D3x...could Nikon be hinting at it here...?

[Richard Peters]

Sorry if this has been posted already but I didn't see it. Its been mentioned on a couple of forums now...

Something BIG is coming...

[gstark]

That one has not been published here before, to my knowledge.

I do know that there's a Nikon event in Sydney this week, and the expectation is for a D90 announcement to be made at this time.

It would be unusual for the D3x to be announced at this time, simply because the Olympics finish tonight: in many ways it would make a lot of sense to release something like the D3x prior to such an event, and of course have as many of them made available for the visiting press to use at the various events.

Of course, if the D3x is going to be targeted at studio and wedding work (lots of photosites, and maybe not too fast in terms of fps) then in terms of major sporting events its release timing is moot. With Photokina just around the corner (see the "next month" reference in the ad) and a northern spring release schedule (just in time for all of those northern spring weddings) perhaps we will see more than our initial expectations at this week's event.

[Antsl]

Over the past few months there have been rumours emerging about a Nikon digital rangefinder camera.... if this is the case then it will be fantastic in ways most photographers may not yet appreciate. This will be a camera that will let you work extremely quietly in almost any situation. It will be great for candids, street photography, family photography, weddings, portraiture, film and theatre work, even for some forms of natural history photography. Because it is unlikely to have a mirror box mechanism and by its design it is going to have a modest frame rate (probably no more than 3-fps) then the camera will also be rather light in its construction. It is not going to be a camera to replace the D3 or any other DSLR camera but it will be the kind of camera you can have as a second body for those times you are looking for a light travel camera or simply a quiet camera.
If this camera is on the drawing boards then I have to say, a mate and I would like to take credit for it's inception... we had dinner with some Nikon staff last year and we hounded them for just such a camera... maybe Nikon do listen!

[Oz_Beachside]

bickies a savin'

[gstark]

Over the past few months there have been rumours emerging about a Nikon digital rangefinder camera.... if this is the case then it will be fantastic in ways most photographers may not yet appreciate.

Thom Hogan is suggesting a new, MF Nikon SLR format might be the go. That would answer the questions surrounding the "BIG" in this announcement, but while he makes some good points, I don't see that as being the answer: Nikon doesn't seem to have the manufacturing capacity to build, not simply the camera, but the extra ancillary items that this would entail: consider all the new glass that's needed to support the new format. Could the F mount support the larger image circle that any MF sensor needs? I'm not so sure.

The extra investment required by 'togs to support any new format would also need to be considered: perhaps one already is using 'blads or Mamiya or Bronica or Rollei, and what would it take to make someone switch? The ability to use common lenses might be a factor, but that brings us back to the question of image circle.

A digital rangefinder would be nice, but many of the same discussion points would come to the fore.

I'm still thinking in terms of D3x: D300 sensor doubled gives 24MP; good pixel density, slower performance than the D3, but very suitable for studio and wedding work. Add in the improvements that 12 months (since the D300 was announced) brings to the table ...

[Antsl]

A digital rangefinder would be nice, but many of the same discussion points would come to the fore.

One comment I heard the other night was that Nikon might be making a digital range-finder that accepts Leica lenses. I do not imagine this will happen though... why create one of the best DSLR AF systems around and then match it with a Manual Focus only camera and lens system. My thoughts are that even if Nikon do create a digital range-finder camera there is more of a chance that it will have AF and and I guessing this AF system might be based upon the contrast detection system that Nikon have built into the Live-View system.

I seriously doubt Nikon will go the Medium Format option either... they made MF lenses for Bronica years ago and even then it was a non event. Why try and compete with Mamiya and Hasselblad when they already have such incredible (and unaffordable) systems. If you think about it though... how many digital range-finders are there on the market... at least ones that have a great sensor on them! nikon have made rangefinder cameras in the past and I think they are going to do it again.

[Matt. K]

If Nikon can produce the rangefinder that Leica should have built.....then good on them! However I suspect that one of the minor players will beat them to it because there is a pot of gold and a great deal of prestige to be had. I for one would like a high quality rangefinder that shoots in DNG format, has very low noise at 1600ISO, is quite, fast, accurate focus, high quality viewfinder, and a range of high speed lenses from 18mm to 135mm. I want it and I want it now!
...oh....and real cheap!

[Antsl]

If Nikon can produce the rangefinder that Leica should have built.....then good on them! However I suspect that one of the minor players will beat them to it because there is a pot of gold and a great deal of prestige to be had. I for one would like a high quality rangefinder that shoots in DNG format, has very low noise at 1600ISO, is quite, fast, accurate focus, high quality viewfinder, and a range of high speed lenses from 18mm to 135mm. I want it and I want it now!
...oh....and real cheap!

Bloody oath... you just want everything... now....... SO DO I