Nikon Announces the Nikon D50 and Nikon D70s Digital Cameras

[Ben Stafford]

After erroneously posted manuals and confirmations about two new cameras, Nikon has made the announcement today about the introduction to two new digital SLR models - the Nikon D50 and Nikon D70s.  The D50 targets users who are looking for digital SLR quality at a non-professional price, while the D70s provides an upgrade to the D70.

Nikon D50 Introduction

The Nikon D50 is the "smallest, lightest, and easiest-to-use" Nikon digital SLR to date.  Nikon is calling it the "Ultimate Family Camera" with a "Child" mode that automatically adjusts the settings (exposure, white balance, etc) to produce optimized images of children.

The D50 has a 6.1 megapixel DX format CCD sensor with an "advanced digital image processor".  For exposure control, the camera utilizes Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering II.  The camera features a start up time of 0.2 seconds and negligible shutter lag.  The 5-point auto focus system provides predictive focus tracking and the camera sports an AF illuminator to help out in low light conditions.

The camera stores pics on SD storage media.  If you're using an 256 MB Ultra II card from Sandisk, JPEG Normal-Large, you can shoot 2.5 frames per second, up to 137 images.  Shutter speeds range from 30 sec to 1/4000 sec.

The Digital Vari-Program provides optimized settings for seven scene types - Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, and Night Portrait.  To enhance images, the camera can optimize sharpening, tone, color saturation and hue and includes.

For full details, please check out the press release.

The Nikon D50 will be available in June 2005 at an estimated street price of $899 for the kit that includes the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED lens.

New Lenses to Complement the D50

Nikon also announced two new lenses to complement the D50:

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED - packaged with the D50
• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED

For details, read the full press release.

 

Nikon D70s Introduction

From the press release: "The D70s builds on the success of its popular predecessor, the D70, with multiple internal and extenral refinements including an improved autofocus system, large LCD monitor, the addition of a remote cord port, new graphic user interface, among several other enhancements.  Designed for a broad range of consumers from experienced and amateur photographers to beginning photo enthusiasts and hobbyists, the D70s offers a proven track record of superior image quality, robust performance, and advanced new features."

For full feature set, please see the press release.

The D70s will start shipping in early May 2005.  The "Outfit", that includes the camera, battery, charger, software, and AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED lens has an estimated street price of $1199, while the "Set" which includes all above except the lens will have an estimated street price of $899.

Other Coverage

LetsGoDigital.org has some great previews: Nikon D50, Nikon D70s

Preview at Digital Photography Review of the D50 and comparison with the D70.

[Brian]

Those look like very nice units. I just wonder if the child mode can get them to also eat their veggies.

[Eliwood]

Nice, but there's a potential problem here.

The 2 units are barely different in size and functionality, even less so than the difference between the XT and 20D. The price suggests this too. You can get the D50 kit or a D70s for the same price. That's only a $150 difference between the cameras ($750 for a body only D50). If I were a consumer, I'd be pretty confused between the two. In that article, they even say that if you didn't know the difference, you could't tell them apart.

What Nikon should have done (and they may still do this) is introduce the D200, the true match up to the 20D. Then, things would get interesting...