April Fool 1999:
A new concept Nikon Spirit


version française

<




Nikon presented at Kyoto (Japan) a new photographic system called Spirit.

This system is composed of a camera body and three new lenses but presents two originalities:
- it is waterproof until the depth of three meters
- it can be used as a classical camera with a silver film or as a digital camera. It is possible by this feature to change by end-user interchangeable internal modules.

The choice of the functions of the camera is ensured by two large multifunction buttons, ' press and select', arranged on both sides of the HP finder.

The other characteristics of this camera are more traditional, although some are new for Nikon:

- Matrix measurement issued from Nikon F100 (960 segments analysis color captor)
- functions flash evolved/moved by IR without integrated flash, external and internal LCD screens.
- New range of objective FW with total compatibility with Nikkor AFD or AFS.
- Autofocus cross sensor with three segments. 

Design bi-color marine blue/sky blue,
Color marine blue Lenses FW without diaphragm ring nor distance ring. Lens Models 24mm/2.8 AFW, 28~80mm:3,5 AFW and 135mm/2,8 AFW with optical stabilizer.

Mounting F was modified and becomes FW, Mounting body was increased (2) and its diameter increases by 10 mm, a central groove makes it possible to receive the O washer ring (1) of new objectives AFW.

Silver Module WM1.
The external back is equipped also with an O washer ring.
At the interior of the camera body appears a system of interchangeable module. This system allows to use a film 135 or a digital module.
Module WM1 contains the system of advance of film 135 with incorporated coreless motor and DX coding.

Digital module WM2.
The back interns and the system of loading of film can be replaced by the module WM2 which contains the new sensor of 2.11 Megapixel 1/2 inches resulting from Coolpix 950. This module comprises a diffuser, which modifies the image of the HP finder by multiplying the view by 1,6. Information is stored on a memory CompactFlash™ 8MB card.

The price of this camera would be 800 $ with silver WM1module,
complementary WM2 module would be sold separately for 400 $.
The only defect of this concept is to be, today, entirely virtual and to be imagined only for April 1st.
It is an April fool. 

 pierre j.

To consult the preceding bulletin or to announce your remark or to send a message

To come back to Main Page.

Texts of this page are on the responsibility of their author only and in no case of Nikon Corporation
The texts of this page engage only their author and to in no case Nikon Corporation
Nikkormat, Nikkor, Nikon are trademarks. Spirit is a private joke

Texts of this page are on the responsibility of their author only and in no case of Nikon Corporation
Update on April 1, 1999
© Pierre J.