In the course of many decades of professional camera development, Nikon has amassed a vast wealth of technology, and has now integrated this knowhow into our two current flagship digital SLR models, the D3 and the D300.
One example of this is the approximately 100% viewfinder coverage. The viewfinder is critically important in the sense that it delivers everything in the frame to the photographer’s eye. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that it’s the starting point of the SLR camera. The D3 takes advantage of the Nikon FX format’s large image area, and provides an incomparably bright, clear viewfinder image. Even with its small body size, the Nikon DX-format D300 provides 100% coverage, a must for professional photographers. One hundred percent coverage becomes possible only when the positions of the image sensor and all of the elements of the viewfinder optical system correspond with exacting integrated precision. With each individual camera, Nikon physically confirms and adjusts the position accuracy to achieve total frame coverage.
Furthermore, the eyepiece lens performance has also been improved, so that a photographer can visually verify approximately 100% of the viewfinder image at high resolution.
Another example of accumulated knowhow is viewfinder magnification. Just because a viewfinder has high magnification doesn’t mean the viewfinder image will necessarily be easy to see. When it comes to actually shooting, being able to confirm the camera setting information at a wide viewfinder’s edges without superfluous eye movement is a vital factor. In order to provide such an overall sharp and clear viewfinder image, the D3 has a viewfinder magnification of 0.7x. Furthermore, the LCD monitor is indented, rather than flush with the viewfinder eyepiece, so that when viewing through the viewfinder there is sufficient room to avoid touching the LCD monitor with your nose. With an 18mm eyepoint from the protective glass placed over the eyepiece lens, even when wearing glasses and shooting with your eye near the viewfinder, it’s easy to verify the viewfinder image from edge to edge. And by providing the eyepiece with a round, thin design, we’ve ensured that it is now easier to see through.
Yet another example of accumulated knowledge is the newly developed Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI Focusing Screen, which makes it easier to visually verify and focus through the viewfinder. The subject appears sharply and the targeted point of focus can be verified directly with the eye, so that even when shooting with autofocus, a photographer can make visual confirmation and be confident of what he or she is shooting. In manual focus, the ability to visually confirm focus and bokeh ensures smoother shooting. These basic performances for professional SLR cameras are backed by Nikon’s comprehensive high-precision processing technology.
[ Viewfinder screen ]
To the photographer, an easy-to-use viewfinder is much more than just a bright viewfinder. If a plain, transparent glass screen could do the job, things would be simpler, but focus verification wouldn’t be possible. A viewfinder that shows an image as in-focus when it actually isn’t is a major problem. Whether shooting in autofocus or manual, basic performance, such as being able to clearly see the optimum focus and bokeh, is absolutely essential.
On the other hand, operating the Scene Recognition System with high precision demands that the light-receiving 1,005-segment RGB sensor receives the light at its optimum brightness. In order to make viewfinder brightness for the D3 consistent with focus confirmation visibility with the eye — a difficult task to achieve — Nikon developed the BriteView Clear Matte VI focusing screen. By raising the screen's diffusion characteristics, the transmission rate of light isn’t sacrificed and it’s possible for the 1,005-segment RGB sensor used by the Scene Recognition System to read a larger area of the Nikon FX format. In order to focus accurately on the surface of the 1,005-segment RGB sensor, the focus metering lens of each D3 and D300 camera is individually adjusted.
[ 51-point autofocus display ]
The viewfinder ease of use and optimum brightness that operates the high-precision scene recognition are applied with impressive consistency in the 51-point focus point display method. The camera must constantly indicate to the photographer which of the 51 focus points is used, how the camera is responding, and how the camera controls the focus points — without sacrificing brightness. To achieve this, Nikon developed a new superimposed display for the D3’s 51-point autofocus. The D3 has newly adopted a dichroic prism that indicates the superimposed LED display by changing the light transmission rate depending on the wavelength and angle of incidence. The viewfinder image doesn’t darken, as it does with the conventional method of display through a half-mirror. Instead, only the LED light is efficiently displayed. With the display of 51 focus points on its multi-display LCD monitor, the D300 not only provides enhanced visibility and ease of use, but achieves low power consumption as well.
