But perhaps the most major new feature you’re getting… is the ability to take HD movies with the camera. Interested yet?

Because of the way an SLR works, which it’s mirror assembly and shutter mechanism, typically your recording surface (in the digital era, that’s the sensor) is hidden from view until you press the shutter release button, causing all that stuff to flip up and out of the way. This has been a bit of a technical barrier for doing something like Live View or movies.

In the last year or so, however, companies like Nikon have discovered ways around that hurdle. Modern Digital SLR’s are able to preview using the LCD screen and, with the Nikon D90 release… they can now take movies. This is a feature that many photographers, pro and amateur alike, may not immediately find appealing… but it’s huge. You see, not only does the D90 shoot video, but it shoots HD video (720p) and because it can use all the Nikon lenses, your D-Movie video can look better than most expensive camcorders.

Visit the Nikon D-Movie page and watch some of their sample video.

The first is the AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED – a macro lens that’s been around for a while, but updated with an AF-S motor like it’s big brother, the 105mm AF-S lens.

The second is a PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED – a perspective control lens, which comes in the D variety – so will remain backwards  compatible with film cameras that require the aperture dial.

The final lens is a general purpose AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR – a sort of replacement for the 18-70mm DX lens which offers a slightly wider and slightly longer zoom.

The D60 will contain a 10.2 megapixel DX format sensor, with a 3fps framerate, a 2.5″ LCD screen, and in-camera editing. The only major difference is, apparently, the addition of a self-cleaning sensor with something called “airflow” to help reduce dust. We’re not yet sure exactly what this is, and whether the self-cleaning sensor differs from the D300 because of it, but we’ll let you know.

This means that in the last two months, the D300, D3 and D60 have revamped almost the entire lineup of Nikon DSLR’s. The only one left now is the D80 – so my guess is that we should expect to see an update to that camera before the fall.

Nikon calls their SLR stabilization VR (Vibration Reduction) and Canon calls it IS (Image Stabilization). It usually appears in longer lenses (those that have a focal length longer than 100mm or can zoom out past that length), but the two systems work similarly. VR/IS is a mechanism that is built into the lens, which detect angular velocity and compensate for it by moving around the lens elements. This is explained in greater detail at Nikon’s website, but the basic idea is that it all happens in-lens with sensors and control mechanisms.

This is optical stabilization. It’s happening within the optics of the lens.

The other kind is often called mechanical or digital stabilization, and that happens in the camera body itself (no matter what lens you have) by moving the sensor around. Sony calls it Shake Reduction (SR). Though the results are the same, the disadvantage is that in an SLR you’re viewing the image through-the-lens (TTL) and since the lens isn’t the stabilizer, the image won’t appear stabilized to your eye.

The other question that is asked often is whether or not to use stabilization when attached to a tripod, as some manufacturers recommend against it. With almost all these camera stabilization systems, when you lock down the camera, the stabilizer could be causing more motion then it’s reducing – since there should be very little motion on a mounted camera body anyhow. VR, IS, SR, or whatever you use – is best reserved for handheld shots where there is more motion introduced to the gear.

Despite what camera company you are loyal to, you have to give it up for Nikon and their online presence. Nikon has a number of great online sites which feature everything from galleries to hardware and software tutorials to educational resources.

Nikon Small World is a really cool website that features photographs of things that are very, very tiny. These are pictures that are achieved through a process called photomicrography – a very specific niche of microphotography involving microscopes.

The results are often times stunning, as we peer into the realm of the extremely small, and the best of these images are featured at http://www.nikonsmallworld.com.

This past week, I got a hands on demo of the Nikon D300 and Nikon D3 cameras, two of the most anticipated digital SLR bodies from the company for some time. The company had been tight lipped about the new products, and coming straight off the previous days Canon announcement of their new EOS 1Ds Mark III and 40D – you knew that Nikon had some pressure on them to deliver.

Deliver they did. Nobody really knew what to expect from Nikon this time around, and rumors were everywhere, but the D3 and the D300 took an unusual turn (albeit a smart one) in a new and clever direction.

First off, Nikon has seemingly redefined their objectives with the two cameras. The D3 is obviously a chance for the company to get back into the sports shooting market, which is a hotly contested arena. Add to that the three new telephoto prime lenses (400mm f/2.8 VR, 500mm f/4 VR, and a 600mm f/4 VR) and their intentions become clear.

The D300 on the other hand is an attempt to compete at the mid-range level. It’s a reboot of the D200 line, and takes the best of the D200 design and mixes it up with features found on the D2Xs and the D3. One feature is does have that no other Nikon does is the “shakey” self-cleaning sensor. Two more lenses were announced as well… a 14-24mm f2.8 and a 24-70mm f2.8. These two lenses, together with a 70-200mm f2.8 – would round out the kit for most (if not all) pro or avid amateur shooters.

What made this product announcement interesting was that Nikon did not oppose the megapixel superiority of Canon. Nikon has now made it clear that they are not battling (at least not currently) on the megapixel front. This is an extraordinary step, since most serious shooters recognize there is very little need for anything beyond 10 or 12 megapixels, but assume they’ll see it from the big camera manufacturers marketing teams when new products are announced.

Instead, Nikon has gone for better noise handling at high ISO’s. After shooting with the D3 at 3200 and 6400 ISO, I can tell you that it generates very little noise. Maxed out at 25,600 – there is obviously quite a bit, but nothing that a decent noise-reduction post-processing application couldn’t handle. This is due to a larger FX (full frame factor) sensor, and improved noise processing algorithms.

Also improved is the A/D conversion on the image processor, which now runs as 14-bit on both new cameras instead of the typical 12. These two bits may not sound like much – but incease the tonal range of the camera immensely – and the results are stunning. Smooth transitions and gradations.

Though the D300 isn’t quite that good (it’s still using a DX sized sensor) it’s a much improved leap over the previous camera, and still competes strongly in regards to noise.

Both cameras also sport the new “Live Preview” feature that will let you compose and focus the camera via the LCD screen, an HDMI port for outputting at up to 1080i, and an active D-Lighting option for controlling underexposed portions of an image. See the Nikon website for more information on all these cameras and lenses. [link]

Want to take better pictures? Nikon School presents the Nikon Digital Learning Center, a great Flickr group that delivers loads of interesting and helpful tips and tricks to turn you into a better photographer. Experts and avid amateurs alike opine about portrait, action, travel, and close-up photography, with a bit of a bent towards Nikon technology.

I’ve only been on the group for a day now, but I’ve already learned some stuff about night shooting and heard some interesting views on how shooting RAW may affect battery life.

Visit the Flickr group today – and if you don’t have a Flickr account yet, you can join up.