I don't see Nikon killing DX, not in consumer/entry level cameras, but they would sure steal some market share from Canon if they put out a full frame camera for $2000. Sales of the 7D would plummet.

I don't see them eliminating it (they may have if they didn't produce so many dx lenses) but if they made a Fx at Dx prices they would choke the sale of not only Dx bodies but also around 50% of the nikkor lenses produced today...

Back before they did the switch from the D200 to D300 there wasn't a FX option yet, so I think that things will be a little different this time around. Don't get me wrong, I hope they make a cheap FX option, but I just don't see them eliminating the DX world anytime soon.

And what's wrong with that? Nikon still makes money because everyone with DX glass now has to buy FX lenses too.

D300 or D200 many Dx photographers I know (including myself) shoot mostly Fx lenses anyways, even if they are not planning to switch to Fx...

The introduction of a Fx sized and priced Dx would make the switch to Fx too easy...

Depends on where you are. Used D200s are still going for $800+ in Canada, because availability dropped off much faster here (right after the D300 came out) than in the US. :-(

Yeah but remember the price of the D200 feel down hard after the D300. It's all a matter of time. Full frame bodies will become cheaper so having an all DX lens collections is not a good idea.

I doubt D700 prices will fall that much, used D300 prices didn't fall much after the D300s came out. I doubt we'll see anything other than video added to the D700, so I suspect the used price will fall to $2100 at the most.

Soon the price of a used D700 will fall way below $2000 and that will hurt DX lens sales too.

I "hang out" with a pretty big group of Pro photographers. So I don't think I'm missing out on any "secret" DX only society. ;^)

Sure, but I would hazard a guess and say that most people who buy a camera like the D300 will be buying more full frame lenses than DX anyway. In which case, having an FX body at $1800 means very little. For people who don't have over a $1000 to spend on a camera, which still makes up 85% of Nikon DSLR buyers, it makes no difference, and would have little to no effect on DX lens sales.

As for pros with DX bodies, there are still lots of shooters with D2Xs and D2H, D300 because they see little reason to switch based on how they use their cameras. Just because you don't know any, does not mean there are none.

That is exactly why I doubt under 2000$ FX body will be available anytime soon ...
On the other hand 12Mpix D700 has much better IQ then 12Mpix D300/D90/D500 though and with the same not so expensive lenses like 24-120 for example.

The A850 isn't talked about much because beside the 24mp it really doesn't offer anything else. But if Nikon were to do it then you can be sure it would be a hit. Besides Sony's lens selection isn't very "friendly". They don't have a big selection and what they do have cost a lot.

A "cheap" full frame would hurt really hurt DX lens sales. Why would anyone want to buy a DX only lens? Besides I have yet to meet a "pro" who prefers a DX body. All the "pros" I personally know use full frame. If they want/need more reach then they get bigger better glass and not a DX body.

I agree, pros who want the Pro DX body will still buy it. People were all taking about how great it was when Sony released the A850, a "cheap" full frame camera, but I've seen little talk of it. If Nikon put out a $1800 FF body, amateurs would buy them in large numbers.

NikoDoby said:
I would expect a plastic body 12mp FF camera to sell for between $1200-1599USD. The D300S is already at that price now. So the D400 would be $1700USD. So a "cheap" full frame would really hurt the DX semi-pro market.

So What if is hurts the Pro DX camera it would also hurt Canon's pro DX and maybe their FF also, I believe a compact FX would gain more for Nikon than it would loose in other areas of their DSLR lineup. It might be a hard choice for someone like me looking for a sports camera, but then maybe the pro DX would still be the choice and a compact FX a great backup choice

Pete

The N90 and F90 are the same camera. Same thing with the N90X and F90X. They are know as N in the United States while the rest of the world they were sold as F.

mb said:
Yep so what, you want a patent on a common known fact?
And F90 is very different all together.

Nope, it was just the wording of your post, you made it sound like you were trying to correct me.

valonqe said:
I totally agree with you MB. My learning into photography started with F4s back in 97 and still own it. I am waiting for D4 to come out so I can get that one an have the perfect se up. My F4 is not getting along very well with my D300s and I don't know why?

Not the same class I presume ;)

mb said:
F4 is what every Nikon fan should have IMHO, best quality you could imagine (F100 is far behind) and it will works with every current lens or flash:

I totally agree with you MB. My learning into photography started with F4s back in 97 and still own it. I am waiting for D4 to come out so I can get that one an have the perfect se up. My F4 is not getting along very well with my D300s and I don't know why?

PB PM said:
Did you read my post? I said that. lol

Yep so what, you want a patent on a common known fact?
And F90 is very different all together.

PB PM said:
Umm, have you ever used an N/F90?

I have used the N90 (5 years ago) and can tell you it is not the size of the D300 (the F90 might be). You are are right in that is larger than the D40 though (I forgot how small the D40 is)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/itsthebunn/3948703135/sizes/l/

Anyways the point is you can cram FF into a Dx body size if you really wanted to. The problem with Nikon is that they aren't willing to invest in anything really innovative (updating firmware isn't very innovative it is just adding very little to what's already there), and in this case would create a problem if they did...

mb said:
D100, D200, D300 and D700 are derived from F100 actually:

Did you read my post? I said that. lol

Yeah I know, but like I said I really didn't need it otherwise I would have said yes right away. I like the old Nikons too but I love the current (F5) ergonomics more.

I kind of prefer smaller and more handy F4, and you missed it?
Shame on you!

Actually you can all thank the Italian designed F5 for Nikon's current styling and ergonomics.

Hey mb I was actually offered an F4S yesterday for $150USD in very good condition! I hesitated because I didn't really need it but when I finally said yes this morning it was gone :^(

F4 is what every Nikon fan should have IMHO, best quality you could imagine (F100 is far behind) and it will works with every current lens or flash: