Gear Patrol

Smartphones have made typical point-and-shoots about as useful as Ryan Lochte in a public speaking class. But until our favorite thigh weights gain a thicker skin, there will always be space for tougher rigs designed to take a licking and keep on clicking. Toss one of these rugged cameras into your bag before your next big adventure, and maybe you’ll finally capture some evidence to go along with that hell of a yarn.

Nikon may not do things first, but they sure make great decisions. Need proof? The Coolpix A, Nikon’s new flagship Coolpix, which comes loaded with a DSLR-sized sensor and a 28mm f/2.8 prime.

A good lens will burn your bank account faster than a real housewife after a bottle of chardonnay — but there’s a reason this precious glass costs so much. Dust-free production is an exacting process that requires plenty of human interaction to do right. But don’t just take our word for it. Watch this brief Nikon film created in celebration of the 80th anniversary of NIKKOR lenses that highlights how their tubular bundles of photographic joy are brought into this world, and you’ll see what we mean. And while you’re at it — have the missus watch too before showing her your latest receipts.

The much-anticipated Nikon D600 ($2100) is a new prosumer DSLR that provides a similar, albeit slightly watered-down set of specs compared to the lauded D800 for roughly a grand less, while also undercutting the competition from Canon and Sony. Despite the price differences, the new rig maintains a similar feature set to its bigger brother,…

Make no mistake — the Nikon Coolpix P7700 is a direct shot across the bow of Canon’s Powershot G1 X, packing a similar level of pro features in a compact form. Specifically, the P7700 boasts a large backside-illuminated 1/1.7-inch 12.2MP CMOS sensor capable of shooting up to 8fps, as well as a 7.1x Nikkor glass…

We’ve grown a bit weary of the quest for instant gratification (“can I get a retweet, bro?” comes to mind). But Nikon’s COOLPIX S800c ($350) moves in a positive direction by blending point-and-shoot photography with smartphone connectivity. The included Android 2.3 OS and Wi-Fi allow users to instantly upload shot to social media, use various…

Nikon’s D3200 ($700) is the newest member of the company’s entry-level DSLR lineup. Following in the footsteps of the popular D3100, the shooter boasts a 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor (a 33% step up from its predecessor), an ISO range maximum of 6400 (with the ability to extend to 12800 in boost mode), as well as…

If red, gold and green rings around your lenses don’t get your blood stirring enough, maybe Carl Zeiss will. Officially the widest-angle lens in the much revered, and lusted after, Distagon lens lineup, the Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 15mm F2.8 Super Wide Angle Lens ($2,948) shoots wide enough to capture practically all of Berlin in…

The birth of the DSLR can be traced back to a little camera company called Nikkor, which eventually became Nikon, and its relationship with a small government agency known as NASA. One of Nikon’s first major successes, the 35mm Nikon F, gained popularity in the U.S. with photographers covering the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Soon,…

Now that today’s latest DSLRs are waging a war on two fronts for both still photography and video domination, having a test film made using your gear is a must for any camera company conducting a high profile launch. Earlier we showed you Canon’s Mobius film for the introduction of their new EOS C300 video…

Guess what? Your memory card just got a whole lot smaller thanks to the new Nikon D800 ($2,999). There’s no hiding the fact that the long awaited full-frame FX-format shooter is a direct assault on the Canon 5D Mk II, which has captured the attention (and dollars) of HD-SLR shooters. Built around a Super Bowl…

With smooth bokeh and a versatile zooming range, both Nikon and Canon full-frame shooters (e.g. Nikon D700 and Canon 5D Mk II) have continually relied on their respective 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses. The only problem? Canon’s option lands in around $1,300, while Nikon’s is nearly 2-grand, making the glass alone cost nearly as much as a…

No matter the destination or pursuit, there’s one unpredictable constant that entwines throughout the spirit of adventure — the ever-changing natural elements. Rather than limiting your lifestyle or altering your approach, we’ve compiled this list of 10 critical items that belong in your outdoor gear arsenal. Some you may be familiar with, some you may…

Nikon has brought the macro lens goodness (btw: Nikon calls macro, Micro) for DX-format shooters with the new, portable Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G ($279). For less than $300, this lens is a steal and a must-have for anyone within the Nikon D40 to D7000 range. Delivering high-resolution, contrast-filled photos with gobs of background…

When it comes to great lenses it seems like innovation still happens at a glacial pace. Of course, one could just blame it on an age where new mobile phones are announced every 29 hours, but we digress. Good things come to those who wait and the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S ($220) is certainly just…

When it comes to traveling you may still rely on tried and true packing lists, but it goes without saying that gadgets and tech, have become both welcome and obnoxious additions — so much for packing light. In this Essential Gear feature we bring you our list of travel-tech endorsements, field tested by the GP…

Situated right between the entry-level D3100 and the fantastic D7000, the new Nikon D5100 ($899) packs features from both its brothers making it a worthy alternative to the aging D5000 and still-popular yet dog old D90. At the camera’s core is a 16.2 megapixel CMOS sensor from the D7000 capable of 4fps, ISO100-6400 and 1080p…

File this one under “Unobtainable, Yet Awesome”. Nikon is offering a trio of their incredible f/1.4 (super fast) Nikkor AF-S prime lenses (24mm, 35mm, 85mm) in one limited edition set. Unlike most “special editions” though, Nikon isn’t charging a premium. In fact, the set, a whopping $7,000, is still $1,250 less than purchasing all three…

The all-new Nikon D7000 ($1,499 18-105mm VR lens kit) has landed, muscles fully flexed. A gladiator in the hot mid-range digital SLR battle, the D7000 has the Canon EOS 60D set directly in its viewfinder, undoubtedly pleasing Nikon shooters with delight. A 16.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, new 39-point autofocus system, 100% viewfinder, 1080p 24fps (720p…

Finally, a worthy answer to the Canon G11 and it only took two years. The Nikon Coolpix P7000 ($499) is a Nikon prosumer’s delight. 10.1 megapixel CCD sensor, native ISO 6400 (boostable to 12,800), f/2.8-5.6 7.1x VR zoom lens, 3″ LCD display, optical viewfinder, hot shoe, RAW support, 720p 24fps video mode with VR and…

Nikon has taken the wraps off the Nikon D3100 ($699), introducing a substantial upgrade to the popular entry-level Nikon D3000 DSLR. With category-leading features like a 14.2 CMOS sensor, 3″ LCD display with Live View, 100-3200 ISO (expandable to 12,800), 11-point full-time auto focus, a bevy of case upgrades, and 1080p 24fps HD video with…

It’s no secret we love photography. Drooling over the latest and greatest DSLR, like the Nikon D3S, can be a lot of fun, but all those megapixels won’t do much without a great lens. Sure, zoom lenses are incredibly versatile and take fantastic pictures, but sometimes you need something smaller, sharper, or with a larger…

Prime lenses are a dangeorusly expensive addiction. From the moment you snap one onto your SLR/DSLR, fire off a shot, and revel in the Barry White smooth BOKEH, you’re hooked. As a matter of fact, just leave the ultra-wide zooms at home. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED is Nikon’s fastest, wide-angle, FX compatible…

If you haven’t noticed, the crew here at Gear Patrol loves to take photos. Not too long ago, this GP contributor was the last member of the crew still trying to take photos of the latest gear with his trusty old point-and-shoot (the venerable, yet aged Canon PowerShot SD200). Feeling that it was time to…

Camera buffs can finally lay to rest all the speculation behind one of Nikon’s new flagship DSLRs, the new Nikon D3s. Tonight (Tuesday, Oct 14), Nikon introduced the first DSLR with the ability to capture high definition video (720p) using a full frame sensor. Those of you who are wondering why you can’t just use…

Lately, a lot of our readers have been interested in the gear we use to make Gear Patrol happen. So, we’re making an effort to go anti-Steve Jobs and peel back the curtains back to show you what we use to bring you Gear Patrol’s daily doses of awesome. One of our latest additions is…

Unleash your inner photographer. And cinematographer. Normally, we wouldn’t bring you a post every other Tom, Dick and Harry site or blog have published but there’s no doubt the Nikon D90 warrants your attention. Or at least this editor wants it to. If you haven’t noticed, we (I?) tend to obsess over great images. The…

Oof. Nikon laid down the gauntlet today with the new Nikon D700 Digital SLR. 12.1 megapixels, full frame image sensor, up-to 8 frames per second, 51-point autofocus, auto-cleaning sensor, GPS support, HDMI port, 3 inch super-density LCD display, live-view shooting, 3D color matrix metering, scene recognition system, three-phase active d-lighting, and an ISO setting up-to…

Following the success of the D40, Nikon has further hedged it’s bets on you wanting one of their high-quality yet affordable digital SLR cameras. Enter, the D40x which is exactly like it’s predecessor including noteworthy upgrades that match those of the bigger brother, D80. This includes 2.5″ LCD Viewscreen 10.2 Megapixel Sensor Kit including –…