D300s Successor-D400, what and when

snakebunk

Thank you

PB_PM

All that would do is clog up the buffer. Guess where the image would have to go when moving between cards... yes the buffer.

spraynpray

Why the hassle over alternating beween two cards? If the naming stays sequential, then the correct order would be maintained in the destination folder when importing surely?

Photobug

If the file name naming stays sequential, you are right after copying the files and refreshing the file folder. I had not thought about that...works for me. I had assumed that the image naming would not stay sequential. That was a "senior moment". ">

kyoshinikon

I bet Nikon does have a D400 prototype if a 7dmk2 is unexpectedly leaked or announced. Remember the hubris of the D600 where canon seemed to have been caught off guard by the announcement but was prepared in having a competitor almost ready.

PB_PM

Considering that the D600 and 6D were released less than a week apart, I doubt they were caught off guard.

snakebunk

Why the hassle over alternating beween two cards? If the naming stays sequential, then the correct order would be maintained in the destination folder when importing surely?

I agree. In addition I think it's better to loose every other image than a long sequence, in case of card failure. Well done manhattanboy!

snakebunk

What would you say are the top three features of the D400? (besides the DX sensor)

I would say:
1. Pro build quality.
2. CF cards.
3. Lots of fps and a large buffer.

PB_PM

What the D400 would need to actually sell?

1. D800 style body
2. Dual slots (most likely CF and SD sadly)
3. FPS & Buffer
4. Do something new. Not sure what, but considering how late the D400 would arrive, some new next generation tech would be required. Built in WIFI/GPS would be nice. Throw in the maps from the P&S AW line, so pro users don't need to carry another GPS? I'd go for it.

spraynpray

I hear the latest Canon has a better AF system (apparently?) - perhaps the Nikon AF needs looking at?

Apart from that, what PB_PM said except I would like WIFI for sure not perhaps.

Sports

I hear the latest Canon has a better AF system (apparently?) - perhaps the Nikon AF needs looking at?

I hear the AF on the 6000$ Canon 1dx is worth looking at. One of its features is that it provides higher voltage to the lens motor to make it focus faster. Not all lenses accept this, but it's supposed to work very well. (But what does a Nikon guy know :-)
The latest Canon 70d, however, is certainly not better than anything. It has massive on-sensor phase-detection AF, right? In theory it works, but it can't decide what to track, and for stills, a regular phase-detection module works much better.
As for a D400 feature, Nikon (obviously) would imlement on-sensor AF better than Canon, in order to get "Nikon 1" class fps. Well, I guess this requires EVF. But if the mirror is kept for OVF (hybrid), then they could just as well also plug in the regular AF module (from D800). Best of both worlds ... two modes ... not the first time in history that happens. They WOULD need a test platform like D400 for this, before they would dare using it in the D5, wouldn't they?

Godless

If the D400 will ever appear, I guess it will have

- a D800 magnesium body with the exact same button configuration
- CF/SD slots (or SD/SD which I would prefer)
- 9 FPS without grip
- 1.3x crop mode
- no antialiasing filter
- 24mp DX sensor from D7100

sevencrossing

snakebunk .........I would say:
1. Pro build quality.
2. CF cards.
3. Lots of fps and a large buffer

In order to sell well, and make a profit for Nikon, it will also need to have the big selling point of all DX cameras -cheaper than FX

Adding both Pro build quality, Lots of fps and a large buffer

is going to put the cost up and dilute this advantage

the D4 has a lots of fps and pro build but look at the cost

yes Nikon could make the camera you all want but the it would simply be too expensive for the DX market

Msmoto

Wouldn't it be nice if the D400 came out with the grip built in like a D4….but most likely not, as the cost issue would be out of site…..way above $3000.

I agree with the idea something will have to be spectacular about the D400….and maybe the idea of hybrid AF system is what it will be. I am thinking the next iteration before full mirrorless will be a sensor phase detect system combined with the current system in the pentaprism, and this may allow AF-C in the 15-20 FPS with the mirror held in up position. Just thinking…..

donaldejose

Just thinking also . . . if the D400 combined a hybrid AF system which allowed 15-20 FPS with the mirror up and also had a hybrid Optical/Electronic Viewfinder (O/EVF) which would allow you to see a feed from the sensor while the mirror was up wouldn't those two features make it unusual and spectacular?

As to price, if it is a direct replacement for the D300s it will be priced about the same as the body it replaces which were the D300 at $1799 and the D300s at $1699. It will be priced a few hundred dollars below the D610 at $1999 to keep the advantage of "cheap DX" so I would put the target price at $1,800 which gives Nikon an additional $600 above the price of the $1,200 D7100 to work with. Surely, they can add the "pro" body and a few other things for that price. However, if it comes with a built-in grip (which I personally would like to see and I think only adds about $250 to the cost) and Nikon can market it as doing everything the D3 used to do (equally high ISO to the D3, better image quality than the D3, equal FPS, etc) it could be priced about where a used D3 now falls which is about $2,200. I cannot see a D400 selling for anywhere near $3000 because people will buy the D610 or D800 instead (and so they should). In other words, if a new DX D400 could do everything the old FX D3 did (with the one exception of not being quit so robust in build - perhaps using a mixed alloy/plastic frame similar to a D600/610 with battery grip) and also provide 24mp (or at least 16mp) along with some new features made possible by technological advancements, Nikon would have a winner.

One additional thought. Thom Hogan writes about how the Nikon 1 is designed with fewer parts which is a trend he would like to see in future DSLRs because it would both reduce manufacturing cost and make the product more reliable. Perhaps a D400 could adopt the same "fewer parts" design philosophy as the Nikon 1.

Whatever it is, I for one will be very glad to see it appear!

shawnino

@Godless: 1.3x crop means "between FX and DX", or means "smaller than DX"?

I can't see either being particularly useful to people with pro DX glass. "Between FX and DX" makes proper DX lenses vignette, and at 24MP or so, cutting down from DX can be done fairly efficiently in post.

shawnino

Wouldn't it be nice if the D400 came out with the grip built in like a D4….but most likely not, as the cost issue would be out of site…..way above $3000.

Wouldn't Nikon run the risk of people saying "that's not only too expensive [as you point out] but too big... DX is supposed to be a smaller system, if people want grips let them buy them after the fact"?

spraynpray

True shawnino, but then if a lot of serious DX users put a grip on anyway for handling reasons, why not include it and not get the annoying play twixt body and grip? I'd prefer that and if people don't want a large body, there's always the D7x00.

donaldejose

Yes, spraynpray. I use a battery grip for the better handling it offers, especially in portrait orientation, and I don't like the flex, play and need to retighten it. If you are going to go "pro" appeal with the D400 you might as well go all the way with a built grip like the D3/D4. Doing so won't put off any serious DX users. I have always said the D400 should be marketed as a "lite" D4 costing about $2.500.00. A modern DX sensor is all that is needed for publication.

snakebunk

I like the "D4 with a DX sensor" design philosophy. I like the idea of a camera that is as fast as the D4 and have the same pixel density as the D800 but much smaller files. I think a D4, D800 and D400 could be the "holy trinity" of pro (or enthusiast) cameras, each with its unique set of pros and cons.

I am not sure if there is a market for pro level DX lenses though.

1skully

I like the "D4 with a DX sensor" design philosophy. I like the idea of a camera that is as fast as the D4 and have the same pixel density as the D800 but much smaller files. I think a D4, D800 and D400 could be the "holy trinity" of pro (or enthusiast) cameras, each with its unique set of pros and cons.

+1

But I do think there is a market for a pro level Dx. I believe a lot of sports & wildlife shooters would enjoy this as a second camera.
Just my 2 cents!

Photobug

I agree with Donaldejose long post especially the price point.

I have not been a proponent of a built in battery grip but after reading tons of messages on NR I see to many comments about people having issues with them twisting and falling off. I would be opened to the D4 approach.

A "holy trinity" of DSLR is an excellent idea.

This forum has been dull for months but the last 20 entries have brought it back to life. It's nice to see some fresh discussion here. I hope it happens but don't expect a D400 to happen.

heartyfisher

@Godless: 1.3x crop means "between FX and DX", or means "smaller than DX"?

I can't see either being particularly useful to people with pro DX glass. "Between FX and DX" makes proper DX lenses vignette, and at 24MP or so, cutting down from DX can be done fairly efficiently in post.

I think he means smaller than DX just like what is available in the D7100.

Re "Between FX and DX" that’s the EX format I proposed sometime ago :-) which would allow for the use of DX lens in 4:5 format with out vignette :-). That EX format would sure make the D400 "special" !

Sports

Agree on the major feature requests listed so far.
A "new" features known from D3 etc. I guess, would be the ability to add voice annotations to images ... and other features for making order in chaos when you're shooting. It should actually understand what you're saying.
It would save so much time, if you could categorize and label those 1000 images of the day during your shoot.
"Martin, high jump"
"John, steeplechase"
"Peter, discus"
"John, steeplechase"
"Henry, high jump"
At home, you pictures would already be labeled.
Btw, any number of labels should be handled. You could add a "team" to the example above. You could rate your pictures on the fly. Etc.
- Now, don't come and tell me this can already be doen on this and that product :-)

kyoshinikon

I like the "D4 with a DX sensor" design philosophy. I like the idea of a camera that is as fast as the D4 and have the same pixel density as the D800 but much smaller files. I think a D4, D800 and D400 could be the "holy trinity" of pro (or enthusiast) cameras, each with its unique set of pros and cons.

As thom said, there was no upgrade to the D2x...