Nikon D7000: new 39 points AF and magnesium-alloy body

Small pieces of information continue to pop-up on various Internet forums - the new 39 point AF system and the magnesium-alloy body of the new Nikon D7000:

nikon d7000 39 points af Nikon D7000: new 39 points AF and magnesium alloy bodynikon d7000 magnesium alloy body Nikon D7000: new 39 points AF and magnesium alloy body

Related posts:

  1. Nikon working on a carbon fibre SLR body?
  2. Nikon D7000 top and side view
  3. Nikon D7000 will be the replacement of the D90
  4. Nikon D7000 will be available in stores in October
  5. After the D7000, Nikon D90 will still be available till the end of 2010
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186 Comments

  1. LGO
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:25 pm | Permalink

    Excellent AF points!

  2. Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:26 pm | Permalink

    That’s what I’m talking about. Looks solid. Like the AF set up.

  3. LGO
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:28 pm | Permalink

    Better luck next time …. :D

  4. safeg
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:29 pm | Permalink

    GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:29 pm | Permalink

    I’m starting to worry about the initial price tag… ;-)

    • AG
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

      I wouldn’t… With the Pentax K5 and 60D on Nikon’s as$ they have to be very aggressive…

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:06 pm | Permalink

        True.. But considering the 60D’s price is way higher than it should be for it’s spec, Nikon may just pump D7k’s up a bit more. And Pentax being a great camera is not really as popular in this segment. (I think)

      • Manne
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:55 pm | Permalink

        Imho, the D7000 quite seems to outperform both the Pentax K5 and the Canon 60D.

      • Makoto Kimura
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:00 pm | Permalink

        E-5… $1700 + e-pl1 sensor = EPIC LOL

      • Scott
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

        Considering the current state of the USD, Yen, and Euro, if you live in the USA you shouldn’t expect it to be very cheap.

      • GvD
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 9:16 pm | Permalink

        Also keep in mind the D3100 is a pound for pound a better camera than the T2i and the differences match in quality vs price listed for the 60D vs the D7000.

        • GvD
          Posted September 15, 2010 at 2:22 pm | Permalink

          And I was right. :-)

    • Richard Hartmann
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:52 pm | Permalink

      Amazon.com offers it for $2,199.00 with overnight shipping if you order within hour and 38 minutes. Yes, that would imply an immediate release.

      http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BTCSI6/

      • Marc W.
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:05 pm | Permalink

        D700, big difference!

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:06 pm | Permalink

        That’d be the D700, which is the existing pro camera from Nikon

      • Paul
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

        haha, FAIL!

        • SHOX!
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

          EPIC!

      • Dean
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

        LMAO.

      • cirtap
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:01 pm | Permalink

        Hey Mary Hartman…LOL

    • Luke
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:57 pm | Permalink

      The D7000 is a clear competitor to the canon 7D. If the D7000 rumor price holds true canon will have to drop the price of the 7D.

      • hah
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

        nope. D7000 competes with 60D.

        this is a clear replacement for the D90. The 7D competitor is called D400 and it is due next year.

        just look at this and get the picture
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Canon_DSLR_cameras
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Nikon_DSLR_cameras

        this camera does not compete in price with the 7D. it clearly it is meant to blow the 60D out of the water and that it does.

        • Vladi
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:00 pm | Permalink

          Well then it better be cheaper than £999 cause with that price for body only it will compete with Canon’s 7D pricewise.

        • Luke
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:24 pm | Permalink

          spec wise it is a clear competitor to the 7D not the 60D. The name says is a clue, Nikon named the D5000 as a competitor to the canon 500D the D7000 is a clear jab at the 7D

          • Alex
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:36 pm | Permalink

            Plus the 60D was not a direct replacement of the 50D, the 7D took that position. The D7000 is without any doubt, a competitor to the 7D.

            • Eric Pepin
              Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:36 pm | Permalink

              no. The 7d is a “pro” crop option, same as the d300s is a pro DX option. The d7000 seems to take too much away from what the d300s had to be that option.

              People need to realize these companies are NOT stupid, they market against each other and provide products in the same brackets, this camera is a 60 D competitor, yes the body material is dif but the 50D and d90 competed well and the d90 was plastic while the 50d was metal.

  6. Simon
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:30 pm | Permalink

    If the D7000 will have AF-finetuning, I will order one immediately when available ;-)

  7. Sven
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:32 pm | Permalink

    WOOOW ! :D nice ….
    Come on with those information …

  8. D90
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:32 pm | Permalink

    Herat new cam but only for tamron or sigma lenses if it has no fine tuning.

  9. ATAMAH
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

    My money wait when hi come in our shops! I olrady rady by this camera! :)

  10. Jivee
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    Please just say it uses same EN-EL3E like D80/90/200/300/700. I don’t want to be re-buying batteries as I buy bodies!

    • Faiz Imam
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:50 pm | Permalink

      sorry to burst your bubble, but the consensus rumors suggest the battery is different.

    • LGO
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:53 pm | Permalink

      Different batteries = different chargers :(

      • Jivee
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

        Well, I know the EN-EL3E last forever and a day when using the D90 as a still camera….but gets drained when shooting video. So I’d assume 20 minute record time is going to need a higher capacity battery. 1.8Ah?

        Hope the new grip doesnt cost a packet, and also has AF point selector like MB-D10. Else just let it use AA’s, and be buying shares in Uniross.

        • lolcatmaster FTW
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:13 pm | Permalink

          2 words: Battery grip.

    • dave
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:43 pm | Permalink

      Maybe with the new polymer technology, the camera will BE the battery ;-)

      • ewan
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:58 pm | Permalink

        As long as I can still get a spare for thirty-odd quid, I’ll be happy.

  11. Strippy
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:42 pm | Permalink

    Body upgrade time has come. D7k looks like a good replacement for my D60.

    • LGO
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:46 pm | Permalink

      The D60 is still good but I agree, the D7000 would be a good upgrade from the D60.

      • Phoenix
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:54 pm | Permalink

        Feeling the same with my D50, the D7000 is looking like a beast!

    • Void
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:58 pm | Permalink

      Heck, except for lacking swivel it is a good step up from the D5000.

      • Nikkorian
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:06 pm | Permalink

        the swivel is not a bad option for upper entry level, i think. a friend lately told me they bought the d5k for the swivel. i think i don’t need it and maybe even don’t want it.

    • Nikkorian
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:05 pm | Permalink

      I still have the D40x. The only upgrade option from DX is FX for me. That will cause the only possible change in my photos. Thus I’m waiting for a D800, so I’ll get the D700 for <1300 Euros, and if it'll take another year :-)

      • Jen
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 9:13 pm | Permalink

        clearly you have no idea.
        I guess you’re the type that thinks FX will solve all your problems. You probably don’t own a flash either.

        • Where's my...
          Posted September 15, 2010 at 6:32 pm | Permalink

          I own a D80, D300 and lots of 35mm film cameras. I also own 10 external flashes. I firmly believe that the FX, 12MP D700 replacement is going to solve all my problems and that having waited for it for so long gives me the determination to skip this D7000 too.

  12. Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:49 pm | Permalink

    Oh good grief, they re-designed the AF points and STILL have the cross-type points clustered in the center? SHOOT ME NOW.

    =Matt=

    • LGO
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

      I take it you do not like the position of the D700 AF points then.

      I much prefer this though than a spread-out pattern for the AF points.

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:18 pm | Permalink

        Read my article on CameraTalk about “AF point spread” if you’re interested. In short, yes I would prefer to have more spread out AF points on FX; I’m very used to my D300. I don’t need AF points to be THAT spread out, but a little more than the current FX design would be nice.

        However, that is NOT the main issue. For me the main issue is where the cross-type AF points are. I wish they were arranged more like Canon’s 45 point AF system, with two concentric circles of cross-type AF points that are perfectly positioned, especially on Canon’s 1.3x crop bodies. If you’ve ever shot with one, you’ll know what I mean.

        =Matt=

        • Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:12 pm | Permalink

          Uh…try the Canons in low light side by side with the Nikons. My experience has been that despite the outer points on cam3500 not being cross type, they are much more sensitive in low light than their Canon counterparts. This has been my experience with a D700, D300, and D3, next to the 1dmkiii, 1dsmkii, 5d, 5dmkii, 50d, and 7d. I found the D700 and D3 to be a touch more sensitive than the D300. Not sure why. And I was using an mb-d10 with the D300 and D700, if that makes a difference (I have not found it to).

          Biggest difference was when comparing the D700 to the 5dmkii and 7D. I was surprised that the 7D had such trouble tracking low light. We’re talking a brand new 5dmkii and 7D with 70-200/2.8IS vs. my well used D700 with 70-200/2.8VR-I, so it’s not like my glass was any faster.

        • hah
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:42 pm | Permalink

          dude, you’re talking about canon’s 5K camera. not only are they not going to arrange them that way or even match the cross type count, it is silly to think an 1100 buck camera is meant to match a flagship aF system. It’s like wanting to buy a KIA that does 0-60 in 3 seconds. sure you want it. good luck finding it.

          • Posted September 14, 2010 at 8:56 pm | Permalink

            Darn tootin I’m comparing the Canon’s top tier with the cam3500 in the D300 and D700–AND I’m saying they compare POORLY with the Nikons for ability to lock focus in low light. This is from first hand experience with 2.8 L glass. Hell my d90 catches focus better than the 5d/5dmkii and it’s not that great either.

            My point is that it may not matter if they’re cross type or not. In practice the line type in the cam3500 does quite well in low light, and much better than the Canon fare. The proof of the pudding will be in the tasting. Er shooting. Let’s shoot pudding!

            • preston
              Posted September 15, 2010 at 12:27 pm | Permalink

              (huh was responding to Matthew, not you)

        • Jen
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 9:16 pm | Permalink

          Canon’s cross-type ONLY WORK on f2.8 or FASTER lenses.
          Nikon’s cross-type work on f5.6 or FASTER lenses.

          that’s why Canon’s AF suxors.

    • Bobby
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:59 pm | Permalink

      What if they all end up being cross type sensors? O_O

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

        That would indeed make my day. However I am likely to doubt this is the case, because of the visual look of each point. The 15 in the center are slightly larger, just like on the D300 / D700 etc.

        We’ll know soon enough though. If they spread out the cross-type points I will be VERY happy.

        Actually I’m going to wager that the pro-series cameras will receive a DIFFERENT upgrade to their AF design, hopefully. So the fat lady doesn’t sing till I see the D300 replacement or the D700 replacement.

        =Matt=

        • Zograf
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:47 pm | Permalink

          They don’t seem larger (if you save the jpeg and zoom in) simply the 15 in the centre are packed differently to those on left and right. The outer groups are more spread so indeed this could be considered as an indicator they are different i.e. not cross-typed(((

        • Bobby
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:24 pm | Permalink

          I would assume that Nikon will try to move to more cross type sensors like the competing 1D series from canon in their next AF system for the D4, D700 replacement etc. We shall soon find out everything about this camera in a few hours.

        • Eric Pepin
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:39 pm | Permalink

          im with you, once i went to the d300 focusing finally became enjoyable instead of the painful nightmare it is on all other cameras without focusing points on the edges, i like to compose things away from the center and focusing on the eyes near the top and bottom of verticals is a pain with anything other then a d3oo

    • Justin
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:14 pm | Permalink

      How do you know where the cross type points are?

      • LGO
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:40 pm | Permalink

        “all” should mean …. well, all!

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

        See my comment above. I’m just guessing, but it’s an educated (and probably correct) guess. I’d LOVE to be proved wrong, however. And as the below poster notes, it is still a VERY welcome change compared to the HORRIBLE design of the D200 / D80 / D90 AF system. Ugh…

        =Matt=

        • Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:37 pm | Permalink

          Yes, I see why Matthew is guessing this. The cam3500 actually has three modules to make up the array in 3 clusters of focus points– three rows of 7 line sensors on either side of a tall cluster of 15 cross type. It looks the same as those three perfect rectangles of sensors.

    • lolcatmaster FTW
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:15 pm | Permalink

      Much better than the crippled version of the D200 AF system the D80 and D90 had…. In the D200 was OK but in the D80 and D90 they trimmed a LOT of the customization you could do in the D200, I could understand why in the D80 because they were products coexsisting in the same time line but the D90 pffft come on..

      So this AF system is a welcomed addition

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

        Definitely a huge step in the right direction. I guess I shouldn’t pass judgement until I see the next generation of flagship cameras. Unfortunately I’m betting that a D700s or D700x will have the same 51 point AF, and a D800 might too. Just depends on what Nikon decides to do. But I’m betting that we won’t see a change in any of those high-end bodies until it is debuted in a D4… Or a D5, if they decide to skip “4″…

        =Matt=

        • hah
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:35 pm | Permalink

          irrelevant. nikon may chose to share or not the AF system of the flagship D4. there is no reason why a D700 mk II can’t have a new AF module that is somewhere in between what the D4 will get.

        • Stop Whining
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 9:59 pm | Permalink

          Good grief. The cross types aren’t spread out…. cry me a freakin’ river.

          At least Nikon delivers decent AF in their bodies. The 5D series sucks for AF tracking (I’ve owned a 5D, 5DII, 1DIV and a 40D). Nikon do a much better job even though the cross types are “clustered in the center”. As someone else pointed out, the outer “non-cross” points on Nikon cameras do better in low light than the cross points on the 1DIV anyway (I have a D3s now and it’s much better I can tell you).

          Watch out dude, you’ll become Ken Rockwell (and that’s NOT a compliment LOL).

  13. Eric
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:54 pm | Permalink

    That 35mm 1.4 is drawing my to conclude I might buy that and wait for the D700 replacement. FX is my future, don’t compromise with DX body!

    But then 35mm 1.4 has been my lens of choice for years and years. In my newspaper days I shot about 80 percent of my stuff with a Leica M6 and 35mm 1.4 Summilux Aspheric. I may just have to pretend to be Cartier-Bresson and wait for the next FX body. Or break down and buy a used D3.

    • LGO
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:56 pm | Permalink

      Break down and buy a used D3s. :D

    • Bobby
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

      Break down and go with the M9 + 35mm 1.4 Summilux Aspheric since you’ve used the M6 before =D

    • lolcatmaster FTW
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:17 pm | Permalink

      Breakdown and go with a Hassie H4D!!! with Wii focus system!

    • Ren Kockwell
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

      The only camera you ever need is a D40!!

  14. Anonymous
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

    Gosh it has more magnesium-alloy than the Terminator does. Where is my carbon fibre when needed? :-)

    • LGO
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 3:57 pm | Permalink

      You may have to wait for the D4 or D5 to get a CF body.

      • Anonymous
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:01 pm | Permalink

        Darn it. I thought since my tennis rockets are made out of cf for over 15 yrs now then nikon can give me some cf. :-( You cannot trust nikon. One is cf the other magnesium. :-)

        • WoutK89
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm | Permalink

          CF is getting confusing, like MF,
          CF = CarbonFibre and CompactFlash
          MF = Medium Format and Manual Focus

          • LGO
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:42 pm | Permalink

            A good catch there …

            “CF body” however should be self-explanatory. :D

          • Anonymous
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

            No because I did not use capitalised letters :P

            CF=Compact Flash

            cf=carbon fibre

            :-)

  15. sloma_p
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

    For me, the most important questions right now are:
    - will it have screwdriver ?,
    - will it have AF fine-tune ?,
    - will the shutter go to 1/8000?,
    - how will metering work like (hope no D80 story is repeated…),
    - the noise at high ISOs – if it’s a tad better per pixel than D90 (i.e. useable at ISO3200) then it will be a winner…

    • Jivee
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:10 pm | Permalink

      Touche. I’d like like faster flash sync if possible too. Screw drive a must for my Fisheye!

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

        Amen! Viva la 1/500 sync!!!!

        • Kuv
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:26 pm | Permalink

          +1000000 to that

      • Eric Pepin
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:42 pm | Permalink

        screwdrive is a must for many and will be there, the body is the same exact shape some im guessing they will slap in the same AF motor.

    • Suprchunk
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:14 pm | Permalink

      You can buy a screwdriver at the hardware store for about a buck.

      Seriously folks, it’s not called a screwdriver. Unless you are talking about something that will actually drive a screw through some sort of material other than a camera.

      Do you mean screw drive? Because you and a million other joes aren’t saying that.

      • Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:21 pm | Permalink

        I think it’s burning slowly into photography slang.. ;-)
        After all, screwdriver sounds a lot more funny and mysterious, than “in-built AF drive motor”.

      • sloma_p
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:23 pm | Permalink

        Well, you see it’s been called “scredrivwer” in the jargon since Nikon introduced AF to their cameras… And I guess it doesn’t matter how we call it if anyone knows what we’re talking about, does it?

        • binary_eye
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm | Permalink

          Whatever you want to call it, the front photo makes it fairly obvious that the camera does indeed have an in-body AF motor.

          • Manne
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:00 pm | Permalink

            Did I miss something?

            • KjellDell
              Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

              Notice they kept the AF/CF/MF switch at the usual place, right bottom corner of the mount

            • binary_eye
              Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

              I don’t know. What do you think you missed?

        • WoutK89
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

          Indeed sloma_p, if we were to correct all spellig like that on NikonRumors, we will be busy 24/7 till hell freezes over

          • Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:46 pm | Permalink

            especially if you have to correct my spelling mistakes :)

            • SDiggity
              Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:48 pm | Permalink

              @[NR] Admin – What is your web hit count today?!!? :D

            • WoutK89
              Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:34 pm | Permalink

              My guess is high :-P

            • Posted September 14, 2010 at 8:42 pm | Permalink

              over 220k pageviews for today and the day is not over yet

            • Posted September 14, 2010 at 8:42 pm | Permalink

              this is a new record btw

            • SDiggity
              Posted September 14, 2010 at 11:50 pm | Permalink

              @[NR] Admin – That is amazing. Thanks so much for all your hard work on getting this valuable information to us. Keep up the good work!

    • Anonymous
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:30 pm | Permalink

      @ sloma_p

      for a screwdriver you can a) go down to the local hardware store or b) to the nearest bar

    • lolcatmaster FTW
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:21 pm | Permalink

      It won´t have screwdriver, only cosmopolitands
      It will only have rough AF fine tuning
      It will go only to 1/7999 but not 1/8000
      Since you don´t like the D80 metering they decided to fit the D100 metering
      The noise at high ISOS is like the D1 just AWESOME jam packed of noise!.

      Or dedicate yourself to sculpting

      • sloma_p
        Posted September 15, 2010 at 2:33 am | Permalink

        I’m doing sculpting, so you’ve missed the point there…

        1. And what’s the point of you writing that? I didn’t ask for opinion, just the information…
        2. Any AF fine-tune will be fine…
        3. I will actually never be exactly 1/8000 so another moot point…
        4. The D80 metering was a fiasco. If they fit D100 one it would be awesome…
        5. Ever shot D1? I had, as well as F5 before that, and F4 before… I guess YOU don’t need some features, I do. And no I can’t afford D700 or D3, I retired and prefer to sepnd my moeny on travelling to actually take pictures, eventually do some wedding from time to time.

        If you thought you’ve been funny think again, couse what you wrote borders on being rude…

  16. Moe
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:01 pm | Permalink

    Looks like it does not have the 10 pin connector for the remote Shutter release and GPS feed. Can not use these components from my D700?

    • Antonio Rojilla
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:10 pm | Permalink

      Both are at the bottom side.

    • jastereo
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:17 pm | Permalink

      The GP-1 has another cable that works w/ the D90 socket on the side, I’d assume this new body will have the same for use w/ the GP-1 at least. They sell a shutter release for that same plug as well.

      • Moe
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:10 pm | Permalink

        True for GP1 – If you have different GPS using a MC 35 serial adapter( $100), MC 36 ($130+)or MC 30 ($70+) remote release you are out of luck. Not complaining, just saying not being able to share any other thing Nikon is a cost and adoption issue for some. Of and the battery and charger

  17. Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

    Being a focus and recompose type of chap myself, they could have put 390 points in there for all I care, I’ll still only be using one of them ;P

    Dunno why that metal chassis gets me all excited – it’s not like you can see it! But I must admit if it feels in the hand like a D300 then I’m as good as sold…

    • Kuv
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:30 pm | Permalink

      FaR is sometimes a bad idea. Since DoF is slightly curved, when you recompose with a narrow DoF, your subject can fall out of focus.

    • LOLOLOL
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:06 pm | Permalink

      I use to be like that too… till I got better at photography. :-P

    • Eric Pepin
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:45 pm | Permalink

      ya, i tried that with my 85 1.4 and 50 1.8 (especially on my film body) and it doesent turn out so well. the old 105 5.6 on the other hand worked exceptionally well when used like that.

  18. Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:09 pm | Permalink

    Looks a prelude for an EPIC D400!

    • Jivee
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:12 pm | Permalink

      You can say that again!

      And on an ironic note…that EPIC D400 may see the light of day before the RED version

    • Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:25 pm | Permalink

      aye!

      if D7000 looks like this then it i would like to see the D400 :)

  19. AG
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:11 pm | Permalink

    39 points is nice… but the big question remains, is AF faster than on the current D90? Because being used to D300′s AF speed, when you pickup a D90 it feels like the camera is really in no hurry… especially in dim light…

  20. Max
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:21 pm | Permalink

    If the 3D tracking AF is going to anywhere near as good as the one on the D300s, if it’s going to have AF fine tuning and an AutoISO function like the D300s has, then the D7000 is going to be a D300s killer.

    • AG
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

      What are you talking about? D90 had the exact same AUTO-ISO that the D300 had… And it was just as crappy… So far only on Pentax cameras shutter speed in AUTO-ISO is a function of the current FL (even on zoom lenses)… And at least on K7 there was a possibility of selecting how aggressive it was… from really steady hands to very shaky hands…

      • Max
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:58 pm | Permalink

        Uh… I’m not sure where exactly have I mentioned the D90… O_o

        • lolcatmaster FTW
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

          he drinks to much pentax cola… he is allucinating

          • AG
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:44 pm | Permalink

            Actually it’s Pentax’s marketing that’s smoking too much grass… So I’m with Nikon now…. Still, there are some features in Nikon bodies that are better done by other manufacturers…

  21. Peter Frans
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:23 pm | Permalink

    This is getting better by the hour …. one happy man here

  22. Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:25 pm | Permalink

    The 39AF points was something I really wanted from my d90
    the dial for CL and CH is great
    Dual SD Slots

    The 1.5 crop factor is not anymore impressing me.
    the 1.33 of olympus is a great balance between full frame and cropped sensors
    I really wished nikon had come up with a 1.33 crop sensor
    or atleast make a camera which would do 1.5 on dx lenses and 1.3 on fx lenses and still be a consumer grade camera.

    • Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

      That would put the price tag quite higher than measly 1200… But d400 is coming soon. ;-)

    • dkittle
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

      Believe it or not, I own a D700 and am excited about this camera. I want to dabble in video and would love a cropped sensor so my long lenses get longer without having to get bigger. Plus, with native ISO at 100 I can shoot one stop more open in the sun!!
      I think adding another sensor size would just confuse the issue and perhaps lead to a third line of lenses – no joy there (at least for me).

      • LGO
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:45 pm | Permalink

        Native ISO is still 200 I believe.

        • dkittle
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:51 pm | Permalink

          I think it might be 100 like the D3100. I’m hoping. Now if they stuck with at shutter that only does 1/4000th then I’m hooped. Fingers crossed!

          • LGO
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:04 pm | Permalink

            A high ISO setting for the D7000 will be difficult if the base ISO is 100.

            But if the D7000 has a base ISO of 100 (rather than a L1.0) , then that calls for a celebration! :D

      • NascarGeoff
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

        I’m hoping for 100 base ISO too :)

    • Andy
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:38 pm | Permalink

      Yes, we really need a new standard. And a completely new range of lenses. Lets call it MX…. Come on… You are just asking for more empty pockets.

    • Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:44 pm | Permalink

      What 1.33x crop from Oly. Canon has a 1.3x crop (1D line). Oly’s 2x crop.

    • LGO
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:08 pm | Permalink

      Responding to NK:

      “The 1.5 crop factor is not anymore impressing me.
      the 1.33 of olympus is a great balance between full frame and cropped sensors
      I really wished nikon had come up with a 1.33 crop sensor”

      A 1.33x crop sensor would make all DX lenses unusable with this body – a disaster for those who own DX-only lenses.

      • Anon
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:22 pm | Permalink

        as long as the lens-sensor distance is the same, DX lenses would surely still work the same, with an added crop factor, similar to how FX lenses work on a DX camera.

        • hah
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:38 pm | Permalink

          they would work but you’re paying extra to have a see a black circle?

          I agree with LGO. nikon will never make a 1.3crop because they are already beyond that. FF is the way to go and canon chose a crop to their users outrage in the 1D4. canon will never make a 1.3 crop body other than that single model.

        • WoutK89
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:39 pm | Permalink

          It’s about light fall-off in the corners, not all DX lenses cover the full 1,33 crop frame ;-)

    • lolcatmaster FTW
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

      I think you should stop doing drugs… Olympus cameras have a 2.0x crop factor you are mistaking them with Canon´s APS-H sized sensors (found in the 1D cameras) which have a crop factor of 1.3x

    • dave
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:07 pm | Permalink

      Which olympus are you talking about? The E5 (announced today) is a 2x crop sensor.

    • Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:22 pm | Permalink

      I think you’re confusing aspect ratio and crop factor. Olympus has 2x crop factor.

  23. Joe D
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm | Permalink

    How do you guys know the cross type sensors are clustered in the middle? From that photo they all look the same? lol

  24. Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:36 pm | Permalink

    Manual controls on video? hehehe

  25. Joseph Gonzales
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:46 pm | Permalink

    any word on external stereo mic/audio input ? d90′s sound is horrible (my only complaint) and would really hate to have a dedicated audio recorder.

  26. Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:47 pm | Permalink

    How do people here know everything (cross points, manual or not on video, etc) just by looking at a metal frame and a basic point scheme for AF points?

    It’s looking very good as a D90′s upgrade, and for most people holding out with D80s, D70s, D60s, D60s and D40s.

    • jhnw
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:12 pm | Permalink

      Count me as one of those. I passed on the D90 and bought lenses while waiting for the D90 replacement to arrive. So far I couldn’t be happier with what I am seeing. It looks like the wait is going to be worth it.

    • lolcatmaster FTW
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

      They have a solid source in their own wet dreams

      • jdsl
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:46 pm | Permalink

        I don’t mind if Jessica Alba is the source of my wet dreams :)

    • dave
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:09 pm | Permalink

      The same way they knew that Windows 95, Microsoft Bob, and Vista were going to be such life changing operating systems with unbelievable performance just by looking at screenshots.

  27. Richard
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:50 pm | Permalink

    This sounds nice, but where is “the big surprise”?

    • max
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm | Permalink

      the price…

    • lolcatmaster FTW
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

      I have been hiding it in my pants…. huh? no, no, no it isn´t that you perv!! :o !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • S
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:01 pm | Permalink

      The BIG surprise is the FF NIKON D700 XS/ D9000.. 18MP, 12500 ISO, 100% VF, 1080P Video, 300,000 actuation shutter life. All for £2600 body only. Might be at Photokina, might be a little later, no later than early December.

      • Ren Kockwell
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:17 pm | Permalink

        you forgot: 51 cross type AF points spread out wiiiidddeeeeeee.

  28. Christina
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:30 pm | Permalink

    how many of the 39 AF points are cross-type ?? For me, that would be a deal breaker. And of course, if they had made it FF, I would be chomping at the bit to pre-order one.

    In all other respects, this looks like one awesome camera, and I’m getting rather excited about seeing some sample pics!!

    • safeg
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:33 pm | Permalink

      Looks like 15 POINT AF is cross type(center 5×3). Its so Great!!

    • hah
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:39 pm | Permalink

      FF for 1100 bucks: not happening.

      • FFail
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

        They’re retarded. There’s people who would use this camera with their high end or prime lenses.

  29. Carlos R B
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:31 pm | Permalink

    Glad to know the price is a good one (compared to the competition)…its funny that had been the other way around till now…with these specs and this price, the D7000 will sell much more than the 60D, E5 or K5…easily…

    • Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

      D7000>sum(60D,E5,K5)

  30. Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:36 pm | Permalink

    Nikon is wasting all of the remaining d300 & d90 parts on the d7000. Look at it. The buttons are basically the hybrid of them.

    It has begun! D400 on the way!

  31. NiknWontRepairMyGray
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

    Anyone going to attend the Canon 60D funeral?

    • WoutK89
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:43 pm | Permalink

      I still didnt miss it? I thought it was already in August :o

      • Carlos R B
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 8:43 pm | Permalink

        Yep…according to Canon users…

  32. bill
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 5:48 pm | Permalink

    This camera looks too good. I really believe this IS the D300 replacement, and the D400 is going to be a full frame D700 replacement. Why else release a 28-300mm lens? i can’t see D3 users lining up for that one.

    If they can release a full frame pro body for around $2k? Holy ****

  33. Maik
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    It’s a hi-powered D300s!

    • hah
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:40 pm | Permalink

      D90 actually.

  34. Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:37 pm | Permalink

    Top LCD display is much smaller than D300s.
    Surely there will be a D400….

    • hah
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:40 pm | Permalink

      since it is a D90 replacement that’s fine. not that anybody thinks this is a D300s replacement…hint: look at the price.

      • WoutK89
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:45 pm | Permalink

        Actually this cam is placed ABOVE the D90 line, and BELOW the D300s line to make room for the D5100 and about D300s successor, it will blow our minds if it has to be much better than the D7000

        • litebyte
          Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:00 pm | Permalink

          Who says there will be a D300S successor? By this meaning in the form of a DX camera.

          • WoutK89
            Posted September 15, 2010 at 1:24 pm | Permalink

            I said it, and if you look at what the D300s has, and the D7000 doesnt have, there is still room for at least 1 pro DX body. Think of it as D300s with the newest features of a D7000.

            • WoutK89
              Posted September 15, 2010 at 1:26 pm | Permalink

              btw, come to think of it, the D90 series is moving up towards the D300s level, maybe these lines will merge in the future, and thus create room for the FX to trickle down in the lines. At this moment FX is still not “budget-proof”.

  35. Sciby
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:46 pm | Permalink

    Maybe this is a replacement for both the D90 and the D300S? To cover both areas? I dunno, I’m new to this whole thing.

    This is really killing me though – I’m living in Japan and moving back to Aus soon where camera prices are literally twice as expensive as Jp. I’m wanting to replace my D40 while I’m here and I could get a D90 body for roughly $650USD but I’m wondering if I’m shooting myself in the foot by getting that rather than waiting to see what price point the D7000 lands at.

    I may end up getting a D90 just because of the cost (and I have a work festival to go to on saturday and I could get one delivered from Amazon Japan in 12 hours), even though the D7000 is sounding more and more awesome.

    If only teaching English to disinterested Japanese kids paid $10,000 a month…

    • Posted September 14, 2010 at 8:33 pm | Permalink

      The pay shouldn’t be that bad if it’s Tokyo and you work for some private language school :) But if the kids are disinterested, then perhaps you’re teaching in a public school.

      • Sciby
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 9:13 pm | Permalink

        Sadly, I’m not in Tokyo and I work for the government. “Disinterested” was a generalisation. :)

        I work for a fairly high level public school with an international language stream, but the money isn’t fantastic.

        • Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:18 pm | Permalink

          I see. So which prefecture are you in? I’m interested to find out :D

          • Sciby
            Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:53 pm | Permalink

            I live in Osaka, just south of the Namba area.

        • Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:19 pm | Permalink

          Or, you’re not in Japan at all?

  36. SimonC
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 6:59 pm | Permalink

    It looks like 51-pt module (15 central cross points) minus the 6 AF points on each side.

    I bet the side -points are still non-cross (like the multi-cam 3500). I don’t expect Nikon to have designed a brand-new AF module just for the D7000 when most of their AF resources are tied up with D4/D400. Easier to just scale down (read: cripple) the multi-cam 3500.

  37. frank da tank
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:29 pm | Permalink

    is it just me, or does anyone else think that nikons would look more badass without the red swoosh on the grip?

  38. FakeKenRockwell
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    You tweakers cling onto recompose and shoot like kit is somehow better. It may be useful in some situations but y’all clearly don’t have a clue how important AF points are in a dynamic situation. Welcome to the 21st century boys. Your nikon d7000 will actually track your subject across the frame without having to recompose! Try that on a canon.

    • Johan krüger-haglert
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:16 pm | Permalink

      So set up a D7000 vs 7D AF contest.

  39. Abhinav
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:53 pm | Permalink

    wow!!! just woke uo :D

    • Abhinav
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:54 pm | Permalink

      I meant to just woke up and really excited about D7K news .Next time will take care before hitting enter button :)

  40. lox
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:53 pm | Permalink

    I’m going a little bit crazy about the specs. Did you post them already? Can’t find any. Good video would be a great thing to have with the D7000. I’d give away my D300.

    • d40-owner
      Posted September 14, 2010 at 7:57 pm | Permalink

      * 100% viewfinder
      * Dual SD memory card slots
      * Magnesium-alloy body
      * 16.2MP CMOS sensor (DX)
      * Expeed 2
      * 1080 HD video @24p | 720 @30p (not sure about those)
      * 20 min video recording (up from 5min on the D90)
      * Save images from video (similar to the D3s)
      * AF during video
      * Stereo mic input for video
      * 6 fps
      * Virtual horizon (like the D300s)
      * One touch video and/or live view (similar to the D3100)
      * Improved ISO range: 100-25600
      * 39 AF points
      * Wireless flash
      * Weather proof (like the D300s)
      * New battery system
      * Expected price: $1199 for body only
      * no swivel display
      * 20 scene modes
      * 150k shutter cycles (D90 was rated at 100k)

      • lox
        Posted September 14, 2010 at 8:00 pm | Permalink

        Hey, thanks. That INDEED looks good. I can’t wait to see the first sample videos.

  41. B.W
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 10:35 pm | Permalink

    The D7000 looks great, and i will buy one. Nikon KICK ASS! :D

  42. SDiggity
    Posted September 14, 2010 at 11:48 pm | Permalink

    Rearranging of the DSL’s on Nikon’s store is happening…exciting!

    shop.nikonusa.com

    • SDiggity
      Posted September 15, 2010 at 12:02 am | Permalink

      Uggghhh. Was it a page load problem? Now it seems to corrected itself. Hmmmm.

  43. Posted September 15, 2010 at 1:03 am | Permalink

    Congratulations Nikon. Looks like a winner. Now all I want is to keep those wanna-be pros from popping up.

  44. YSH
    Posted September 16, 2010 at 6:17 am | Permalink

    It looks that only top part of D7000 is from magnesium alloy, everything else -plastic :

    http://www.photoscala.de/grafik/2010/D7000_Mgbody.jpg

    in comparison D300s

    http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/NikonD300/Images/mgbody.jpg

    • Photo Shoot
      Posted September 17, 2010 at 7:06 am | Permalink

      Marketing people and PR and advertisers speak volumes about things they nothing about.

  45. Barnaby Jones
    Posted September 17, 2010 at 7:13 am | Permalink

    Magnesium alloy EMPLOYED for the body/Superior weather-resistant and anti-dust capabilities
    Light and durable magnesium alloy used for TOP AND REAR COVERS. Connected parts and VARIOUS PARTS are securely sealed, achieving high weather-resistant and dust-prevention performance.

    39 points? How many do u need? It’s quality not quantity. Nikon has managed to improve their ability to make people want to upgrade. Oh the D90 wasn’t good enough. I need the blah blah blah. Oh then in that case I’ll buy the next higher priced one. Until a Sunday picnic became a full all out Hollywood production. Marketing people were trained as spies before they got hired. And the backward compatibility with the screw driver and non AF etc etc is more info that Nikon has no intention of making reliable high quality lenses for the niche they are attempting to draw into the prosumer category. It’s no wonder so many Nikon buyers end up with more camera body than they need and buy Tamron and Sigma lenses because Nikon makes only expensive ones in certain ranges.

    Sincerely,

    Ashton Kutchner