New 10.2 DSLR from Nikon
Apparently, Nikon will be launching a new 10.2 DSLR in about 9 days' time! Probably will be called the D80. http://nikonimaging.com/global/

Some leaked info...
FORECAST The Nikon D80 will be announced on August 9th, 2006. It's an amalgamation of the D200's 10 MP sensor and a few other parts grafted into a D70 body. SPECIFICATIONS It's almost identical to the D70s in most regards, except: 10 Megapixels, up from 6. Works fine with old manual focus AI and AI-s lenses. 2.5" LCD, up from 2.0" 4.5 FPS, up from 3. 1/250 sync speed, down from 1/500. Top panel illumination now switched on by twisting the power button, just like D200, D2X, etc. The D70 had a separate button. The D80 is an improvement. Takes SD cards, not CF. Rotary, not slider, viewfinder diopter control. Slight rearrangement of buttons on rear. Dedicated AF selection button on top of camera, a big improvement from D70 which required a menu to select between AF-S or AF-C. Price: $899. Availability: Like most new Nikons, it won't be on shelves and in stock for months. Get yourself on a waiting list and be patient. The D200 and 18-200 VR aren't readily available, and they were announced nine months ago. If you need a camera today just buy a D70s or D200 and don't worry. You'll make thousands of great photos every month with a camera you own and no photos with one for which you're still waiting. I have a whole page about managing obsolescence here. The D80 will be announced via press release, so just look here (international) and here for Nikon USA each day. This is where all the magazines and other sites read the data, so you may as well get it from the source the day it hits. PERFORMANCE Most likely the same image quality or slightly better than the D200. Identical materials and robustness to the D70.

There is now a detailed preview of the D80 on the Digital Photography Review website: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/nikond80/ Unfortunately as yet it doesn't include the comparative photographic tests which DP Review does so well. Along with the camera Nikon is releasing two new lenses: an 18-135mm ED, which will offered as the D80 kit lens, and a 70-300mm VR. Both will have a silent wave motor which I suppose is the equivalent of Canon's USM.

I want one

Wow -throws my pentax istD in the rubbish can- Urmmm around 895 dollars to go :I I'll try and find one from ebay... My dad and I are bumming to buy a Nikon or a Sigma lens... My Vivitar series 1 is not up to those standards.

Jien nixtieq nixtri in-Nikon D80 imma qed thajjarni il-canon minhabba l-auto cleaning system. Tan-nikon diga ghandi l-lentijiet raguni ohra ghalfejn nixtieq nixtri D80. Hawn xi hadd jista jghidli liema l-ahjar bejniethom? Thanks

fuq il-jetphotos kien hemm min gerger li is-sistema tat-tindif tal-canon fil-fatt mhix effettiva hafna! jien bid-d70 l-ahjar li sibt li nzomm lenti wahda 18-200mm u ma naqlaghha qatt...

I finally plucked up courage to clean the sensor of my 350D just before the airshow - 9 months after getting the camera. What got me to finally do it was trying a minimum aperture shot of blue sky (which really makes the dust spots stand out) and realising just how dirty my sensor was. I used a blower (with brush attachment removed), without touching the sensor at all, and it was enough to get rid of most of the dust spots. It's quite easy really, and knowing this I will be a bit less reluctant to change lenses in future. How do you guys actually go about changing lenses in the field? I've developed a "quick change" system - press lens detach button, turn lens but keep it in place with right hand (with camera's weight on neck strap), pick up new lens with left and align it ready to slot into place, then carry out changeover. This way I keep my sensor exposed for no more than a second or so. I still get dust though. Charles

Charles what you did (blowing dust off the sensor) is not a very good idea, because you risk blowing dust particles from the sensor, that can go behind the sensor, onto the view finder screen, and apart from this being an annoyance (as you will see them when looking through viewfinder even though you know they don't show on recorded image) there is the risk that they may fall on one of the focusing points, and that may interfere with the focusing. Best thing is the cleaning swabs. I take mine regularly at the tech for him to do this process which is quite safe as long as you know exactly what you're doing, and you're gentle. Now I want to buy (order) from these swabs and start doing it myself, as even after a week after cleaning, and without changing lense, you still get the damned dust ! The only thing that I need to check before, is that, I know there are various brands, but there is one that according to the vast majority of a.net people on the forum, there is one that is supposed to be the best (although they admit, not exactly cheap). Charles please can you go on the a.net forum, and make a search for sensor cleaning / dust spots threads and remind me of this supposedly best brand. If you or others happen to take an interest in this, we may make one order ! Alan

I just take my D70 to Coppini and they clean it - free of charge! I got them to fit the lens on when it was brand new, and never removed it since. Hence, six months on, practically no dust spots!

Mark, point at a clear sky, and take a photo on f22 or 32 and you will have a heart attack !! Charles please get that best brand name for cleaning swabs from a.net forum, thanks, Alan

Changing lens
Once I heard a technician saying that a lens must be changed in plastic bag when you're outside and still placing the camera face down.

There's a kind of dust that self generates by itself even if you never change lenses ! I say again, shoot a clear sky on f22 or smaller, and you will have a heart attack when you download, whatever the make of the camera.

Hi Alan Thanks for the advice. Been a while since I last looked at the forum - was travelling ... Just zooming in and out, especially with a big lens like the 100-400, can stir things up. You can feel the air leaking out of the camera when you zoom back. Will have a look through a.net forums when I can. Charles

ok, apparently the operation is quite simple, and safe , as long as you know exactly what you're doing and how. There is a brand about which there is a general consensus that its the best, although not exactly cheap. But I forgot the name. Alan