Overview

The Nikon D50 is a 6.1 megapixel digital SLR camera, aimed at the entry to midrange level. It is fairly compact and light weight for a dSLR and its impressive battery performance of up to 2000 shots makes it an ideal take anywhere camera. The Nikon D50 comes with a range of preset exposure modes, making it an easy to use camera for the beginning photographer, while its full range of manual settings will appeal to the more advanced photographer, or to those who would like a camera that will support them as they gain more experience. The Nikon D50 is compatible with Nikon AF and Nikon DX lenses, allowing you to choose from a large range of lenses.

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Available Reviews

• Nikon D50 review at PhotographyReview
• Nikon D50 review at CameraHobby
• Nikon D50 review at Nikonians
• Nikon D50 review at Steve's Digicams
• Nikon D50 review at dpreview
• Nikon D50 review at imaging resource
• Nikon D50 review at DCRP
• Nikon D50 review at Photographyblog
• Nikon D50 review at LetsGoDigital
• Nikon D50 review

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Specifications

Resolution: 6.1 megapixels
Exposure Modes: Presets, Programmed Auto [P] with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto [S]; Aperture Priority Auto [A]; Manual [M]
Shutter Speed: 30 to 1/4000 sec., bulb mode
LCD Display: 2 inch TFT
Storage Format: JPEG, RAW
Sensitivity: ISO 200 to 1600
Built in Flash: yes
Storage Media: SD card
Battery: battery pack
Dimensions (H x W x D): 5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0in. / 133 x 102 x 76mm
Weight: 1lbs 3oz / 540g, body only

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Press Release

Nikon(R) (http://www.nikonusa.com) has taken another bold step forward in redefining
the digital SLR landscape today by introducing the highly anticipated D50(TM)
digital SLR camera. The D50 is the smallest, lightest and easiest-to-use
Nikon digital SLR camera to date, and is designed for the broadest range of
consumers including family memory-keepers looking to take advantage of the
image quality, speed and responsiveness Nikon digital SLR’s offer, as well as
photo enthusiasts and amateur photographers who want to capture brilliant
digital pictures with vibrant color and immaculate sharpness. The new
entry-level D50 makes exceptional digital SLR photography a reality for
everyone.

“With the new D50, Nikon intends to bring a fulfilling digital SLR
photography experience to more consumers than ever before and help them
capture their most precious memories with great quality and ease. The D50
inherits the high image quality, responsiveness and speed consumers have come
to expect of Nikon’s digital SLR cameras, while also embodying a simple,
intuitive and compact design, so anyone in the family can use it without
hesitation,” said Steve Heiner, general manager for Digital SLR Camera Systems
at Nikon Inc. “The attractive price for the D50 will expand the market
substantially and ensure many more people can enjoy shooting with a Nikon
digital SLR this year.”

The Ultimate Family Camera
The D50 stands out as ideal for families searching for that perfect camera
to capture timeless memories during important occasions and life events such
as weddings, first homeruns, birthdays, prom night, and golden anniversaries,
among others. The D50 is the perfect combination of intelligent, easy-to-use
features and impeccable image quality, and at an estimated street price of
$899 (for the D50 outfit with the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
lens), it represents an excellent value for its capabilities. The camera’s
seven Digital Vari-Program modes make capturing the moment easier than ever,
and the new “Child” mode, for example, assures that moms and dads don’t have
to be photography experts to capture the most vivid color and contrast when
taking pictures of their children. The D50’s “Child” mode automatically
adjusts several of the camera’s settings, including ISO, shutter speeds, and
white balance, to produce optimized images when taking pictures of children.
The D50 promises to be an ideal tool for parents who refuse to let memories
pass them by.
The D50 also includes a full range of manual controls and custom settings,
so users can grow with the camera, and advanced photo enthusiasts can find
themselves right at home with a D50 in their hands.

Hallmark Nikon Image Quality and Performance
The D50 incorporates several important new Nikon technologies to ensure a
rich, yet simplified experience for consumers. With a new 6.1 effective
megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor and a highly advanced image
processing engine, the D50 produces dazzlingly faithful images capable of
tremendous enlargement, yet manageable in overall file size. Nikon’s new 3D
Color Matrix Metering II ensures accurate exposure control in all types of
lighting situations by automatically comparing input from its frame-wide 420-
pixel metering sensor for each scene to a large onboard database of over
30,000 scenes from actual photography. Professionals and amateurs alike rely
on Nikon’s exclusive light metering technologies that produce ideal exposures
instantly. Newly developed exposure evaluation methods detect highlights and
shadows in the frame, and compensate for them to help prevent inaccurate
exposure. Shutter speed choices in the D50 extend from 30 seconds to an
action-stopping 1/4,000 second. A high-speed flash sync speed up to 1/500
second makes great fill flash photography possible and Nikon’s i-TTL flash
technology makes it automatic.

Simple Sophistication
The next evolution of Nikon’s popular scene-optimized Digital Vari-Program
modes simplifies picture taking, and helps users take incredible pictures with
very little effort. The Digital Vari-Program modes also free up the user to
think about capturing special and fleeting moments instead of getting
overwhelmed with buttons and dials. Selecting one of the seven simple icons
from the handy exposure mode dial optimizes otherwise complex settings and
ISO-equivalent sensitivity to produce consistently remarkable results. The
newly added “Child” mode mentioned earlier makes it easier to take memorable
pictures of the little ones complete with vivid color and contrast that are
ready to print without the fuss of adjustments within the computer.

Instant Gratification
Unlike lesser systems, the Nikon D50 is always ready to shoot when that
special moment or expression presents itself. From the moment the power is
turned on, the D50 is ready to shoot in an imperceptible 0.2 seconds. The
shutter responds almost instantly when a picture is taken, thereby minimizing
’shutter-lag’ and virtually eliminating a common frustration of digital
photography. Continuous shooting at 2.5 pictures per second* (can be
maintained for a burst of up to 137 pictures, making action photography a
reality. Pictures taken are instantly processed and recorded to a compact SD
(Secure Digital) memory card, and a new USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface supports
faster transfer of images when connected to a computer.

Compact, Lightweight and Designed to Go Everywhere
The D50’s compact, lightweight design makes it easy to carry the camera
anywhere there’s a good moment to capture. Its smart design and easily
accessible controls provide handling efficiency and ease of operation, helping
bring the fun back to picture taking. Newly designed plain-language menus are
displayed clearly on the large 2.0-inch LCD screen, and intuitive help menus
are available for on-the-spot reference. A high capacity rechargeable
lithium-ion battery helps extend mobility and convenience by delivering the
power to shoot up to 2,000** images on a single charge.

Interchangeable Lenses: The Nikkor Advantage
One of the unique benefits of shooting with a Nikon digital SLR is the
ability to take advantage of the expansive creative possibilities offered by
interchangeable Nikkor lenses. With the introduction of the D50, Nikon also
introduced two new DX Nikkor lenses that are ideally paired with the D50 to
offer consumers a broad zoom range, while maintaining a lightweight and
ultra-compact size. Designed exclusively for Nikon’s D-series digital SLR
cameras, DX Nikkor lenses are optimized to achieve outstanding center-to-edge-
to-corner image quality, when used with any of Nikon’s digital SLR cameras.
Nikon’s DX Nikkor range now includes six high performance lenses that offer
unmatched wide-angle coverage and versatility:

— New AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
— New AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED
— AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 ED-IF
— AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF
— AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF
— AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

The D50 also offers seamless compatibility with Nikon’s extensive family
of over 50 high-performance AF Nikkor lenses, providing the same superb color
reproduction, razor-sharp image clarity and fast and accurate autofocus
performance relied upon by the countless number of professional photographers
who use Nikon’s pro digital SLR cameras everyday.

Managing and Sharing with Nikon PictureProject(TM) Software

Sharing pictures is fun, and Nikon’s new PictureProject software is
designed to eliminate the complexities typically associated with sharing,
managing and editing pictures on a computer. After conducting exhaustive
worldwide research into consumer habits, expectations and requirements, Nikon
developed its PictureProject software to be a simple, easy-to-use, and
powerful application that addresses most frustrations associated with managing
pictures on a computer. PictureProject boasts powerful features wrapped into
an intuitive interface that navigates quickly and is easy to master. The
software allows users to easily transfer images to PC’s or MAC’s and browse,
organize, and share them. Pictures taken in vertical orientation are
automatically rotated. Controls for retouch tasks including brightness and
red-eye correction, are intuitive and fast. PictureProject’s In Touch(TM)
plug-in allows users to share photos with friends and relatives without
attaching them in an email or uploading them to a website. Instead
Pictureproject in-Touch facilitates a direct transfer of the pictures from the
sender’s computer to a recipient’s computer. PictureProject In-Touch is
included in the newest version 1.5 of PictureProject software and can also be
downloaded free of charge via http://www.nikonnet.com.
With support for JPEG, TIFF and NEF and compressed NEF (RAW) files,
PictureProject also works in close unison with Nikon Capture 4 as the ideal
companion to its powerful feature set. Capture 4 is Nikon’s advanced image
management and editing software designed to offer the most robust and
comprehensive performance with Nikon’s NEF (RAW) files. While PictureProject
is already a dynamic component to Nikon photography, the software also
supports plug-ins, allowing users to add new features, as technology and the
digital camera market evolve.
As part of Nikon’s Total Imaging System, the D50 inherits the advantages
of the various components of this system, including high-quality AF and DX
Nikkor lenses, the SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights, which enable use of Nikon’s
Creative Lighting System, as well as versatile software options, to deliver a
new level of operating ease, expanded creative possibilities, and pure
enjoyment. The Nikon D50 presents the perfect opportunity for anyone to start
enjoying the advantages of Nikon digital SLR photography today.
The Nikon D50 outfit, including the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm
f/3.5-5.6G ED lens, will be available in June for an estimated selling price
of $899.95.
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(source: Nikon)