PB PM said:
Niko, we've covered this before, but sadly you hold to this idea that there is no real difference between the D90 and D300. You might not pay $600 more for the D300 over the D90, but many would and do for various reasons. I can assure you that those people, including myself did so for more than a few buttons. The far superior AF system of the D300 is worth a few hundred on it's own for goodness sake. I think Nikon may get rid of the D300 style body, and make a D3/Pro style DX body, (Yes Please!) to address the needs of demanding DX users who don't want FX bodies (ME).

I still don't think the D400 would be an FX camera. IMO, if Nikon makes a lower price FX body it will be a consumer oriented body, with consumer level controls, as the D700 is the FX D300 already, no need to make another one.

Exactly! Well said and I agree completely. I have both a D90 and a D300 and I use them for different things in different situations. They are certainly more than just a few buttons different. They perform differently. The D300 performs more quickly. It's size gives it a different feel altogether and I've shot with it in light rain before. I wouldn't dare take my D90 out in the rain! The AF system in the D300 is head and shoulders above the older system that was put in the D90 despite it being a newer model. If I were only able to choose one camera, I'd gladly pay the extra 600 for the D300 just as you would.

Right now, I'm perfectly happy with my D300 that I paid extra over a D90 for. If the D400 has significantly higher IQ than the D300 - either over the entire ISO range or just in the high ISO range, I may add a D400. Other than that, I personally have no need for anything more at this time.

Interesting debate about the worth of D300 over the D90. However, I see too much conscious or subconscious defensiveness by many of the posters regarding their positions, which may be related to what they decided to purchase. Fer crissakes, if you're happy with what you bought, be happy. And grow up. But, don't stop the heated debating - it's entertaining as hell.

Now that the dust has settled on the D7000 specs. I think It may be time to revisit this topic.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised by some of the specs of the D7000 that make it encroach on the D400 Domian. Lets assume for this thread that there will be a DX successor for the D300/s.
What specs do you thing would/should go into the D400 now that the D7000 is so close to the D300 in many features even beats it?

My musings follow.

1) It seems to point to some amazing revolutionary change for the D400 and D4. What can that be?
2) I can see a possible trend here.. The D400 / D4 is still going to be linked and released together as the flag ships for the nikon range. That would mean that the D7000 ranges and below is decoupled from the flagships release schedule and will be released on a shorther cycle. ( I have predicted the decoupling of the dx range from the normal (longer) nikon flag ship range due to the quicker development cycles of the Dx range) but not the joining of the Flagship DX to the FF Flagship.

So what features would the DX flagship have now that the D7000 has so much?
1) same sensor ? or posible maybe even an improved sensor!
1a) A high ISO version and a High DRhigh MP version just like the D3x/d3s
1b) More likely the same 16.2 MP sensor with a few more advanced tweeks
1c) A new and better performing 16.2 MP sensor with even better High ISO and DR !
2) New Carbon fibre body !! Like the D4 !!
3) Improved AF system - New greater than 51 focus points or all 39 focus points are cross type sensors !
4) New larger Touch screen LCD!
5) Blue tooth or wifi bulitin.
6) D3 style form factor but smaller than D3
7) 1080p at 60 FPS or more ! - would point to a different sensor than the D7000! next generation sensor tech ??
7.a) like black silicon or
7.b) the nikon patented prismatic spliting of the light from a large single pixel to 3 separate sensors for each of the 3 primary colours.
7.c) something else ?? MEG, panchromatic ... etc ?
8) Even more external buttons !! :-)

Have I left anything out? What would you like to see in the new DX flagship camera?

Anyway it's almost showtime. I was planning on closing this thread at 200 post but I guess I'll just do it now. Read what happens next here:
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=2507

Pessimism? I know the D7000 is going to be a winner and I wasn't being sacrastic earlier either. Why can't the D8000 replace the D300S?

NikoDoby said:
I already know what's coming and I've got a hot date tonight so unfortunately I'm not sticking around for this one. You guys have fun...

Have fun, Niko. Take your pessimism and begone!

Yep I'll be up, may take some discretionary time in the morning and sleep in haha. Dreaming of a D7k arriving in the mail.

I already know what's coming and I've got a hot date tonight so unfortunately I'm not sticking around for this one. You guys have fun...don't burn anything!

Welcome to the party, foof.

I remember thinking a few days ago when people starting talking about "staying up" for the announcement tonight, I remember thinking crap wednesday is my busiest day and my earliest I probably won't be able to make it.

I forgot I usually don't go to bed until 3:30ish anyway, and that I'm on the east coast now and I'll probably be in the newspaper office until 12 anyway.

Sarcasm noted, Niko. It doesn't hurt to dream, does it?

Can I be the first to say that the D8000 will replace the D300S?

This D7K is so sweet! makes me wonder what amazing features are going into the D400/D9K.. Should I wait to upgrade to the D400 ie would the D7K feel like a downgrade from my S5pro? I am so spoilt by the pro buttons and AFD lenses.. I hope the D7K can be used with my AIS and AFD lenses...

So, has there been word on how many cross-type AF sensors are on the D7000? To me it looks like they kept the same 15 from the multi-cam 3500, but I'd love it if there are 21.

edit: Does canon not think AF is important? Sorry, couldn't resist a slight jab after looking at the 60D specs.

The specs look amazing. I would love to sell my d90 for this. 39 points and 100 iso base was a major attraction for me.

But.... I think I'll hold out and save my money and sell my d90 and D3 combo for the d4 & smaller full frame body. Anyone else believe in saving money by selling your "old" gear while the value holds and pay the 500-1000 for the upgrade? In my case 2grand for a d3 to D4 when it comes around

I can't wait to see the mega pixels and the 50iso

I don't see why people are complaining about extra buttons in this time when most manufacturers are going away from having real controls. I'm excited to see the mode dial the way it is, too (I think you're just jealous that I'm going to be first in line to get one, shivas ;-).

I wouldn't be surprised to see AF fine tuning, AI-S metering, and the focus motor staying in this model. It makes sense to me to have something at this level for advanced amateur/semipro and release a D2x DX sucessor to replace the D300s and charge a few hundred extra dollars for it (around $2000-2500).

That D7000 is one beautiful camera. I can't wait.

Workodactyl said:
Fortunately then, it may not be a big issue for you. AF fine tuning relates to the lens and the camera. And some lenses don't work so well to every camera and could use a little adjustment to make a clear picture. I mean to the untrained eye, this isn't a big deal. It's almost like is a CMOS sensor better than a CCD sensor, I mean only people who know what to look for will be able to give their pros and cons.

But AF fine tuning will allow you to adjust the auto focus and take a clear and crisp photo. This is standard on a D300 and D300s.

I'm hoping with the D7k being a hybrid of the D300s/D90 it will carry over this function. But I won't be surprised if it's not.

ah, so it won't be much of a big deal for me, as I shoot mostly manual lenses.

Here's the link of all the leaked photos of tonights goodies
http://photo.nexthardware.com/2010/09/14/nikon-fuga-di-foto-e-notizie/

foofiebeast said:
what exactly is fine tuning? This will be my first nikon (digital) body, so a few nikon features are new to me.

Fortunately then, it may not be a big issue for you. AF fine tuning relates to the lens and the camera. And some lenses don't work so well to every camera and could use a little adjustment to make a clear picture. I mean to the untrained eye, this isn't a big deal. It's almost like is a CMOS sensor better than a CCD sensor, I mean only people who know what to look for will be able to give their pros and cons.

But AF fine tuning will allow you to adjust the auto focus and take a clear and crisp photo. This is standard on a D300 and D300s.

I'm hoping with the D7k being a hybrid of the D300s/D90 it will carry over this function. But I won't be surprised if it's not.

Workodactyl said:
Few more hours until we find out if it has fine tuning as well.. That would be a big plus. But from what I'm reading so far. Impressive as it is, this is the one option that I think would shoot it closer to pro and I don't think they want it to go that far so I'm not gonna get my hopes up.

what exactly is fine tuning? This will be my first nikon (digital) body, so a few nikon features are new to me.

Hey folks. been following this for a while but this is my first post here.

Looking at things that are known in size, such as the hot shoe and the screen, this is definatly bigger than the d90 in every dimention, however it is not a staggering increase in size. Most of the increase is in the height of the camera, and the thickness of the camera. It also appears to be a tiny bit wider, but not much.

it is definatly smaller than the D300s.

I dont think fitting an AF motor in this will be that big of an effort. Even with the magnesium body.

What i would be suprised with though is if it actually has a 100% viewfinder coverage. Cause that DOES require a larger prism and would make for a larger body.

hey all time is getting closer to the release...is there any rumour on the weight of the body...i hope its not heavier than d90...if its the same weight i am sold for this camera

Few more hours until we find out if it has fine tuning as well.. That would be a big plus. But from what I'm reading so far. Impressive as it is, this is the one option that I think would shoot it closer to pro and I don't think they want it to go that far so I'm not gonna get my hopes up.

foofiebeast said:
but it would be strange given that it WAS present in the non pro d90. That would be a pretty big dissapointment. We'll know soon enough.

aslightdelay said:
I hope it is, too. They've upgraded so much else on this camera it seems counterintuitive not to have an AF motor.

That is probably how they made the room for the magnesium alloy body since it does not appear the body is any bigger than the current D90, but we'll know for certain in a little over 6 more hours.

Vall said:
True. But that could be yet another feature avalible only for pro level DX dslrs..
I don't really imagine that, but I'm a bit afraid of it.

but it would be strange given that it WAS present in the non pro d90. That would be a pretty big dissapointment. We'll know soon enough.