Nikon has announced its D610 FX SLR camera. Widely rumoured to be a solution for the sensor oil spotting problem that occurred with the D600, there are actually only three new features on it. A new shutter mechanism allows for 6fps continuous shooting and a quiet continuous mode at 3fps. It also features an improved white balance system.

The D6100 will be available in late October at a U.S.A. retail price of $1999.99.

Press release

Digital SLR camera D610

Excellent mobility, and an effective pixel count of 24.3-million pixels for superior rendering capability The latest compact, lightweight FX-format model.

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the D610, its latest Nikon FX-format digital SLR camera.

The D610 offers an effective pixel count of 24.3-million pixels, the superior rendering capability of the Nikon FX format, as well as the mobility of high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 6 fps(1). Despite its compact size and light weight, it is capable of the rich expression of tones, broad dynamic range, and low noise characteristics with shooting at high sensitivities expected of an FX-format camera. It also offers the beautiful blur characteristics, and superior image quality and rendering performance that challenges that of top end models like the D4, D800, and D800E. What’s more, its compact and lightweight body is loaded with a number of features that give it excellent basic performance, including an optical viewfinder with frame coverage of approximately 100%, double SD memory card slots, top and rear covers made of magnesium alloy, and a function for recording time-lapse movies. It is also equipped with a new quiet continuous release mode that supports continuous shooting at approximately 3 fps*1.

Its 39-point AF system supports certain acquisition and tracking of the intended subject, and the 9 most frequently used focus points at the center of the frame utilize cross-type sensors for greater accuracy. In addition, autofocusing is possible with lenses that have a combined maximum aperture of f/8 or faster using 7 focus points at the center of the frame (3 vertical and 5 horizontal; center focus point utilizes cross-type sensor), enabling highly precise autofocusing even when a super-telephoto NIKKOR lens is used with a teleconverter.

The D610 is also equipped with a built-in flash that covers the angle of view of a wide-angle 24mm lens and has a guide number of approximately 12/39 (m/ft, ISO 100, 20°C/68°F). The built-in flash is equipped with a commander function that allows it to be used as a master flash able to wirelessly control the optional Speedlights SB-910 and SB-700 as remote units. This capability allows users to easily enjoy creative expression with varied lighting options.

The D610 also offers users powerful support for their photography with excellent system expansion using a variety of accessories, including the Wireless Remote Controllers WR-R10 (transceiver) and WR-T10 (transmitter) for simple and enjoyable remote operation, and the Wireless Mobile Adapter WU-1b, which enables simple sharing of full-size images exhibiting the superior image quality of the D610 with a smart device(2) (all accessories sold separately).

As a compact system that is easy to manage and use, the D610 is a Nikon FX-format model that a broad range of users, not just professional or advanced amateur photographers, will enjoy.

(1)Measured in accordance with CIPA guidelines. (2)Smartphones running Android OS version 2.3.x or 4.x, and tablets running Android OS version 4.x are supported. Apple smart devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) running iOS 6.1 is supported.

D610 Primary Features

Nikon’s exclusive technologies for superior image quality

• An effective pixel count of 24.3-million pixels and an FX-format CMOS sensor for superior image quality over a broad range of standard sensitivities

  The D610 offers an effective pixel count of approximately 24.3-million pixels and is equipped with an FX-format CMOS sensor developed exclusively by Nikon. This sensor enables images exhibiting very little noise and rich expression of tones throughout the entire range of standard sensitivities, from ISO 100 at the low end to ISO 6400 at the high end. In addition, ISO sensitivity can be expanded down to the equivalent of ISO 50 (Lo 1), or up as high as the equivalent of ISO 25600 (Hi 2) to offer the superior image quality expected of an FX-format camera with both still images and movies recorded under a variety of lighting conditions.

• The EXPEED 3 image-processing engine with high-speed processing capabilities

  The D610 is equipped with the same EXPEED 3 high-performance image-processing engine built into high-end D4, D800, and D800E Nikon FX-format cameras. This enables faithful rendering, vivid color reproduction, and a broad dynamic range. It also effectively suppresses noise with advanced noise-reduction processing for images captured at high sensitivities, all while preserving definition and sharpness.

• Auto white balance that achieves natural color reproduction
  Greater optimization of image analysis of the most common scenes enables Auto white balance achieves more natural color reproduction for images captured indoors as well as outdoors in the most common scenes.

• Picture Control for accurate reflection of user intent or creativity Picture Control is Nikon’s exclusive imaging system that allows users to adjust various image characteristics to achieve a desired effect or to match creative intent. Images that match the user’s intent can be captured by selecting an option—Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape—prior to shooting. Specific elements, including Sharpening, Contrast, and Brightness, can also be fine-tuned individually to suit a particular scene or preference. A Picture Control button on the back of the D610 enables direct access to the Picture Control menu.

• NIKKOR lenses that maximize the superior rendering performance of the D610
  The performance of the CMOS sensor built into the D610 is maximized with the use of NIKKOR lenses equipped with Nikon’s advanced optical technologies for clear and sharp reproduction of even the finest details. This year marks the 80th anniversary of NIKKOR lenses for Nikon interchangeable-lens cameras, and total production has reached 80 million. The rich lineup of NIKKOR lenses, from ultra wide-angle to super-telephoto, fisheye, zoom, Micro, and PC-E lenses, makes photography of any type of scene, and for a wide variety of applications, more enjoyable.

High-speed continuous shooting at approximately 6 fps(1) for up to 100 shots(2), and quiet continuous shooting at approximately 3 fps(1)

The dedicated drive mechanism for independent high-speed mirror operation, and the high-speed processing of the EXPEED 3 image-processing engine enable high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 6 fps(1) in both FX and DX formats for up to 100 shots(2). This makes it easy to capture decisive moments with moving subjects, such as an approaching train or a wild bird taking flight. When combined with Dynamic-area AF, which precisely captures moving subjects, users can feel free to leave focusing to the camera so they can concentrate on framing their photos. The D610 also offers a power-up time of just 0.13 s(1) and a release time lag that challenges the approximately 0.042 s(1) of the D4 at approximately 0.052 s(1). Positioning of the shutter-release button on top of the power switch enables smooth operation from turning the camera on to releasing the shutter, and a comfortable grip that also helps to optimize operation enable quick and comfortable shooting for instant response to photo opportunities. The D610 also offers a quiet continuous shutter-release mode (Qc) for quiet, continuous shooting at approximately 3 fps*1.

(1)Measured in accordance with CIPA guidelines.
(2)With shooting of JPEG-format images. Excluding shooting of FX-format images at an image quality setting of JPEG Fine and an image size setting of Large (up to 51 shots possible), or an image quality setting of JPEG Normal and an image size setting of Large (up to 90 shots possible).

Superior basic performance and operation

• AF system with 39 densely packed focus points, 7 of which are f/8 compatible
  The D610 is equipped with an AF system of 39 densely packed focus points. 9 of these at the center of the frame utilize cross-type sensors for more accurate subject acquisition. What’s more, 7 focus points at the center of the frame (3 vertical and 5 horizontal) support a maximum aperture of f/8. This makes autofocusing with lenses that have a combined maximum aperture of f/8 or faster possible. For example, accurate autofocusing is possible when a telephoto lens with a maximum aperture of f/4 is used with a 2x teleconverter for a combined maximum aperture of f/8.

• Scene Recognition System with highly precise and practical auto functions
  Using the highly precise 2,016-pixel RGB sensor, which also functions as the metering sensor, and an effective pixel count of 24.3-million pixels, the Scene Recognition System accurately identifies a number of scene characteristics, including brightness and brightness distribution within the frame, contrast, subject brightness and colors, subject position, the range of the frame taken up by human subjects, and the position of human faces. A variety of data based on these characteristics are then reflected in control of a number of automatic functions so accurate they are regularly used by even professional photographers, including autofocusing, auto exposure, i-TTL balanced fill-flash, auto white balance, and Active D-Lighting.

• An optical viewfinder with approximately 100% frame coverage The D610 maintains the same approximately 100% viewfinder frame coverage as the D4 and D800-series cameras so that the optical viewfinder can be used for precise framing of a wide imaging area. Viewfinder magnification is approximately 0.7x(1), a value that makes viewfinder display, including information displays, easy to see. A glass pentaprism is used. A framing grid convenient for landscapes and architectural photos can also be displayed in the viewfinder (with shooting in FX format).

(1)With 50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1 m-1.

• Double memory card slots for effective use of 2 SD memory cards
  When 2 SD memory cards are inserted, the role played by the card in slot 2 can be selected from “Overflow”, “Backup”, or “RAW Slot 1—JPEG Slot 2” so that with NEF/RAW + JPEG recording, NEF/RAW copies are recorded to the card in slot 1 and JPEG copies are recorded to the card in slot 2. Images can also be copied from one card to another. With movie recording, the slot used to record movies can be specified to ensure that movies are recorded to a card with sufficient space. SD and UHS-I compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards are supported. Eye-Fi cards (available from third-party retailers) are also supported.

• Built-in flash capable of wireless multiple-flash control
  The built-in flash that covers the angle of view of a wide-angle 24mm lens and has a guide number of approximately 12/39 (m/ft, ISO 100, 20°C/68°F) enables simple and beautiful flash photography with natural brightness. It is also equipped with a commander function for controlling multiple flash units with Nikon’s exclusive wireless multiple flash-unit photography system, Advanced Wireless Lighting. The built-in flash can serve as the master flash to control up to two groups of optional Speedlights (remote flash units).

• A compact, lightweight Nikon FX-format camera
  The D610 offers rendering performance and superior basic performance that challenges that of our high-end models. Despite adoption of the Nikon FX format, it is a model that is also portable enough to easily be taken anywhere. In addition to adoption of a magnesium alloy that reduces weight and maintains strength and durability for the top and rear body covers, all joints are effectively sealed for the same superior dust- and water-resistance as the D800 and D800E.

Recording of 1920 x 1080/30p full-HD movies that make a variety of forms of expression possible

By simply pressing the movie-record button just above and to the left of the shutter-release button in movie live view mode, users can enjoy movie recording that makes the most the camera’s approximately 24.3-million effective pixels. In addition, adoption of the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video compression standard ensures that superior picture quality is maintained while data is compressed to allow for recording of a single movie for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds(1).

(1)Maximum length is 20 minutes with some frame size/rate and movie quality settings.

• Multi-area mode Full HD D-movie: Offers two movie formats, FX-based movie format and DX-based movie format, for recording of full-HD 1920 x 1080/30p movies. Users can choose the format that best suits the way in which the final movie will be used. The FX-based movie format makes full use of the large image sensor and offers a shallow depth-of-field with an emphasis on blur characteristics while the DX-based movie format is optimal for recording movies that bring subjects closer.

• Time-lapse photography: This function enables recording of movie files consisting of photos automatically captured at a specified interval over a specified period of time. The still photos are combined and the resulting movie can be played back at a speed of 24-36,000x. This function is optimal for recording of very slow-moving subjects, such as clouds moving across the sky. This allows users to express their own individual intent.

Support for a variety of accessories for complete system expansion

The D610 offers users powerful support for their photography with system expansion that includes support for wireless accessories such as the Wireless Remote Controllers WR-R10/WR-T10 and Wireless Mobile Adapter WU-1b (accessories available separately).