Nikon and Canon Score 6-6 Double Tie in April Photo Magazine Contests

Nikon and Canon scored a rare 6-6 double tie in the reader contests in the two largest U.S. photo magazines in April.

The two photo giants have fought to a draw four times before since NikonvsCanon.com started tracking the contests in 2006 – March 2006 plus February, May and September of 2007. But this was the first time that there were simultaneous ties in both magazines.

Nikon and Canon each claimed five of the winning shots in Shutterbug’s “Picture This!” contest for April, with no winning shots made by other brands. The score was tied 1-1 in the “Your Best Shot” contest in Popular Photography and Imaging, with one photo by another brand (Sony).

Nikon won in March, breaking a four-month winning streak by Canon. Canon currently leads the year 23-18 with seven winning photos shot with other brands.

In 2007, Canon won 71-56 win with other brands accounting for 37 winning photos. In 2006, the score was 89-83 in Canon’s favor, with 43 also-rans.

Popular Photography and Imaging and Shutterbug run photo contests for readers each month. The majority of winning photos are shot with either Nikon or Canon cameras, and http://www.nikonvscanon.com/ tracks the winners as a means of keeping score in the perennial argument among photographers of which brand is better.

Copyright 2008

Nikon Introduces New AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens

Nikon says its new AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens is in stores now.

The new lens features Nikon’s proprietary Vibration Reduction technology to reduce blur from camera shake. The company is billing the compact, lightweight and affordable optic as “an optimum lens to use with Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras” and “the ideal focal length as a ‘first lens’ to faithfully capture life’s day-to-day moments.”

Nikon says its VR system affords users the ability to take pictures at shutter speeds up to three stops slower than they ordinarily could before seeing blur from camera shake at slow shutter speeds.

The “digitally optimized” lens features hybrid aspherical elements to minimize chromatic aberration, and Super Integrated Coating to reduce flare and ghosting. The lens also features Nikon’s compact Silent Wave Motor technology for quiet, fast and accurate autofocus performance.

The 18-55mm has an estimated street price of $199.

Copyright 2008

Nikon Beats Canon 6-3 in March Photo Magazine Contests

Nikon claimed its first victory of the year and its first win in five months with a 6-3 score over Canon in the March reader contests in the two largest U.S. photo magazines.

Nikon claimed six of the winning shots in Shutterbug’s “Picture This!” contest, while one was made with Canon and three were made with other brands.

The score was 2-0 in favor of Canon in the “Your Best Shot” contest in Popular Photography and Imaging, with one photo by another brand.

The four shots made by other brands marked one of the rare times that other brands – even combined – have been able to outscore either Nikon or Canon. The third-party winners included one each by Sony, Pentax, Olympus and Konica-Minolta.

Canon had won the past four months in a row and still leads the year 17-12 after Nikon’s strong showing this month. Other brands account for six photos.

This is the third year that NikonvsCanon has counted the monthly results. In 2007, Canon won 71-56 win with other brands accounting for 37 winning photos. In 2006, the score was 89-83 in Canon’s favor, with 43 also-rans.

Popular Photography and Imaging and Shutterbug run photo contests for readers each month. The majority of winning photos are shot with either Nikon or Canon cameras, and www.NikonvsCanon.com tracks the winners as a means of keeping score in the perennial argument among photographers of which brand is better.

Copyright 2008