where there’s smoke there’s fire

Size comparison of new camera from slrclub

The new Nikon full frame retro-styled camera will most likely be available in two colors – all black and silver/black (a.k.a. as Panda version). I can now also confirm that the official announcement will be in two weeks (first week of November). I am surprised that Nikon will not be presenting the camera at the Photo Plus Expo that will take place this week in New York. If you are visiting the show, keep your eyes open – the new camera will most likely be shown to the press behind closed doors. You can also send me other interesting pictures from the different booths and new products at the show.

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Image credit: Mariusz Jeglinski

A quick update: the upcoming retro-designed full frame Nikon camera will not have any video recording capabilities. Here are the updated rumored specifications:

• Nikon FM2 like design
• 16.2MP 36×23,9 full frame sensor (same as in the D4?)
• SD memory card
• 2016-pixel RGB image sensor
• 9-cell framing grid display
• 3D color matrix metering II
• Native ISO range: 100-12,800 (incl. ISO 50 and ISO 102,400)
• 5.5 fps for up to 100 shots
• 3.2″ LCD screen
• Battery:EN-EL14
• Dimensions: 143.5 x 110 x 66.5mm
• Weight: 765g
• It will come with a new AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens (again, not clear what mount the new lens will have)
• Standard F-mount
• No video recording capabilities
• Pentaprism viewfinder (meaning the camera will not be mirrorless)
• The camera will meter even with non-AI lenses down to full aperture
• The camera will ship with a new special edition Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens to match the look/design of the body
• The camera will have physical controls and excellent build quality (which explains the 765g weight)
• Expeed 3 processor
• Same sensor as in the Nikon D4
• Nikon calls it a “hybrid” camera – not sure what exactly they mean with that
• The announcement will be during the first week of November

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Sony sure shook the market with their a7 full frame mirrorless camera. Many readers have asked me if Nikon will be coming with something similar. I have mentioned in the past that I expect a third mystery camera this year that will have a retro design (something like the Olympus OMD). The new full frame camera will most likely be mirrorless, but it will have some kind of a special (hybrid?) viewfinder. I am also not yet sure if it will have a regular F-mount or a newly designed mount. Here are the rumored specifications:

• Nikon FM2 like design
• 16.2MP 36×23,9 full frame sensor (same as in the D4?)
• SD memory card
• 2016-pixel RGB image sensor
• 9-cell framing grid display
• 3D color matrix metering II
• Native ISO range: 100-12,800 (incl. ISO 50 and ISO 102,400)
• 5.5 fps for up to 100 shots
• 3.2″ LCD screen
• Battery:EN-EL14
• Dimensions: 143.5 x 110 x 66.5mm
• Weight: 765g
• It will come with a new AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens (again, not clear what mount the new lens will have)

The announcement will be in the next 2-3 months, but it could happen as soon as next week during the PDN PhotoPlus show in New York. Stay tuned for more details.

Update – few additional specifications that will clarify some of the questions in this post:

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