I think it's time to close this thread and just start a new one. As more info and specs are revealed this discussion is going to keep on going and going. It's best to just start a new thread.

http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2368&replies=1#post-39814

Everything in the rumor seems reasonable except the 8 fps.

having 8fps is a $1k body would completely mess up nikon's product line.

Even the high iso seem plausible to me; as both the D90 and D300 has identical IQ so the D90s and D400 also would have similar properties, except this time the release dates are reversed.

heartyfisher said:
Have a look for the tread "Why FX is a dead format. Dx will rule" I explain that there :-)

I have read what you said over in that forum, and I can see your logic. The consumer cameras do sell more than the pro, or prosumer line like the D300s. It makes sense, put your money where your profits are. However I do not agree with the FX sensor or MF sensors being relegated to niche products only. I work in the sales and marketing of cameras, and I am surprised by the amount of calls I am getting by photographers who are seeking to get into MF. Their main reason I hear over and over again is "my competition shoots all DSLR, and I want to distinguish myself from them." OK, I understand that logic, but what surprises me is how many calls I get from small town photographers scattered throughout America. If they were in NYC, Miami, or LA is very understandable, but small mid-west and southern towns is a bit surprising. I have a hunch when photographers & businesses feel more comfortable about the economy, we will see a revival of the larger sensor.

pabnj said:
It is strange the D90 replacement is coming before the D400 since it has always been the other way around. The Dx0 line has always been the little sister to the Dx00 line.

Have a look for the tread "Why FX is a dead format. Dx will rule" I explain that there :-)

On the front page lists the specs of the D90 replacement with the Admin giving the rumor a 90% reliability which tells me he has very credible info. The specs listed though seem really good for a top end consumer camera. My question is who would by a D300s. Granted, the D300s still probably has a better focusing system with more points, but with 16MP, 6400 ISO (sames as the D700), full HD, and the speed, it would seem the D300s sales would drop dramatically. It is strange the D90 replacement is coming before the D400 since it has always been the other way around. The Dx0 line has always been the little sister to the Dx00 line.

admin
I just got some basic description of the Nikon D90 replacement:

16MP DX sensor
same noise performance like the D700!
full HD
8p/s
new video AF and performance
parts of the body will be aluminium

Stay tuned for more.

[NR] rating: 90%

I am digging these specs.

The D300 stats seems a bit off too.. If you combine the D300 + D300S it is a smidge below the D90 stats so all in all really strong showing for the high end Nikon DX family

Agreed, NRC, especially when you consider the D90 has #2 and #8 for body only and kit, respectively, and the canon t1i is #1 and #24 for kit and body only, respectively. It's possible that combining the kit and body only sales would change the picture. I think it also shows the D90 has been better embraced by long-time Nikon users that already have a lens collection.

Well the D90 appears fairly popular on flickr - it's currently the "most popular" camera (other than the iPhone) right now - http://www.flickr.com/cameras/

And it's number two on Amazon's DSLR sales rankings - http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/3017941/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_e_1_4_last

Not bad for a two year old body!

Anaxagoras said:
Here, here. Very well said, Niko.

Several posters on these threads seem to assume that Nikon's company mission is to provide them, personally, with exactly the camera kit they want. Sorry, folks, but no; Nikon's mission is to make money for its shareholders.

While I think that is pretty generally understood, it is also any companies "goal" to get the best possible product to their customers. You can say, look at the d90's sales, they are fantastic, and that is true. No one is arguing that it isn't a fantastic camera. What people (myself included) mainly seem to be saying is that there is room for improvement, Not only room for improvement, but there are simple things Nikon should have done, even as firmware updates that they didn't.

I'm not trying to say, Nikon has no idea what they are doing, and that they should immediately release the replacement, however I am saying that I have lost some respect for them as a result of their innaction (especially in terms of the manual video controls). Will it stop me personally from waiting around for the d90 replacement? No, not at all, and I can't wait to purchase it.

NikoDoby said:

As long as the D90 is still number one in sales after 2 years(!) why should they change it? Nikon is a business not a genie in a bottle so as long as the cash register is making noise they can't hear you complaining.

Here, here. Very well said, Niko.

Several posters on these threads seem to assume that Nikon's company mission is to provide them, personally, with exactly the camera kit they want. Sorry, folks, but no; Nikon's mission is to make money for its shareholders.

Nikon has been in business for 93 years. I'd guess they know what they're doing by now.

Plus, once you get to cameras of the quality of the D90, improving the camera makes relatively small improvements in the final pictures. By that point, it's the quality of the photographer that really matters. There are plenty of photographers who take better pictures than me (including many on these threads); but it's not because they've got better cameras than me, it's because they're better photographers!

PB PM said:
The cameras I see most are, D60, D200, D300, Rebel Xsi, 40D, 50D, D2X, D3, 1Ds MkII, along with some D80s, D90s the odd T1/2i and D5000, a few 5D and 5D MkII. I've only seen one or two D700's in the wild. Never seen a 7D in the wild, not yet anyway.

The D5000 and D40 are all I see when going to a crowded event. After that the rebel xsi and T1i. The serious photographer (amateur or Pro) are seen with the D90, D80, D3, D700, 5DmII, and 50D...

I think you're absolutely right PB, I totally concur. I was just joking about it hehe. As you say, nikon has no rush, and why would they be on a rush, the have quite the edge on photgraphy, and as you well pointed out, sells are doing great, i just think they are pacing themselves...xD
I presume we all will have to wait till September for 1 or 2 releases and wait till April 2011 o somethin to get another great upgrade (700 perhaps, who knows)

I don't think there is any doubt Nikon will replace the D90 this summer, but I think Niko's point is that they are not in any rush to do it. Some people talk as if Nikon will loose market share and be bought out by Canon if the D90 and D700 aren't replaced in the next 24 hours, but that just doesn't hold any water, considering how well cameras like the D90 and D5000 are selling.

Dont destroy my hopes to get my D90 replacement anytime soon, Niko I beg you!!!

Of course it's not going to stay like that forever. I wouldn't want Nikon to remain at number 1 forever because then they'd have no reason to change their line up.

As long as the D90 is still number one in sales after 2 years(!) why should they change it? Nikon is a business not a genie in a bottle so as long as the cash register is making noise they can't hear you complaining.

NikoDoby said:

So despite all the crying and hollering about Nikon losing to canon because of 12mp, no 1080, and no manual video controls they are doing extremely well! So why replace a camera that is still number 1 in the charts after two years?

I hope it stays like that NIko for ever, I want our Nikon to be on the leader.
But it doesn't hurt form Nikon to do some upgrades on here and there if it is possible even though if they consider it's not necessary.

D90 would of been much greater camera and loved by many more people if it had some minor upgrades in the video mode. But that fact was ignored for 2 years. A lot of people were angry at Nikon for that.

I agree the Nikon D90 is a great camera and I RECOMMEND it all the time. There is a lag time from actual camera sales before they show up in these statistics and I believe we all know that. I think one of the greatest benefits of Nikon Rumors is relative sales volume of various models providing the proof of the pudding. But from what I am seeing in the field and in these statistics is that Nikon's D90 is a relative triumph. I followed their DSLR line and although I OWNED higher end Nikon DSLR I DID NOT recommend the bigger more expensive cameras....then I bought a D90 myself since I was so impressed by what it would do.....and I have been very impressed how well it has done for me. Too often more veteran photographers follow gear and I think we do it as NOT EVERY DAY allows us to really do what we want to do and that is to take and enjoy pictures and to preserve them. I do think Nikon sales for higher end cameras is not that great. Still when I think of the greatest two cameras I have shot with for practical use and my workflow and I would quickly pick the D90 and the D700. If I wait for two upgrades it would be video on the D700 and better HD video on the D90 replacement. Every time I pick up a Canon I always think.....the COMPETITOR. NOT well I WANT one of these. But I do appreciate those who follow their websites here as it is good to know what the Canon Camp is saying. I can still
observe....There are an awful lot of Canons in use at places where photo pros gather.

but back to d90 replacement talk...

My burning desire to have it now has waned. This might be due to my absolute lack of funds, or maybe (hopefully) mostly just due to the fact that I am very happy with my film photography right now.

However I'm sure when it is eventually announced I will be very excited.

because they can do better and they know they can. 1080/720 arguments aside, no manual controls is absolutely absurd. Now financially...I can completely understand why they aren't in any rush :)

shivaswrath said:
i hate the t2i. . .i just don't know why. . .too many people have come to me asking about a camera to buy, only to turn to the t2i. . .(and ignoring my D5k recommendations!)

If I was buying my first dslr and I was choosing between the t2i and the d5000...I would definitely choose the t2i.

for about 200$ you get:
-better iso range.
-much better movie controls (in terms of fps)
-bigger screen (although not articulating, although that's a see-saw point)
-dof preview button (again looking at this from the point of a first time dslr buyer, and presumably slr buyer in general, I see this as a useful function)

granted the fps of the t2i is a little slower, but for a first time dslr buyer I can definitely see why the t2i would be more attractive than the d5000, especially without a lens collection to weigh on your mind. People like products that give them the most creative control, and in comparing the two, it really does seem like the t2i affords that more so than the d5000. Not saying the d5000 isn't a great camera, but i can understand the actions of the people you suggested the d5000 to.

Actually with the sales figures announced recently by BCNranking, it seems that people aren't listening to us because Nikon is STILL number one in sales!

So despite all the crying and hollering about Nikon losing to canon because of 12mp, no 1080, and no manual video controls they are doing extremely well! So why replace a camera that is still number 1 in the charts after two years?

Checking sales volume as nearly as any non-owner could do I have been informed that currently the D90 sales are slumping some much from competition with the canon T2i. You might check the big five camera sales places you follow and see what they seem to push or have available. Canon T2i have been selling fast enough to deplete inventory at least in the USA superstores, especially as it relates to the way NEW buyers purchase (with the kit lens). Maybe Nikon better get the D90 replacement out soon as when the D90 just is not moving quite as quickly as it could then maybe the sales versus features hedge has started to erode. I think Nikon has failed to grasp how completely consumers base purchase on megapixels and HD video quality as of late. I am guessing that having D3s on space vehicles is really wonderful but doesn't actually help sell cameras as well as Nikon Marketing would hope.

Yes, other than two friends of mine, one of which owns an S5 Pro and the other a hand-me-down S1 Pro, I have only ever seen D40/x s, some D3000 s, and maybe a few D60s and D5000s. Except for once, when I thought I saw a D700 and was amazed at how compact it was for an FX but then realised it was just a D70. All the rest I've ever seen are Rebels. ]: I'm very surprised the first D90 I've seen in the wild is my own. Maybe I should look harder. :P

NikoDoby said:
Well because most people only care about price and megapixels. So they just want a camera that gives them "more" (specs) for "less" ($$$). Image quality isn't something you can "see" while buying a camera.

Which is why soccer moms and Joe Six Packs everywhere will keep picking up Canons at the BestBuy. (Not that I have anything against them (c; ) Like two of my friends who were buying computers in the same price range at the same time. (Figures, they were twins. Really.) One of them bought a computer with a low-end Core i7 and 8GB of RAM. The other bought one with a top-of-the line i7 but with only 6GB of RAM. There's no way either of them will ever be using even close to 6GB of RAM. Guess which one's computer ran faster.

I can't argue that Canon SLRs have bad image quality, but it doesn't seem like IQ is Canons top priority by as great a margin as Nikon makes it theirs.

Sorry, I probably just talked your ear off.

Well because most people only care about price and megapixels. So they just want a camera that gives them "more" (specs) for "less" ($$$). Image quality isn't something you can "see" while buying a camera.

i hate the t2i. . .i just don't know why. . .too many people have come to me asking about a camera to buy, only to turn to the t2i. . .(and ignoring my D5k recommendations!)