An addition of IS technology to the Nikon lens range evidently would be most welcome. Now, they had a P&S camera employing this technology some years ago but that4s it up to now. Is this because of patent infringements or is the reason all conjecture?

-- Karl Johan Borgis (kjborgis@telia.com), September 30, 1999

Answers

It's not entirely clear what you're after. Someone on photo.net reported that Nikon was awarded IS patents in late '98--early '99, so I assume infringement isn't(yet)an issue. Which Nikkors get IS first is anyone's guess.Possible candidates(according to rumour only)are the macro zoom, intermediate range fast zooms,and possibly long, fast teles. Given the reception that's met Canon's IS offerings, Nikon's tardiness seems misguided. But perhaps patent lawyers are really in control of the whole IS show at Nikon.

-- Gary Watson (cg.watson@sympatico.ca), October 01, 1999.

Di you ever look at the new Nikon digital camera D1? There is a Anti-Vibration mode (customer function #5)? Looks very much like a IS to me.

If Nikon is going to put IS staff into the camera body instead of lenses as Canon, I'll be really pleased. (Just my imagination for now.)

Eric.

-- Eric Chi (echi@cisco.com), October 11, 1999.

The anti vibration mode is digital+optical. IS or VR is mechanical. Digital IS has been around in Sony handycams for years. Old technology. One ought to have this in a camera which costs as much as a D1 (a freakin arm and leg and a couple of brains to boot)

-- Steve Smith. (Steve_Smith@maui-mail.com), August 21, 2000.