Nikon Large Sensor Mirrorless Camera Is A Possibility

Msmoto

From the main blog, discussion for those of us who are waiting for this to be announced. And, my idea which I put out a year or so ago….

Msmoto

Oh, wait, another:



ANd, one more….


Please note: None of these images is in any way an official photo…. only my imagination, fantasy, and nostalgia being put into an image….

Symphotic

I've given up hope. It would have been nice to have a year ago. I've gotten to where I have a work-arounds for all the size problems I used to solve with an M4-P. Now I just pack-up my D800 with a manual focus pancake lens and carry a 24-120 separately.

NSXTypeR

That last photoshop looks like someone dropped a safe on a D750.

Nikon can't possibly be so dense as to ignore mirrorless.

It would be like Kodak ignoring digital cameras...

...oh wait...

sevencrossing

So nikon may not have abandoned medium format after all

Bokeh_Hunter

Actually Kodak was the main innovator in CCD technology for about 20 years - just a FYI. They just didn't make their own cameras.

I don't think Nikon really cares or wants to pump out a new "system" (either medium format or fx/dx sensor based mirrorless system.) The just seem to be on a path of missing the boat or living in a Japanese market only bubble and just can't seem to understand what people are buying. Hint: its not DSLRs.

They had the opportunity with the DF and didn't do a mirrorless. My guess is that they either haven't at all or just started developing a DX/FX mirrorless system. Either case, we are a least 5-6 years for a good system to come out that may match the rest of the pack.

donaldejose

The Nikon FX mirrorless body will be released after the D400. What does that tell you?

rmp

donaldejose made me depressed, so I must go on a vacation, drink some margaritas and take some pictures.

heartyfisher

The Nikon FX mirrorless body will be released after the D400. What does that tell you?

Great! so sometime early next year then ?

PB_PM

What, in 2020? Couldn't come soon enough. :-t

donaldejose

I don't think Nikon will produce a medium format system because it would involve too much investment when the company is not profitable enough now to have those funds for development. Development costs would be less to first fill all the "gaps" in their current line up which can be produced with existing DX and FX sensors and existing lens sizes. Examples, D400, DX lenses designed for high megapixel sensors, DX "holy trinity," mirrorless DX bodies, mirrorless FX bodies, FX lenses designed for high megapixel sensors, 50mp D4x or D810x. There are a lot of things for Nikon to do in the existing DX and FX format.

Msmoto

I suspect Nikon will produce a full frame (FX) mirrorless. With the rapidly evolving technologies we will see an EVF which is indistinguishable from a ground glass image. And with focusing which is as fast as anything on the market, maybe even faster. At this point in the evolution of the 35mm camera, a DSLR will be like the rangefinder, nice, useful, but a camera built on outmoded technology.

My opinion only….

Oh, I think I like the DM-1 above…. LOL

donaldejose

I believe you are correct. We are just waiting for the technology to make it possible. When the mirror is gone a current restriction on fps (the time it takes for a mirror to flip out of the way) will be removed. There will be other advantages. For example, an EVF will project a bright image of a dark room allowing for better composition in very low light. Ten years from now the whole Nikon lineup likely will be mirrorless with not a DSLR remaining.

Photobug

@MsMoto - I agree the first mirror less will be a Fx model. Picture 1 represents that model.

Picture #2 represents the DX version for consumers/advanced amateurs and Pro's.

Pictures #3 is a nice dream. Shore like the first two. Nice work.

kenadams

Frankly, I think (and hope), that a competitive mirrorless model would neither have nor need a big body as the above. I'm wondering how much battery drain is caused by the moving mirror, btw.. Anyways, to draw in the mirrorless crowd, the camera needs to be small, that being the primary advantage in general. An optional battery grip can be equally small then. IMO, a Leica-sized system would be perfect, because it's small but still easy to hand hold. Just look at the Sony A7 series.

KnockKnock

I'm kind of thinking the opposite just for the fun of it.

Nikon already has the 1 series which is aimed at small/light. And that's the camera (if they ever get it right) that could draw in the crowd. ($300-600 bodies, built-in viewfinder and grip for the V etc.)

I can't speak for the true pro's here, but most of what I've read speaks to preferring the larger bodies in order to support larger lenses. The ergonomics of a small camera and an f2.8 zoom aren't great. I actually like the lighter bodies, but I get the feeling that those sports photographers would scoff at strapping their 200-400mm lenses onto an A7-like body. Even a 24-70 f/2.8 is too big to handle.

NSXTypeR

From what Thom Hogan was hinting at in his D300s replacement article, it seemed like Nikon either did consider or is considering large sensor mirrorless, whether it is in DX or FX form.

So maybe it might be possible.

WestEndBoy

Frankly, I think (and hope), that a competitive mirrorless model would neither have nor need a big body as the above. I'm wondering how much battery drain is caused by the moving mirror, btw.. Anyways, to draw in the mirrorless crowd, the camera needs to be small, that being the primary advantage in general. An optional battery grip can be equally small then. IMO, a Leica-sized system would be perfect, because it's small but still easy to hand hold. Just look at the Sony A7 series.

It won't be much smaller unless the flange to focal length distance is reduced, which means a new lens lineup.

Msmoto

I am thinking the flange to sensor distance would be reduced, but a very effective adaptor to allow full use of all the current F mount lenses would be supplied. Some new lenses could utilize pancake technology, and other stuff once the mirror is dumped.

donaldejose

Yes, that would be a real seller. People could buy into such a system without replacing so many lenses at first. You could count on mostly using existing lenses and then adding the new lenses as they go.

rmp

When can I place an order? Nikon should listen to Msmoto. :>

KnockKnock

Thom Hogan seems to think the mirrorless Nikon will be DX and gun for the D300 slot.

http://www.dslrbodies.com/newsviews/watch-for-closing-windows.html

Pistnbroke

A long as its FX 36 MP+, silent and does not have those horrible so called professional memory banks I dont care wht it looks like.

DaveyJ

Mirrorless hype is resulting in sales. Meanwhile DSLR is declining. Sure hope mirrorless Nikon is in a D300 style DX version as well as FX. I would buy the DX. I could NOT afford FX. Why? Cameras are not my only spending habit. Fortunately I do no drugs, legal or illegal. I avoid health care except for hobby purchases, that is my health care plan. I was once in the Medical world. So DX mirrorless, hope it is great in stills and video!

mhedges

Well I wouldn't hold my breath for this considering this rumor is almost 4 years old now, and obviously nothing has come of it yet.

HankB

mhedges said:

Well I wouldn't hold my breath for this considering this rumor is almost 4 years old now, and obviously nothing has come of it yet.

Except that what has become of "nothing having come of it yet" is that Nikon has stumbled allowing Sony to bump past it into 2nd place. [Kind of like back when Nikon stumbled allowing Canon to bump past it into 1st place].