While I’m still saving up for my Nikon D90 to replace my year old D40, Nikon unveils two new cameras on each end of it’s camera line.  D3000 for the entry-level dSLR and D300s for it’s pro-level dSLR.

The D3000 is basically a simplified D5000 without the articulated display, the AF motor and HD video recording.  It boasts a 10.2MP sensor, a new ‘Guide Mode’, an extensive Retouch Menu, an 11-point autofocus system and the company’s EXPEED image processing system. There’s also an Active D-Lighting system and 3D Color Matrix Metering II, not to mention 3D Subject Tracking and support for RAW images

The D300s seems like a souped-up D90 in most respects.  Basic specs of this pro-level dSLR include a 12.3MP CMOS sensor, a 51-point autofocus system, SD and CompactFlash memory card slots, one-button LiveView, a new Quiet Shutter Release mode,  Active D-Lighting bracketing, faster 7 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting and a new HD movie mode that’s been lacking so far: autofocus. I’m hoping this will be incorporated into the D90 with a firmware upgrade sometime soon but that’s wishful thinking :D.

To complement the D3000 and D300s, Nikon also unveiled two telephoto-ranged lenses:

• DX 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED VR II
• 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II

The new 18-200mm VR II lens is an update to Nikon’s most loved 18-200mm VR lens.   If you’ve spent anytime looking at popular Nikon lenses, the 18-200mm VR comes on top of a lot of people’s list when it comes to an all-around lens. The new lens adds Nikon’s second generation image stabilization that improves the anti-blur effect to the equivalent of shooting four shutter speeds slower than intended, an improvement particularly important at the telephoto distances of the new optics. The extra-low dispersion (ED) glass has also been improved to minimize both glare and ghosting.Full-frame FX mount cameras have the new 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II. It too adds the better image stabilization for its exclusively telephoto shooting and improves the glass not just to reduce artifacts but to improve color reproduction as well. Three different focusing modes (including manual) also vary the degree of control over autofocus. As with the previous 70-200mm lens, its aperture is a continuous f2.8 across the entire length and is particularly useful for low-light and action shots.

Prices for these Nikon goodies are as follows

D3000 (kit, includes AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR)  – $600
D300s  (body) – $1,800
DX 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 ED VR II – $850
70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II – $2,400