A blogger at DoItDifferent created a widget for the N900 using Shutter – which uses LIRC to control the Nikon remotely – and Flashlight, which turns the N900’s flash into a torch. Then, using the IR transmitter in the phone, it paired up with the Nikon D40’s IR receiver for the remote shutter release. When the widget was clicked on the N900, the LED flash strobed and the D40 was triggered, taking a photo instantly.

The video below shows the hack at work, but for a more detailed explanation head on over to the blog. [DoItDifferent via NokNok]

Using an N900 as a remote flash with a D40 from Iain W on Vimeo.

ISO Is the New Megapixel: A Case Study
Nikon effectively declared the pixel war over with D3 two years ago: Its $US5000 flagship shot a mere 12 megapixels – less than many point-and-shoots – and began the low-light arms race. The D3s again forsakes more megapixels for more light, sticking with 12 megapixels, and it’s a tiny miracle of engineering.

The D3s isn’t a thoughtless product rehash – as you might expect given that Nikon’s simply tacked an ’s’ onto the end of the D3. Unlike the D300s, which didn’t progress all that far in the two interceding years, the D3s is steady evolution at its best: It offers roughly double the low-light performance as the original D3.

What All This Low Light and ISO Business Means
A brief explanation of low-light digital photography and ISO is in order (click here for the long explanation). The focal point of engineering with the D3s, and other cameras of this calibre, has been boosting their ability to pick up more light (because a photo = light). That photo directly above with a 100 per cent crop in the loupe? Taken at night at ISO 102,400.

The D3s uses a completely new sensor that refines elements of the original D3’s sensor, like a new gapless microlens architecture that directs more available light onto the sensor’s photodiodes. With film, ISO speed is a standard that indicates how sensitive the film is to light – higher speeds are more sensitive. With digital cameras, when you set the ISO speed, it’s supposed to be equivalent to the film standard. In low-light conditions, you boost the ISO, so you don’t need a long exposure time or wide open aperture. The problem with cranking up the ISO – is that when you boost the camera’s sensitivity to light (the signal) you’re also boosting its sensitivity to noise – which can be sexy with film, but isn’t really with digital photos. The D3s shoots up ISO 102,400, far beyond any film you could buy at Walgreen’s. (Does Walgreen’s still sell film?) At that level, you’re talking night vision, practically, though the resulting noisy arse photo’s nothing you’d want to print.

So, here’s what the D3s offers, practically. In the most common DSLRs that people own, or with the latest crop of Micro Four Thirds cameras, the borderline for what we’d call good ISO performance is around ISO 800. In the original D3, it was ISO 3200, orders of magnitude better.

The D3s doubles the low-light performance of the D3: ISO 6400 photos look just about as clean ISO 3200 photos taken with the D3 (they look good), and ISO 3200 photos are whistle clean to all but the most trained eye, especially if they’re down-res’d to web or print size. ISO 12,800 is the new ISO 6400 – the outer limit of acceptably printable. In short, the D3s is the best low-light camera we’ve ever used, a leap beyond last-generation’s low-light killers. You can basically shoot in any lighting condition. That’s incredible.

It’s Built for Photographers
The D3s is built for war zones, and being slung in the mud at 40mph. It weighs nearly 1.3kg, without a lens. Yet it’s well-balanced and supremely comfortable to hold, with the best ergonomics in its class – Canon’s 1D Mark IV feels surprisingly awkward by comparison – so we could shoot for hours on end in the closest thing to gadget blogging’s war zones, CES and the iPad launch, and slug people who got in our way. (The dual CF card slots and ginormous battery help with shooting for hours. We didn’t quite reach the 4200 shots it’s spec’d for, but we definitely shot a couple thousand photos per charge.) It feels like what a pro camera should feel like, with almost all of the controls you need at your fingertips – the addition of a dedicated live view button versus the original D3 definitely helped there, though a more natural way to change the ISO setting while using the camera’s vertical grip would be nice.

It is a photographer’s camera, though, to be sure. Even as it shoots a crazyfast nine frames per second at full-resolution RAW and its 51-point autofocus proved fast and accurate for us at trade shows, Nikon continues to lag behind Canon when it comes to video, with it feeling more tacked on than any of Canon’s shooters – it’s still 720p video using the bleh Motion JPEG codec – it’s functionally better than the D300s, though, with improved autofocus in live view mode. That said, given that Nikon’s announced its first 1080p-shooting camera, we’re hopeful for the seemingly inevitable D700s on the video front, anyway.

Most of our testing took place at CES and the iPad event, which are marked by shitty and ever-changing light conditions, and we’ve never felt more comfortable shooting handheld without a flash or tripod. It’s truly liberating. Light is your bitch – you can shoot wherever, whatever you want. (Especially with a fast lens, but even “slow” lenses suddenly feel eminently more usable.) While auto white balance was never quite perfect, the pop and saturation of the D3s’s colours are just about unbeatable. It’s the ultimate gadget-shooting-in-crappy-conditions camera. Here’s some of posts we used the D3s to shoot:

• iPad Hands On

• Slayer Espresso

• E-Ink Is Dead, Pixel Qi Just Killed It

• Ballmer CES Keynote

• CES We’re Here

(You can also check out our previous hands on with a pre-production unit for more samples.) A note: You’ll notice I don’t have a ton of sample photos, and that’s because somehow hundreds of them completely poofed.

The D3s doesn’t operate under any new philosophy, but it does remarkably take the game a step further, revealing with more clarity a world where camera performance doubles roughly every two years if we can use some restraint on the megapixels. (After all, newspapers and monitors are only so big.)

We’re running through Canon’s answer to the D3s, the 1D Mark IV at this very moment, so we’re intensely interested to see who’s wearing what pants at the end of this. Either way, it shows that competition is a very good thing: Everybody wins.

The best low-light camera we’ve ever used

Fast and accurate 51-point AF to go with its 9FPS rapid fire

Solid ergonomics

Would prefer a more accessible ISO button

There’s still a major disconnect with video, which lags behind Canon quality and otherwise

It’s $US5000, so this amazing low-light performance is out of reach for most people for a few more years (not really a knock against the camera, just a general frowny face)

[Nikon]

Basically, all of this stuff, plus two of those giant cameras up there. But on top of all the layers of clothing you have to wear, and you have to stand in place for hours and hours. What a blast! [Pocket Lint]

Coolpix P100
10.3MP, 26x zoom (26-676mm), 3” Vari-angle LCD, PSAM Modes, 1080p HD Movie Mode with stereo sound, 17 Scene Modes, Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening, 5 image stabilising features, Available in black, RRP $599.

Coolpix S3000
12MP, 4x zoom (27-108mm), 2.7” LCD, Smart Portrait System, Blink Proof, Face Priority, 16 scene modes, Scene Auto Selector, 4-way VR image Stabilisation, Movie Mode, Available in silver, black, red, purple & magenta, RRP $199.

Coolpix S4000
12MP, 4x zoom (27-108mm), 3” 460k-dot Touch Screen LCD, High-Definition 720p Movie Mode, Smart Portrait System, Subject Tracking, 4-way image Stabilisation, Available in black and red, RRP $299.

Coolpix S6000
14.2MP, 7x zoom (28-196mm), 2.7” LCD, Advanced Motion Detection, VR image Stabilisation, ultra-fast start-up time (0.7 seconds) High-Definition 720p Movie Mode, Available in red, RRP $399.

Coolpix S8000
14.2MP, 10x zoom (30-300mm), 3” 960k-dot LCD with clear colour display, Creative Slider, High-Definition 720p Movie Mode, Quick Retouch, VR image Stabilisation, Available in black, RRP $499.

Coolpix L110
12.1MP, 15x zoom (28-420mm), 3” LCD, High-Definition 720p Movie Mode, Sport Continuous Mode, Easy Auto Mode, Smart Portrait System, 15 Scene Modes, AA batteries, Available in black, RRP $399.

Coolpix L22
12MP, 3.6x zoom (37-134mm), 3” LCD, Movie Mode, Easy Auto Mode, Electronic VR image Stabilisation, Smart Portrait System, 16 scene modes, AA batteries, Available in black and red, RRP $149.

The S8000 and the next step down, the S6000, both shoot at 14-megapixel (I predict noiiiise) and 720p vid at 30fps, though the S6000 has less zoom (7x) crammed in a skinnier 1-inch frame. The S8000 is $US300, while the S6000 is $US250.

The S4000 is their new touchcam, which seemed more responsive than the last gen, with a decent-sized 3-inch touchscreen. It shoots at 12-megapixel, but also pulls out 720p video. And it’s cheaper than before, at $US200.

“S” REPRESENTS STYLISH, SLIM DESIGN, SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AND SUPER ZOOM WITH THE NEW NIKON COOLPIX S-SERIES DIGITAL CAMERAS

Whether a User Needs HD Video, Super-Long Zoom, or a Functional Fashion Accessory, There Is Something for Everyone with Nikon’s New Style Series of Digital Cameras

MELVILLE, NY (Feb. 2, 2010) – Today, Nikon Inc. continues the tradition of blending innovation, design and performance in its line of COOLPIX compact cameras with the introduction of four new COOLPIX Style Series cameras. The S-series cameras provide users with innovative and fun features such as long zooms, speedy performance, advanced flash controls, touch-screen technology, and enhanced high resolution LCD screens in sleek, stylish camera bodies. In an impressive slim body, the new COOLPIX S8000 digital camera sports a long 10x optical zoom, 720p HD Video, and a 3.0-inch 921,000-dot LCD screen with bright Clear colour Display. Not to be outdone, the COOLPIX S4000 blends a user-friendly touch-screen interface with an elegant camera design, while the COOLPIX S6000 and COOLPIX S3000 digital cameras deliver the speed, accessibility and ease-of-use that have made the S-series the camera of choice among consumers who value style and performance.

“Building on the hallmarks of the COOLPIX line, the new S-Series cameras combine the features consumers want, along with high performance and innovative technology into elegant camera designs with colorful results,” said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. “The digital camera has become an accessory to today’s consumer, and with the S-series camera, users can challenge their creativity, and complement their sense of fashion.”

All new COOLPIX S-series cameras incorporate Nikon’s world-class NIKKOR lenses, delivering accurate detail and brilliant colour, as well as Nikon’s EXPEED™ digital image processing concept, which ensures high-quality pictures with stunning colour and sharpness. Many of the new S-series models embrace the addition of High Definition (HD) video by adding an ideally located video record button on the back of the camera. Other COOLPIX features include Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognises the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly for great pictures anywhere. To make better portraits easier, the Smart Portrait System incorporates a series of automatic functions including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix ™, Improved Face-Priority AF, Face Priority AE, Smile Mode, Blink Warning and Skin Softening to flatter even the most camera-shy subject.

New COOLPIX S8000: Deceptively Slim Yet Hides a Surprise

Hidden inside the COOLPIX S8000’s slender body resides a powerful and versatile 10x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens that produces incredibly sharp, crisp images up close or far away. To banish the blur at any focal length, the S8000 features a 4-way Image stabilisation System and ISO settings to 3200. Additionally, the S8000 has the ability to record HD movies (720p) at 30 frames per second (fps) with stereo sound, and features an ultra high-resolution 921,000-dot Clear colour Display LCD for sharp, clear viewing of images.

The 14.2-megapixel COOLPIX S8000 digital camera also includes a new feature called the Creative Slider, which simplifies adjusting brightness, saturation and colour tone in-camera by utilizing the Rotary Multi Selector. Another new feature, Advanced Flash Control, allows users to create more natural-looking flash shots by utilizing higher ISO settings and faster shutter speeds in low light as well as apply Multi-area Auto Backlight Compensation for even exposures. Additionally, the COOLPIX S8000 packs an improved Sport Continuous Mode, high-speed continuous shooting at up to approximately 4 fps for 45 frames (3 MP), plus a fast start-up time and a quick shutter-release time. To further ensure no moment is missed, the S8000 has the ability to acquire the subject and lock focus using Subject Tracking.

The COOLPIX S8000 will be available in February 2010 for $US299.95* MSRP in a choice of colours including black, red, bronze and champagne silver.

The New COOLPIX S6000: High Performance Is Always In Style

The new COOLPIX S6000 digital camera blends performance into an elegant camera design to create the ideal accessory for wherever life leads. Though the S6000 measures only one-inch thick, it comes with a versatile 7x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens to zoom in on the action or fill the frame with your subject. The COOLPIX S6000 also has the ability to record HD movie clips (720p) at 30 fps to preserve memories in high quality video, which are easily played back later on an HDTV from the camera via HDMI connection.

The COOLPIX S6000 includes features like 14.2-megapixel resolution and a bright 2.7-inch 230,000-dot Clear colour Display LCD. Similar to the COOLPIX S8000, the COOLPIX S6000 boasts advanced features and controls like Sport Continuous Mode and Advanced Flash Control. The S6000 also sports a fast start-up time of approximately 0.75 seconds and a short shutter-release time of approximately 0.3 seconds to help ensure memories are recorded as soon as they happen.

To further help users snap stunning photos easily, the COOLPIX S6000 features ISO 3200; 4-way VR Image stabilisation System; Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon’s Smart Portrait System all packed into an ultra-stylish design.

The COOLPIX S6000 will be available in March 2010 for $US249.95* MSRP in a choice of bold colours, including champagne silver, black, red, and bronze.

The New COOLPIX S4000: Touch-Screen Technology, Nikon Performance

Integrating elegant design and intuitive operation, the new COOLPIX S4000 digital camera comes equipped with a touch-screen interface that places the camera’s controls at the users’ fingertips. The COOLPIX S4000 incorporates a new 3.0-inch 460,000-dot touch-panel Clear colour Display LCD, which makes it easy to compose, review, edit and share pictures.

To fully utilise the touch-screen interface, the COOLPIX S4000 comes with several advanced shooting features. With Touch Shutter, users can select their subject by a single touch on the screen to adjust focus and exposure, and to automatically release the shutter. When selected, Subject Tracking can automatically follow and focus on a subject selected by touching the screen, such as a fast moving child or a pet throughout the frame.

At the touch of a finger, users can record HD movies (720p) to create and share. The S4000 also includes user-friendly modes like Scene Auto Selector, which automatically recognises the scene in your picture and adjusts camera setting to take the best photo possible for the given conditions.

The 12-megapixel COOLPIX S4000 features a 4x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR lens, ISO sensitivity to 3200; 4-way VR Image stabilisation System; Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon’s Smart Portrait System and a compact stylish design.

The COOLPIX S4000 digital camera will be available in March 2010 for $US199.95 MSRP in a choice of vibrant colours, including plum, champagne silver, pink, red and black.

New COOLPIX S3000: Make a Statement in Color

Sleek design, attractive colours and innovative technology truly set the new Nikon COOLPIX S3000 digital camera apart from the competition. The COOLPIX S3000 comfortably places advanced shooting controls in the hand for great fun and optimal results. User-friendly advanced features and ease-of-use, along with the camera’s compact size make it a pleasure to carry around anywhere from the family reunion to a night on the town.

With the stylish looks and the vivid colour choices of the S3000, the camera is the perfect tool to express one’s personal style. The COOLPIX S3000 also includes a bright 2.7-inch 230,000-dot LCD screen designed to make it easy to compose, review and share pictures.

The 12-megapixel COOLPIX S3000 features a 4x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR lens; ISO 3200; 4-way VR Image stabilisation System; Subject Tracking; Scene Auto Selector Mode; Nikon’s Smart Portrait System and a colorful and compact design.

The COOLPIX S3000 will be available in March 2010 for $US149.95 MSRP and in a choice of vibrant colours, including plum, champagne silver, black, orange, green and blue.

I actually really like this video – it’s cute and offbeat and almost startlingly professional, especially in the editing and cinematography. The winner is Marko Slavnic, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, who will use his $US100,000 winnings towards a feature film. Congratulations and good luck, Marko! [Nikon]

It’s not the first time they’ve worked together, with the Nikon Photomic FTN actually used on Apollo 15 back in 1971, but it’s nice to see that NASA’s taste in camera models has got more expensive over the years.

The DS3, unveiled back in August, normally costs $US5199.95, and features a whoppingly large ISO range of 200 – 12,800 (though it can be expanded up to 102,400). NASA will be using the cameras to photograph the happenings at the International Space Station, and apparently are so happy with the DS3 and NIKKOR lenses (which cost $US1830 each) that there’s no need to modify them to make them more space-friendly.

Over 700,000 photos have been taken by NASA using Nikon cameras to date, though with a total cost of over $US70,000 for this latest order, they better be taking a lot more snaps to get their money’s worth. [Nikon via Akihabara News]

• Creative’s $US500 Nomad Jukebox (pictured above), was not only “sleek” – at least when compared to a CD Walkman – but “can hold as much music as 150 CDs”.

• The Extiva was a $US350 DVD player from Samsung with the Nuon chip, so “you can also play video games”. Not sure which video games we were referring to there.

• Our pick for digital camera was Nikon’s twisty CoolPix 990, three million pixels for one thousand (American) dollars.

• Gateway laptop with 12.1-in. display, 550MHz chip and a year of free AOL was “a great deal” at $US1300.

• Two-way pagers from Motorola, $US180 each, let you send messages back and forth, and came in “four hot colours”.

• LG’s Touchpoint 3000 smartish phone cost $US400, combined an address book and an organiser, and had one killer app: “Tap someone’s name and it dials for you.”

• The $US300 Iomega HipZip took little PocketZip magnetic disks instead of flash memory so it was easier to “get with the MP3 revolution” – hooray for obscure proprietary formats that died within a year!

• Cybiko was invented a decade ago but promised to do almost more than what the Peek does today – with wireless messaging and an MP3 “attachment”.

• “It’s near impossible to find this killer game console – and just as hard to find good titles to play on it.” The console? PlayStation 2.

• Handspring Visor Prism, the great hope of the PDA world, had a cartridge slot so that you could “turn it into a mobile phone, an MP3 player or a miniature digital camera”. Only trouble was when the cartridges started costing more than the $US450 PDA.

The whole list is pretty hilarious – I encourage you to pop over and read more. [Time.com]

I apologise for the crappy quality of some of the images – I had to go grab promo shots found out on the web. For some reason, Time didn’t preserve our gorgeous photoshoot online. Guess they thought the internet was just a fad.

• Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
• Canon EOS 7D
• Canon PowerShot G11
• Nikon D3S
• Nikon D3000S
• Nikon D3000

Snag it on Software Update, of course. [Apple