Comments on: Nikon products in 2009

By: Lawrence RS

Lawrence RS — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:20:21 +0000

I’m just waiting for the FX sensor in a decent consumer body. I’m still using a film F80, I want an FX but I don’t need and can’t afford a pro grade body. There have got to be a lot more like me, with good 35mm film lenses who want FX but don’t shoot 1000 photos a week! There would be a good sale for this, every ordinary amateur isn’t a dumb-guy who doesn’t realize the difference.

By: SURO

SURO — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:21:31 +0000

4 in japanese is pronounced “yon” or “shi”.
“Shi” is also death…

By: [NR] admin

[NR] admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:44:28 +0000

Again, do you have any info or this is your own opinion? Thanks.

By: [NR] admin

[NR] admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:43:27 +0000

this is a known issue – it will be fixed next week once I update to WordPress 2.7
Sorry!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:48:13 +0000

I’d love to see an FX sensor in a D40-sized body. I used a film FE/FM3A for years and they were delightful compact SLRs. I have a D700 and am ambivalent about it; a joy to use, fast, instant response, but man it’s a beast. And the little popup flash failed so I get to send it in and be without it for 4 weeks while it’s fixed. It makes me look wistfully at my compact Mamiya 6. Maybe the fashion is switching back to Graflex-sized cameras these days, but I really liked the small SLRs and light, capable lenses.

By: Marshal

Marshal — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:57:26 +0000

Great again IF all that’s true. Wouldn’t turn down either a D400 or 800.

As for the D4, is that supposed to be the so-called “MX” camera? It would need to be more than 30MP. Otherwise it would be cannibalizing too much of the D3X market. I think the rumors for that had it at around 40MP, which would put it in a significantly higher bracket for both IQ & price. But that’s more what Nikon needs to do anyway to compete with the new Leica and Mamiya & Hassy cams.

By: Fried Toast

Fried Toast — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:18:53 +0000

Considering that film shooters are *still* using cameras from 40 yrs ago or more, shooting more with our existing equipment… what a concept!

I agree w/ Ronin. The stuff in the tube will probably come out (possibly slightly delayed), but after that, unless there’s some major change in consumer spending, we’re going to see a lot of change in how & when products are sent out to market.

I’d think Nikon’s going to be squeezed a lot more than Canon simply for the fact that it’s nowhere as big or as diverse. I think this would be a great time for Nikon to focus on lenses. As much as everyone loves new bodies and new gadgets, focus on the glass. With the D3, D700 & D300, low-light ability has improved enough that I think we can live with that for a few years until economic conditions allow otherwise.

By: LSE

LSE — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 22:57:08 +0000

you guys are funny, in particular those that swear something is never going to happen or it is ridicoulous. none of you really knows what’s actually going to happen so your guesses are as good as the original post. The only ridiculous thing is thinking you can guess anything right today about nikon or canon as if you worked for them in their strategic departments.

truth be told the d400 and d700x/d800 are due next year not because of some magic clock ticks in nikon’s HQ, but because in order to compete, they have to stay on top of their game. The d3x is just to keep canon in check for awhile. Yet it doesn’t mean anything will happen. It will only happen if nikon wants to compete agressively which is tied to how agressive their competition is.

as for the names, d700x vs d800, that’s marketing. who cares what they are called.

By: ronin

ronin — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:58:04 +0000

Toast is right on. In the middle of a depression it will be a struggle for existing discretionary consumer-product companies- such as the Nikon, Canon, and Sony companies- to stay around as going concerns. Product cycles will lengthen as margins get squeezed silly.

I’m guessing that the products we have seen introduced in the last 6 months were planned 30 months ago. Retooling, innovation, product marketing, and distribution cost money and will be squeezed.

Maybe we’ll have an opportunity to just take more pix with the stuff we already have.

By: André

André — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:29:20 +0000

Exactly what I thought (regarding the 1D/3D/5D thing). I’m not buying this for even a second.

By: Daniele Cardone

Daniele Cardone — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:44:25 +0000

Japanese Superstition

By: Fried Toast

Fried Toast — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:52:26 +0000

Factor in the economy here, too. If you’ve seen the news, Japan’s economy is tanking. Read on the BBC this evening that it’s the worst dive taken since record-keeping began. And since I live here, I can speak personally that it *is* severely affecting Everyday Suzuki-san (not many Joes living here). It’s tough. And when times get tough, people don’t spend money on luxury items. And while there are a select few that depend on cameras for their sole income, I doubt those people have enough money to float Nikon through a financial crisis.

My non-expert opinion would be that development cycles are going to lengthen, not shorten. Money for R&D is going to start disappearing. Plant cuts/reductions are going to affect production lines. They’ll produce less because people are buying less. That’s going to mean it takes longer to recoup their initial development costs. We’ve been living in the golden age of photography, IMO. This little financial mess that we’re in now just might cut the rainbow short a bit.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:24:58 +0000

I agree, good analysis, much better than the subject matter of the origonal post. Good discussion as a whole though

By: Pablov

Pablov — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:24:50 +0000

Interesting post.
Deeper view than many others

By: IsamuM

IsamuM — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:19:55 +0000

FYI this is in Korean and not Japanese.

By: a

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:41:37 +0000

No way the Canon and Nikon boys will drown a weak market with so many products. You know why?

They will LOSE money updating and revising production lines.

D400, sure. No D4 in 2009.

I’d much rather see some new lenses.

By: kaki

kaki — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:30:22 +0000

Most things in this rumor are not make sense at all. Nikon will not replace its flagship in a year with ignoring high developing cost. Economy is another factor. I think the market is not ready for another round of swaping action. These prediction is not based on thought.

By: another reader

another reader — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:23:35 +0000

Sorry, there’s no way Nikon will stick an FX sensor in a D40ish body. There’s absolutely no demand for it. I think it would be very cool, but….no. It would push up the price of the camera too much to compete against other brands. Telling your consumers that your camera’s better because the sensor is physically bigger won’t get Nikon anywhere in their audience range.

By: cs

cs — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:21:03 +0000

an FX sensor is bigger than a d40/d60 body? umm no, that’s wrong.

By: Nokin

Nokin — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 02:54:44 +0000

The D400 will be arriving second quarter next year with 21 mp. It will have video and a unique feature set which will make the D400 much more than a D300x. It is rival killer. The D700x will be pushed until the end of the year and will follow the D400′s initial successes. Timing is not set, except that it will be released prior to the holiday season. In 2009, the D3x will continue to be the strongest performer in its intended market, due to a design implementation that far surpasses rival products in terms of physical and image quality. The D400 and D700x will be released to satisfy complementary markets. The D4 will not be released prior to 2010. The D3x will meet market expectations in 2009.