Since Nikon’s introduction of DSLR video in the D90 last year, many photographers have been eager to see what Nikon unveiled today: the D300s.

It’s Nikon’s first professional D-Movie-equipped DSLR. The rugged new D300s offers 720p HD video, allows for autofocus while recording, and supports an external stereo microphone (built-in microphone included).

Nikon has also refined many of the camera’s still capture capabilities. The key improvements:

• Dual card slots (SD and CF)
• 7 frames-per-second Continuous shooting
• Quiet shutter release mode
• 5-frame bracketing of Active D-Lighting
• Dedicated Live View button

The Nikon D300s is now available for pre-order at Calumet Photo. Place your order now to be one of the first to own this revolutionary advance in the Nikon line.

A second demo station at NHK featured another aspect of their revolutionary technologies: video capture at 10,000 frames per second. The demo video was dramatic, displaying a water balloon in the process of a needle-induced burst. The video was replayed in slow motion, with so much detail that the audience, (us), could see the thin rubber of the balloon peeling back while the ball of water remained intact, hanging in mid-air suspension for a seeming eternity, then denigrating into thousands of droplets scattering to earth.
The camera can record with frame rates of up to 1 million frames per second.

The same company has also developed the worlds first 22.2 multichannel sound system to go along with their ultra high definition technology. Unbelievable. Their “screening room” was set up with three vertical layers of loudspeakers, 9 channels on the top layer, 10 channels in the middle layer, 2 LFE channels, and 3 channels on the bottom layer. Just pray your teenage son or daughter doesn’t come home with one of these babies.

The company sees initial non-mainstream potential in such arenas as medical use, security and monitoring, and I would think defense (I’m sure DoD has their “eye” on this – no pun intended). Offerings also include hard disk recorders, optical transmission systems with DWDM (Dense Wavelength Divison Multiplexing) technology for distribution, a codec system based on MPEG-2 for program distribution using IP networks, and an experimental satellite transmission system using 21 Ghz bandwidth, and format converters to the 2160-scanning line format and HDTV.

Who knows, in another 10 years this might be the de facto in homes across America. Until then, if you’re in Osaka, visit their Ultra High Definition Theater and experience this amazing technology for yourself. (www.nhk.or.jp )

Owners of the RED ONE will be happy to know that RED will allow you to trade in your camera for for a full $17,500 credit towards the EPIC when it ships in 2009, Pricing is said to be about $30,000.

It features a 4.8″ LCD, 8x RED zoom lens, HDMI, HD-SDI, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 connections. The camera is also compatible with many of the RED ONE accesories. You can even control the camera via a WiFi Connection.

Price should be under $3,000 and be available early 2009.

Like many other Panasonic cameras the AG-HMC150 is equiped with a 13x Leica Dicomar zoom lense with optiacal image stabilization.

The camera has 4 quality modes – PH (average 21 Mbps/Max 24 Mbps), HA (approx.17 Mbp), HG (approx. 13 Mbps) and HE (approx. 6 Mbps).

Using a 32GB SD or SDHC card will net you 12 hours of 1440×1080 HD recording in HE mode and three hours of full pixel 1920×1080 video in PH mode, I wonder if the battery will also last 12 hours…

The MSRP is set to $4,500 and will be available this Fall.

The HDVF-EL100 is an 11 inch display and is Sony’s first non-consumer application of an OLED panel. Consumer OLED displays were introduced in January, and continue to generate strong demand.

“High-definition acquisition requires extremely precise focusing, allowing the operator to accurately see contrast and color levels when framing a shot,” said Rob Willox, director of Sony Electronics’ content creation group. “This new viewfinder is a perfect example of our unique ability to leverage the innovation and expertise from one part of our company and apply it in another area to meet customers’ needs.

The display has a resolution of 960 x 540, and it also delivers a wide viewing angle, a wide color gamut and extremely fast response time. Designed for use by professional camera operators, the display features a “stand-back” option allows operators to remain at a distance without losing viewing quality.

The OLED display does not use a backlight like traditional LED displays, creating very deep blacks and a contrast ratio of more then 1,000,000:1.

The new feature is not a firmware upgrade. Customers who purchased a GY-HD200 since February 1, 2008 will be eligible for an upgrade. All other owners will have to stick it out with 720P or buy the new camera.

The product name has been updated to GY-HD200UB and is available immediately, and is $5995 with 16:1 Fujinon lens or the body only for $5695.

The AG-HPX170 is expecting to ship this Fall, and will be covered by a 5 year limited warranty from Panasonic. No word on pricing yet.

Here is the full press release:

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 13, 2008 ) – Panasonic unveiled here at NAB the AG-HPX170, a fully solid-state P2 HD handheld camcorder. A full production quality tool, the solid-state handheld camcorder enables high definition and standard definition recording, the widest zoom lens in its class, and a HD-SDI interface for connection to baseband production and distribution infrastructure, all in a lightweight 4.2-pound body

Fully solid-state, the two-slot HPX170 is a 1080p capable camcorder that offers the compelling advantages of P2 technology including: no moving parts unlike tape, hard disk drive, or disc-based systems; instant random access to recorded HD or SD content; a faster IT compatible file-based workflow; and the ability to operate in harsh environments with resistance to temperature extremes, shock and vibration.

Building on the success of the AG-HVX200, the HPX170 is equipped with new advanced 1/3-inch 16:9 3-CCDs and a high-performance digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing to deliver broadcast-quality, independent frame recordings. The HPX170 offers a 13X Leica Dicomar zoom lens with a 28mm wide-angle setting (the widest in its class) and a cam-driven manual zoom for smooth, easy and precise operation. For added flexibility, the camera provides auto or manual focus and iris.

The multi-format camera records in 20 HD and SD formats; in a variety of 1080i and 720p formats in DVCPRO HD, in 480i in DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO, and in 480i in DV. It’s switchable between 16:9/4:3 aspect ratios. The HPX170 offers a 20-step frame rate selection in 720p mode for variable-speed shooting in the 12fps to 60fps range to acquire fast- or slow-motion in-camera effects. For added creative flexibility, professionals can select from a variety of advanced gamma functions and settings including a CineGammaTM mode.

With its two P2 card slots, users can record up to 64 continuous minutes of the highest quality DVCPRO HD recording using currently available 32GB P2 cards. Record times will double with the release of Panasonic’s 64GB P2 card in the fall. Other user-friendly recording modes include hot swapping for non-stop recording, loop record, pre-record, interval and one-shot recording. A time/date stamp function makes it ideal for use in law enforcement environments.

The HPX170 is equipped with an HD/SD-SDI output standard for live feed productions as well as for editing and monitoring. It also has IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0 interfaces for fast P2 content transfer into NLE systems, and offers a composite output, component output (mini D-terminal) and a time-code setting via IEEE 1394. The camera also features a built-in stereo microphone and two-channel XLR audio input terminals supporting 48V phantom power supply with a selectable mic/line; and manual audio level volume (two-channel). Other convenient operational features include clip preview on the camera’s 3.5? color LCD monitor; instant recording startup, scene files, assignable user buttons, focus assist and a camera remote function.

The AG-HPX170 will be available in fall 2008. It will be covered by Panasonic’s five-year limited P2 HD warranty*.

The FS-5 is designed to be used with many popular HDV and DV cameras. However, it features a 50% weight reduction and a 60% reduction in size compared to the FS-4. It also features a new low-power and fan-less design providing a 3 hour record time, using one removable Li-Ion battery pack.

Other major changes include a newly designed user interface and a 320 x 240 color LCD, but like the previous models you can not play back video.

Focus also replaced the computer firewire port with a USB 2.0 port allowing the use of a network dongle (WiFi or Wired) to allow laptop users to gain access to the device via wireless connection.

The 100GB FS-5 has a MSRP of $2,195 and is expected to ship summer 2008.

If you are at NAB come to Booth SL2605 to see the FS-5 in person.

Toshiba imaging’s IK-HD1 3CCD HDTV Camera is the worlds smallest HD camera head, at only 1.6 inches square and 2.3 ounces. It may be small but it sure packs a punch with it’s native 1920 x 1080 sensor capable of 1080i at 30fps.

The camera features a 1/3″ 3CCD design so were not too sure how well it works in low light, it is targeted for television production so it will most likely be used only in controlled lighting and requires a control box that can be mounted remotely up to 90 feet away to operate.

No word on pricing or availability yet, after NAB we should have more information.