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THE NIKON D500: CONDENSING THE POWER OF AN FX-FORMAT DIGITAL SLR INTO DX-FORMAT AGILITY WITH ALWAYS-ON CONNECTIVITY (27.01.2016)

 

The D500 features Nikon proprietary technology to ensure always-on seamless connectivity with other communication devices.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 5th January 2016 – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the Nikon D500, a class-leading DX-format digital SLR camera that pairs the superior performance of an FX-format digital SLR with an agile body and improved usability.

The Nikon D500 has been created as a response to consumers’ changing visual appetite and the more sophisticated visual needs of enthusiasts. It also addresses the increasing need for always-on connectivity between cameras and other personal devices.

To enable this, the Nikon D500 boasts one of the most advanced AF systems among enthusiasts’ cameras; it introduces 4K UHD video recording capability to the Nikon DX-range; and to top it off, it is the first Nikon camera to have connectivity to enable always-on, instant sharing with SnapBridge.

“This is a new world of the visual economy where we connect with one another through images. So our enthusiasts are also becoming increasingly discerning and demand more from their cameras. We have thus innovated ahead by condensing the power of a FX-format into the D500 to fit our consumers’ and professional photographers’ appetite for superior imaging technology,” said Tadashi Nakayama, Corporate Vice President, Sector Manager of Marketing Sector, Imaging Business Unit, Nikon.

CONDENSED POWER

The D500 excels at tracking movement, incorporating the same next-generation 153-point AF system as the D5. Precise subject acquisition even during high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 10 fps, ensures that motorsports and travel adventures are perfectly captured. Enthusiasts looking to record action-packed or touching scenes can now preserve the moment in 4K UHD movies, supported by the new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine which enables the D500 to deliver high imaging quality. The D500 also sports a wide sensitivity range from ISO 100 to 51200, expandable to Hi 5 (ISO 1640000 equivalent), yielding the most impressive results in a wide variety of lighting conditions. Converging high-performance and versatility with convenient maneuverability, the D500 is a tool that translates creative vision and passion into rich visuals, enabling photographers to realise their full potential.

SEAMLESS, ALWAYS-ON CONNECTIVITY WITH SNAPBRIDGE

The D500 is the first in Nikon’s range of cameras to integrate always-on wireless connectivity with smart devices via Bluetooth Low-Energy. This new Nikon innovation enables the continuous and immediate transfer of images from the camera to the smart device as they are captured in real-time, transforming photography into a social, connected experience. This is achieved automatically without the need to activate the image transfer from the camera, while also keeping power consumption low for both devices for users on the go.

D500 PRIMARY FEATURES

1. Powerful 153-point AF achieves superior subject acquisition performance across a wide range of situations
The D500’s Multi-CAM 20K autofocus sensor module offers a dense configuration of 153 focus points (99 cross-type sensors) that cover an extremely wide portion of the image area, meaning that even fast-moving subjects can be acquired precisely. AF capability is extended down to -4 EV¹ with the central point and -3 EV¹ with all other points, making AF usable even in extremely low light or when shooting low-contrast subjects. A newly employed AF engine and 180K-pixel RGB sensor also contribute to achieving exceptional AF performance in a variety of scenes.
¹ ISO 100, 20°C/68°F.

2. High-speed continuous shooting at approx. 10 fps for up to 200 shots (14-bit uncompressed RAW)
The D500 delivers high-speed continuous shooting at approx. 10 fps¹ for up to 200 shots in JPEG and 200 shots in 14-bit uncompressed RAW, without any drop in shooting speed. Even moving subjects can be tracked accurately across a wide field of view at this rapid rate, taking advantage of the camera’s stable viewfinder image and a widest-ever diagonal viewing angle² of approx. 30.8°.
¹ Approximate frame rates for a fully-charged EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, using continuous-servo AF, a shutter speed of 1/250 or faster, and with other settings at default values.
² As of January 6, 2016, among D-SLR cameras using an APS-C size image sensor. Based on Nikon research.

3. Unique benefits of compact DX system— added agility in telephoto shooting
Nikon’s DX-format D500 provides an angle of view equivalent to that of a lens with an approx. 1.5× longer focal length¹. This permits telephoto shooting using smaller, lighter lenses with a shorter focal length, while taking advantage of performance that rivals the D5 FX-format flagship model. The camera’s agility is also enhanced by the kit lens, AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR, the world’s lightest² 5× normal zoom lens, which weighs only approx. 1340 g/2 lb 15.3 oz³ when attached to the D500.
¹ 35mm-format equivalent.
² Among 5× normal zoom lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the wide-angle end, compatible with interchangeable-lens digital SLR cameras employing APS-C-format image sensors, available as of July 2, 2015. Based on Nikon research.
³ Including battery, XQD/SD memory card and lens.

4. 4K UHD video, suitable for professional productions
The D500 can record 4K UHD (3840 × 2160)/30p/25p/24p as well as 1080/60p video for up to 29 min. 59 s¹, with simultaneous output via HDMI available. It is also possible to generate 4K UHD time-lapse movies within the camera. In Full HD or HD mode, the D500’s electronic Vibration Reduction function² reduces the effects of camera shake in the horizontal, vertical and rotational directions during hand-held movie recording, while Active D-Lighting preserves details in highlights and shadows to capture footage with natural brightness.
¹ Recorded in separate files. 
² Image area will be slightly smaller in DX-based movie format.

5. New EXPEED 5 image-processing engine achieves sensitivity up to ISO 51200, expandable to Hi 5 (equivalent to ISO 1640000)
The D500’s new EXPEED 5 image-processing engine, as used in the D5, delivers standard ISO sensitivity from 100 to 51200, expandable down to Lo 1 (ISO 50 equivalent) and up to Hi 5 (ISO 1640000 equivalent). It can capture exceptionally high-definition images, while effectively reducing noise even at high ISO settings. The new 180K-pixel RGB sensor (approx. 180,000 pixels) further improves the performance of the camera’s Advanced Scene Recognition System, and its flicker reduction for still images reduces exposure variations even under flickering light sources.

6. Touch-screen, tilting 8-cm/3.2-in. high-resolution monitor ensures more comfortable shooting for professionals and advanced amateurs
The D500’s touch panel monitor enables a variety of functions, including instant switching of images using the frame advance bar and text input — shared with the D5 — and touch AF and touch shutter (in still shooting). The tilting monitor with 3-axis hinge structure supports live views in flexible angles which does not hinder the user, allowing the user to shoot in a comfortable position. Finally, the D500’s large 8-cm/3.2-in. screen with significantly enhanced 2359k-dot resolution enables the user to select and confirm the camera’s focus in amazingly precise detail.

7. SnapBridge connects the D500 to smart devices via Bluetooth Low-Energy 
The D500 is the first Nikon camera to enjoy always-on connectivity with smart devices¹, via short-range communication with Bluetooth Low Energy. Enabling a variety of services, the user can automatically transfer images taken with the D500 to one’s smart device, as well as upload them automatically to NIKON IMAGE SPACE. Photographers can also use their smart device to browse images stored in the camera on-the-go for a quick overview of their creations. SnapBridge automatically embed images with location and date/time information for easy reference, dramatically enhancing the value and convenience of images taken with the D500
¹ Smartphones and tablet computers with iOS or Android™.

8. WT-7/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter (optional) enables high-speed wired/wireless LAN communication
Nikon’s WT-7/A/B/C Wireless Transmitter is aimed at professionals who need to transfer images more quickly than they can with built-in wireless LAN. When attached to the D500, it allows images and movie files to be transferred to computers¹ or FTP server via both wired and wireless LAN. The D500 with WT-7/A/B/C can be used as a wireless LAN access point, permitting easy connections with computers and smart devices. 
¹ Requires Wireless Transmitter Utility (available for download from Nikon website).

For more detailed information visit the D500 microsite.

 

 
 
 

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