Lastest Nikon Announcements

[Mitsu3000gt]

Nikon filed a patent for a 70-200/4 VR II:

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20110228407.pdf

Also an 18-300/3.5-5.6 VR II (because we don't have enough 18-XX variable aperture zooms already haha):

http://translate.google.com/translat...p%2F2011-09-23

The 70-200/4 in particular would be a good move for Nikon, as there are enough people clinging to the Canon system specifically because of that lens. I also think there is a market in general for people trying to create a lighter weight "pro" quality system. It might also be nice on the Nikon 1 bodies, for a lightweight 189-540/4 VRII zoom .

[Go4Long]

pshaw...ain't got nothin on my 1080mm 2.8 :P I want to buy one of them just to do it

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Go4Long
pshaw...ain't got nothin on my 1080mm 2.8 :P I want to buy one of them just to do it

Well if the AF is as good as it is advertised to be in the 1 series, you won't be the only one doing it, that's for sure. Huge buffer, fast phase detect AF, 10FPS with autofocus between frames, and a 1080/2.8 haha. That's pretty sweet any way you look at it.

Lots of guys on the forums seem to be very excited about similar V1/F-mount combinations, particularly with the 70-200 (for those of us without $9,000 lenses lol) and exotic tele's.

The V1 would have far less appeal if it didn't have pro-like AF & buffer. It's not really marketed at pros, though. It'll be the first mirror less system I consider buying, if I decide I want something with crazy reach for wildlife.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Some spicy D800 rumors out courtesy Nikon Rumors. He is 99% confident in the 36MP part:

- 100% viewfinder coverage
- New AF system
- 36 MP
- Dual memory card slots
- USB 3.0
-ISO range: 100 – 6400, ISO LO @ 50 and ISO HI-2 @ 25600.
-There will be a different D800 version/model (or maybe even a special edition) with the antialiasing filter removed.
- 1080P/30
- 200,000 cycle shutter
- bigger LCD

Apparently 2 lenses announced too (probably 3.5-5.6 kit lenses LOL, but hopefully 300/4 VR and 80-400 AF-S VR, or 70-200/4 VR).

All before year end.

[Go4Long]

The 36mp part is rumoured to be an X model, with a 24mp normal model from what I've heard. Bah, we'll see...

[Mitsu3000gt]

Yeah there is lots of speculation about that 36MP and how it's exactly done.

Some think it will be 18 MP with pixel binning

Some think the D800 will have interchangeable sensors (allowing people to have either an "S" or "X" basically) as per a Nikon patent

Some think it will be just straight 36 MP, which is roughly the same size pixels as the D7000 so that is not a bad thing at all.

I'd like to see a D800S and D800X personally, or some kind or hybrid/interchangeable sensor.

[pea_soup]

The specs they are talking about are more like a D700x to me. I was hearing 24mp and 36mp well over a year ago when the talk was involving the D4 and D4x.

A few things make no sense regarding what they are talking about. First one being the frame rate, second being the ISO capabilities of the camera. The slow frame rate is really really odd given the fact we know how fast the new expeed sensor and digic 5 sensors are working at. It just makes no sense.

I also say there is no way in hell they release the D800 prior to the D4 unless they are going to make the D4 significantly better than the D800.

I'll be the first to say the ISO performance won't come close to the D3s. Not a chance in hell.

[blitz]

The frame rate makes sense if you release the D800 before the D4 and don't want it to eat into your pro body sales. They're probably purposely limiting it.

[pea_soup]

Which will piss off a lot of D700 shooters. Makes no sense to take two steps back from the D700 on a new body when the competition is doing nothing but going forward. Some of the specs simply don't add up.

The 36MP sensor is also a bit of a head scratcher. Granted I've heard everything from 38MP to 52MP for the 1Ds so anything is possible.

One thing is for certain, people are going to need some very nice computers to run this crap. 16GB of ram is going to be the standard.

[Mitsu3000gt]

4 FPS is a bit weak, I would expect 5-6 FPS with 8-9 FPS with grip. The EXPEED 3 can handle 600 Megapixels per second, so 1 or 2 of those would be more than enough. Unless there is ALSO a D800 "S" offering, I wouldn't expect them to cap the frame rate at 4fps.

You don't need much of a computer to handle 36MP files. 2TB hard drives are $59, 8GB of ram is $50, a core i7 is like $300, SSD's can be had for under $100, etc. It doesn't take nearly as much as some people think.

I think we can all rest assured Nikon knows they can't afford to screw up one of their #1 selling body's replacement, so I wouldn't worry about speed or ISO performance. If it's slow with weak ISO, it will be a 36MP D800"X" and they will also offer an "S" or equivalent. If there is only one camera, expect 36MP, D7000 or better high ISO (roughly same pixel density), new AF, and 5-6 FPS.

I'd be interested to see 36MP but with options for pixel binning, cropping, etc. all on the sensor or interchangeable sensors.

Nikon has to keep something in the ~$2500 full frame price bracket.

I'm really not worried about Nikon screwing this one up, though. They can't afford to and they know what works by now. They have been clearly in the lead since 2007 and I doubt they will give it up without a fight.

[pea_soup]

Try $3500.

Reason being. They will not discontinue the D700 if such a camera is released. The camera they are talking about is more of a D3x replacement.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Could be, yes. Who knows. Maybe they will release the equivalent of a D800X and hold onto the D700 until an "S" model is released.

Anyways, it's fun to speculate but we should have answers soon enough.

[pea_soup]

I think right now we are at a period where the expectations are high and energy amongst photographers is going demand something special from both Canon and Nikon.

All I really want is improved ISO handling, a nice frame rate and better Dynamic Range. A true 16 bit DSLR would be nice.

[blitz]

Originally posted by pea_soup
All I really want is improved ISO handling, a nice frame rate and better Dynamic Range. A true 16 bit DSLR would be nice.

Sounds like a D3s? What can't it do for you?

[pea_soup]

That is what people were expecting with the D800 and 5D Mark III.

The D3s does have shortcomings. The D7000 is actually better in some respects.

The 12 megapixel world needed to come to an end one day and that is one of the more obvious issues. I still don't think a camera with 3 times the megapixels was the answer. I feel many Nikon users want something in the 20mp range with equal ISO handing and improved DR.

I'm fairly positive the 5D Mark III will still be in the mid 20 megapixel range, with better ISO handling, increased dynamic range and is likely to be significantly faster.

I am 100% confident though that we will not see either D800 or 5D Mark II as being 16 bit cameras. I do think both the D4 and 1Ds Mark IV will offer up true 16 bit.

There is a vast room for improvement. I still don't get why they are talking about megapixel numbers that are approaching medium format. Two photographers I know in Vegas were talking in the 48-52 megapixel range for the 1Ds...

Seriously, it's crazy talk.

[INeedBoost]

Any idea when a D300s replacement will come out? Camera got jacked so thinking of sticking with Nikon and getting a D7000 or waiting for a D300s replacement. Thoughts?

[Go4Long]

there's all kinds of speculation, and no hard facts. Realistically even if it was announced tomorrow it'd still be roughly 6 months from being readily available at the consumer level. I put my deposit down on a D3s a couple days after it was announced, got one of the first shipment in to Calgary, and it was still over 4 months until I got one, and it was over a year until it was actually readily available (and it's still in short supply).

Granted that's a low production pro body, but I'd still say 6 months until you can walk in to a store and buy one is a bare minimum from the announcement, and it probably won't be announced this year.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by INeedBoost
Any idea when a D300s replacement will come out? Camera got jacked so thinking of sticking with Nikon and getting a D7000 or waiting for a D300s replacement. Thoughts?

I wouldn't' expect a D400 until Q1 2012.

The D7000 is pretty amazing, and D300s' are bargain-priced these days too.

The D300s is better than a D7000 though in all areas EXCEPT image quality/high ISO performance and video. Not sure what is more important to you. Both are class leading cameras, can't go wrong really.

If you need a camera now, buy one.

[clem24]

Holy shit I am so out of touch with recent hardware developments that I had no idea Nikon joined the EVIL game until I saw the ad in Best Buy today ahahaha.

LOL not that it matters. I'll be ditching all my DSLR gear very, very soon.. So be on the look out!

[Go4Long]

anything exciting?