N/F-75 SLR: Bridging the gap between the N/F-65 and the N/F-80
N/F-95 SLR: Bridging the gap between the N/F-80and the F100
Possible but last Pro-F body, F6
F5 based D1s body or D2 based on F6
Release of the D65 DSLR
More G series lenses
Coolpix out the arse
All new LiteTouch lineup
End to any remaining APS cameras

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

N/F-75, not enough gap to require a new camera. The existing gap is similar to what Nikon has had in previous generations. A space might be opened up by an updated N80"x" with a faster motor, stronger AF, electric control connector, and faster flash sync. I think you're over-optimistic about how much r&d Nikon will put into film bodies, at least for a given year.

BJ

Zenfolio gallery

Actually I was not thinking in the way of features for this camera, but the price. Ther eis a good price gap between them. Nikon use to (as well as Pentax, Canon, and to the worst extent, Minolta) have price segments, where the camera body was released by pricerange rather than features. The gap in price between the 65 and the 80 is pretty decent.


ROFLOL, Dave, your posts is as bad as Lefty's. Man, has he been showing you the AIM PM's we send or have you learned the 16th century ligno from Mrs. Lefty. hahahahahhahaha


>N/F-75, not enough gap to require a new camera. The existing
>gap is similar to what Nikon has had in previous
>generations. A space might be opened up by an updated N80"x"
>with a faster motor, stronger AF, electric control
>connector, and faster flash sync. I think you're
>over-optimistic about how much r&d Nikon will put into film
>bodies, at least for a given year.

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

Lord Nikon, I smite thee with the glove of truthe! Verily, thou has partaken of the Mushroom of Wishful Thinking.

For nay! Nikon shall not spake of the N75 nor the N95, considering such objects to be unworthy of their munificence. But aye, thou spaketh with truthe on that most knightly of cameras, the F6. With much trumpeting shall the F6 and the D2 digital version of the F6 be herald.

With much wailing and grinding of the teeth shall the peons lament the lack of a D65, whence thou shall covet thy neighbors D100 (which shall receave bountiful firmware upgrades.)

Thy arsenal of fine lenses shall see plentiful bounty of AFS VR G lenses as Nikon wizards perfect the spells of Lenses if "wide seeing" (14-28mm AFS G?) and "far seeing" (200-600mm AFS VR G?).

And Woe! Thy arse shall be smited bye a plague of Coolpix cameras.

Again, Nay! Nikon shall wave hands verily over few LiteTouch in favor of Nikon's favored son, Coolpix.

Lastly, Nikon shall mourn but little over the passing of APS.

The Wizard of Farsooth,
DaveDosch
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles.

DaveDosch
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles.

>With much wailing and grinding of the teeth shall the peons
>lament the lack of a D65, whence thou shall covet thy
>neighbors D100 (which shall receave bountiful firmware
>upgrades.)

My most honorable and just Lord Dave.....

Thou seemest to me to be a bit awry in thine statement of "wailing and grinding of teeth"....most assuredly, the correct is "with much wailing and gnashing of teeth" is such, as most men of gentle birth doth know and announce and proclaimeth across this most fair land the proper response....foreasmuch as I despair in remonstrating thee, I must, as mine honor doth compel me, to offer most gentle instruction.....

So, shall we, as gentle peoples, watch with darkest despair and pity most sincere, as the peons wail and gnash their teeth in the perpetual darkness while they bemoanst their rude fates to the uncaring gods????

In service becoming to all of gentle birth,

Mark, an Austin Nikonian!! See more about me and the team here!
Team Page

Mark, an Austin Nikonian

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

I hate to break up this archiac english fest but I thought I would share a rumor I heard from a pro with a good relationship with Nikon. Now take all rumors with a grain of salt but the rumor is Nikon will not release an F6 and the F100 will be the last new pro film camera and they will end production of that in 2004-2005. Everything new in the high end from here on will be digital.

I hope it's not true but....

That would be a totally stupid move if Nikon were to do that. One has to remember that not everyone in this world owns a computer, or even wants one at home, or if they do, they won't necessarily want to spend more time on it than they already have to.

I hope Nikon won't be that stupid...

jin

ArtemisWorks Photography

"Whatever debases the intelligence degrades the entire human being."
- Simone Weil

Jin, those people are still using FE, FM, F3, and AI lenses. They always will. Unfortunately, the perception IS that everybody has a computer at home, because that's how they buy the new products.

--scott

"Less is not more. Enough is enough. Less is less."
David Vestal

--scott

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

Your comment regarding PRO film cameras is exactly what I've heard as well. All top end development $/efforts go to the D1* series successors. Makes a LOT of sense at the PRO end.

Lyle

Check my weekly display at www.stavast.org !

Lyle

>N/F-75 SLR: Bridging the gap between the N/F-65 and the
>N/F-80

Only with a complete revamp of the amateur-level film SLRs - perhaps they might realize their mistake with the N55, and thus demote the N65 to the N55 price range, either making the N55 really cheap (ala Minolta QTsi) or getting rid of it altogether.

Then the N75 would be an N65-based camera, but loaded up with more features, almost an N80 level, but without better build, real pentaprism, etc.

The N85 would come out, adding AI/AI-S metering, plus a few little refinements of various sorts, and would go up in price to make way for the N75. It would almost become a "semi-pro" camera like the old N90.

It could be called the N95, but I prefer N85. It would keep built-in flash and such.

>N/F-95 SLR: Bridging the gap between the N/F-80and the F100

Nope, read about the N75/N85 predictions above. There is a price gap, but features? Probably not.

On the other hand it is possible that since all the components exist, Nikon will try to flood the market with all kinds of cameras - loaded-up N65s (N75) and even maybe, in similar price to the N85 mentioned above, a stripped-down F100 under the N95 name. Maybe then an F105 could come along with a metal back and mirror lock-up... And an F5s with minor updates.

>Possible but last Pro-F body, F6

I seriously doubt it. In my dreams maybe the F5s above.

>F5 based D1s body or D2 based on F6

A full-frame pro D-SLR must be on its way if Nikon is to keep up with the Joneses (i.e. Canon).

>Release of the D65 DSLR

I doubt it. Maybe a D105 though.

>More G series lenses

I would say this is likely, though I wish they'd go the opposite and kill the G lenses (just as I said with the N55 above). Of course that will NOT happen, just a dream...

>Coolpix out the arse

Always !

>All new LiteTouch lineup

Why? I think film P/S is a dying market, far more than film SLRs.

Nope, cheap digicams will come instead, as consumers either keep their old P/S because they're disisterested, buy disposable cameras (this will become more popular), or, for the people who would actually buy film P/S cameras that are relatively expensive (a few hundred $$), go en masse to cheap-ish digicams like the Coolpix 2500.

>End to any remaining APS cameras

Absolutely. The debacle of APS (and I think most of us knew it would be a massive flop) will eventually end. Ten years from now I doubt you'll be able to buy APS film at all. And good riddance!

I don't think the film P&S market is in any danger for some time yet. It's mature, surely. But getting prints from a digital P&S isn't easy enough yet for Aunt Maude and Uncle Jeb to deal with. "What do you mean I need a computer for my new camera? I just want pictures of my pekinese!"

Digital has a way to go before it infiltrates much of this core market for film. If Uncle Jeb has to learn what a jpeg file is, he's gonna tell you where to stuff your Coolpix. Most digiphiles way over estimate the tech tolerance of the people who shoot film to get prints from WalMart.

BJ

Zenfolio gallery

There's a ninety-one year old woman around the corner who was complaining that she loaned her Sony digicam to her son (mid-sixties) and he lost it. She said he didn't know how to use it anyway. She doesn't like her new one as much.

--scott

"Less is not more. Enough is enough. Less is less."
David Vestal

--scott

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

Agreeed there guys. I gave my father my old Sony Mavica FD83 casue the USB setup his Fuji Finepix 2300 was too much a pain for him, and he's a computer-science teacher. Of course this forces me to constantly borrow a CP2500 quite a bit But digicams are not quite as idiot proof as APS or even 35mm casette still. Between connections, and drivers, printing... I learned last year selling cameras in retail far more people are confused than understanding the technology. You'd be amazed how many people use a computer daily who as soon as you say USB ask which one that is.............

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

Why this constant animosity towards APS? Has it affected your life in any way? "Good riddance". Why? If you don't use it, why even worry about it?

--scott

"Less is not more. Enough is enough. Less is less."
David Vestal

--scott

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

No, it hasn't affected me... But it was a dumb idea, and it can only help us that no more resources of these companies are wasted on it...

Besides, then my photographically inept relatives won't buy the wrong film any more (insert rolling eyes smilie here)...

The N55 was made to fit a price point at mass retailers. A lot of you may never have heard of the Canon Rebel X. I haven't seen any indication that the N55 has failed at its intended purpose.

--scott

"Less is not more. Enough is enough. Less is less."
David Vestal

--scott

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

I think the Canon Rebel X was an old model, long gone?

Rebel X replaced by the Rebel G, replaced by the Rebel 2000, replaced by the new Rebel Ti... like I said, I sold those cr@ppy waste of a piece of plastic! (Sorry, I hate those Rebels so very much! )

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

The real problem with the F55 is the price point collision between it and the F65. It needs to be either cancelled or dropped down anothe $50 in price point. A $250 F55 justifies buying it over a $350 F65 kit, but a $300 F55 doesn't justify the $50 savings.

Or just leave the F55 where it is, and replace the F65 with an F75 containing a centre spot meter(Spot meter is matches centre AF sensor, no extra spot meters), second control wheel, manual ISO and selectable meter modes, bump the price up $50, and replace the F80 with an F85 with a stronger AF motor and an optional data back.

Now what else on the wish-list.

14Mp full-frame F100 based D2, with return of PC-Card memory allowing up to 20GB hard cards (Like the iPod's internal HDD, which is actually a type-II PC-Card) or the ability to save to either the CompactFlash card in the camera or a IEEE1394 HDD connected to the IEEE1394 port, as the smallest of these drives are the size of a deck of cards, and battery powerd ones are available (Think iPod). Solves the storage issue, and a 20GB iPod is much cheaper than a 1 GB IBM MicroDrive.

Either a 8 or so MP full frame d100x and 6MP partial frame D80 (Based on F75 above)priced in at Coolpix 5000-5700 prices for the body alone.
or a D80 with the sensor from the old D1h at ~3MP priced in around $800-1000 US.

Non-G VR & AF-S zoom lenses in the US 4-500 range, a 70-300 and 28-105D version would be nice.

-------------------------------
F3HP, FA, F801, EM

I will agree with the point there, I htink the gap between the N55 and N65 is a wee bit too small!

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

Just give me that new future release F200 I'm sick!

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

>The real problem with the F55 is the price point collision
>between it and the F65. It needs to be either cancelled or
>dropped down anothe $50 in price point. A $250 F55 justifies
>buying it over a $350 F65 kit, but a $300 F55 doesn't
>justify the $50 savings.

I agree... The N55 with the 28-80 should be $250 or less.

Either that or move the N65 down in price $50, ditch the N55, and come up with an N75 based on the same body but with extra features... And an N85 based on that body but with extra features. The N75 would come in around the N80 price point and the N85 would be in between the N80 and F100 price points.

Then we'd have:

N65 $300 with 28-80G
N75 $400 with 28-80G (also available body only, $300)
N85 $700 with 28-105D (also available body only, $550)
F100 $900 body only
F5 $1750 body only

Note slight F100 and F5 price reductions (remember, digital is here) and nicer N85 kit lens .

>14Mp full-frame F100 based D2, with return of PC-Card memory
>allowing up to 20GB hard cards (Like the iPod's internal
>HDD, which is actually a type-II PC-Card) or the ability to
>save to either the CompactFlash card in the camera or a
>IEEE1394 HDD connected to the IEEE1394 port, as the smallest
>of these drives are the size of a deck of cards, and battery
>powerd ones are available (Think iPod). Solves the storage
>issue, and a 20GB iPod is much cheaper than a 1 GB IBM
>MicroDrive.
>

the ipod actually uses a 1.8" drive made by toshiba (they are the only company to make HDs in this size).

if resolution hits 20mp or so I can see the option of using firewire attached hard drives (most likely 2.5 laptop drives since they would be the best trade off between space, size and shock absorbtion)

about the only thing I am expecting nikon to release next year are more Coolpix camers and a full frame DSLR. I am unsure if a sub $1000 DSLR will hit the market next year (and if it does knowing my luck it won't have a full frame sensor)

I am waiting for the DSLRs to come down in price before I purchase one. scanning my negs works for me for the moment

From: lordnikon
Date: May 7 2003
GET A SIG FILE

You tell 'em John! Now get over here and isntall my hard drive, dork!

Aaron J. Heiner
Team Coast Guard Photographer
US Department of Homeland Security

This is a topic that has never failed to amaze me. Why would there be another replecement for the F90X? When the F90X came out it retailed for about UK£960-UK£1000, about the same price as the F100 is now. This tells me that the F100 IS the replacement for the F90X - it is a similar camera, aimed at the same people - that is serious amateurs/professionals. Coming down from the F90x you had the F70 and low and behold it was replaced by the F80. Once again retailing at a similar price aimed at the same niche in the market. Why would Nikon try and shoehorn 2 more models into the current line up? The gaps that are described are not big enough to be filled with another bridging model.

JMHO

D2XS + AF20-35mm f2.8 + AF35-70mm f2.8 + AF80-200mm f2.8. or...

Nikkors - 28mm f2.8 AFD + 50mm f1.8 AFD + 85mm f1.8G AF-S...

Hunger pays a heavy price to the shining Gods of speed and steel
http://alexjpscottphotography.yolasite.com/

LIKE me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AlexJPScottPhotography

Follow my blog...

http://alexjpscottphotography.blogspot.co.uk/


Alex

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

My same thoughts Scotty, except that somehow the N80 seems to be less expensive than the N70 ever was.

Personally I think the N65 should be pushed downmarket, and the N80 a bit upmarket, to fit in one new model.

It's just that the price gap between the N80 and F100 looks big (But hey, isn't the gap between the F100 and F5 big?)...

The F100 IS the direct replacement for the N90s/F90x despite it not having an "N" designation here in the US, it has "moved up" a bit in image I suppose but indeed it is the same price range now.

What confused people a bit is that when the F100 came along Nikon decided to keep the good old N90s on as a "lower cost semi-pro" model... Thus knocking down the price of the N80, and getting people a little used to an extra model, so now that they've finally given it its death sentence, people see a void.

Having handled both the F70 and the F80, the F80 is definitely inferior as far as build quality is concerned. I think if Nikon were to introduce more "half-way" models they would end up like Minolta or Canon with more models that you can shake a stick at and an amazingly confused used market. Waht is the best, EOS 650, 500, 100, 50, 55, 5, 3,1 blah de blah de blah. At least at Nikon you can see a conecting family tree between models. We don't go off at tangents and long may it continue!

Regards

D2XS + AF20-35mm f2.8 + AF35-70mm f2.8 + AF80-200mm f2.8. or...

Nikkors - 28mm f2.8 AFD + 50mm f1.8 AFD + 85mm f1.8G AF-S...

Hunger pays a heavy price to the shining Gods of speed and steel
http://alexjpscottphotography.yolasite.com/

LIKE me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AlexJPScottPhotography

Follow my blog...

http://alexjpscottphotography.blogspot.co.uk/


Alex

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Hey Scotty, having just made the move from N70 to N80 in April I have to agree I was a bit distressed with the "build quality" difference between the two-- but I must leap in defense of the N80 and tell you I've been more than over-compensated by the performance quality.
Next step, D100.
It also has poor build quality in the eyes of most, but if it's anything close to the N80 (and yes I know it's got a zillion things in common, not only in parts but in design) ---if it's anything close to that N80-- I'll be in hog heaven.
---Tom

"Shoot everything f/16 at a 100 and let the lab boys worry about it."

---Tom

"Shoot everything f/16 at a 100 and let the lab boys worry about it."

"Nikonians membership - My most important photographic investment, after the camera."

Take it from a geek but not a total geek (As I hate Digital cameras.) If I want to get digital images i will scan my negs and slides. Digital has it's place but in my oppinion until they can out do the quality of high end film 20+megapixels with virtually no digital noise, I will keep on shooting my F5.

I have played with a D100 a few times and it feels more substancial thatn the F80. I liked it (didn't like the F80 at all) and am seriously considering getting one. For me I could never part with my F90X or my FM2n - they feel like heaven to use!!!

D2XS + AF20-35mm f2.8 + AF35-70mm f2.8 + AF80-200mm f2.8. or...

Nikkors - 28mm f2.8 AFD + 50mm f1.8 AFD + 85mm f1.8G AF-S...

Hunger pays a heavy price to the shining Gods of speed and steel
http://alexjpscottphotography.yolasite.com/

LIKE me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AlexJPScottPhotography

Follow my blog...

http://alexjpscottphotography.blogspot.co.uk/


Alex

Visit my Nikonians gallery.