With rumors indicating video in the new models will most likely be 1080 24P w/ AVCHD video codec, I was curious to anyones viewpoint on whether or not the D3S's video will be able to be updated to those specs via firmware? I would love to buy one but the video specs are holding me back.

It'll get even more confusing if the D3100 turns out to be the D90 replacement :^) The D40 replaced the D50.

A friend of mine thought that D3000 was better than the D700, just because it had a higher number in the model name....

It´s really confusing for the average consumer

Just got myself the D700 couple a days ago, its simply awesome!! I dont mind that it dont have Audio & Video.

I did have that on D90 and i didnt use it much, maybe 10 times in 2 years. For video i shoot with a dedicated videocamera. :)

defunk said:
I take it from the lack of seriousness in your response that you know someone that shouldn't be talking but is, or you are wildly guessing.

Either way, it's entertaining I suppose.

Niko is a man of mystery. Whatever his occupation, he's been known to have access to things before they're released.

Oh, and he doesn't like people dissing on Nikon USA service (can't remember if I talked to anyone named Niko. Hmmm...).

I believe he spys on the nikon company picnics with his beer can camera :^P

He probably has a legit source but is limited in what he can say about the info... We'll find out soon anyway

I take it from the lack of seriousness in your response that you know someone that shouldn't be talking but is, or you are wildly guessing.

Either way, it's entertaining I suppose.

I'm a gigolo and the wives/girlfriends/mistresses of Nikon management like to talk a lot afterwards.

It just seems so specific, and detailed, I am wondering if you pay for this information or are these just guesses based on the market and current product?

We have our own version of Paul the octopus. We call him Perry the picture taking parrot and he has foretold many truths.

NikoDoby said:
new continuous AF in video mode/live view
11/12 AF points
10 MP CMOS sensor
1080p/24 and 720p 30/24!
AVCHD video codec
In camera video editing capabilities
3fps (same as D3000)
will be sold in a kit with the 18-55mm lens
expected release in “few weeks”
no swivel display

Where is this information from? How solid is it?

Who said the final name of the camera is the D3100? Those are all rumors...

For one thing the numbering doesn't make sense. The D3100 higher than the D5000, talk about confusing customers. To us it may not be confusing, but to someone in walking into a Best Buy, it would be. I've met someone who bought a D5000 because the number was bigger than the D90. Consumers aren't very bright overall.

So what are the chances, if the D3100 does have a 14mp sensor, that it's actually going to be the D90 replacement? I know the number sequence would throw people way off but the specs are still pretty good for a D90 replacement, no?

PB PM said:
Interesting thoughts Niko, that would put the D3100 head to head against the T2i though, which doesn't make sense.

If the "D3100" is the D90 replacement and has the 14mp Sony NEX sensor why couldn't it compete against the canon T2i/550? We already know that Nikon can work amazing magic like they did to the Sony sensor in the D3X. The "D3100" could have the same ISO range as the T2i (100-12800) but offer much better noisy control.

The T2i has 9AF points and the "D3100" a possible 11AF. The T2i has manual/slow AF focus video while the "D3100" would have faster autofocus during recording. T2i kit is priced at about $899USD while the "D3100" kit would be $1200USD. Nikon has always priced their models slightly higher than canon, because they're worth it! ;^)

NikoDoby said:
I wonder where this 10mp CMOS sensor is coming from? Sony doesn't have a 10mp APS-C CMOS?

Oh my goodness it's made by canon! ;^P

Niko, there may be a typo on the sensor MP. Unfortunately, I do not know the exact MP. It could also be 12MP or 14MP. I got few emails form readers indicating that the 10MP sensor doesn't make sense, sop I start thinking that it could be a typo.

NikoDoby said:
Wait let me see if I understand your question. Will low-end cameras hurt high-end camera sales because of the better specs? I don't think so. The D3100 isn't going to have the AF and build quality of the D300S. Metering and dual card slots are still going to be better for "pros" etc. The "D7000" is still probably going to be a plastic unsealed body without CF card slots etc. So those features will still be important to some photographers.

true, true and nothing but the truth; Sooner I will see a SD card slot in D4 than a CF slot in D7000

[...]

Another possibility to explain why the "D7000" is coming out before the "D400" is that the D7000 will become Nikon's high-end DX camera and move the D400 up to a full frame! :^) So maybe the D400/500 will be the next full frame camera but it won't really be a direct replacement for the D700. So all of those Nikon "Reps" aren't lying when they say there won't be a D700 replacement this year.

I doubt that, Nikon needs it's D400/500 to be DX, there's still a lot of us, who prefer DX bodies. As for D700 replacement, I think it's very likely to see one this year - it's about time to release it :)

haha that'd be great.

Both companies number systems are infuriating. there's got to be a better way.

I know it was a typo, Rob, but can't you just see Nikon releasing a D50000? They could always switch to canon's scheme: D1sxMarkXVIII (because we want the D2 to be a major update).

Interesting thoughts Niko, that would put the D3100 head to head against the T2i though, which doesn't make sense. I don't think it could replace the D90, maybe a D50000 replacement at the most, in which case, why would they not call it the D5100?

With a 14MP sensor it would be closer to going against the T1i, which sounds about right, since the T1i will be the mid range camera once the Xsi is finally gone.

I think the 3100 could actually be priced between the D5000 and D90. Remember that the D40 was "above" the D50 despite the lower number on the name. The D3100 might be more expensive than the D3000 and D5000. Perhaps the D90 replacement moves up a bit in price and features to make room for more low-end cameras.

in fact if it turns out to have the "same" Sony NEX 14mp sensor perhaps the D3100 is the D90 replacement!

The D3100 sounds like a nice little "take everywhere" camera. I wonder what the price premium over the D3000 will be.

Right, which is what I was saying about the D3000, which is the lowest end model. So the lineup could be, D3000 (CCD), D3100 (CMOS), D5000/(replacement), D90/(replacement).

PB PM said:
Strange? Not really, the D40 was on the market for nearly 3 years along side the D40x and D60? One guess is that Nikon plans on flooding the entry level market the same way Sony is now. I mean Sony has what, 3 or 4 entry to mid range DSLRs?

That's because there was nothing lower than a D40. The D40x and D60 were both above it.

Strange? Not really, the D40 was on the market for nearly 3 years along side the D40x and D60? One guess is that Nikon plans on flooding the entry level market the same way Sony is now. I mean Sony has what, 3 or 4 entry to mid range DSLRs?

PB PM said:
Based on the specs, I wouldn't be surprised if this D3100 stands side by side with the D3000, for a while anyway, in the same way the D40 stood as the basic model along side the D40x and later D60.

It would be strange though, I would imagine the D5000 would be replaced really quickly, who would want the D5000 with this out? It blows it out of the water completely. And I would imagine it might have a new autofocus system as well.

Actually, come to think of it, it might replace the D5000.