where there’s smoke there’s fire

Update: some of the text of those events was changed in the past few hours. I guess Nikon Germany is closely following NR. This is not the first time – remember the D3_2 folder? It’s gone now.

Nikon Germany has 4 different events in different cities scheduled for November 20th (coincidence?). I specifically find this one interesting:

Produktdemonstration mit Check & Clean-Service in Landshut bei Foto Petzold, Schirmgasse 281, 84028 Landshut

Am Donnerstag, dem 20. und Freitag, dem 21. November 2008 erhalten Sie bei Foto Petzold Informationen über die aktuellen Nikon Produkte aus erster Hand. Geschulte Nikon Fachberater stehen Ihnen an beiden Tagen ausführlich Rede und Antwort. Natürlich haben sie eine Reihe von (neuen) Nikon Highlights mit im Gepäck. Kommen Sie vorbei. Es lohnt sich. Foto Petzold und wir freuen uns auf Sie. Achtung! Kostenloser Check & Clean-Service für Nikon Kameras.

Google translation:

Product demonstration with Check & Clean Service in Landshut with photo Petzold, umbrella Lane 281, 84028 Landshut

On Thursday, the 20th and Friday, 21 November 2008 photo, please contact Petzold information on the latest Nikon products first hand. Nikon trained advisors are available on both days speak and answer questions in detail. Of course, they have a number of (new) Nikon highlights with the luggage. Come over. It’s worth it. Photo Petzold and we look forward to hearing from you. Regard! Free & Clean-check service for Nikon cameras.

Recent discussion from an Austrian forum (translated, thanks F):

Oliver: Anyways, you can say Nikon bettered themselves [Re: Delays]. I even got a camera, even before it was announced. Can’t find anything wrong with it.

A.: D3x?

Oliver: Hardly. Rather a probably upcoming -yet unnamed- DX-SLR model for Joe Sixpack. Feeling like a dual-digit D, but nice. I applied for the “D4” or “D3x”, but whether I as a zero will be able to get my hands on it, God knows.

A.: And you didn’t sign a NDA that forbids you to tell your opinion publicly?

Oliver: I wasn’t forbidden to tell I saw a camera. And nobody can forbid me to tell my “feelings”. Only /facts/ are, what I may not tell until a certain date. Or publishing pictures.

I got a report from a Nikon Pro Dealer in Europe – they got an invitation to go to Saint Petersburg at the end of the month for a Nikon event. Can someone (mainly in Europe) confirm that and maybe send us a copy/scan of the invitation text?

Thanks!

Update: Why Russia? Maybe this article has the answer.

It seems that Thom Hogan now also believes that there will be a new Nikon announcement by the end of this month:

“There’s a pattern that happens prior to a real Nikon launch. I’m seeing that pattern again and we already know about a 11/20 date for something being launched.” (Source)

and another one from jeff-c (for detailed history on jeff-c’s predictions click here):

“Entering quiet period until Dec. 1st” (Source)