Nikon E2/E3
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The cameras of the Nikon E2 and E3 series and the similar Fujix DS-5xx series are early digital SLR cameras developed by Nikon together with Fujifilm and were launched between 1995 and 1999. At that time Nikon sought any possible cooperation to get into production of digital professional photography supply, for example also with Kodak. That way the first DSLRs of both, Fuji and Kodak, used Nikon F mount lenses, but the two partners of Nikon had different conceptions to use Nikon F lenses. The conception of the cameras made by Nikon and Fuji was to reduce the frame size by an internal condenser optics system inside the camera bodies, from 35mm diagonal to the sensor's frame size with 2/3" diagonal. This relais optics needed to reduce aperture of whatever lens to f6.3. The Nikon E3/E3S aka Fujix DS-560/565 models had improved relais optics inside, reducing aperture to wider f4.8. That bundling of the light for a big sensor onto a small CCD sensor gave the cameras a high light sensitivity - ISO setting for the cameras began with ISO 800!!! And not with the disadvantage of more noise, because , thanks to the condenser optics, the sensor runs at a much lower ISO setting than the whole camera actually delivers.
The cameras stored images on PCMCIA type memory cards of specification ATA Type I or II, as JPEG or as TIFF files.[1] Thus the products adressed professionals since TIFF was the first well accepted standard for advanced raw digital image data interchange. Of course as pro cameras they weren't made in great numbers, thus priced extremely expensive. Therefore they were extremely heavy (1.65 to 1.7 kg).
| year | Nikon E series model | Fujix DS-5xx series model | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 announced 1994 | Nikon E2 | Fujix DS-505 | Nikon E2 models and similar Fujix cameras are partially based on autofocus SLR Nikon F4's technology
ISO settings: 800, 1600 |
| Nikon E2S | Fujix DS-515 | as E2 aka DS-505, but buffer memory added (buffer to enable shooting a series of 7 images at speed 3 frames per second) | |
| 1996 | Nikon E2N | Fujix DS-505A | ISO settings: 800, 3200 |
| Nikon E2NS | Fujix DS-515A | as E2N aka DS-505A, but buffer memory added | |
| 1999 announced 1998 | Nikon E3 | Fujix DS-560 | Nikon E3 models and similar Fujix cameras partially based on autofocus SLR Nikon F100's technology remote control by Mac or PC app possible via SCSI interface ISO settings 800, 1600, 3200 |
| Nikon E3S | Fujix DS-565 | as E3 aka DS-560, but buffer memory added (buffer to enable shooting a series of 12 images at speed 3 frames per second) |
Notes
- ↑ Nikon/Fuji E2 offered at the 41st Leitz Photographica Auction, in November 2022. Several good detail photographs of the camera.
Links
- Nikon E2 user manual at Manualslib
- Fujifilm 505a manual at nikonweb.com [1]
- Nikon D1 prototype,
- Vintage Nikon DSLR website and forum, the following pages are particularly relevant:
- Fujix DS-515 by John Henshall at Epi-Centre
- First "full format four thirds" DSLR of the world" in German on fotografr.de [2]
- lens compatibility list at mir.com (photography) [3]
