Today, Nikon is announcing a brand new version of the Nikon D810: it’s being coined as the Nikon D810A and is targeted at Astrophotography. The secret behind the camera is a modification for the infrared cut filter for the hydrogen alpha wavelength–and it really targeted at both pros and hobbyists.
According to the press release:
“The infrared (IR) cut filter has been optimized to allow transmission of the hydrogen alpha spectral line, resulting in four times greater sensitivity of the 656nm wavelength. The resulting images capture the brilliant red hues of diffuse nebulae and constellations in striking detail and fidelity. While not recommended for general photography, the D810A is an excellent option for photographing the universe with either NIKKOR lenses or third-party adaptors for telescopes.”
And while that is quite enough as it is, Nikon is packing in even more features for astrophotography. There is a new long exposure manual mode, has the same ISO sensitivity from 200-12,800, and adds a new visual exposure preview mode. At its heart is still a 36.3 MP CMOS sensor with an electronic first curtain shutter mode to minimize vibrations when shooting subjects like this.
Additionally, Capture NX now has a new Astro Noise Reduction feature.
Pricing will be announced later and availability will be late May 2015. Specs are after the jump.
Nikon D810A
Launch Time and Date | Monday, February 9, 2015 at 11:01 P.M. EST |
Product Name | Nikon D810A |
Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
Lens Mount | Nikon F bayonet mount |
Picture Angle | n/a |
Effective Pixels | 36.3 |
Sensor Size | 35.9mm x 24mm |
Image Sensor Format | FX |
Image Sensor Type | CMOS |
Total Pixels | 37.09 |
Dust-reduction system | Image sensor cleaning Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX-D software required) |
Dust-Off Reference Photo | Yes |
Image Area (pixels) | Image Area (L) FX 7,360 × 4,912 Image Area (M) FX 5,520 × 3,680 Image Area (S) FX 3,680 × 2,456Image Area (L) 1:2 6,144 × 4,080 Image Area (M) 1:2 4,608 × 3,056 Image Area (S) 1:2 3,072 × 2,040Image Area (L) 5:4 6,144 × 4,912 Image Area (M) 5:4 4,608 × 3,680 Image Area (S) 5:4 3,072 × 2,456Image Area (L) DX Format 4,800 × 3,200 Image Area (M) DX Format 3,600 × 2,400 Image Area (S) DX Format 2,400 × 1,600 |
File Format Still Images | NEF (RAW): lossless compressed, compressed or uncompressed 12 or 14 bit; small size available (12bit uncompressed only) TIFF (RGB) JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx 1:4), normal (approx 1:8), or basic (approx 1:16) compression JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality |
Picture Control | Flat Landscape Monochrome Neutral Portrait Standard User-customizable Settings Vivid |
Storage Media | SD SDHC SDXC CompactFlash© (CF) (Type I, compliant with UDMA) |
Card Slot | 1 CompactFlash© (CF) card and 1 Secure Digital (SD) card |
File System | DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0 DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) EXIF 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) PictBridge |
Viewfinder | Eye-level Pentaprism Single-Lens Reflex viewfinder |
Viewfinder Frame Coverage | Viewfinder Frame Coverage FX (36×24): Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical Viewfinder Frame Coverage 1.2× (30×20): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical Viewfinder Frame Coverage DX (24×16): Approx. 97% horizontal and 97% vertical Viewfinder Frame Coverage 5:4 (30×24): Approx. 97% horizontal and 100% vertical |
Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x |
Viewfinder Eyepoint | 17 mm (-1.0 m¯¹) |
Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment | -3 to +1 m¯¹ |
Focusing Screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII with AF area brackets (grid lines can be displayed) |
Reflex Mirror | Quick-return type |
Lens Aperture | Instant-return type |
Depth-of-field Control | Yes |
Lens Compatibility at a Glance*** | AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible Metering with AI lenses |
Compatible Lenses | AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G, E, and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC lenses) and DX lenses (using DX 24 x 16 1.5x image area), AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (exposure modes G and H only).IX NIKKOR lenses, lenses for the F3AF, and non-AI lenses cannot be used.The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster (the electronic rangefinder supports the 11 focus points with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/8 or faster). |
Shutter Type | Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane |
Shutter Speed | 1/8000 to 30 sec. Long exposure M* mode: 4,5,8,10,15,20,30,60,120,180, 240, 300, 600, 900 seconds, bulb, time |
Fastest Shutter Speed | 1/8000 sec |
Slowest Shutter Speed | 900 seconds (15min) (Long exposure M* mode) |
Flash Sync Speed | 1/250 sec. Synchronizes with shutter at 1/320s or slower (flash range drops at speeds between 1/250 and 1/320s) |
Bulb Shutter Setting | Yes |
Shutter Release Modes | Continuous low-speed [CL] mode Continuous high-speed [CH] mode Mirror-up [Mup] mode Quiet Shutter Release Quiet Continuous Release Self-timer Mode Single-frame [S] mode |
Frame Advance Rate | n/a |
Continuous Shooting Options | Image area: FX/5 : 4 CL:1–5fps – CH:5fps – QC:3 fps Image area: DX/1.2× – CL:1–6fps – CH:6fps – QC:3 fps |
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution | 5 fps FX format |
Self-timer | 2, 5, 10, 20 sec.; 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 sec. |
Exposure Metering System | TTL exposure metering using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor |
Metering Method | Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8 mm circle in center of frameMatrix: 3D color matrix metering III (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering III (other CPU lenses)Spot: Meters 4 mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus pointHighlight-weighted: Available with type G, E, and D lenses; equivalent to center-weighted when non-CPU lens is used |
Metering Range | 0 to 20 EV (3D Color Matrix, center-weighted metering or highlight weighted metering) 0 to 20 EV (spot metering) |
Exposure Meter Coupling | CPU AI |
Exposure Modes | Aperture-Priority (A) Long exposure M* mode Manual (M) Programmed auto with flexible program (P) Shutter-Priority Auto (S) |
Digital Vari-Program Modes | n/a |
Shooting Modes | n/a |
Advanced Scene Modes | n/a |
Automatic Exposure Scene Modes | n/a |
Exposure Compensation | ±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV |
Exposure Bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV |
Exposure Lock | Yes |
Mirror Lock Up | Yes |
ISO Sensitivity | ISO 200 -12,800 Lo-1 (ISO 100) Hi-1 (ISO 25,600) Hi-2 (ISO 51,200) |
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity | 200 |
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity | 12,800 |
Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity | Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent) |
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitivity | Hi-2 (ISO 51,200 equivalent) |
Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options | Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent) Hi-1 (ISO 25,600 equivalent) Hi-2 (ISO 51,200 equivalent) |
Long Exposure Noise Reduction | Yes |
High ISO Noise Reduction | Low Normal High Off |
Active D-Lighting | Auto Extra High High Normal Low Off |
D-Lighting Bracketing | 2 frames using selected value for one frame 3-5 frames using preset values for all frames |
Single-point AF Mode | Yes |
Dynamic AF Mode | Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking) |
Auto-area AF Mode | Yes |
Autofocus System | Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection |
Detection Range | -1 to 19 EV (ISO 100, 68°F/20°C) |
Lens Servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used |
AF-area mode | 9, 21 or 51 point Dynamic-area AF Auto-area AF Single-point AF 3D-tracking (51 points) Group-area AF |
Focus Lock | Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) |
Focus Modes | Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A) Continuous-servo (AF-C) Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only Full-time Servo (AF-A) available in Live View only and D-Movie only Manual focus (M) with electronic rangefinder Normal area AF Single-servo AF (AF-S) Wide area AF |
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points | 51 |
Autofocus Sensitivity | -2 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F) |
Autofocus Fine Tune | Yes |
Built-in Flash | Yes |
Flash Bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV |
Built-in Flash Distance | 39 ft. (ISO 100) |
X-Sync Speed | 1/250 sec |
Top FP High Speed Sync | Up to 1/8000 |
Flash Control | TTL: i-TTL flash control using 91,000-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, or SB-300; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighting metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering |
Flash Sync Modes | Front-curtain sync (normal) Rear-curtain sync Red-eye reduction Red-eye reduction with slow sync Slow sync |
Flash Compensation | -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV |
Flash-ready indicator | Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output |
Accessory Shoe | Yes |
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) | CLS Supported |
Flash Sync Terminal | Yes |
White Balance | Auto (2 types) Choose color temperature (2,500K–10,000K) Cloudy Direct Sunlight Flash Fluorescent (7 types) Incandescent Preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored) Shade |
White Balance Bracketing | 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3 EV |
Live View Shooting Photographjy Mode (Still Images) Movie Mode (Video) |
Photography Live View Mode Movie Live View Mode Virtual Exposure preview in Bulb/Time setting |
Live View Shooting (Handheld mode tripod mode) |
n/a |
Live View Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (MF) |
Live View AF-area mode | Face-priority AF Wide-area AF Normal-area AF Subject-tracking AF |
Live View Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected) |
Live View Scene Auto Selector | n/a |
Movie Metering | TTL exposure metering using main image sensor |
Movie Maximum recording time | 20 minutes |
Movie File Format | MOV |
Movie Video Compression | H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding |
Movie Audio recording format | Linear PCM |
Movie | Full HD 1,920×1,080 / 60 fps Full HD 1,920×1,080 / 50 fps Full HD 1,920×1,080 / 30 fps Full HD 1,920×1,080 / 25 fps Full HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps HD 1,280×720 / 60 fps HD 1,280×720 / 50 fps |
Movie Audio | Built-in microphone, stereo External stereo microphone (optional) |
Monitor Size | 3.2 inch |
Monitor Resolution | 1,229,000 |
Monitor Type | Wide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD RGBW |
Monitor Angle of View | 170 degrees |
Monitor Adjustments | Monitor Adjustments Automatic Brightness control using ambient brightness sensor Monitor Adjustments Manual 5 level |
Virtual Horizon Camera Indicator | Yes Also visible in LiveView Modes Also visible in Viewfinder (Illuminated in Red) |
Playback Functions | Auto Image Rotation Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images) Highlights Histogram Display Image Comment Movie Playback Movie Slideshow Playback with Zoom Slideshow |
In-Camera Image Editing | Color balance Color outline Color sketch Distortion control D-Lighting Edit movie Filter effects Fisheye Image overlay Miniature effect Monochrome NEF (RAW) processing Perspective control Quick retouch Red-eye correction Resize Selective Color Side-by-side comparison Straighten Trim |
Image Comment | Yes |
Voice Memo Function | n/a |
Interface | Audio input: Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter; plug-in power supported) HDMI Output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector Headphone Connector NTSC Super Speed USB 3.0 |
Wi-Fi Functionality | Eye-Fi Compatible WT-4A UT-1 Communication Unit + WT-5A Wireless Transmitter |
GPS | GP-1, GP-1A GPS unit |
Save/Load Camera settings | Yes |
Total Custom Settings | 54 |
My Menu | Yes with customization |
Recent Settings | Yes |
Supported Languages | Arabic Bengali Bulgarian Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) Czech Danish Dutch English Finnish French German Greek Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Marathi Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil) Romanian Russian Serbian Spanish Swedish Tamil Telugu Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese |
Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time Settings | Yes |
World Time Setting | Yes |
Battery / Batteries | EN-EL15 Lithium-ion Battery |
Battery Life (shots per charge) | 1200 shots per charge |
AC Adapter | EH-5b AC Adapter; requires EP-5B Power Connector (available separately) |
Battery Charger | MH-25a Quick Charger |
Tripod Socket | 1/4 in. |
Approx. Dimensions (W × H × D) |
Approx. 5.8 × 4.9 × 3.3 in. (146 × 123 × 81.5 mm) |
Approx. Weight (include footnote) |
approx. 1 lb 15.1 oz / 880 g (camera body only) |
Operating Environment | 0–40 °C (+32–104 °F) |