Nikon isn't in a vacuum. It has to react to Canon and the T2i and 60D posed a real problem for them. The D7000 staked out the high end by going well above the 60D making it even competitive against the 7D. That just didn't happen by accident. I don't believe the d5100 is going to be another d5000 with a bigger sensor. It needs to place itself above the T3i. It apparently isn't doing that with the 39-point AF, so unless it's going with beefed up video (1080 @ 25, 25 & 30fps), the only thing it can do is add a pentaprism. I also think a high res lcd and stereo plug for audio are necessities. Expect surprises ... Incidentally, you can also expect the D400 to be awesome.

I actually don't think there will really be that much of a gap. Really there was only a few minor differences between the D5000 and the D90. It actually makes more sense to me to have a little bigger gap to distinguish the D7000 and the D5100. Like I said before though I don't think many people will be selling their D5000 to get the D5100...it will be more for people looking to get their first DSLR or to switch from another maker like Canon and they don't want to pay $1000 for the D7000.

You're probably right Super Shooter, but that will leave a big gap up to the D7000, which unfortunately the Canon 60D fills in nicely.

Putting in a CLS commander and making a battery grip will go a long way to addressing this without needing any real body changes, so maybe they'll do that along with an fps bump. But I think they should do a bit more, I just don't know what.

R1zbear said:
I also think so.

You don't think she-it since you're only posting a spam link to your crappy illegal movie download site.

@ Cool Hands
I don't think the D5100 will be that much different then the D5000. Same body with only a few minor differences and of course another sensor. Not sure about that Korean guy with the sideways folding screen. It might be real or it might just be a prop someone got wrong. There is a photo of him holding the same camera but with the screen folding downwards like on the D5000.

If the screen does swing sideways then that means a major redesign of the rear buttons. I don't like the idea of having all the buttons along the bottom of the camera instead of along the left side. I hate that layout. A left column of buttons seems more natural to me. Unless Nikon goes with a touch screen!

Once the D90 goes away there will be a big gap between the D5000 and the D7000, and I really think Nikon should (and hopefully will) move the D5100 upmarket to fill the gap. The D5100 should be only slightly downmarket from where the D90 was. But how will/should they do it? Some ideas for improvements over the D5000:

- Make a proper portrait battery grip for it (very important IMHO)
- Give it a CLS commander (Canon are rolling out flash commanders across the line it seems)
- Give it an AF motor (would be nice, but unlikely)
- Give it an AI indexer (v. unlikely)
- Make the body a bit tougher
- Give it a front control wheel
- Give it a top LCD
- Give it a flash sync port (maybe that would be /too/ pro...)
- Bump the AF abilities a bit. Not necessarily more focus areas, but give it more processing grunt.
- Bump the fps a bit to about 4.5 or 5fps
- Increase the buffer size

No, they don't all make sense. Anyone got any other ideas?

I think gelu88 is right. To make it more interesting, Canon now has nine different DX cameras that it lists on its website versus four offered by Nikon. Basically, Nikon has the D3100, which competes against the Rebel XS,T3, XSi, and T1i. The new D5100 will go against the T2i, T3i, and maybe the 60D. The D7000 is up against the 60D, 7D and remaining life of the 50D, while the D300 and upcoming D400 will go against the 7D. Incidentally, you can expect the D400 to absolutely blow away the 7D. Nikon will protect its turf at the top of the market.

Nikon really doesn't want to go head-to-head with any single Canon camera. It wants to bracket itself, which is why I believe it will introduce a pentaprism in the D5100. That would put it ahead of the T3i and close to the 60D. If Nikon doesn't do that, it will be slightly behind the T3i, assuming Nikon doesn't add 25 & 30fos video at 1080 and 60fps at 720. If it does, then it will have a pentamirror, but it can afford to do so.

the consumer lines have been on a 1 year refresh for a while now: D3100, D3000, D60, D40x, D40.

and the semi-pro lines have been on 2 year cycles forever: D7000(2010),D90(2008),D80(2006),D70(2004)

pro is on 3-ish year cycles, though "s" releases muddy that up a bit.

I doubt that will change much, so do not expect a D7100 till summer/fall 2012.

TheCaz said:
All in all, as a long-time product planner, it's fun watching the chess moves between Canon and Nikon and trying to anticipate what they're gonna do. What do others think?

Talking about product life cycles... Assuming Nikon are moving from where they have been per new product cycle, down to the average consumer world new product cycle time (about 12 to 18 months?) then Nikon need to get enough product in the channel to satisfy the pent-up demand damn sooner than 6 to 12 months after launch date!

Consumer lines are down even from the 2 year life spans - or less - that they were i.e. didn't the D40/x only last 3 years until 2009... The D3000 only 1 year(?) how long before the D7100 emerges?

Now THAT'S a rumor I'd be interested in ;-)

I'd like to pick this up again because of the latest catch by NikonRumors of the Korean shot that showed an articulated lens that opens left. While that might have been a prop (call it malaprop) instead of an accidentally-leaked d5100, it also could be a shot of things to come.

I want to suggest another potential surprise. Were we looking at the D90 replacement? While we have all assumed that the D7000 is the D90 replacement, what about putting a pentaprism in the d5100? To keep pace with Canon, Nikon can do one of two things -- match their video (1080 at 24, 25 & 30fps) or add a pentaprism to make it a classier still machine than the T3i. That would also make the D5100 competitive with the 60D. It might not match in video, but it would as a still camera.

All in all, as a long-time product planner, it's fun watching the chess moves between Canon and Nikon and trying to anticipate what they're gonna do. What do others think?

kanuck said:
Yes according to Nikon rumors Nikodoby is right. Same D5000 body with better video and 14.2MP. Sounds like a nice little camera I think. Nikon sure has been dragging its heels regarding offering more MPs for its consumers. I guess they worry about noise, dynamic range and color rendition...

I would expect the same body size, but if it's the d3100 sensor and video capabilities, then you'd have to expect a minimum of a higher res articulating screen and a stereo audio plug, and the 39 point AF system. Nikon not only has to make it worth several hundred more than the d3100, but also has to go head-to-head with the Rebel T2i and new T3i, which has a high res articulated screen. Since they're not likely to offer 30 fps at 1080 (that will be in the D400 and up), then the only thing they really have to offer that is light years ahead of the T31 is the 39 point AF system. The bottom line is we can expect it to be a hot piece of gear.

tcole1983 said:
Glad I have my D5000 and the D5100 doesn't really make me want it over what I already have. Couple more MP and 1080 video that I would never use...egh. It would be nice for a first camera if I didn't already have one, but if I had to do it again I would have got the D90 so I could use non-afs lenses.

That's a x2 here except I got the D90 for the handling. I wish I'd got the D90 first, ended up getting one AS WELL as the D5000 but now I will not sell the D5000 as it is a great little camera - for me only spoilt by having video of course.

Yes according to Nikon rumors Nikodoby is right. Same D5000 body with better video and 14.2MP. Sounds like a nice little camera I think. Nikon sure has been dragging its heels regarding offering more MPs for its consumers. I guess they worry about noise, dynamic range and color rendition...

Glad I have my D5000 and the D5100 doesn't really make me want it over what I already have. Couple more MP and 1080 video that I would never use...egh. It would be nice for a first camera if I didn't already have one, but if I had to do it again I would have got the D90 so I could use non-afs lenses.

I think you're right. The D5000 is way more like the D90 than the D3000.

Nico's posted spec is still a rumour though, so we'll see what happens for real.

But will the overall market really pay something like $350 more for a camera that has little more than a swivel screen as the major difference? Would adding a stereo mic input be enough as well? That's why migrating down from the d7000 makes a lot more sense to me. You'd have real differentiation on both sides.

TheCaz said:
A low res swivel screen

As somebody who owns the D5000 and the D90, I don't find the difference in resolution of the screens that noticable. Nowhere near as important to me as the swivel aspect.

TheCaz said:
If you're right, NikoDoby, then it's an upgraded d3100, which means it'll have to have a higher res than the 3100 and improved video as well, including a stereo mic option, otherwise it won't have any traction in the market. A low res swivel screen and mono audio won't have enough differentiation from the 3100. Too bad. I was hoping Nikon would repeat the d5K strategy by migrating down from the D90. Then again, if it migrates up from the d3100, it still should be a very appealing system, although it would make it a tougher choice versus the d7K. we'll likely find out soon enough ...

You get swivel display, only this is much enough for some users to upgrade.

TheCaz said:
If you're right, NikoDoby, then it's an upgraded d3100, which means it'll have to have a higher res than the 3100 and improved video as well, including a stereo mic option, otherwise it won't have any traction in the market. A low res swivel screen and mono audio won't have enough differentiation from the 3100. Too bad. I was hoping Nikon would repeat the d5K strategy by migrating down from the D90. Then again, if it migrates up from the d3100, it still should be a very appealing system, although it would make it a tougher choice versus the d7K. we'll likely find out soon enough ...

There's enough room now between the D7000 and D5100 for the D5100 not to step on the D7000's toes, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Hope the autofocus is upgraded too, but I doubt it.

If you're right, NikoDoby, then it's an upgraded d3100, which means it'll have to have a higher res than the 3100 and improved video as well, including a stereo mic option, otherwise it won't have any traction in the market. A low res swivel screen and mono audio won't have enough differentiation from the 3100. Too bad. I was hoping Nikon would repeat the d5K strategy by migrating down from the D90. Then again, if it migrates up from the d3100, it still should be a very appealing system, although it would make it a tougher choice versus the d7K. we'll likely find out soon enough ...

Nope, as of today Feb 18, 2011 these are the "officially rumored" specs :^)

Same body as the D5000
14 MP sensor
Swivel LCD
Video 1080p

Nikon is likely to go in one of two directions -- the d7K electronics in a d5K body, or the d3100 electronics with an upgraded screen and improved video capability, including input for a stereo mic.

If it goes with the d7K electronics, expect a low res screen. It'll likely swivel. The video may or may not have a stereo input (it won't if Nikon has a choice, but it may come built-in with the d7K electronics).

If it goes with the d3100 innards, it'll definitely have a better screen and stereo mic input if at all possible (I'm not sure how integrated the electronics packages are).

My call is the d7K electronics (16 mp and the 39 point AF system) in a body with a low res screen, pentamirror, and a single card slot. It'll probably swivel and will have a stereo audio plug, so an outboard mike can be placed on the flash mount. Price point is $899. It'll truly fit between the 3100 and 7100.

HotDuckZ said:

Take a photo by double tab

:)

I'm assuming this should be double tap?

So you hold the camera with one hand and tap on the screen with the other hand then take the camera back to the retailers complaining that none of your pictures are in focus.......perfect!

bjrichus said:
We will know soon... The main blog page has a picture of the box (is it a fake???)....

I would have to say the picture is a fake. The one on the D3100 box is straight, where as the photo is tilted right. Secondly the top section of the one is supposed to be a perfect square, and it is not. Besides, when has Nikon ever shipped a camera that has not been released yet?

I have a D5000 and a D90 and I wish the D90 had the swivel screen like the D5000. There are always some people that will break anything - just look at some of the D5000 'unboxing' video's on youtube. It is not written anywhere that you have to flip it out and swivel against the stop in 1/2 second, but those guys think it is necessary. My old E10 had a kind of flip out screen and that lasted me 10 years without a problem.

So how does a touch screen work if you don't have eyes on stalks?

We will know soon... The main blog page has a picture of the box (is it a fake???)....