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Afte much thought I decided that the Nikon D50 has been the most successful Nikon DSLR in recent times.

Look at the history:

D70 problems, hence the D70s
D2H problems, hence the D2Hs
D2X problems, hence the D2Xs
D50 no problems and still going strong!

Which ponders the question, when will the D200s be announced

Also consider price drops, always an indication of something new being announced

Or Nikon could have adopted the Microsoft approach, as per the old joke:

"Sir, those aren't software problems .... they're called 'Features' .... "

what exactly were the problems associated with the d2x?

wasn't d70 -> d70s mostly software except for a larger viewscreen?

wendellt wrote:what exactly were the problems associated with the d2x?

On drive to most of the Seven Deadly Sins people doesn't have one !

Interesting investigations Chris.
Funny you mention the D50.
Bel's nephew (16) has said he wants to get into photography, and whilst I'm very excited I knew that a decent camera was out of the question when he told me about it.
Since then he's gotten a job and been saving hard, and recently asked me what I thought of the D50 - fantastic camera, I think in due course he will be a member here

Justin wrote:wasn't d70 -> d70s mostly software except for a larger viewscreen?

Cable release socket too, and best of all, a grey shutter release! Yeah, not much difference.

wendellt wrote:what exactly were the problems associated with the d2x?

Focus

OK

D70 - has no one heard of BGLOD
D2H - meter failure

When a company places a new model there has to be some difference to make the object viable - but, in the cases I have mentioned there were major problems to cover up as well

So how does this record compare to the nikon film cameras?

nito wrote:So how does this record compare to the nikon film cameras?

Absolutely none - as a member of this forum said to me today an F5 is an F5 - need we say more

sirhc55 wrote:
Absolutely none - as a member of this forum said to me today an F5 is an F5 - need we say more

Now that is an astonishing feat.

My personal belief is that in days gone by companies had the time to develop a product to more exacting standards than today. Due to the ”Future Shock” circumstance, digital cameras are pushed onto the market at a much faster rate before full R&D can be accomplished.

Are you being serious Chris?

What about the F4s and the F90x?

sirhc55 wrote:My personal belief is that in days gone by companies had the time to develop a product to more exacting standards than today. Due to the ”Future Shock” circumstance, digital cameras are pushed onto the market at a much faster rate before full R&D can be accomplished.

Whilst I don't disagree with this on a general basis, I think that digital technology is still in its infancy, and that the rate of development of the technology is the reason for the rapid update in camera models.

Film cameras, on the other hand, are a mature technology, and therefore now aren't evolving as quickly.

huynhie wrote:Are you being serious Chris?

What about the F4s and the F90x?

Nikon F4, F4s and F4e were variants on the same theme at a time when the F4 was reputably the best professional camera in the world. It was also a time to build on a superb camera.

The major difference between the F90 and F90X was the ability of the 90X to take the MB-10 vertical grip whereas the F90 needed modification.

In both the case of the F4 and N90 there were not problems with design. The digital camera of today has to keep pace with electronic development and consequently more prone to problems.

D50 released around the same time as D70s so benefited from D70 Foibles

Film cameras, on the other hand, are a mature technology, and therefore now aren't evolving as quickly.

Mature in the mechanical sense however ongoing electronics resulted in a minor or larger upgrades

sirhc55 wrote:
My personal belief is that in days gone by companies had the time to develop a product to more exacting standards than today. Due to the ”Future Shock” circumstance, digital cameras are pushed onto the market at a much faster rate before full R&D can be accomplished.

Companies are now producing products to sell in the Millions to be sold in a short time frame with skinnier profit margins rather than the days of producing only a few hundred thousand and selling them over a longer period of time. Also producing products by machinery and robots rather than handcrafting.

Mechanical works of art are now overtaken by electronics e.g. watches.

sirhc55 wrote:

huynhie wrote:Are you being serious Chris?

What about the F4s and the F90x?

Nikon F4, F4s and F4e were variants on the same theme at a time when the F4 was reputably the best professional camera in the world. It was also a time to build on a superb camera.

The major difference between the F90 and F90X was the ability of the 90X to take the MB-10 vertical grip whereas the F90 needed modification.

In both the case of the F4 and N90 there were not problems with design. The digital camera of today has to keep pace with electronic development and consequently more prone to problems.

The F100 originally came out with a plastic film prong which had a habbit of breaking, this was later revised to a metal one.

The first F5 had issues with rapid battery drain whch was later fixed.

Battery drain My Nikon D1 had a battery costing over $200 and you would get approximately 40-50 shots from a charge - now that is battery drain

hi

very interesting post and comments, hey?!...forgot to mention the rubber grip/glue problems. why then on the f5 was not fix for the next generation? f5s? and then the f100.

christian

byrt_001 wrote:hi

very interesting post and comments, hey?!...forgot to mention the rubber grip/glue problems. why then on the f5 was not fix for the next generation? f5s? and then the f100.

christian

Not fixed for D70 and D2Hs - lost both very early in their lifes