Now that Nikon has released the D3 I can finally cheer full-frame without being repudiated as anti-Nikon. Do you think there is any chance Nikon will release a digital FM3A,with compact size, no (or tiny) LCD and minimal features being the flavour of the month?
Whilst I think the D3 is great.. its just too big!
Probably not. Certainly not with an FX chip. Maybe with a DX (or smaller) chip and a fixed lens. As nice as it might sound, its a too 'niche' for Nikon at this stage.
anything they could do could be argued as "niche".
We all know that what the market is lacking is true competition for the 5D. It's still the only FF "1/2-body" camera out there, besides all the film cameras we know and love.
Hell, even Leica can't get it right with the overpriced M8. I think if Nikon were to have crammed an FX sensor into the D300, they'd have a real giant-killer on their hands.
anything they could do could be argued as "niche".
Well , thats ridiculous. Everyone knows what the meaning of niche used in this context means.
I think if they're producing 60,000 D300's each month, I would already call that a giant killer.
And how much would an FX D300 cost. Think about that for a second. The D3 will cost $5000, the D300 will list at $1800. Aaprt from the incorporated profit margin, how much of that $3200 difference is there outside the price of the sensor. It ain't the AF, its the same. The processor is the same and the body isn't going to cost $1000 EXTRA to produce now is it.
Sure, it would be nice to have a smaller bodied FX camera for those who don't want to lug around the D3... an F6 digital if you will. But who cares if Nikon doesn't match a camera that Canon produces.
Do you think Canon is selling so many 5D's that their heads are exploding with joy. There's a market for it, but its not big enough for every player to be in. Let Canon have that segment, Nikon doesn't need to respond to every single move. If they think its a 'profitable' market then they may respond. Currently (as of now), its clearly not. The future is a different story.
As painful as it is for a shooter like me to accept, it will be awhile before we see that kind of camera. I have two FM3A's by the way. I have two gnarly-A$$ sets of peaks to climb this week, the kind that make your camera take a back seat until you are out of harm's way.
I did two average peaks this weekend to prep. I had to decide between my 5D and 16-35, FM3A and 28mm 2.0 or my M8 and 28mm 2.0. In the end, I took the latter to give it whirl, it worked great.
I am still thinking for this week, I am taking my beater FM3A, 20 3.5 and 45 2.8. That rig is like a Chevy truck and does not cost $8,000....
this might happen in a few years from now, when FX sensors will get more popular, produced in high quantities and made much more affordable, then and only then some lower spec bodies might appear in a smaller package when the technology will allow for it.
Yeah after moving to film Leica Ms I cant imagine ever using such a big camera again. I hope the companies listen to pleas like this and give us something bare bones.
SnaggS wrote:
Do you think there is any chance Nikon will release a digital FM3A,with compact size, no (or tiny) LCD and minimal features being the flavour of the month?
They have one now! They call it the D40x.
Compact size
Minimal features(or at least reduced features)
No LCD(just turn off image review if you find it useless or distracting)
Stellar imaging(you didn't ask, but Nikon saw fit ot include it)
mfletch wrote:
[They have one now! They call it the D40x.
Compact size
Minimal features(or at least reduced features)
No LCD(just turn off image review if you find it useless or distracting)
Stellar imaging(you didn't ask, but Nikon saw fit ot include it)
Sounds alot like your request.
Almost, but the D40X is missing the D3 viewfinder! And the ability to use an aperture ring on MF lenses. Then it would certainly be more like a manual F body.
mfletch wrote:
They have one now! They call it the D40x.
Compact size
Minimal features(or at least reduced features)
No LCD(just turn off image review if you find it useless or distracting)
Stellar imaging(you didn't ask, but Nikon saw fit ot include it)
Sounds alot like your request.
He's right, a digital FM3A would basically be a D40x in a pancaked body. It would be interesting, but I doubt making a smushed up body is high on Nikon's priorities.
By deduction, we already know Nikon's camera business strategy. They're going to blur the line between high end p&s and low end DSLR until every beginner and his dog buys a midget DSLR. Then when profits roll in, they'll throw the pros a few bones (might I add, some really tasty super bones in the D3/300).
But again who knows? A digital FM3A might be next. I don't think it's that far-fetched. Especially since Nikon's point-n-shoot offerings are so subpar.
Its nice to see I'm not the only one who wants a something as compact and reliable as a FM3A. The cool thing is.. you could even keep the film winder (LHS of the camera), so that if the camera ran out of battery, you could wind it up until you generated enough electricity for another shot.
Imagine that for a backup. Something totally unique. No live view, AF or any of that crap, just the minimal electronics to take the photo, and then a way to get around the battery limitation in emergencys.
that actually is a really really really good idea...manually controlled electricity. wind it enough until a light turns on and then take your picture. wow. solid
I've been shooting a little B&W film recently with an Olympus OM-1 and I'm loving it. I really hope these types of cameras aren't dead. They are incredibly well built and the feel of MF is not something I'll be wanting to go away anytime soon.
While a digital version of the FM3a would be cute I just don't see it happening. Nikon is already producing a small DSLR called the D40 and apparently many enthusiasts are turned off by it because it lacks an internal AF motor. If they don't like to manually focus a lens on a D40 they won't like a DM3a where even the AFS lenses would have to be manually focused. If you want to get minimalist you can always turn off the LCD, meter manually, and focus manually. The shutter remains mechanical which is all that a DM3a would have as well. But if it was priced at $299 if just might fly. I do like the generator idea in place of the rewind knob though.
turnert wrote:
Almost, but the D40X is missing the D3 viewfinder! And the ability to use an aperture ring on MF lenses. Then it would certainly be more like a manual F body.
Why can't you use the manual aperture ring on the D40X? My understanding is that you can still use it, it just that it can't meter with it, which, in he sense of keeping it bare basic, you can meter manually. Or am I wonrg in that you cannot even use apertuer ring lens on the D40 series at all
