D300s Successor-D400, what and when

Photobug

That small buffer has stopped me from buying the D7100. I am not an avid bird photographer but once or twice a year I do shoot birds, especially Bald Eagles. I was at the zoo two weeks ago and that larger buffer in the D300 gave me some excellent pictures. From what I read, I don't think the D7100 cuts the mustard.

I was in Alaska 2 years ago and the whale pictures were fantastic. When a whale comes out of the water, you need a camera that will record the entire sequence and NOT mis a frame.

I am not anti D7100, I think it's a great camera but and it's a BIG BUT...that buffer size just doesn't cut it with me. We need a D300/D300s replacement that offers the requirements listed in this forum since December. I am so tired of my Canon buddies "attitude" about their "superior DSLR's". Come on Nikon get off your butts and do something.

Thanks for allowing me to vent.

spraynpray

@Photobug: For only once or twice a year, why not set it to .jpg and then you have plenty of shots for a whale breach or BIF shot.

Photobug

Interested in hearing how many JPEG pictures can be shot before the buffer is filled. Also what settings, i.e. JPED Fine not basic.

Ironheart

Page 348 in the D7100 manual. Either 33 or 100 depending on settings.

Photobug

Thanks. At a minimum, that would be a little over 5 seconds of shooting at 5 FPM.

Msmoto

Let us see what September brings.....maybe a D400.... )

My guess is something similar to the D7100 sensor with no AA filter is what the D400 will utilize...

spraynpray

6.66 seconds is a l-o-n-g time to hold a shutter button down on a BIF isn't it? What kind of bird wouldn't be out of range in the next zip code in that time?

Parke1953

spraynpray. Good point but then I thought about it and not all birds fly in a straight line at humming bird speed.

PB_PM

6.66 seconds is a l-o-n-g time to hold a shutter button down on a BIF isn't it? What kind of bird wouldn't be out of range in the next zip code in that time?

Large birds for one. It also depends on the space available to shoot. Is the bird circling? So many possibilities!

Photobug

PB-PM and Parke1953 hit the nail on the head. Birds don't always fly straight lines and if they circle you want lots of pictures to pix the good ones.

Now suffering D300 withdraw. Just shipped my D300 to the buyer and this weekend we are going to the Heavy Bomber event at the airport to see B-17, B29, P-51, 2 trainers and 2 other planes. I am going to use my wives D90. I am praying that Nikon makes an announcement in August or NLT September that excites all of us...we need the long awaited D300 replacement.

snakebunk

In Sweden there has been a slight price drop on D800. Could it be that the new camera is a D800s? Maybe with a higher fps and a replacement for both D800 and D800E?

someonenikon

Nikon needs a new CEO.

Photobug

If the new DSLR is a replacement to the D800/D800E lots of people will be upset.

PB_PM

In Sweden there has been a slight price drop on D800. Could it be that the new camera is a D800s? Maybe with a higher fps and a replacement for both D800 and D800E?

There is currently a rebate, at least here in Canada, and I think in the US as well. Typical early/mid summer sales. It might be a direct rebate from Nikon Japan, covering all jurisdictions.

brownie314

the

The D7100 is being used by people who own D4s. Why? It is smaller and often can get the job done. .

Dx has three big advantages: price, size and weight


I know some you want the D400 to be similar in size to a D800

but I think the demand is for a lightweight pro camera with 8 fps and a pro light weight fixed aperture zoom say f4 16 -105


the other option for the new DSLR would be a D800 with 8fps

"but I think the demand is for a lightweight pro camera with 8 fps"
Isn't this the D7100? It is light weight and has pro image quality. It doesn't do 8pfs, but really close.

"and a pro light weight fixed aperture zoom say f4 16 -105"
definitely. And can I add - please Nikon take a DX zoom seriously for once and add some sealing and toughness. If they are going to give us a pro DX body, at least give us at least one pro DX lens.

Doesn't the D 7100 fill up it's buffer in just a few seconds though.

Yes, I think it does. If it is anything like the D7000, it doesn't last long at all. But I wasn't suggesting that the D7100 was comparable to any replacement for the D300s. I was replying specifically to someone saying the demand was for a light weight pro camera. I assume any replacement for the D300s will be hardened and ruggedized, so probably not light weight. I was saying the D7100 is light weight (relatively).

DaveyJ

I think we at Nikon Rumors are pretty much in agreement the D7100 is no D300s replacement. The D300s replacement should be heavier and more rugged than the D7100. It HAS to have a better buffer. It should have better video. I feel the D7100 is the first Nikon DX camera to have substantially good video but not great. I always make a pitch for price of the D400 as if it is say $2399 I'd just get a D800. DX has its limitations (and advantages) but as soon as the price is as high as FX I say NO DEAL! Personally if the D400 exceeds $2,000 US I WOULD WAIT A VERY LONG TIME before I pulled that trigger.

An example of very high pricing is the new 80-400VR. Yet that is a very good lens on FX. The DX D400 has a place and the biggest pent up demand ever for a Nikon camera I think, but not amount of hype is going to convince me it is worth buying at well over $2,000. I also completely agree with those who maintain this yet unannounced camera should have a little more weight and build quality to it.

Nikon is scrambling right now to adjust to the smartphone inroads on their point and shoot camera sales and if say September 21st release date was decided some time ago it might stay on that schedule. The smartphone challenge is serious photography's greatest challenge to the purist, to the consumer, and to Nikon and Canon and all the other real camera manufacturers.

donaldejose

D400 will be here SOOOOOOONNNNNN........

Photobug

donaldejose said:
D400 will be here SOOOOOOONNNNNN

Is that wishful thinking or do you have a source for this statement?

phxflyer

I gave up on the d400 and a got d600, enjoying FF not looking back.

spraynpray

I gave up on the d400 and a got d600, enjoying FF not looking back.

Maybe looking at sensor spots though? :P

Hope not. Let us know on the D600 thread eh?

Kuv

I gave up on the d400 and a got d600, enjoying FF not looking back.

Then clearly, you're not part of the D400 target market.

sevencrossing

If the new DSLR is a replacement to the D800/D800E lots of people will be upset.

Why ????

I know this is extremely unlikely but not impossible

if the D800 replacement was, a bit cheaper than the current price of a D600, had all the feature of the existing D800, plus 8 fps, plus ISO 12,800 plus an option for say , more mp in DX mode

would you be happy ?

I would

donaldejose

Photobug: my source is just belief in rumors that Nikon will announce it in early or late fall.

Photobug

sevencrossing said:
Why ????

I know this is extremely unlikely but not impossible

if the D800 replacement was, a bit cheaper than the current price of a D600, had all the feature of the existing D800, plus 8 fps, plus ISO 12,800 plus an option for say , more mp in DX mode

would you be happy ?

Assuming a replacement to any camera (D800) is going to cost the same and have the same or similar sensor, I would not be happy. What your describing would not be a replacement but a new model and yes, I would be excited. That would be very attractive to a lot of D300 owners. I just don't see Nikon revising a model and lowering the price. I don't see the logic.

I am going to wait unit the end of September. No news by them, I am going to give up and move on.

catfish252

Nikon is going to have to come out with some great products by the end of the year in order to have a good fiscal year or at least better than they are forecasting. Nikon's fiscal year ends in March 2014. That means in order to pull that off they will need to have those products announced in Sept/Oct and ship by the end of the year to catch Christmas sales and the beginning of the year for money given as gifts at Christmas. Nikon and Canon DSLR sales are not where they want them to be. They need another camera or series of cameras like the D90, D300, D700. in order to pull that off. Toshiba has just announced blazing fast SD cards with write speed of 240MB/s and reading at 260MB/s. There are rumors that Sony may announce a new full frame mirror-less camera, and Pentax may announce their first full-frame camera. There is just too much going on for Nikon not to be part of it. It won't just be a current model upgrade D4 to D4s, that only appeals to a small segment of the market, they are going to have to come with some big guns by the end of the year or the shareholders will be looking for blood. IMHO