I've said this on other threads and I still believe in it: D400 (DX same body as D300 - next few months for with Thailand up to full speed), D3200 Fall, D7000 (Dec/Jan), D5200 (March 2013)

I agree a D300s replacement will come this year, but the D7000 will be two years old (not new in the technology world) in the fall, and is up for replacement. The D3100 may also be updated (D3200 as rumored). The only camera off cycle for a replacement this year is the D5100.

I don't think we'll see a D9000, or a low cost FX body this time around, just isn't going to happen.

I think Nikon is finished releasing bodies at least this year because their lineup seems to be complete. Fulltime pros have their new sports body and landscape studio pros have their body as well. The next camera should be a DX camera to replace the D300s because the D7000 is still fairly new and already has good specs.

donaldejose said:
...
But that D3s sensor surely does have a lot of usable life left in it. I have suggested before that it could be used in a new body, even the D400 if Nikon wanted to take it FX.

OK so like a D7000 body with FX .. say a D9000?

TaoTeJared said:
D800 is the true D700 replacement. How many pros used the D700 instead of the D3? Tons. Nikon is not going to cut into it's pro-line sales again.

+1

If Nikon does come out with another FX body, it will most likely offer a faster FPS/higher ISO usage (like the D4) for those that do not seek the higher MP/MF functionality. My prediction is that this would not come to market till 2015 however.

The performance of the D3s sensor is too close to the D4, there is no way they are going to keep it on the market in a lower cost body.

Re the D90->D7000 = D700->D800
I think that the difference is much bigger between the FX cameras esp in terms of targeted use. The D800 would make sense as a D3X replacement. Even on our forums we have people mumbling that the D800 is not a replacement for the D700 cos they loose the FPS and that there is no improved ISO.

Re cutting into the D4/D3 sales, Ok then, maybe not a D710 what about a D700s with that lovely D3S sensor? Seriously wouldn't that push some of us DX shooters into the FX world? esp if its priced at about 2K? Wouldn't some of the D700 holdouts move to the D700s? Wouldn't people considering FX move directly to the D700s?

I think there is plenty of "market" left for that D3S sensor.

It is obvious they are playing the same game they did with the D90/D7000. I have a feeling tho that this may turn into a D2x/D3, P7000/P7100 problem where in a year the demand for a performance small body is so high Nikon may be forced to make a D800s... Remember that the D800 is last years tech not this so Im sure that played a role in what happened...

D800 is the true D700 replacement. How many pros used the D700 instead of the D3? Tons. Nikon is not going to cut into it's pro-line sales again.

Rx4Photo said:
Hearty,
They also said the D7000 was not a D90 replacement, remember. I think Nikon's intention by saying these things is an attempt to get peoples' minds away from the thought that the next camera is an "upgrade" of the previous camera. We ain't stupid, we know it is, but let them play their marketing games.

+1

If Nikon makes a true D700 replacement they are more likely to use the D4 sensor rather than the D3s sensor. But that D3s sensor surely does have a lot of usable life left in it. I have suggested before that it could be used in a new body, even the D400 if Nikon wanted to take it FX.

I dont think there was an F7

Hearty,
They also said the D7000 was not a D90 replacement, remember. I think Nikon's intention by saying these things is an attempt to get peoples' minds away from the thought that the next camera is an "upgrade" of the previous camera. We ain't stupid, we know it is, but let them play their marketing games.

"According to Nikon, it doesn't replace the D700, but rather sits alongside it in a new category that seems to be pretty squarely aimed at medium format users and portrait photographers."

Doesn't that mean that there would be D710 in the works ! ?

So what will it be like ?

Could it be that it would have the sensor of the D3S ? with the same advanced body of the D800?

That would work wont it ! ? who would be up for this Faster frame rate higher iso 12MP version of the D800. ?