Nikon's D5 Records 4K Video, Shoots at Incredibly High ISOs

January 5, 2016

By Laura Brauer

Photographers have been waiting for (and reading Internet rumors about) the Nikon D5 for a while. Well, the wait is over and we now know what Nikon plans to pack into this beast.

And a beast it is.

The Nikon D5 sports a new 20-megapixel CMOS sensor with an incredible ISO range of 100-102,500 (matching the capabilities of Sony’s a7S II) plus 4K video recording and a blazing burst mode of 12 fps with AF-engaged.
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Check out the full stats:

  • The camera features a newly developed 20-megapixel CMOS sensor with a native ISO range of 100-102,400 with extended settings for ISO 50-3,280,000 (not a typo!).
  • EXPEED 5 Image processor
  • 4K videos recording (3840x2160p30) with clean HDMI out
  • 153 AF points, including 99-point cross sensor and 15 points functional at f/8 plus a new AF processor
  • Continuous shooting at 12 fps with AF tracking up to 200 frames when shooting 15-bit lossless RAW
  • focusing down to -4 EV illumination
  • a 3.2-inch, 2.36 million dot touchscreen display
  • dual memory card slots
  • 100 field of view through the viewfinder with a magnification of .72 times
  • USB 3.0 connection
  • Battery EN-EL18a

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The D5 will be sold in a body with two XQD card slots or a model with two CF card slots. Both models are due in March for a body-only price of $6,500. Nikon says the XQD cards will deliver image transfer speeds 35 percent faster than CF cards. (More images of the D5 are below.)
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Nikon also debuted a new flagship DX (crop sensor) camera in the D500. The highlights:

  • a 20.9-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor with a native ISO range of 100-51,200, expandable to 50-1,640,000
  • 10 fps burst shooting (up to 79 shots in 14-bit uncompressed RAW) with AF and AE engaged
  • Same AF system as the D5 with a 153-point AF array that fills the frame from side to side
  • A 3.2-inch touch screen display
  • A dual memory card slot for SD cards and XQD cards
  • Updated SnapBridge technology for easier wirelessly photo transfers via Bluetooth.
  • 4K recording at 3840x2160p30

It will ship in March with a body-only price of $2,000.

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Then there’s the surprise, pictured above. That’s Nikon’s entry into the action camera and 360-degree camera all wrapped into one interestingly-shaped device.

Details are sparse, but  company plans to call the lineup KeyMission with the first camera the KeyMission 360. It will offer a pair of image sensors/lenses on either side of the device to capture and stitch a single 360-degree still or 4K video. It will be waterproof to a depth of 100 feet and shock resistant. Electronic VR will keep things steady.

Nikon will have more details closer to the spring, when the camera is set to launch.

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Nikon also added a pair of DX format 3.1x zoom lenses, the AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G.

According to Nikon, these are the first “AF-P” lenses for Nikon digital SLR cameras, which incorporate stepping motors to drive autofocusing. They offer retractable lens barrels and two aspherical lens elements. The AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR also features vibration reduction good for a CIPA-rated 4 stops of compensation.

The lenses accept 55m filters. Prices weren’t announced.

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Finally, Nikon released a new speedlight, the SB-5,000. It’s the first Nikon model that operates via radio frequency without requiring a direct line-of-sight. It will have a range of 98 feet.  When paired with the WR-R10 and the D5 or the D500, this speedlight can control up to six groups / 18 speedlights. The flash will offer a programmable “i” button for access to frequently used settings.

It will ship in March for $600.

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