shipping. Adobe's free upgrade program was only
for people who bought the retail boxed version, not people who got a
copy bundled with their printer.

I hope you are right and I am wrong, but given other bundled software
with printers and scanners as examples as well as marketing 101, I
think your assumption is a long shot.
pL86 said:
there would be a free update. This happens all the time in the
software business; if an upgrade is imminent, software companies
routinely offer free upgrades to recent purchasers of the software.
Click to expand...
--
Scott
Click to expand...
 
Teddy said:
How did you possibly check graininess from a 3 inch screen?
Click to expand...
It's 3" at 640x480. That's in all likelihood higher resolution per inch than your computer screen, and once you factor in working distance they would probably be more or less even.

--
Terminal case of Lens Lust.
 
Inaccurate information

Capture NX shipping with the D3 and D300 is version 1.3 not 2.0. This is a maintenance release- performance enhancements, adding of D3/D300 support, and integration of Picture Controls.

This HAS been confirmed from Nikon USA.

Capture NX V2.0 will have some more substantial changes than that.

The app going 2.0 with this release is Camera Control Pro.
LuMax said:
-CaptureNX is indeed included in the first 300,000 units. If v2.0
is not in the D300 box, look for it in the very near future. He
described it as a major upgrade.
Click to expand...
--
Terminal case of Lens Lust.
 
I specifically stated that "NX" was included. I also specifically said that if 2.0 was not in the box it would be released in the very near future. I never said that 2.0 WAS in the package and neither did the Nikon rep.
 
I'm not going to be upset with ver 1.3.
As a Adobe user, I'm willing to give NX a try.
If I like it, I may purchase 2.0 at a future date.

I'm just excited to have the D300. Software will
always change and have upgrades. It's the camera
I'm mostly interested in.
 
Bad example. For a Mac, the OS is essential and you can't buy a Mac without the OS included. A better example would be that Apple used to provide a free copy of Quicken. Buy a new Mac in November or December and it still had the current year's version of Quicken as this was the bundle offering, BUT new version of Quicken was already announced and shipping by that time of the year. Neither Apple nor the makers of Quicken were giving you a free upgrade to the new version if it was a bundled version.
pL86 said:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate/

This is not a new practice but routine for Apple. Microsoft does the
exact same thing whenever they release a new OS. I think the fact
that Nikon also makes the software that's it's including in the box
increases the likelihood they may offer a free upgrade to new
purchasers of the camera. We'll have to wait and see.
Scott Weierich said:
For example, someone bought an Epson printer that included Adobe
PhotoShop Elements 3 in the box. At the time, PhotoShop Elements 4
had recently started shipping. Adobe's free upgrade program was only
for people who bought the retail boxed version, not people who got a
copy bundled with their printer.

I hope you are right and I am wrong, but given other bundled software
with printers and scanners as examples as well as marketing 101, I
think your assumption is a long shot.
pL86 said:
there would be a free update. This happens all the time in the
software business; if an upgrade is imminent, software companies
routinely offer free upgrades to recent purchasers of the software.
Click to expand...
--
Scott
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Scott
 
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