Nikon India has unveiled the high-definition D-SLR D810A camera with an array of features built specifically for the astrophotography. The Nikon D810A will be available by late May 2015 in India and the price of this camera will be announced close on the heels of its availability.
The D810A is equipped with the 36.3-megapixel Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor built without an optical low-pass filter. The image sensor has been specially-developed for the art of astrophotography, and is particularly sensitive to emissions of the H-alpha wavelength, allowing astrophotography enthusiasts to shoot stunning images of nebulae and constellations.
This camera comes with EXPEED 4 image-processing engine, which improves noise reduction performance at high sensitivities, as well as upgraded depth and clarity in gradation rendering. Made for capturing the night sky, the ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 200 to 12800 and can be decreased to Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent), or increased up to Hi 2 (ISO 51200 equivalent) to suit a variety of environments. This camera has a unique ability to capture nebulae that emit the H-alpha wavelength in red, which cannot be achieved with ordinary D-SLRs.
With the special long exposure Manual (M*) mode, shutter speed can be set up to 900 seconds, making the D810A a light capturing powerhouse, able to shoot in the darkest of conditions. Be it the Milky Way or a meteor shower, users will find it a breeze to shoot in low-light conditions.
One of the challenges astrophotographers face when they point their cameras to the sky, is the difficulty in observing the live view image which is often too dark, especially when photographing in the wilderness away from light pollution. The D810A offers an intelligent solution to this with the live view preview function which displays a brighter, clearer preview image when the shutter speed is set at 30 seconds or longer, enabling easier focusing and framing adjustment, while minimizing misaligned focus on the desired subject.
The D810A is especially adept at capturing crisp, clear images of the moon’s surface or landscape photos with minimal blur, when using telephoto lenses. An electronic front-curtain shutter can be enabled to reduce internal mechanical vibration, by eliminating the movement of the conventional front curtain of a mechanical shutter.
When using the CH or CL release mode in the D810A, with a shutter speed 4 seconds or longer, the duration of continuous shooting can be extended indefinitely, as long as memory card capacity and battery status permit. Astrophotographers can also capture astronomical phenomena in action with cinematic quality, time-lapse video.
The D810A offers a comprehensive seal against dust and water droplets, with a grip that sits comfortably in the hand for steady shooting. This camera comes with a remote cord for remote shutter release, battery pack for longer battery life, a GPS unit which enables the recording of latitude, longitude, altitude, and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) where photos were taken. The new Picture Control system is also supported by the D810A and users can utilize the free Capture NX-D software application to process and adjust RAW images for full-scale photofinishing.
