Got some rumors - Nikon DX roadmap

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Got some rumors - Nikon DX roadmap

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[NR] admin

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The only thing that bothers me is that the D90 will be replaced so early - they are on a 2 years cycle and the expected refresh should be in August 2010. What do you guys think?

"The specs given below for the D7000 are final and pretty much certain. Details on the D4000 & D400 however are a bit less so, but the concept of each of those two cameras, like what each replaces and which sensor it uses, that at least is sure. It is also sure that D5000 was a transitional camera not a beginning of a new series.

D7000
• Replaces D90/D5000.
• Announcement in Jan/Feb 2010.
• 14MP* CMOS sensor (similar to Sony A550 sensor).
• No* AF motor.
• New* AF module: CAM2000, 20 area.
• 5 FPS.
• Live View & 1080* video.
• Articulated 920K LCD.
• OVF same as D90.
• Weight and size below D90 "thanks" to the removal of the AF motor.

D4000
• Replaces D3000/D5000.
• Announcement in 2nd half of 2010.
• 12MP CMOS sensor.
• No AF motor.
• OVF & AF module same as D3000/D5000.
• 3.5 FPS.
• Live View*, but no video.
• Fixed 230K LCD.
• No AEB.

D400
• Replaces D300S.
• Announcement in 1st half of 2011.
• 16MP or higher* CMOS sensor (same new sensor as upcoming Sony A700 replacement).
• AF motor still there.
• 8 FPS (without the grip).
• Live View & special* high quality 1080 video (possibly RAW video???!!!).
• Articulated* 920K LCD.
• OVF & AF module same as D300S."

and another one:

"Nikon is working on new battery grip for next SLR cameras. (possibly 800D) He said it is in testing.
Cool is that it will have GPS module build inside, small lcd screen and some outputs too."

Posted 3 years ago #
optimaforever

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1080p video in the D7000 is kind of surprising...
why on this entry level and not the d3s???
however 920k screen articulated would be welcome!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Nice find admin. I think the D90 replacement sounds suspicious though. Not only the timeframe, but also the fact it lacks an AF motor.

Everything else seems reasonable, and that new BG sounds awesome!

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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Putting room between the 90 replacement and the 300 replacement by lowering the value of the 90 replacement is interesting. I'd expect a downward trend in the 400's price (unlikely) or another model shoehorned 'tween. When was the last time Nikon didn't have a x0 series body on the market?

4000 continuing the trend started with the 60 and followed up by the 3000 (previous generation sensor, current generation processing) makes sense.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Dang It admin, I just bought a D90 and a D5000 for Xmas...
No I'm kidding but my wife did almost buy a...gasp...canon rebel!!! I sweet talked her over to the D5000 but I didn't let her buy it either since I knew new stuff would be coming soon. :^)

Anyway I figured the D90 replacement would show up in early 2010. It's only about six months before it's "scheduled" replacement so I don't think it's too early. Besides the 2 year turn around isn't set in stone so Nikon can make a replacement when they are ready and not follow a predictable timeline. The D5000 will still be around at an even lower price to complement the new model.

I like the specs of the D400 especially the flip screen, but I hope the AF is improved and not just carried over. This will be my next new camera if nothing better (FX) comes along in the mean time (D800).

Posted 3 years ago #
[NR] admin

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ok, how about the D3000/D5000 replacement - isn't it too early to replace those two models?

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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For the D3000, I shouldn't think so. I think a lot of people were disappointed when it didn't have the new 12mp CMOS sensor.

Posted 3 years ago #
Girardian

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Any speculation about the price point of the D7000?

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I'm not happy that the D90 replacement may lose the AF motor. It makes no sense. Other than that, sounds good.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Girardian said:
Any speculation about the price point of the D7000?

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Or maybe just $999USD body only

Posted 3 years ago #
Niz

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Wow, D400 looks awesome. That is set to come out when I grad from college. Looks like I found my first camera to start off my career in photography.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I think it makes perfect sense for the D90 to not have AF motor. Nikon plans to update it's lenses to AF-S so if you want backwards compatibility you'll have to move up from your "old" D90 to a D400 :^)

The canon 60D is going to be updated in Feb2010 and it's going to be another metal body like the 50D but with less features than the 7D. I'm sure Nikon want's to steal some thunder :^)

As for the D3000 it makes sense to update it since the 10mp sensor is probably not going to be made anymore. Remember the D40X came out like 4months after the D40. It was never a replacement but just another option. I think by Autumn 2010 Nikon will still be selling the D3000/D5000 along with the new D7000 and D4000. Think of how the D40, D60, D3000, D5000, D90 are all still being sold now.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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NikoDoby said:
As for the D3000 it makes sense to update it since the 10mp sensor is probably not going to be made anymore.

Perhaps Nikon used it to get rid of the last of the 10m CCD's.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Yeah maybe but I'm sure they still have enough stock for a long while. The old 6mp D40 lasted longer than the new 10mp D40X. Actually the D40X morphed or got replaced by the D60 a few months later too.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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LOL, that silly D40!

Nikon's used the same sensor in three entry level cameras, right? D40X, D60, and D3000. It's been much "overused" I think. No wonder everybody's getting impatient!

Yeah, I guess you could call it "morphing".

Posted 3 years ago #
etageneuf

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No, definitly no ... A D90 replacement without any AF motor does not make sens ! This may be traduced by the fact that there won't be any "middle-prosumer" market anymore.

A D400 as described sounds great, for sure. But I don't think it worth the money Nikon will ask for it ... If those rumors are the truth, for the price i bought the d90, i will move out and buy Canon gears, something as a 50D or its replacement.

Nikon seems to let us think that megapixels are better than a great AF, that DX/AF-S lenses are better than D primes, and that's not true for the same price range, so far. Not sure Nikon will gain amateur and expert customers in the future ...

Very bad news for the ones who practise photography as a complementary or secondary activity ...

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Like I said above, Nikon will update all of their lenses to AF-S so most entry level users will also be buying newer lenses not ebay stuff. :^(

I have a feeling the price of the D400 won't be as high as the MSRP of the current D300S. Too much direct competition now from the 7D and future "affordable" full frames like the a850.

Welcome to the forum etageneuf.

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

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All these are disappointing to me. I don't like articulated screens, since I use the viewfinder and don't want the additional size, weight, cost and increase fragility. No AF motor diminishes D90 replacement value significantly for me. Increase in D400 MP without ISO, and other improvements puts it where in comparison to D3s? I don't think these are real or Nikon isn't moving in my direction.

Posted 3 years ago #
warprints

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Ted, I tend to agree with you. Nikon (and all others) seems to be adding crap to cameras simply because they can. I don't want the cost, weight, added "buttons" or menu items, and potential problems (failures) that articulated screens, video, etc., add to what I would like to be just a regular still camera.

Posted 3 years ago #
safyre

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How valid are the sources of these rumors? I am highly skeptical simply due to the D7000 not having an AF motor. I can understand entry level not having it, but once you get to the prosumer level, you're going to have to differentiate and appease those that have been following the D70/80/90 line. I also don't buy the whole AF-S line-up ordeal either since they have yet to update many of their older AF-D lenses; I'll believe it when I see it.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I may have to get the D90 if I really want a AF motor. I kinda like the older AF lenses, with their aperture rings and all.

Also, after reviewing the list, the battery grip idea sounds cool too. Kind of like a second LCD on the D3, it would tell you everything you'd ever need so you won't have to look at the top.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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ted2001 said:
I don't like articulated screens, since I use the viewfinder and don't want the additional size, weight, cost and increase fragility.

Then just leave the LCD in the closed position the entire time. How is the D5000 bigger, heavier, and more expensive with a variable screen then the D90 without one? To me this is a very useful feature and one that should be on a camera with video abilities! I'm old school too but I welcome new technology with open arms :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
etageneuf

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NikoDoby said:
Like I said above, Nikon will update all of their lenses to AF-S so most entry level users will also be buying newer lenses not ebay stuff. :^(

Maybe ... But, i do not want more lenses ... And do not like the DX lines. Nothing compares to the D lenses. In addition, many of those new lenses are out of budget for non professional users. I have already change the way to buy some, going to third party ones such as sigma or Tamron. The Nikon' marketing is already counterproductive on the lenses market. I hope they won't do the same error on the body market. Just have a see at the 18-135 DX for an exemple ... A real shame, so it was sent out of the market in just one year.

I have a feeling the price of the D400 won't be as high as the MSRP of the current D300S. Too much direct competition now from the 7D and future "affordable" full frames like the a850.

I hope you're right with that ! The next body i'll buy will be around 1.000/1.200 euros. But i guess a D400 will be a bit higher ...

Thanks a lot for your welcome. I'm an every day reader for a long time, you know ...

Posted 3 years ago #
soap

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NikoDoby said:
How is the D5000 bigger, heavier, and more expensive with a variable screen then the D90 without one?

The argument wasn't comparing the 5000 to the 90. The argument was comparing a theoretical body with the articulated screen to the a theoretical body without.

Are you seriously suggesting that an articulated screen option does not add weight, cost, fragility, or size vs a permanently mounted screen? Leaving it closed doesn't change that. (Though it likely mitigates the fragility issue)

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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IMHO - there's no need for d90 update next year, neither d5000 or d3000, this cameras are too new. If Nikon will launch the refreshments, it will only make people angry - especially those ones who bought the current versions.

as for d400, I doubt we gonna see one next year, will lean more towards 2011 - as this would make much more sens for me, new d4 -> new d400 -> new d90 mark II :)

Posted 3 years ago #