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Looking at the street prices of the D5100, D700 and D700 (namely 600, 900, 2000 EUR incl. VAT) there is definitely a gap in the price-points Nikon needs to cover: 1400 EUR!
The D300s is currently around 1200 EUR and looking long in tooth. So the 1400-EUR-question is: What will Nikon do to plug this gap, when the D300s becomes obsolete (which the camera is actually right now)?
I'd like to hear your opinion and wishes what Nikon should do between the D7000 and the D700 or successor thereof! Is it a D400 (DX-format) or is it a real stripped down FX-body???

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

it should be super designed dx body, i mean most wildlife photgraphers would like that 1.5 crop factor on a completely sealed, fast and rugged camera... i thing d400 DX should come up next, and if it does its gonna lift some dust like d7000 did...

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Maybe put the existing D7000 sensor into a body with D300s ergonomics and stick with the D300s burst rate of 7 fps? Are there any other D300s features that owners feel are in need of a refresh?

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
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I'm not a D300 owner, but just putting a D7000 sensor in a D300 body won't be enough to justify the price difference IMO, not when you consider the upgrades the D7000 has been given in so many areas.

The D7000 sensor is almost a given, but I'm guessing they might also up the burst mode to 8 FPS to compete with the 7D, as well 720p (possibly even 1080p) video at 50/60 FPS. I'm guessing it will also have the D7000's new metering system, but they might introduce a new AF system with the D400.

Whatever they do, I expect them to do it at some point this year, along with the D800 and/or D4. I doubt they will do all 3 at once though, so I suspect they will leave the D800 announcement until some time next year (though this means they will miss the rumoured release date of the 5DIII some time in the second half of this year).

As others have said, I think the main points will be, D7000 sensor, D300 body, faster continuous shooting, awesome video capabilities.

But I think that one of the main differences will be the autofocus system. I imagine the D400 will be released with the D4, and as per the D300 and D3, will completely redesign the autofocussing. I imagine lots more cross (is that the more sensitive one?) type points and things like that.

GPS would be a nice addition, as would an insane battery life.

Could also be a massively hard core version with a possibly integrated grip, loads of waterproofing etc.

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

The D7000 specs are ancient history now.
How about a 24 Megapixel APS-C sensor as rumored for the Alpha 700 replacement the A77.

I seriously doubt that will happen. For one, I doubt that Nikon will be able to maintain their awesome high ISO performance with such a high pixel density sensor, and second, I honestly don't think Nikon's current lens line-up is up to the task of resolving that amount of detail on an APS-C sized sensor.

I'm sure Nikon knows better than to jump into a megapixel battle with Sony. At least I hope they do.

Unlikely, because probably not a single lens in existence would be able to resolve that sort of pixel density, let alone Nikon's current DX line up. Even the fantastic 14-24 struggles to resolve the D3x to its full capacity, and that is a much larger sensor.

Also because in Nikon believes in supporting smaller businesses to supply its parts, and so it is easier for them to have fewer components in production for a variety of reasons, this makes having an extra sensor to be made really quite tricky in comparison to say Canon or Sony, especially in light of recent events in Japan, where many of Nikon's suppliers have now gone under, where many of Canon and Sony's are still going, being larger firms.

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Nikon D5000 and D300 with 12-24mm, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.4, 60mm f2.8 Macro, 18-200mm, 17-55mm f2.8 (all Nikon)

I agree a 24 MP is getting goofy, especially if new lenses are required to max out it's potential.
Apparently Nikon is better at keeping secrets than Sony.
http://nikonrumors.com/2011/01/10/sony- ... -d400.aspx

I think it is easy for existing budget lenses to be able to practically max out a 24MP sensor. To keep my post somewhat on topic, look at the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 test on D7000 at Photozone. The central resolution on the 16MP sensor is practically maxed out. The linear resolution change for 24MP compared to 16MP is about 22%, so to me it doesn't seem much more to reach for out of a lens we haven't found the limit of yet. And before you point it out, I know the Sigma 85/1.4 isn't a budget lens, but it was the only Nikon review available there at 16MP. You can see a similar trend on the 15MP Canon budget prime reviews and I would expect Nikon/Sony budget primes to have that potential also. Their D3X review with the 14-24 also shows maxing out of resolution. Besides, that is a much easier task anyway due to the much lower pixel density. Look at compact camera pixel densities for an indication of where that may lie. We have perhaps a factor of 10x to go before we even reach that stage.

Swinging around back to the original main topic, I'd expect a D400 to continue the line. Just imagine the D7000 but better. Nikon are historically MP conservative so I'd expect the 16MP unit will be used for a long time yet.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
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3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Interesting thoughts.
But what need the features of a 16MP-D7000/5100-sensor carrying body need to be to justify the 40-50% mark-up over the D7000?
2-3fps more and full aluminum/magnesium body? I honestly doubt that...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

the ability to use the el-el4e was one.

a better and quicker buffer system.

Faster AF, more AF points.

not having to deal with a green mode.

dual CF card processors.

CF card processors.



however, i do agree that having the d7000 has blurred the lines between the dx0 and dx00 camers even moreso.

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or may be we will see something like this but in DX format?
http://nikonrumors.com/2011/04/10/nikon-d800-design-concept-camera.aspx

no way.

there would be no possibility of a grip and too many moving parts for it to be weathersealed.

I dig the removable rubber pieces but not much else.

I think the new system will have 18 or so megapixel, not more than 21.

a better AF system with more points and a totally different ergonomic build.

Who knows it might even be a full frame without MP loss when converted down to DX (dreamin, probably not possible)

It'll probably have something crazy like 9fps and 11fps with the grip.

but who knows. Nikon's busy for now and they will be for some time.

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My guess is that the D300/s successor will be primarily focused around features like sweep panoramas, built-in HDR and other enhanced bracketing options artificial horizon, better video and stereo-mics.

Of course on top of the D7000-level ISO performance and some burst rate and buffer improvements.

I don't see it be revolutionary, but more evolutionary, in nature.

The "revolutions" are more likely to be revealed in the D7000 and below segment or the D700 and up segment.

And wouldn't that be consistent for Nikon? Weren't the D200 and D300/s themselves evolutionary at the time they came out?

Cheers

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