revjim.net

Nikon is so damn smart, and yet not so smart at the same time.

They've annouced the D2H, a 4.1 megapixel Digital SLR camera. There are two exciting features. First of all, is a Nikon developed JFET Imaging sensor. Secondly, is an optional 802.11b module to allow the camera to instantly upload all images to an FTP server WHILE shooting.

At 4.1 megapixels, this is a great camera for photojournalists, sports photographers, and the like. Unfortunately, if I had to think of a particular group of photographers that would NOT use the 802.11b features, it would be this very group. Since they are usually on the field, on the streets they won't really be able to use such a feature (unless they want to carry a RUNNING laptop in a backpack with them to accept the images. The REAL use for such a feature is in the photography studio. The photographer snaps a shot, and as he lines up for the next, the first one is already on its way to the server/desktop computer. It's almost immediately ready for review on a computer monitor for editing or to use as a guide in order to correct the image for the second shot. However, MANY studio photograpers aren't really interested in frames-per-second… they are interested in megapixels. At 4.1 megapixels, this camera is good enough for a low quality 8×10. 6 megapixels (like the D100) would have been better.

Regardless, the camera is very interesting, and hopefully hints at what will be available to the digital photographer in the future. Imagine all of those "photographers" running around at Amusement Parks trying to get you to buy pictures of yourself. With this technology, and a little programming, minutes after pressing the shutter release, your prints are sitting in a bin waiting for your purchase. And the quality would be much better than we get today.