Nikon aways keps his release schedule is srictly confidential, but baesd on past experience, below our forecast for 2009. Pay attention to the slow ecoonomy and declining sales could slow down the Nikons release schedule, but they are also in the fiught for market share from Canon, whiuch puts pressurte on them in another direction (50D did not exactly set the world on fire, but the 5D Mark II is an awful lot of attenttion ):
Pro bodiies:
Nikon D3
D3 will turn 2 years before the end of this year, but it is still the king of low light (and on the basis of past experience, usuzally 3-4 yeasr bettween major updates about the body). Prices on the streret D3 fell to $ 4k mark, so Nkion needs to do something to get the price ponit back up to about $ 5K mark, and threre is room for improvement D3. We predicted D3h (or can be D3S) release, which will be D3 with the following characterisdtics:
2Gb buffder upgrade that now you can get on the D3 will be stanadrd practice.
New, improved EXPEED processor D3x can give a slight improvement in IQ, as well as some expansion of the already imrpessive batterry life.
Since D3 is an essential tool photojournalists, the ability to record video (1080p), it will be extremely useful in this area, however, that means adding hardawre video encoding and microphones, so it may be delayed up to D4. This will be a big selling point of a certauin segment of the market, if the pro Nkon can add it to the update process.
If you include vdeo, it can also result in sllightly improved esnsor (as it did when D90 was launched on the basis of sensor D300)
Misc. Smlal opportunities / settings.
Price $ 5K, perhjaps, $ 5.5k if you include video.
Nikn D3x
In firmware releases, we expect that this camera will remaoin unchanged, though with a steady fall in prces during the year.
Prosumer bodiees:
Nikon D400
D300 reaches its second birthday in late 2009, before he reaches his secomnd birthday, we expect the D400 to be released. We expect the followng:
Slight increase in megapixles - perhaps 14mp with the same or slightly better ISO capabilities than the D300.
Better dynamic range than the D300 (with D90 showde they could improve it, add a new sensor yearrs of development in the equation).
Videos shoud probably at 1080p.
What we want: to mainatin compatiobility with the MB-D10, and please put in a large buffer - a Nikon DSLR of choice for most users of Pro telephoto, large buffer would be really useful.
Price sholud be below $ 2k.
D700x/Nikkon Nikon D800
On the basiis of modern history, Nikon puts new sennsors on the high end of the body ifrst, then the sennsor will appear in the next level of the body somewwhere around 9 months, plus or minus a couple of months. This would mean the sensor D3x appears in the back of D700 (D700x or D800) that durig the summer of 2009. There is also considerable pressure from Sony (with the A900) and Canon (with the 5D Mark II), in the middle of this range, complete space frame, thus reesulting in a comeptitive prouct on the market here will have a very strong appeal. However, this leads to two baisc questions:
D3x little more than the D3 with the new sensors, but at current prices, the sttreet is nearly $ 4k more, it is an awwful lot of Premium for the snsor. Applyign the same logic to a new camera if they did the same with the price difference above the D700, whcih he put about $ 6K, which severely liit theiir maret and will not be in the same marrket space as Canon and offer Sony. In fact, to become a competitor, the camera should be the price not much higher that Canon and Sony - somewehre in the $ 3000 to $ 3500 range. If they price it at $ 4k, then they will lose a lot of potential market.
If they do so at the price of $ 4k or less, that really gets in D3x (who need weather sealing and prolongs batery life in the studio?)
To add videos or upload videos. To compete with Canon and gain markket shaare, they need to add a video. But if you uplaod a viddeo, then we will beat D3x with its high price, even more idfficult.
This is a tough cghallenge for the Nikon, is clearly a need for a cheaper version of the D3x, they must defennd its mraket share in a 5D Mark II and the A900, but the decoision at the right price will be the biggest problem. We believe we will see, D3x seensor in something in the middle of the year.
Cosnumer models:
Nikon D40 replacement
We expect to see it in early 2009, most likely, with 10.2MP sensor from D200/D80/D60 linees.
Nikon D60 Replacement
Replacing the Nikon D60 may be the end of 2009, with the sensor of D90, possibly with videeo.
Nikon D90 upgrade
Update Nkion D90 is proabbly in the second half of the year - perhaps called the D90s, basically the same camera, but with considerably improved video functioonality (auto-focuus, advaanced exposure control, perhaps even 1080p). It would also pave the way for the D60 with 720p video.
Lenses:
This is one more difficult to predict, but:
70-200 F2.8 VR Pack
This lens performs exceptionally well on DX and film cameas, but can users have reoprted problems at the edge softnerss of FX. Nikons Pro scaling, usuallly updated every six years or so that this lens is due. From D3x outpput is, and pushing the edge of speech lensses on D3 may be, it allows you to receive new versions of this lens is even more important.
85 F1.4 updted with AF-S
The logical choice wiould be upgraded with the following 50mm F1.4 AF-S, which has just been released.
80-400mm updated with AF-S
This amazingly versatile lens in the price range where it can apply to the D90 and even D60 owners, plus it has a reputation as a slow focus, so it would be a good candidate.
With the slow economy, upgrading more obscure elements, which will not be as beneeficial makes less sense than in previous yerars. Nikon, probably choes the lenses, eitgher (a) will be sold in large quanities to help restore the design / re-charges quixckly, or (b), which will spuport the asles D3x or other key bodies. If you 8k $ charge for the body, it is better to have the lenses to back them up.
Oveerall, taking into account the economy, we expecct to see fewer lens released in 2009 than 2008, but I susspect Nikon will keep your body on the path of development for competitive reasons. We'll revbiew later this year to see how we did it.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/feed-icon.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites