I've been trying to track down info on the d2500's panoramic feature since i just purchased it from the DigitalRev store you recommended and have been having trouble finding anything official.
I am beginning to wonder if this feature actually exists on this camera since there is no official mention of it on the Nikon website, the new Digitutor or even the official owners manual!!! which you can now download here:
http://www.fotoez.net/nikon-d5200-dslr-users-manual-owners-instruction-15243
Do you know anything or have you heard any official word on this feature?!

Nikon makes too much money on its four DX cameras not to replace each one of them. They will produce a D3200, a D5200, a D7200 and a D400 because they will sell a lot of each one. CX won't take DX sales other than for snapshots alone simply because the lowest priced $600 D3200 obtained a DxOMark test score of 81 while the $750 Nikon 1 V1 tested at only 54. By the way I have just been shooting, and publishing on PAD, with a Nikon D70 rated at only 50!

spraynpray said:
Instead of talking about cars (the analogy works IMHO), what about C*n*n? They have how many lines?

At least 7 or 8 APS-C bodies that I can see. Which only reinforces my point that the market will bear (and possibly thrive) on more than three from Nikon.

golf007sd said:
D7000 sloppy in focusing...I disagree.

I don't have any problems with mine either. It is no D4, but it is not a problem.

in4fun said:
39 point AF is fine with me as long it's not as sloppy in focusing as the D7000

D7000 sloppy in focusing...I disagree. Perhaps it is your technique and personal skills that is limiting you in taking full advantage of the D7000 capabilities. I have work in many different environments and conditions and the D7000 has works like a champ. No camera will perform to its highest level if the end user lacks the knowledge in using his or her gear.

Instead of talking about cars (the analogy works IMHO), what about C*n*n? They have how many lines?

I wasn't using the automotive industry as a whole as the shining example, merely one manufacturer, and I think my analogy is spot on. I wouldn't look at GM as a whole as the example for Nikon unless you wanted to argue/discuss whether Nikon should dump their sport optics or precision equipment divisions and focus solely on imaging products (bad idea).

So my analogy in GM terms would be focusing on Chevy (the imaging division of Nikon) should Chevy abandon the Cruz and the Impala to focus on Camaros and Corvettes? Should Nikon drop one or more of their DX line to focus on FX? That's the analogy I was trying to draw with BMW (btw, the M line is going strong, it is their ultra-high end kinda like the D4)

The answer is no. The revenue (and total profit) from the Impalas and Cruzes, or 1 and 3 series, or Dxxxx lines (and the CoolPix) keep the company afloat.

If you ( or I or any of the 75%ers on the forum) were in charge of Chevy, BMW, or Nikons Imaging division, we would be beholden to the shareholders and the board. If unilateral decisions were made about product lines, disregarding profit margins and sales figures, you would be fired in an Ironheartbeat for not serving the best interests of the shareholders.

So my only point really is "follow the money" and there will probably be 4 DX lines in 2013 if the profits dictate: D3xxx, D5xxx, D7xxx, and D400.

Now where are the DX lenses...

@Ironheart: only because you use the car analogy, I'll come back with a car analogy. Or a few:

GM (ended up going bankrupt)
Chevys and Pontiacs were perhaps as different as the D3xxx line and D5xxx line. Pontiacs are no more.
Oldsmobile wasn't really a Buick, and it wasn't a Caddy. Whatever it was, it's gone.
I guess they still make both Chevy and GMC light trucks. I wonder for how long.

Chrysler (ended up going bankrupt)
Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth were rationalized. I think Plymouth may be gone entirely.

Ford
I think the Mercury line is pretty much gone.

BMW: I really have no clue but the chart on Wikipedia suggests that the M Coupe has been withdrawn.

I remain convinced that three DX options are sufficient:
Entry level (something between D3xxx and D5xxx, may not AF some lenses)
Enthusiast (something between D5xxx and D7xxx)
Hard-core (D300s successor)

Maybe Nikon wants to make more lines. Using the automotive industry as the shining castle on the hill though is the wrong argument.

If I was running Nikon, I'd do a lot differently. As would, I expect, 75% of this forum's readers. And that 75% wouldn't agree with each other or with me!

Ironheart said:
Two different things. The metering sensor determines exposure value. It has no relationship to auto focus. Does anyone have any intel on the auto focus module for the D5200?

Maybe it will be 11 points like the D3200? Unless the it gets the D7000 AF system that has 39 points.

Perhaps the D7000 will move farther up as a D300s replacement and we'll just have 3 DX cameras and not the usual 4.

shawnino said:
I fail to understand why Nikon has four DX lines (even if the top end is being neglected temporarily).Three would suffice.

DX likely outsells FX five to one. Do the math :-} The "pro" is gonna buy high-end, but the "masses" are looking for choices from $500 to $2500 in $500 increments. If you were running Nikon you would make the same choice when confronted with the sales figures and projections.

Think of it this way. How many BMW 325i get sold for every M5? Should BMW drop the 1 and 3 lines to focus only on 5 and 7? They'd be out of business fast.

I fail to understand why Nikon has four DX lines (even if the top end is being neglected temporarily).Three would suffice.

in4fun said:
@ironheart
oh, thanks for that info

@captainelmo
39 point AF is fine with me as long it's not as sloppy in focusing as the D7000

@shutter
size is one of my major reasons why I wanna get my hands on this one (D3200 being too small for my hands and D7000 too big to carry it with me for casual trips downtown)

There is little difference between the D3xxx and the D5xxx in terms of size. In fact I sort of preferred the D3100's ergo's over the 5000 and 5100 because it had the direct access to the different shooting modes. Also, I find the D7000's AF is fine until you get into low light conditions. In normal shooting its perfectly fine and better than the competition in terms of tracking.

@ironheart
oh, thanks for that info

@captainelmo
39 point AF is fine with me as long it's not as sloppy in focusing as the D7000

@shutter
size is one of my major reasons why I wanna get my hands on this one (D3200 being too small for my hands and D7000 too big to carry it with me for casual trips downtown)

My next goal is D7000, d5200 seems still smaller than d7000, same big as d5100.

I was hoping for a D7000 successor. Well I need to wait a bit longer then. Maybe they are scrapping the dxxx DX line and moving the Dx000 line up to the pro DX. This seems to indicate the progression to that considering the pretty decent specs the 5200 has. I think we will see the 39 point D7000 AF in this.

Two different things. The metering sensor determines exposure value. It has no relationship to auto focus. Does anyone have any intel on the auto focus module for the D5200?

First of I got a question regarding the 2,016 pixel RGB metering sensor which is identical to the D600 sensor.

Does this mean the AF system will be equally fast as in the D600?