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Nikon's new DL product family banner

Information technology'south no secret the market for point-and-shoot cameras is shrinking. Ironically, the cameras themselves are significantly improving with each generation, and now provide most of the capabilities previously only found in DSLRs and mirrorless models. Nikon's new DL family of cameras is a continuation of this tendency. The 3 models, the DL18-fifty, DL24-85, and DL24-500, all characteristic 21MP 1-inch format sensors, which by itself accept become common for high-finish bespeak-and-shoots. But information technology'due south the feature fix and performance numbers that move the DL family unit alee of Nikon's other compacts.

Compacts are starting to match and even crush DSLRs in Autofocus and Speed

Nikon DL18-50: Nikon's DL family of compact cameras feature a classic rangefinder look -- although without an integrated viewfinderThe introduction of hybrid Autofocus — a system which includes phase-discover AF and contrast-discover AF — has revolutionized photography. High-speed AF was formerly the exclusive domain of bulky DSLRs, with their dedicated phase-find AF sensors. Now that sensors themselves can incorporate contrast-detection elements, cheap cameras can attain the same or even faster AF operation in many situations. The Nikon DL family features 105 phase-detect and 171 contrast-detect AF points, which feed data to their updated EXPEED6A processor.

Frame rates for compact and mirrorless cameras have also gone across those of DSLRs. Because they don't need to slam a mirror upwardly and down every shot, crazy-fast speeds like the 60fps maximum for the DL family are possible. The small cameras nevertheless don't have the full bundle of high-end electronics and dedicated phase-detect sensors that flagship DSLRs do, and so there are still enough of applications for the more-expensive, bulkier models. Simply for virtually people, operation similar that of the DL family or Canon's newest Ten-series models will be more than acceptable.

No more than slow lenses

Compact cameras used to be further limited with "slow" lenses (those with small maximum apertures, typified past a higher minimum f-number). The DL family unit has "fast" lenses, with the DL18-50 and DL24-85 featuring f/1.8-2.8 variable maximum aperture lenses, and the DL24-500 and f/2.8-f/v.six version. The faster lenses help create shallow-depth-of-focus scenes, although because the sensor is smaller than in a DSLR, the cameras still tin can't isolate quite likewise as a DSLR with a similarly speced lens. The faster lenses also create additional low-low-cal shooting options.

A hotshoe for EVF or improver Flash

Nikon DL24-500 featuring a built-in EVF and superzoom lensAnyone used to a DSLR or rangefinder camera is likewise used to a viewfinder. While the 18-l and 24-85 DL models don't have a built-in EVF, Nikon has announced an optional add-on EVF, the DF-E1. The larger DL24-500 does include an EVF, positioned similarly to where the optical viewfinder is on a DSLR. Unlike early-generation electronic viewfinders, which were a poor substitute for optical versions, the newest model EVFs are fast, high-resolution, and provide real time previews of your camera settings. The cameras' hot shoes too permit for an add together-on flash, if the built-in version isn't sufficient — not at the same time as the EVF of course. Nikon DSLR shooters will also like that Nikon has made the DL family controls like to that on its higher-stop cameras. Clearly one target market place for the DLs is as an "every twenty-four hours" camera for Nikon DSLR owners.

Video and a few downsides

The DL family all support 4K UHD video recording at 30p, with audio from a born stereo microphone. It besides has built-in optical epitome stabilization. Equally with nigh current high-end compacts, the DL family unit all characteristic Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth. ISO tin be bumped to 12,800. The shutter speed ranges from 30 seconds to 1/2000 of a second. The cameras are on the bulky side for a betoken and shoot (even before you add an EVF), with the lightest, the DL18-50, weighing in at nigh 13 ounces. Sadly, there is no GPS in the unit, continuing the unfortunate trend of ignoring one of the single most helpful technologies for keeping track of your images.

Unfortunately, you can't just rush out to the store and buy one of these cameras yet. Nikon has said they will be available in early summer. The DL18-50 has a street pre-order cost of about $850, the DL24-85 of $650, and the DL24-500 of $1000. The DF-E1 EVF hasn't been priced even so.