Nikon E3
Encyclopedia
The Nikon E3 and Nikon E3s, co-developed with Fujifilm
and marketed also as the Fujix DS-565, are autofocus
1.3 megapixel professional grade quasi-full frame
(35mm
) digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR) announced by the Nikon Corporation on 15 June 1998 and released in December 1999. The E3S is identical to the E3 except triple frame rate and larger buffer. They are followers of the Nikon E2N/E2Ns.
Its unique optical system bundles the light of the full frame lenses to the 2/3 inch CCD sensor. That delivered an exceptional that-time sensivity of minimum 800 and maximum 3200 ISO which remains usable for press and news use.
1986. The follower Nikon QV-1000C Still Video Camera was produced since 1988 mainly for professional press use. Both cameras used QV mount lenses, a variant of F-mount lenses. Via an adapter (QM-100) other Nikkor lenses can be fitted.
The Nikon NASA F4
was one of the first cameras with digital storage. Eastman Kodak
used Nikon SLR's to design the Kodak DCS 100 and followers.
subsystem, the E3 uses a Nikon F100
subsystem.
of 1. This comes not at the expense of the lightness of the lenses, because the light is bundled to the 2/3 inch CCD sensor with approximately 1/16 smaller area. The result is approximately 4 stops (
) more light at the small sensor compared to a full-frame sensor. Therefore the camera has a minimum full-frame sensivity of ISO 800 which is equivalent to ISO 50 at 2/3 inch. As a result the noise of the camera at ISO 800 full-frame is equivalent to ISO 50 of the 2/3 inch CCD sensor. Nikon could not reduce sensivity below 800 ISO fullframe, because the little sensor will be overexposed below 50 ISO.
The exceptional high sensivity up to 3200 ISO (equivalent 200 ISO 2/3 inch) can be seen as an advantage for indoor or available light
photography and is important for professional press and sports use, the customer target area. Although the camera is small for a 90s DSLR, the additional optical system makes the camera deeper compared to today's DSLRs.
Standard Nikon F-mount
lenses can be used.
compatible memory card is used. Images are digitally stored as uncompressed TIFF or compressed JPEG. It can be accessed via a SCSI
connector
. TV replay (NTSC or PAL) is possible.
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
and marketed also as the Fujix DS-565, are autofocus
Autofocus
An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...
1.3 megapixel professional grade quasi-full frame
Full frame digital SLR
A full-frame digital SLR is a digital single-lens reflex camera fitted with an image sensor that is the same size as a 35 mm film frame....
(35mm
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
) digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR) announced by the Nikon Corporation on 15 June 1998 and released in December 1999. The E3S is identical to the E3 except triple frame rate and larger buffer. They are followers of the Nikon E2N/E2Ns.
Its unique optical system bundles the light of the full frame lenses to the 2/3 inch CCD sensor. That delivered an exceptional that-time sensivity of minimum 800 and maximum 3200 ISO which remains usable for press and news use.
History
Nikon gained knowledge on digital cameras by constructing the Nikon Still Video Camera (SVC) Model 1, a prototype which was first presented at PhotokinaPhotokina
The photokina is the world's largest trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries. The first photokina was held in Cologne, Germany, in 1950, and it is now held biannually in September at the koelnmesse Trade Fair and Exhibition Centre...
1986. The follower Nikon QV-1000C Still Video Camera was produced since 1988 mainly for professional press use. Both cameras used QV mount lenses, a variant of F-mount lenses. Via an adapter (QM-100) other Nikkor lenses can be fitted.
The Nikon NASA F4
Nikon NASA F4
The Nikon NASA F4 Electronic Still Camera was one of the first and rarest fully digital cameras ever. Constructed for NASA, it was first flown in September 1991 on board the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-48...
was one of the first cameras with digital storage. Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
used Nikon SLR's to design the Kodak DCS 100 and followers.
Technology
Instead of the Nikon E2 and E2N, which use a Nikon F4Nikon F4
The Nikon F4 was a 35mm autofocus single lens reflex film camera, first introduced in 1988 as the next generation in Nikon's line of F series professional cameras...
subsystem, the E3 uses a Nikon F100
Nikon F100
The Nikon F100 is a 35mm film-based single-lens reflex camera body introduced in 1999. It is often thought of as a scaled-down version of the Nikon F5, and as a precursor to the Nikon F6...
subsystem.
Optical System
The E series uses a unique additional optical system that enables the small sensor to capture the field of view of a 35mm film, with a crop factorCrop factor
In digital photography, a crop factor is related to the ratio of the dimensions of a camera's imaging area compared to a reference format; most often, this term is applied to digital cameras, relative to 35 mm film format as a reference. In the case of digital cameras, the imaging device would be a...
of 1. This comes not at the expense of the lightness of the lenses, because the light is bundled to the 2/3 inch CCD sensor with approximately 1/16 smaller area. The result is approximately 4 stops (
) more light at the small sensor compared to a full-frame sensor. Therefore the camera has a minimum full-frame sensivity of ISO 800 which is equivalent to ISO 50 at 2/3 inch. As a result the noise of the camera at ISO 800 full-frame is equivalent to ISO 50 of the 2/3 inch CCD sensor. Nikon could not reduce sensivity below 800 ISO fullframe, because the little sensor will be overexposed below 50 ISO.The exceptional high sensivity up to 3200 ISO (equivalent 200 ISO 2/3 inch) can be seen as an advantage for indoor or available light
Available light
In photography and cinematography, available light or ambient light refers to any source of light that is not explicitly supplied by the photographer for the purpose of taking photos. The term usually refers to sources of light that are already available naturally or artificial light already being...
photography and is important for professional press and sports use, the customer target area. Although the camera is small for a 90s DSLR, the additional optical system makes the camera deeper compared to today's DSLRs.
Standard Nikon F-mount
Nikon F-mount
The Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount with a 44 mm throat and a flange to focal plane distance of 46.5 mm...
lenses can be used.
Storage and replay
A PCMCIAPC Card
In computing, PC Card is the form factor of a peripheral interface designed for laptop computers. The PC Card standard was defined and developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association which itself was created by a number of computer industry companies in the United States...
compatible memory card is used. Images are digitally stored as uncompressed TIFF or compressed JPEG. It can be accessed via a SCSI
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
connector
Electrical connector
An electrical connector is an electro-mechanical device for joining electrical circuits as an interface using a mechanical assembly. The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, require a tool for assembly and removal, or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two wires or...
. TV replay (NTSC or PAL) is possible.
See also
- Nikon E2
- Nikon NASA F4Nikon NASA F4The Nikon NASA F4 Electronic Still Camera was one of the first and rarest fully digital cameras ever. Constructed for NASA, it was first flown in September 1991 on board the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-48...
- Nikon Still Video Camera
- Nikon QV-1000C Still Video Camera