Will there Be a Professional DX Body From Nikon?

Parke1953

sevencrossing congratulations on getting married. Buy all you can now before it's to late.LOL )

spraynpray

I don't want to upgrade (in the interests of staying married) so it is only of academic interest to me.

Thanks for the warning S&P
Will the D400 come out before I get married in September
:-\"

Oh man, first it was the D7100 and 17-55 then the D750/24-120 (whole different order of cost) and now she sees me reading about the D7200 and thinks 'oh-oh'!

@Parke1953 gave good advice!

donaldejose

sevencrossing: yes a D400 very well may have lower fps than a D4 because it has to handle 24, not 16, mp. The old D300 had 6 fps and the D300s had 7 fps.

Photobug

Oh man, first it was the D7100 and 17-55 then the D750/24-120 (whole different order of cost) and now she sees me reading about the D7200 and thinks 'oh-oh'!
@Parke1953 gave good advice!

The wife and I had a serious discussion on spending $$$ for photo equipment after we were married six months - I was looking at buy a new SLR. The rules did not change until I retired. Now there is not cash flow into my slush fund so I renegotiated where the $$ come from. We both are happy, me more than her.

sevencrossing

Lets look at the history of Professional Nikon DX Bodys
1999 D1
2001 D1H
2001 D1X
2002 D100
2003 D2H
2004 D2X
2004 D2Hs
2005 D200
2007 D300
2009 D300s

In 2007 Nikon introduced the full frame D3 and In 2008 the full frame D700, They had one noticeable disadvantage, they were fairly expensive

Mindful of cost, In 2009 Nikon introduced the budget D300s (their last Pro Dx body)

The D700 was effectively replaced by D800 which like the D700 had one real disadvantage it was fairly expensive. Mindful of cost Nikon introduced the budget D750

This thread has the word title it should be

Will there Be a budget Professional Body From Nikon?

Yes they will it's the D750

Andrewz

@ sevencrossing I agreee.

I think the D610/750 really put the nail in the coffin of the full metal chassis DX camera.

I do however think there will (or should) be another high end DX camera. There is a big price gap between the D7200 and D610, I expect Nikon will fill it.

BTW: I have the D750 and think it has the best ergonomics of the smaller framed cameras. If Nikon built a D400/D9300 in the D750 body, I'd buy it.

Photobug

+1 Andrewz - the D610/D750 put the nail in the coffin of the full metal chassis DX camera. Never thought I would say this but your right about the ergonomics of the smaller DSLR's. The D750 is terrific. I had always said size matters but the D750 has convinced me it's not so.

Excellent point about their being price point room between the D7200 and D610. Totally agree that the D750 body could be used for another DX body.

Ironheart

I'm dreaming of a D400
Just like the D300 I used to know
May your photos be merry and bright
And may all your highlights be right

(Sung to the tune of "White Christmas")

spraynpray

The D750 is not tough enough to be a pro body a la D4, a lot of Nikon D300/s users want or need a DX Pro body.

WestEndFoto

Then we are talking the cost of a D4s minus the difference in cost between a DX and FX chip (say $1,000). That is $5,000 plus for a D400.

However, I am inclined to think you mean “pro, but not D4s pro”.

sevencrossing

That is $5,000 plus for a D400.

Exactly, we would all love a Dx D4s for the price of D750
Can or will Nikon make one?
unlikely

spraynpray

Then we are talking the cost of a D4s minus the difference in cost between a DX and FX chip (say $1,000). That is $5,000 plus for a D400.

However, I am inclined to think you mean “pro, but not D4s pro”.

What makes you think that I mean anything other than D3/D300s directly applicable to D4s/D400? If they could do it then, why not now?

Andrewz

@ spraynpray - I don't disagree with you, I just don't think it's going to happen. I also can't see a high buck DX camera, you push the cost to close to the D4 and people will just get the D4. Historically Nikon hasn't made a DX camera that cost more than a FX. Which brings me back to my point, the price point has to be between the D7200 and the D610.

spraynpray

Like I said in the post above yours - if Nikon could make the price and performance balance right in the case of the D3/D300s, why not in the D4s/D400?

Parke1953

Where would a D400 fit in to get the price and performance balance.

donaldejose

Best DX sensor available, clean ISO to 12,800, 8 fps, large buffer, shutter tested to 200,000 clicks, full metal body, etc for $2,000.

WestEndFoto

That is more than a 610.

bryanD7100

Lets be realistic here. The D7200 is no D300 successor. Its a modest upgrade that leaves plenty of room for a D400 as well there is a big enough $ gap to price it competitively. None of us tea leave readers have been very successful when it comes to Nikon so far. Nikon could do it but will they? They've hinted that they haven't forgotten DX users but their actual releases to date are not exactly getting anyone excited or believing again!
I've recently tried a D810 and D750 and currently lean 60/40 for the 750, so i am in no hurry to spend. I'm giving Nikon to the Fall before making any decisions and if the D7200 tests out well enough then i might just settle for it as opposed to another grand for the 750 and lose the reach advantage.

heartyfisher

Well the other DX systems are getting pro glass .. nikon just doesnt want to play in this field.

spraynpray

I can see the product range has changed since the D3/D300s, but (as I keep saying) for sure they could produce the D400 for a market that is aching for it if they can make a D810a for a literal handful of specialised users. Remember the D810a is no good for anything else whereas the D400 would be a brilliant all round camera as well as the birders delight. Why this perspective that if you could get an FX for the same price or less why buy a DX?

sevencrossing

........Why this perspective that if you could get an FX for the same price or less why buy a DX?....

To be honest, neither I or any one here can answer this, we can can only guess

My guess

While Dx might be advantageous for some types of specialist types of photography (bif), most photographers want an all round camera. Most birders I know, also do landscapes and as wildlife photography is expensive but not very lucrative, many also do weddings. The D750and the D810 are both excellent allrounders.

There is also an issue of how many of your products your resellers are prepared to stock.


The D810a is different. A D750 is completely unsuitable for this specialist work. Astrophotography might be a limited market but it does seem to be a growing world wide hobby .

Msmoto

Maybe the apparent lack of a "Pro DX" from Nikon is that we are going to see a new DX format body, and it will be mirrorless? I certainly can offer only a guess, and this is based upon a lot of wishful thinking, maybe some scientific thinking that sensors are improving, EVF's are improving, and at some point, again IMO, we will not have a need for a mirror. In any case, the discussion about all this is interesting, and sort of reminds me of a college classroom where the professor asks a question, which when boiled down is "What am I thinking". I can hear the folks at Nikon reading this thread and falling over themselves laughing at all of us attempting to guess what is next. ) ) =P~

Andrewz

@Spraynpray

Why not? who know's? Nikon does crazy things like the Df.

But here are my thoughts.....
So first off I think there would have been a D400 in 2011/2012 but there was the tsunami and flood that destroyed the DX plant, then there was the earthquake in Japan, then the death of the point and shoot market. The Digital camera world has had some major shifts since the D300 first came out. Oh yes and profits have fallen.

I think the cost of making the D400 before the flood in Thailand that destroyed the DX plant would have been nominal. But now it's no longer just an upgrade but a complete retooling and rebuilding a production line for a camera which may have limited appeal.

Again just my perception but from watching Nikon for the past few years there seems to be a move to DSLR's that are lighter, smaller and still very capable. With of course the exception of the 2 full on pro cameras with a full on pro price.

Yes the D7100/D7200 are not replacements for the D300. I still think there will be another DX camera to fill the gap but it won't have the full magnessium chassis, that would just cost to much.

I'm one of the guys who wanted a D400, I just don't see it happening now.

haroldp

The place I am seeing pro glass in DX format is Fuji

... H

heartyfisher

google 16-50mm F2.0 ... and it has vibration reduction too.