Yeah the only numbers left are the D10, D20, and D30. After those numbers then what? Nikon starts counting by 5? D95? I think a D9000 makes more sense. Besides there's already a rumored D4000 and D7000.

d90 mark II :)

shivaswrath said:
I think a D9000 (replacement of the D90) and a D800 (replacement of the D700) will fill these voids and close the gaps. . .

Though I have no idea where they can go > 90 while maintaining their historical numbering system - let me throw this argument out there _against_ a D9000 being a D90 replacement.

Since film times:
The x00x series has always been the low end cameras - which a D90 is not.
The X0 series has always had features (such as lens compatibility) second to the X00 series and above the X00X series. The D90 (and assuredly its replacement) fits in this slot.
yadda yadda yadda. Point being taken in historical context the Current D series of cameras match their F/N lineage and model designations almost perfectly. And the D90 is clearly a X0 camera.

/nitpick
;)

Some "insiders" on other forums seem to think this is a response to the 7D. Apparently the D300 has been a cash cow for so long that the competition has forced a "price adjustment" to the D300S. So in essence the D300/S has always been worth "only" $1499 but due to a lack of competition the price was always at MSRP $1899 :^(

If the price goes down more than I don't think that theory will make sense. A $1299 D300S versus the $1699 7D?! Well that is the price canon has sold it's 40/50D at for many years. However, if the price of the D300S suddenly shoots back up to $1899 after Xmas then Shiva and I can throw our theories out the window too :^(

Niko, I like your train of thought and I suspect we're on to something. . .

Nikon DOESn'T make mistakes when it comes to pricing, esp to internet retailers. . .when those bastards did the 10% hike to "adjust" for the Yen/USD issues after the global meltdown, almost OVER NIGHT, prices on amazon/adorama/bh went up. . .

Drops like this are suspect, but look at how they are doing it from the bottom up (body only for apple to apple comparo's):

D3000 = $399 on amazon!!
D5000 = $550 on amazon (tempting enough for even me to consider)
D90 = $788 on amazon !!
D300s = $1499 on amazon!
D700 = $2399 on amazon!

They have depressed the prices of ALL the bodies below the $5199 and 7800 D3s/x. . .

The glaring gaps to me:
1. between the D90 and D300s
2. between the D300s and D700.

Notice there are only a few hundred $$ spacing out the lower bodies. Let's say for fun that they want more space in the semi-pro space, we can space it out by $400.

That means we could lower the D300s/D700 a few hundred, OR, add in some competitive bodies.

I think a D9000 (replacement of the D90) and a D800 (replacement of the D700) will fill these voids and close the gaps. . .

I suspect the D90/D300s prices will lower maybe another 5%?

I WISH the D300s would tumble to $599 prices, at which point I bought my D200. . . .I'll spend the $$$ on lenses, not on dSLRs!

lol, that's what I said a few post above Shiva. Only I wasn't sitting on Jonny :^)

It's an amazing price for that camera! I agree that it sounds like something is coming. The D300 was never this low. The only time I've seen price drops like this has been clearance sales and the left over stock of D200s that sold at BestBuy for $600, but the D300 had already been on store shelfs for about a year.

Could there be an "affordable" full frame camera from Nikon soon? DX lovers you can still buy a D300S since it won't be discontinued or replaced. But I'm sure a "cheap" FF camera would sell like crazy so Nikon has to take advantage of Xmas and move as many D300Ss as possible now!!!

NikoDoby said:
Body only. This is a very good deal for a camera like this!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B002JCSV6M/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

Could a D400/D500 really be near? What if there really is an affordable full frame coming? Might explain the rapid fall in the price of the D300S? Or should we thank canon and the 7D, poor economics, or Santa?

Just an update, price is now $1499 at amazon!!!

WTH?!?

I check nikon body pricing every morning on the john, and I nearly shat myself to see a new semi-pro body drop THAT Low. . .

I'm thinking a D400 is going to be announced before summer. . .it doesn't make sense, would kill the whole point of the D300s/D3s combo, but man, Nikon has been so unpredictable lately. . .

NikoDoby said:
how about this Sony a550. It matches your Sony television, Playstation, and mobile phone.

I'm waiting for a Nintendo/Nikon merger so that my Wii can match my camera. Maybe I should just write Nikon on it with permanent marker to save time.

How may I help you today nau? Can I interest you in a canon XSi? It's our best seller. No, how about this Sony a550. It matches your Sony television, Playstation, and mobile phone. I'll tell you what, why don't you keep looking while I post some comments on the NR forum.

What? You want that D800?! Um...well...that one's mine! :^)

Niko lately Im suspecting that you r working in sales (cant figure out for whom yet)

good find tho

I did more digging and the D300S also qualifies for the $250 instant rebate off bundle with the 18-200mm lens or $200 off with the 70-300VR! So you get the D300S with both lenses with $450 instant rebate!!! So that's almost $1000 off the MSRP of the D300S with these lenses! Free shipping! WOW!

I would expect it to be a response to market pressures more than expected future products, products from other manufacturers are increasingly competive. Nikon also limited D300s pricing by putting the same sensor in less expensive camera bodies. As the owner of a D90 it is hard to think the D300s as twice as good a camera or 3x a D5000. I would think the D300s should sell for $1200-1500.

Wow the price of the D300S is now at $1499! Something is definitely going on here! Could there really be a D500 soon and Nikon wants to move as many D300Ss as possible before the new year?

adamz said:
niko - how about d3x launched last year, it was in december AFAIR

The D3X was announced on Nov30/Dec1st 2008 depending on where you live.

and maybe it's all due to economics improvement, USD price in Poland is now back on XI 2008 level - app 2.70PLN for 1USD, the best I've seen last year was 1.98PLN for 1USD, and the worst (when the crisis stroked) 4.02PLN for 1USD

niko - how about d3x launched last year, it was in december AFAIR

Don't worry it'll happen.

Ah well. I'm just being optimistic :^)

I'm not convinced there is a December to remember event from Nikon :^(

Maybe it's the December announcement admin mentioned on the blog!

Yes rapid fall in price indeed! Thats shocking about the D300s and such a great camera too! I've seen the D300 for sale under $1000! The D300 is a spectacular camera I love mine still. The D700 is selling now for just $300 more than the new D300s if you hunt around. Whats going on? Another body must be in the works and released soon.

So if anybody at Nikon reads this Forum, do like Canon, trow out all your Chairs etc and don't allow anyone to sit down until this new FX camera is ready for sale or else

Pete

I hope your right Pete. 2010 looks like a good year for FX fanboiz and a very bad one for you DX lovers ;^)

Come on D500!

A smaller FX body, me think

Pete

It's very strange that the D300S has fallen in price so sharply?! Not even the D300 was this low when the D300S was announced!
I think something is up! Could the 7D really be hurting the D300S that badly? Or is something coming soon? Not as a replacement but something along the MSRP of the D300S?

Monty, I think that its been established that Alpha is philosophically New Technology Amish

alphanikonrex said:
WHAT!? That's less than what I payed for my D300 in May!

*Sigh* At least I don't have video in my camera :^)

Haha ... that sounds like sour grapes to me :P