Update: Just received that – Nikon product names start with the quarter in which they are/will be released (Q1-Q4) followed by a sequence number counting all Nikon DSLR starting from the D1. For the D3s I came up with Q242. Nikon have confirmed in an email to a reader that this was the code name for the D3s.
NPS members in the UK have received the following email:
“….We’ll email you more details about booking your place, and NPS member preferential allocation of the new FX format Q660 soon…”
Is Q660 the code name for the new Nikon D3s?
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133 Comments
Could it be the new 70-200 f2.8?
IS NIKON TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING HERE? D4s?
Your CAPS lock is on
D700X please!
Sure…I ordered my D700 yesterday, I can’t wait any longer for the D700x, my kids are growing so fast !
For kids D3000 + kit zoom will be sufficient…
Sorry, D700 is the way to go. Capturing available light pictures of the kids beats needing a flash . . .
You give your kids a d3000, I know it’s a toy camera but you take it quite literally!
Seriously. Who needs 24mp resolution to snap photos of poopy diapers. I get it, its a messy diaper, I don’t need to crop it 100% to be sure.
You forget cats & dogs photography…
Don’t forget that you need 1080P Video for Poopy Diapers and your cat photography.
Snobby much?
I love my cat. I take photos of her all the time with my D3. I named her Niko after Nikon… sad part is all of that is true… :-S
Hi Alex,
I switched to canon 5D MKII after a long wait for d700x. U will not regret. You can shoota lot of HD videos of your kids . I now have 7D. I am not supporting any brand but with manual control, it is simply amzing to shoot video.
Regards,
Jay
After a 5DmkII you get a 7D? What’s that good for?
Sports, birding…
anyone has D300s and 7D? any comparison?
I could make a suggestion where, at least eventually, you’ll find a comparison of the two, but I’m somewhat hesitant to recommend reading Ken Rockwell around here.
Considering its been a year since the D700 and less than a year since the D3x you didn’t wait that “long”
Hi,
I have been with Nikon for more than 20 years and I never used a Canon camera, I have 4 excellent lenses that I don’t want to sell.
The D700 is a great camera, I sure would be more happy with a 16-18MP but it’s better to have a camera than nothing
I guess it may be something between D300s and D3s.
I could be a D400 (would be great, but 0%) or a D700s (50%).
If it should be a new body it will be probably a D700s.
- D3s
- D300s
- D700s
sssssssssssssssssssssss………….. =)
D700s next summer
or a 700x – who knows?
D700xs
Let’s begin yet another new/hot rumor topic, admin! I’m scare of bore!
He…he…he… CHEERS !
D700S or D700X is sure to be next? the camera is a year old now? D3 now has both S and X versions!! Can’t wait.
NPS is the Nikon Professional Service, so this should be related to a profesional product.
After the introduction of the D3s i will be really surprised if this is not a code name for something already public.
I read the other day that NPS members were getting the first of the 70-200VRII lenses. Do you think that this may be NPS members getting their D3s bodies before others? Just a thought…
Michael, you’re probably right. When the D3 was announced, in many locales, the first shipments were restricted to NPS members only. I know Nikon Canada did that – in order to get on a list at a store you had to be an NPS member.
Canon got some heat for not doing that with the 1DMkIII, but we know how well that turned out.
it’s like the Goldmember from Austin Powers……
Or my second guess is that the full grown species, called NPS members are unique creature of the Nikon race. Most can be recognized by their 12MPs. However, rare members of the population stand out with 24MP. Mostly they are the dominant males and they well protect their expensive territory.
I somehow feel there will be another annoucement before the end of the year.
the delayed lenses (16-35/4 , 24/1.4, 85/.14, 80-400 replacement) most likely. the surprise could be a 700X/700S. if not, 700X in PMA or 700S next July…
If that happends I would be surprised, but happy…
+1
but very surprised and very happy
I feel that maybe we should visit the bloody liqouer store and once we got stoned we may have double vision. This will equal with exactly 24MP.
New fullframe mirrorless camera, Nikon gonna show a (working) prototype in limited edition..
2 years from today…
Q660…? Please let it be D700s, but I’m guessing Q2/Q3 2010 for that one. My freelancing income will vanish in Swedish taxes at newyear, I have to invest now… Perhaps a D300s while waiting.
Hey guys, hasn’t Nikon throw enough crap at us this year?
How pathetic this company is? Releases a camera with a lens that doesn’t really designed for. Also, try to imagine a Ferrari with a Yugo engine. (720p)
Nikon is not saying you should buy this lens with the camera. To assume that’s why the released them on the same day means something is ludicrous. The 70-200 2.8VR II was released with a DX body. What Nikon telling us something then too?
My only guess is that they are stoned. Nikon will suffer for big time next Tuesday. If the gossip is true (why not, it’s a big day for) Canon will come out something really good camera.
And we Nikon users can wait another 6 months to get some plastic crap and perhaps an “s” version. I start considering to look into other makers offerings because I refuse to pay 8k for the D3x.
I don’t know, I’d be surprised if we saw another body from Nikon this year.
I think the next fx cam we’ll see is a D700s. Makes the most sense. I know there are a lot clamoring for a D700x, but I think there’s a price problem there for Nikon – too cheap and no one buys a D3x anymore, too expensive, no one buys a D700x.
So, stop gap with a D700s, let D3x prices drop – or even wait for a D4 – then maybe do a D700x. Or, maybe there will never be a D700x – the D800 might replace the D700 with whatever sensor the D4 gets.
The Q660 it’s the D3s’s code name
there must be a typo … it supposed to be 666 (the number of the beast)
where do you know that from?
Id like to see or a 16-35 or a 70-400 vr ; but are they going to release some new fx lenses or not?
Its the D3XS, that’s my guess anyway.
No speculation at all that this could be related to the mirrorless camera patent? Nikon M9 killer? Seems odd to explicitly say “FX Format” about anything on a pro mailing list.
Could be a new stronger battery?
Well Nikon UK’s product code for their pro camras are:
D3 is a VBA180AB
D3x is a VBA190AB
D700 is a VBA 220AB
D90 is a VBA230AB
D5000 is a VBA240AB
D3000 is a VBA250AB
D300s is a VBA 260AB
So the D3s would be a …Q660. Don’t think so. In fact no product has a “Q” in its code. Guess the D3s will be a VBA270AB, or one of the ‘missing codes – perhaps a VBA200AB?? Otherwise, what would these cameras have been? Strange the D3 and D3x share adjacent codes, despit the release of other models in between.
Go figure.
In fact, ALL Nikon camera products start with “Q” internally before they have “official” public release names. Lenses begin with “R”
Not every NPS member has received this email, so I’m assuming it’s an alphabetical order thing
It may be a priority thing.
I didn’t get it but only have a D200 + couple of pro lenses registered on the Nikon site. They might have a preferred list.
Got a mail, but a different one.
I’m assuming you may be NPU registered, rather than NPS
I was told by a Nikon rep it was the code name for the new D400. The D300s will have a very short half life.
@Johnny, so what r u saying? The d400 is FX? I don’t see how this will be something NPS tries to promote .
I wonder if could have something to do with the processor in the camera. There is an Intel Core 2 Duo Q660 processor out.
It’s actually called Q6600, a quad core processor with a TDP of (up to) 105W which will definitely never find a home in a camera.
No please, no intel processors inside my Nikon camera.
Don’t ask, don’t tell!
Can we see the rest of the mail ?
I received a different one (NPS mail).
Now that D3s is out, Nikon could invest some time in LENSES.
From the polls here I think it can be seen that plenty of people would like the 700x / 800 if there ever is one. Myself included.
THEN lenses ;o)
I think D700s if release it has to be this year or begining 2010, by the end of next year I think it would be more worthy a D800 or whatever the name would be with a 15-16MP sensor (12-14mp 1.2crop DX) and that would be a great camera.
well im happy i just bought a d700. theres no use chasing a mid-cycle product anyway. the update will be a much more significant update to chase since it will be a true update. D800 FTW!!!!!! Plus cameras usually last for a good 2 product cycles for regular use. I had my D80 for 3 years and I just upgraded to the D700…. now thats a significant upgrade…..
Might have nothing to do with this code number, but there was an interesting line in the Letsgodigital review that NR linked to the other day. The author was at the St. Andrews Scotland press preview of the D3s and presumably heard a lot of comments from official Nikon staff that made their way into his article. At the end of the second paragraph talking about the range of FX bodies he says:
“the Nikon D700, a compact version of the Nikon D3 which will be discontinued as soon as the Nikon D3s becomes available. ”
I’m surprised at that and haven’t heard it picked up by any other media, so is it a mistake or something that he wasn’t supposed to say yet? I can’t believe Nikon would really kill the compact FX body and leave the only choices to be double and triple the price pro bodies. Or is there still a D700s/D700x out there waiting for the launch of the D3s and the initial wave of orders for it to be fulfilled before it’s announced? NR can you find out a little more about this D700 “discontinuation”?
you understood it wrong, D3 is discontinued, not D700
That’s not really clear or the article is badly written, in going over the FX range there is a sentence each about the D3x, the new D3s and the D700. Here is that whole excerpt:
” The Nikon D3x, a 24 Megapixel DSLR camera aimed at the studio photographer, holds the top position when it comes to resolution. The new Nikon D3s is ranked right below, being a 12 Megapixel digital SLR for the photo journalist, sports and nature photographer. Followed by the Nikon D700, a compact version of the Nikon D3 which will be discontinued as soon as the Nikon D3s becomes available. ”
If the writer clearly meant to indicate it was the D3 being discontinued why did the second sentence just read “The new Nikon D3s [which replaces the D3 model] is ranked right below, being a 12 Megapixel digital SLR for the photo journalist, sports and nature photographer.”? There is a lot of ambiguity there that could be a dropped hint, or just poor journalism writing.
I think this is a case of a bad or missing copy editor.
@JasonH, you read it wrong. the D3 is, and HAS been discontinued. not the D700. please let this go.
Looks like a poor choice in grammar. I’d hazard a guess that he meant the D3 is being discontinued upon the release of the D3s.
are you imagining things???????
Actually it was picked up on by a couple of people in the comments on the initial release. ‘We’ decided it refers to the end of the D3 (replaced by the ’s’) and not the D700. It’s just a bit ambiguous the way they wrote it.
D700x!!! And please make the 14-24 with a filter thread.
just use whatever you have now… the d700 is already a very capable camera……
I don’t have a D700. I had a D300, but sold it. I have a D90, great camera. I want to go FF, but don’t want to buy a D700 and have the D700x released soon after, because I would like that.
what if they sent a different code to every nps-member?
then “q660″ would tell nikon which person leaked the info.
or did at least 2 people get an email with this “q660″-code?
lol
that would be something, free publicitity, and then punish the people who ‘leaked’
I received multiple emails with the same code – the same code is also online – see the update to the post
“Nikon product names start with the quarter in which they are/will be released”
So, all we have to do is wait for the 6th quarter of this fiscal year… :p
or we have to wait for the 60th DSLR after the D1 (we are at 24 now, I think)
Numbers do not correspond with quarters of the year…
I think a d700s would be by far the best camera ever(for me). I would give my left arm for it. fingers crossed.
You and me both, I’d chop off any limb it’d take
+1 The D3S sounds great for high ISO (important to me), but I would like a smaller body – D700s.
After the D3s, the D700s really does appear to be the FX body most likely to be released next, but I don’t think it will happen this year, more likely Q1 of next year.
no such thing as Q6 in a year…
Looking forwards then to the sixth quarter of this year. So the UK product name will be something like a VBA200AB, but the product code is a Q660. No wonder Nikon confused themselves and released the wrong lens yesterday!
Oh, and NO Nikon UK product names start with a ‘Q.’ I’ll send a full list on to NR for what it’s worth. So don’t know where that idea comes from.
if you read that whole NPS email, the entire context is the D3S. nothing else.
so the Q660 is the D3S. this is kind of a waste of everyone’s time.
agreed.
I did not have all the information as I posted that for the first time… the updates came later on
Has anyone commented on the details of the new sensor? They claim the internal structure has been completely re-designed. What I read from that is that it is an Exmor-R type design (backlit). Is that correct?
But backlit was only sufficient for small (compact/P&S) camera sensors.
should i assume that a D700s upgrade would be close to what the D3s upgrade is?
yes. but not enough of an upgrade to disrupt d3s sales.
basically dont expect much….
Assume nothing.
Well… at least it shows how much people are dreaming of some competitor to the Canon 5D MK 2…. seriously… not some far too expensive and big 3Ds with not even proper video!!! I mean look at that http://www.vimeo.com/5410762 … those 2 3ds videos posted previously here are “cheap” compared to that!!!
perhaps you should read the commentary on the d3S movie. the producer mentioned what he didnt see the camera picked up.
this is on Nikon’s site – I have no control over it
Don’t link to it and just post a picture of said article without the person’s email address . . . unless they are cool with it . . .
this is on a Nikon’s site, opened to the public – the link has been posted as a comment already
ok, took the link out, I hope Nikon does the same
This post doesn’t make any sense to me
I would say that Q660 is Nikon’s internal name for the product and the D3s is the public name. I say this because the company I work for uses code names for their products when we are developing them that are completely different from the public names of the products when they are released. And I think that it is simply an oversight on whoever created the email, that they included both the internal and public names for this camera.
I’d like to point out the same wording from the email:
“Redraw the boundaries of professional photography
with the new FX-format D3S.”
“We’ll email you more details about booking your place, and NPS member preferential allocation of the new FX format Q660 soon.”
Notice the wording…”the new FX-format D3s”
Notice the wording…”the new FX format Q660″
Seems logical to me that the wording is talking about the same camera…the D3s
… lol
Epson is “volume manufacturing” evf displays. who is buying them?
Could it be the P version of the D3’s? Look here for a D3p example:D3p
wow! never realized that existed!!
Did you look at the date of the d3p article?
Yeah I did. Maybe it’s the updated version for the D3Ps?
That is bullshit,
No PC botton: amateur+ photoshop added (identical botton as the one bellow slightly modified).
Tripod socket amateur- photoshop removed. looks like crap.
who the hell buys that story on customs and who the hell says D3 users don´t use a tripod! hahaaaa!
cheers
A 700xsE? I love the smell of espresso in the morning.
Pretty soon Nikon will have around 7, 12mp DSLRs.
uhh… when is does the 6th quarter come around?
I generally like your work Admin, but you’re really reachin’ here.
I hope I don’t have to perform another Excorism!
If the Q# = quarter of the year, how can there be a Q6? And even if it’s fiscal year and not calendar year, the D3s can’t be Q2 as we’re in fiscal Q3 and calendar Q4. So it must mean something else. Furthermore, if the D3s is Q242, then how can they be announcing a Q660? You think Nikon has 18 more DSLRs in the pipeline?
In addition, I don’t count 42 Nikon DSLRs from the D1. I count 35 as follows including kit lens variations, so it’s really only 25 different bodies:
1999-2004: D1, D1x, D1H, D100, D2H, D70
2005: D2X, D2Hs, D70s, D50, D200
2006: D2Xs, D80, D40 w/ 18-55 lens
2007: D40x w/ 18-55 lens, D40x body, D300, D3
2008: D60, D60w/ 18-55 lens, D60 w/ 18-55 VR, D60 w/ 18-55VR + 55-200VR, D700, D700 w/24-120, D90, D90 w/18-105, D60SE, D60SE w/18-55VR lens, D3x.
2009: D5000, D5000 w/ 18-55VR, D5000 w/18-55VR & 55-200VR, D300s, D3000 w/18-55VR, D3s.
exactly what i have been thinking.
there were D40 and D40x with 55-200 too, besides other packs (like D300 with 18-70)
Just curious to why so many people prefer the D700 over the D3. I just honestly want to know from a D700 users perspective. I know a lot of people say because its a smaller body, but do none of the people who say that use the optional MB-D10 grip. Because when attached to the D700 it is actually a little bigger than the D3 & weighs more. Also the considerable price difference might draw a lot of people. But performance wise i want to know why some people say the D700 replaces the D3 for portraiture & landscapes. These are not rhetorical or sarcastic questions… I just want to know as a D3 user from a D700 users perspective. Thanks.
As a landscape shooter, all I need is the smaller body in the D700, the vertical grip is hardly needed especially when you have an L-bracket and use a tripod 99% of the time. Also I shoot only at the base ISO, so the High ISO performance never really comes into it unless I want to do some night photography.
I shoot a D700 and can answer about the grip. When I use my 50mm 1.4G lens, I shoot with the body only. When I drop on a heavy lens, like my 14-24, 24-70, or 70-200, the grip balances the weight better, and makes it easier to hold. So better “grip” with the grip. Shooting vertical is much better as well.
As for the D3, I had the option to upgrade (trade) my D700 for a D3 recently, but did not because I like the sensor cleaning and the built in flash. Granted the built in flash would only give coverage with my 50mm 1.4G lens, but I use it mainly as a CLS trigger for my SB-900. Without the built in, I would need to pony up another $450.
Finally to keep it more compact. On a recent photo trip to El Salvador, I had to pack light, so I left the MB-10 at home, and just took my body, 14-24, anad 24-70. I brought an SB-400 as well and left my SB-900 at home.
the d700 is more of an “on the go camera” not some brick used for special occasions…
Thank you. All of your answers were very informative.
I have my MD-D10 grip leftover from my D300 days and I think the only time I ever stuck it on was to verify that it worked when I first bought the D700. I spied an opportunity to pick up a D3 used once for US$2500. Was highly tempted to jump on it. Instead, I waited and picked up a used D700 several months later. Couldn’t be happier.
Q660 = D95 FX at EUR 998.-
Admin,
is there a chance that you implement some kind of comments rating system? I would really like to see sensible visitors give bonuses to those comments full of information or clarifications and maluses to all those DAMN crypto-Canon-lovers who whine all the time about how Nikon is not keeping up to their hopes.
Jesus Christ, this is a Rumor site, not the Nikon Wishlist channel…
Sorry for the OT, but I wish I could turn off the whining with some kind of semantic web mechanism…
Yeah I think everyones opinion should matter on everything. Lets not leave anyone out. And everyones wishlist should get a chance to be heard.
Hey, if you want to read all comments you will still be able to do it. I would like to read comments that have much positive feedback. It’s really a waste of time reading all that uncalled for whining I’m seeing lately.
And I CAN’T avoid it if there is no comment rating mechanism.
Last but not least, not every whining is bad. Perhaps some whining with arguments might get positive feedback and have many +++ ratings.
never had a canon in my hand…. I am pacifist – and taking pictures, my D90, Bentley F4, and Contax 645 – just waiting for a multi-shot D400 – will come next year.
honestly, I think 1.) Q660 is a new FX camera to be launched this year, 2.) I do not think that it will be a D700s/x, and 3.) maybe a rangefinder cam, or D4 with new high res IQ and sensor (maybe 48 MP?) using multi-shot on basis of Exmor-R sensor. The only people whining will be Canon guys and poor guys like myself who cannot afford to spend 10,000.- USD for a camera
To bad we can’t go back in time 10 years ago !
We could sell bunch of D3000 for $10.000 each !
and could make a Jesus video 2000 years ago