New Upgrades Enhance Nikon Digital SLR Camera System

October 7, 2002 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today announced an impending new version of Capture photo editing software - Capture 3.5, in addition to upgrading firmware on its D1X, D1H and D100 digital SLR cameras. Nikon will also be offering buffer memory size enhancement service for its D1X camera. The upgrades allow owners of these models to enjoy enhanced performance and improved features, along with expanded software capabilities.

"The software, firmware and buffer size upgrades reinforce Nikon's continued commitment to provide our customers with improved functionality and support for developing technologies," said Richard LoPinto, Vice President, SLR Camera Systems, at Nikon Inc. "By incorporating a flexible design in our products, Nikon is able to offer such upgrades, providing added value to Nikon digital SLR camera owners, as well as enabling them to adapt their equipment to the constantly changing technological landscape" he added.

Capture 3.5 Ugrader: New Features Let You Do More with NEF files
Capture 3.5 adds new features to the impressive performance of Capture 3 - an image editing software that extends the capabilities of the camera and offers extensive control of images shot in Nikon Electronic Format (NEF). NEF is a highlight of Nikon's digital SLR photography system, providing archival characteristics and extensive non-destructive editing tools, while preserving the integrity of the original raw image data. Using a combination of Capture 3.5 software and NEF files, photographers have an unmatched degree of creative and technical editing control over their images, without ever disturbing the original file data.

With Capture 3.5, photographers can now control and correct vignetting - a darkening of the edges and corners of an image. With Nikkor optics vignetting is minimized, but to some extent will always appear. Using advanced algorithm design, Capture 3.5's Vignette Control Tool can help further minimize or, in some conditions, visually eliminate the appearance of vignetting. Additionally, Capture 3.5 can now process NEF files produced by the Nikon D1X to 10MB in size, resulting in better potential for making large size prints directly from NEF files.

New Firmware Upgrades Means Enhanced Camera Performance
Over the past year, Nikon's D100, D1X and D1H digital SLR cameras have become the camera of choice for thousands of photographers who rely on the features, image quality, durability and ergonomic handling of these cameras to create beautiful pictures. With new upgrades in firmware, the capabilities of these cameras extend to meet newly developed technologies and offer enhanced features, such as compatibility with the newest Lexar CompactFlash cards with Write Acceleration Technology for faster write speeds, improved compatibility of Color Mode II with Adobe Photoshop 7T and remote control operation of the D100 with Mac computers.

Enhanced Buffer Size Extends D1X Capabilities
Buffer size plays an important role in virtually all types of photography, as it directly affects how many pictures can be taken in one continuous sequence before the camera pauses to write images to the memory card. Currently the D1X digital SLR is capable of taking pictures at approximately three frames per second, up to nine frames in JPEG or TIFF mode, and six in NEF raw mode. Effective November 1st, Nikon will be able to offer buffer enhancement service for the D1X. This will effectively increase the buffer size of the camera, enabling it to capture 21 JPEG or TIFF files or 14 NEF raw files in continuous mode. Buffer enhancement service is available for a list price of $234, excluding local taxes and a $12.50 shipping and handling fee.

For upgrade content information, service location and other details, please refer to a comprehensive listing at www.nikonusa.com/dslrupgrade

For product information, contact Nikon at (800) NIKON-UX or visit www.nikonusa.com