Yes, difference is 600 to 650 Euro. And indeed – I think – many would hesitate to buy a D400 for the price of a D700. So a D400 *has* to be cheaper, means the MSRP shouldn’t start above 1699 (or so) so that a gap of at least 300 Euro remains.

“The only thing that may come on DX is a Movie Full HD and stereo mic. We will never see this in FX body.”

There’s more things which could be added to a D300 successor, we all can speculate about things like built-in GPS etc. pp.

And I do *not* think that we well not see Full HD (and a stereo mic) in a FX body: I think it’s just the opposite, once it starts – and it will, with the cam generations after D700, D3 and D3x, I’m absolutely convinced it will start then – it will be mandatory for all later FX cams.

“If there will be a D400 then must have a better IQ then D90, a FullHD movie function and some more pix.”

Of course it will have better IQ, more MP and Full HD.
The question is: What else?

http://photofan.jp/camera/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=5890&forum=11&post_id=53007#forumpost53007

Info in link:

“I am visiting Japan and we had a very interesting meeting with some friends…

a800…
-15.2Mpx APS-C CMOS Exmor “R” sensor
-ISO 100-12.800
-6.5 frame per second
-New high speed flash sync
-9 double cross f/2.8 AF sensor (23 total AF sensor)
-New metering and AF sensor with tracking and previous focus
-Dual AF Ultr-Speed motor ??
-Wi-Fi built-in

Will be announced on PMA09 and launch on April with 3 new DT lenses… “

I know the cycles won’t be exact the same in future, and I don’t even know the exact cycles of the past DSLRs… but:

(correct the old dates if they are wrong) :

Q4 2007 – D300 & D3 were launched toghether
Q2-3 2008 – D700
Q4 2008 – D3x

Now, if Nikon launch a D400 soon:
Q1-2 2009 – D400
Then the cycles of Dn and Dnnn won’t be together anymore

We can think this too:
Q3 2009 – D700x

So the next step would be:
Qx 2010 – D4 ?
OR Qx 2010 – D800 ?

The D700 was the first FX “affordable” body, or a cheaper version of the FX Pro body.
I guess D4 and D800 wouldn’t be launched at the same time because both are FX formats and D800 could hurt the sales of D4.

– But I don’t see what we could expect to be launched first, D4 or D800 ???

I could bet the D4 will include Movie/Video in a Pro implementation.

Besides more MP (thanks to the sensor development and improvements, giving better sensitive to light even with smaller pixels), and some “minor” improvements or small new features, what other “Big” new feature can we expect from a pro body to call it D4 ? Just more AF sensors?

One IMPORTANT thing we should always consider is What Canon (the main competitor) is offering, and will offer, since Nikon needs to keep competitive and they will move accordingly too, it is their business.

I think a D400 is probable in the first semester, as well as a new entry-level camera (LV and movie mode are big selling points there).

I don’t think so.
Canon has already launched a FX with full HD (5D Mark II), and that camera is highly demanded ffrom many people.
Some of them bought it manily because of the low light Movie and full frame lenses capability.

Canon will probably launch a 1D with full HD too

I was even considering that option (5D MK II) seriously, but I found too many people having hot pixels on it.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I didn’t hear a hot pixel issue that often in Nikon DSLRs

It stoped me, and now I wonder what happen with Canon…

- Are all Canon DSLRs suffering from hot pixels issue, or is just more often in the 5D MK II ?
- Are Nikon DSLRs having as many hot pixels as Canon have?

I was scared about the high ammount of people owning 5D MK II reporting that.

For me “remapping” is only an option when you just have very few hot pixels, because it only covers the sensor faults, hiding the hot pixel but not solving the problem in depht.

So my question is why should I buy a D400? if I can get an FX body for same price?
If Nikon will come with D400, then, must bring some new features that will make DX a viable choice for the future or may come with updated DX lenses that are very cheap comparing with FX lenses.

The Nikon camera progress is so advanced and I am wondering what could be more improved on a D300?. Is a perfect camera for semi-pro.
The only thing that may come on DX is a Movie Full HD and stereo mic. We will never see this in FX body.
If there will be a D400 then must have a better IQ then D90, a FullHD movie function and some more pix.

/Catalin

The limited offer for D300 at dnet24 might result from a special deal between dnet and Nikon Germany. As you may know, every dealer negotiates contracts with Nikon. They probably bought a huge number of D300 bodies to offer it at a good price. Besides that, stating that some item is limited can sell it quite fast.

I don’t believe in a replacement for the D300 this year.

My biggest worry is that the D400 wont compete with the D700 in terms of image quality as measured by DxOMark points. If it continues to lag behind to much in the low-light performance I will go FX.

So do I. Seems brand-new to me. And I haven’t seen any mentioning from Nikon.

“I really doubt that they are trying to sell off any remaining D300s to make room for it’s successor. First of all, even if nikon was already making the D400 there will be tons of D300s still in the channels.”

I don’t know the reason for this offer. But of course Nikon must have a reason to do so. Might also be more for the lens, who knows?

“Look at the number of D40, D40x and D80 still on sale.”

D40x are sold out since some time and D80 are drying out rapidly (at least here in Germany).

“Secondly, this dealer has never been involved in any previous leaks. If a release is imminent then I’d expect it from a certain french dealer.”

In reality that doesn’t have to say anything – if it would you could get in a casino at 8 p.m. to roulette table #1 and put all your money on the “25″ – because that is the number which made it yesterday on table #1 in the same casino at the exact same time…

“And although a D300 is successor is possible for this year i really wonder. Given the state of the global economy I expect a D60 successor, a flash update and perhaps a new lens or two.”

D60 successor – definitely. And later a “D700x”. And a D40 entry-level successor will also come, I think.
Flash-update – possible. For the SB-600. But again still no hammerhead flash to rival the Metz, I fear.
Lens updates – yes, definitely. And more than only one or two, make it five (or so).

That will happen some time in the future.
One possible scenario would be to simply phase out the D300 successor, means D700 successor then being the one model.

“I do not want to be caught with DX lenses and only have a D90 body option in DX.”

Progress will march on. So think about the changes from D80 to D90, especially in terms of framerate. And now imagine what a D90 successor could be, more than 5 fps, LCD bigger than 3 inches, picture buffer bigger, and of course HD video and even more megapixels. Wouldn’t be that “enough” for most of today’s buyers of the D300? Ok, what still would be missing is AF fine tune, which could easily be implemented, and the ability to meter with non-CPU lenses – which would be too expensive for a D90 successor.
So what would most really miss from such a DX camera compared to the current D300?

Yes, 8k is a price for professionals only (and those amateurs who have money to burn).

“It sucks that lenses are going up in price now. ” That’s due to the currency value changes of the Yen to Dollars, Pounds and Euro. Nikon *has* to do it – and I’m sure they hate to have to do it, the Nikon guys are not as stupid as so many people think; in fact it’s just the opposite, the Nikon guys are very clever – and additionally managed to keep the prices not raised for a long time despite of the currency value changes.

Do you think it will come with D700x or not available until D800?”

Inevitable. But only at the next round of bodies (“D4″ and “D800″). To keep the price low – ok, “low” is not exactly the right expression for the “D700x” price range… – I think Nikon will not include a video mode into it. And it would also mean introduction of the camera would be later, time Nikon does not have to waste. But with the FX successors it of course will be inevitable.

“suppose if D700x comes with the same 24MP sensor as D3x, then it wouldn’t include movie/video mode, …”

That’s what I think.

This is why I have sold/selling all of my DX lenses and have replaced with FX lenses. I do not want to be caught with DX lenses and only have a D90 body option in DX. So for now, I am able to continue in DX with the crop or go to FX.

I personally think that there will be at least one more DX body and probably in the D400. After that who knows.

And although a D300 is successor is possible for this year i really wonder. Given the state of the global economy I expect a D60 successor, a flash update and perhaps a new lens or two.