kazinvan wrote:
One way or another, Nikon will fill the gap but it won't have the D800 features. The fancy autofocus and metering of the D4 won't make it's way down the line. I know we all want it to, but Nikon keeps the best toys for the top end gear.
I have no idea where you get this from. Canon is known to do this, but Nikon is not.
The D3 was Nikon's first FX digital camera. The D700 and D300 have exactly the same autofocus, the same metering, and all the same technology. The one-and-only single thing that was technologically different between the D3 and D300 was the sensor. And that's one of the things I loved about Nikon: that they gave me a fully professional, top-of-the-line DX camera in the D300. No holds barred, nothing spared.
We may or may not get the same results this time. But the D4 and D800 have the same AF engine, metering, etc. (just as the D3 and D700 did), so I see every reason to hope that the D400 will follow that trend and give us all of those same features attached to a DX sensor. My guess is that the D400 will be 24MP, with AF/metering/etc inherited from the D4/D800, for under $2K.
I just don't think they will put the new autofocus system in the D400. It is certainly possible, but I for one will be surprised.
Yes, the D4 and D800 share a lot of tech, but that can't continue down the line forever. D400 maybe, D7100 unlikely. They need to maintain separation in the line.
I hope you are right, if the D400 has a 24mp sensor with the tech from the D4 it will be a potent camera.
Nikon is not that big of a company. I have doubts they can afford to produce many different levels of components for each camera. They tend to take a modular approach and use those modules in several different camera bodies at the same time. I don't see Nikon putting a 24mp sensor into a camera (if that's what they actually end up doing) and then crippling it with sub par AF performance. Nikon is small, and the more of each part they produce, the cheaper it gets for them.
Simple. Did the D300 share the same tech as the D3? Should be similar style with the d400. I would be sorely disappointed if Nikon were to retire the dx00 letting the d7000 model line to take over. The ergonomics of this camera is not prosumer standard. The gap is way too large from a d7000 to a d800.
bvigil wrote:
Well, given that Nikon has apparently announced that the D700 will still be manufactured for the foreseeable future, I'd say we are going to see the 24MP D400 any day now at around $1800.
Under 3k, every price point is pretty well covered.
Unfortunately, due to the ever decreasing value of the US$ against the Yen, I think the D400 is going to come in closer to $1995.
I think when all is said and done, within a year or so, the Nikon DSLR line will look like this:
D3200 (D3100 replacement): $700 w/ lens
D5200 (D5100 replacement): $900 w/ lens
D7100 (D7000 replacement): $1300
D400 (D300 replacement): $1995
D800: $3000
D800E: $3300
D4: $6000
D4x: (high pixel version of D4): $7500
That does leave a bit of hole between the D400 and D800. It will be interesting to see if Nikon wants to fill it. And I suppose one can make the case that Nikon needs a DSLR at the low end at around $500, although I suppose those users might be driven more towards the Nikon 1 line even though that starts at $650 list with a lens.
And I don't think the D700 will actually be manufactured for the foreseeable future. As soon as they build up enough stock of the D800, I think the D700 will disappear and it hasn't been available for a long time in the U.S. anyway. Besides, doesn't the D700 have the battery problem so it can't be sold in Japan? And since the street price of the D700 the last time it was available was $2700 and the list of the D800 is $3000, that's only a 11% differential. That's too small for Nikon to maintain both lines. Since Nikon has always had trouble keeping items in stock, I cannot see them continuing to manufacture both.
I also sincerely hope the D400 is not 24MP. I'd rather see better noise performance than more pixels.
Two23 wrote:
Nikon is not that big of a company. I have doubts they can afford to produce many different levels of components for each camera. They tend to take a modular approach and use those modules in several different camera bodies at the same time. I don't see Nikon putting a 24mp sensor into a camera (if that's what they actually end up doing) and then crippling it with sub par AF performance. Nikon is small, and the more of each part they produce, the cheaper it gets for them.
Kent in SD
Exactly this.
Also, I was one of the folks that expected to see the D800 at $3299, and they held the line there, sonmaybe there is a good chance we'll see a D400 at $1799. Whatever it is, I wish the announcement was done and over...
just think if you were into manufacturing a camera,, by reading these forums you could never make up your mind as to what the best camera would be to build if you wanted to sell many of them,, opinions are all over the place,,
I believe since the D800 hit the news (and prior) I have read so many reasons someone is not buying this camera, recommend you only buy one if you need,, it is pretty standard here on the Nikon forum as well as the Canon forum questioning why didn't they or they should do this because I want a different product,, I don't think either company is on their way to the poor house for bad or lack of product,,
seems it is pretty much the same though if it is cars, refrigerators, TVs, computers, cell phones, sound systems or most any consumer product,, we all continue to wish and want something a little different than what they built,,
so please wait for the D400 and don't order or buy a D800E so when they hit the streets I can receive my faster,,
I'm sure I'll wait for a D400, the D800 is more camera than I need especially for what I shoot. Plus according to one of my local camera shops, the back orders are already out about 2-3 months on the D800. If you pre-order now, you'll get the camera (assuming they start shipping next month) around June/July.
