Nikon launches the D3200, the WU-1a wireless mobile adapter and the 28mm f/1.8G prime lens

Today, Nikon launched its new, “entry-level” D3200 camera, a dedicated wireless mobile adapter and the full-frame 28 mm f/1.8G wide angle lens.
The D3200 is Nikon’s third camera launch in 2012 – after the D4 and D800/800E – and most likely the penultimate, short of the D300S replacement.
The D3200 makes a D800-akin resolution jump in comparison with its predecessor, featuring a 24,2 Mp. CMOS sensor, compared to the D3100’s 14,2.
The camera has a maximum shooting speed of 4 fps., includes full HD 1020p video @ 24, 25 and 30 fps with full-time auto-focus (AF-F), manual exposure control and stereo sound, plus 720p @ 50 or 60 fps.

The D3200’s standard ISO range goes from 100 to 6.400; the Hi-1 setting extends this to ISO 12.800.
If the D800’s results at high ISO are any indication, this new camera ought to be at least as clean as the D7000, in spite of it's far higher pixel count and corresponding smaller pixel pitch.
These specifications also kind of contradict the concept of “entry-level” as we know it, and so does the camera’s rather hefty price tag of U$ 700 – vs. the D3000’s U$ 500 – both including the AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3.5-4.5G VR.

What does make the D3200 entry-level or “Baby-Nikon”, however, is that it does not have a built-in focusing motor – which makes AF-S lenses obligatory – while it also lacks uncompressed 14 bits RAW (compressed 12-bits only), does not meter with un-chipped (AI, AI-S) manual focus lenses and has to make do without auto FP high-speed sync and commander-mode on the built-in flash, among others.
Although the camera is CLS compatible, the built-in flash cannot be used to remotely trigger external flashes in iTLL mode, although some models will still fire in so-called SU-4 or “dumb-slave” mode.

On the other hand, unlike most of its predecessors, the camera is fully compatible with Nikon and third party GPS devices, while also with Eye-Fi WiFi memory cards, the ME-1 stereo microphone, ML-L3 IR wireless remote, 45 AF-S Nikkors – from the DX 10-24mm f/3.5 to the FX 600mm f/4 – and all current Speedlights.

When coupled with the new and optional WU-1a mobile adapter (U$ 60) the camera can also download to and be triggered from a mobile device – be that a tablet or smart phone – unfortunately without the ability to remotely control camera settings (tethering).
For now, the WU-1a is ONLY compatible with the D3200. Nikon expects the corresponding Android app to launch in May, while an iOS app will take a little longer; expected release is for the fall of 2012.

Nikon has already updated Capture NX2 to v2.3.2, adding support for the D3200, but not View NX2 so far. This program will most likely up to date before the camera hits the stores.
Similarly, the ACR 6.7 Final Release and ACR 7.0 (included in CS6) do not include the D3200. For more information, see this article.

The long overdue AF-S 28 mm f/1.8G Nikkor

With the launch of this lens Nikon completes it AF-S full-frame (FX) line-up of relatively fast and reasonably affordable f/1.8G primes: 28mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85mm.
The rest of this review has moved here.