So Why No D4X??? A Pro-Level, High Megapixel Camera for Studio/Fashion/Advertising Photographers

safyre

Just my 2 cents coming from a former pro photog...

It is bad netiquette to post another forum member's site without his/her permission, regardless if it is in a positive manner or not. For two reasons, one, it hijacks the original discussion thread and more often than not leads to opinionated comments that can be misconstrued as we have just witnessed. Secondly, by default, you have to respect the privacy of other people, and to many professionals, their own work is a private manner that should be kept to themselves unless they publicly declare it first.

As for spraynpray, I get that your words were misinterpreted and my first impression was similar to that of Dan’s. To put it into context, there are many old school photographers out that that do look down upon other photograher’s that do composites or any sort of photo manipulation that isn’t done in camera. I’ve experienced these people personally through my own line of work and reading your wording, it does come across as something negative and looks to have struck a cord. Of course, I know you didn’t mean it that way, but if I were in Dan’s shoes, and I posted in a forum and all of the sudden my website got put on blast without my permission and I received opinions that I perceived as negative, I would be quick to defend myself too, or just stop posting altogether.

Of course, this is the internet and things do get lost in translation sometimes, but moral of the story is that privacy does matter, especially to professionals that do not want their work to take over the discussion of a completely different topic.

heartyfisher

Good points @safyre

spraynpray

No @safyre, all your post does in endorse the fact that a good portion of how any written word is interpreted has about as much to do with how it is read (prevailing mindset at the time or first impression) than how it was written. I speak from 20 years running Customer Service in a very large corporation where 'diplomatic incidents' were a frequent occurrence. There was no reason for Dan's response to my post. Plus if he was upset about having his site linked to, then he would not be a very good business man and I doubt that is the case. Also, you are talking to the wrong person if you think that I am against composites or any associated use of photoshop as in fact highly automated use of photoshop forms a very large part of my event photography business.

sevencrossing

Just my 2 cents coming from a former pro photog...

It is bad netiquette to post another forum member's site without his/her permission, regardless if it is in a positive manner or not. For two reasons, one, it hijacks the original discussion thread..............

If there is one thing I dislike about nrf, it is the habit of going completely off topic

1) As stated. It it hijacks the original discussion
2) Any one who had no interest in the original topic will be completely unaware we are discussing something completely different

spraynpray

True.

Msmoto

Well, mamamoto needs to suggest something. First off, the intent of allowing folks to see the work of the OP was to emphasize the basis for his desire for a D4X or what ever a new D3X would be.

While I am not certain, anyone can Google the users screen name and arrive at his website, quite openly. Also, as he is quite talented, his experience can be useful to understanding the original post.

The question remains.....will Nikon give us a D4X?

Maybe if someone has the sales numbers of the D3X we can come up with a conclusion.

Oh, gosh, I forgot....in 1965 I interviewed with Richard Avedon and Hiro,and spent a morning with Francesco Scavullo discussing my work. The beginning of my short pro career....until I did something else from 1971 to 2002.

sevencrossing

The question remains.....will Nikon give us a D4X?

I don't think so

IMHO If Nikon want to improve their profitability, they need to reduce their product range not increase it

I think we may see the features of the D810 and the D4s merge into a single professional camera
it may not have the build quality some of you want. It will have a designed life of 3 years, under professional use.

We may continue specialist models such as the D810a

spraynpray

That seems contradictory really. If Nikon has to reduce their product range to the point where they merge their action body with their studio/landscape body in order to make money (which would IMHO be a huge mistake on just about every level I can imagine), then why on earth would they continue with such a comparative frivolity as the D810a?

I would go so far as to say that their is atleast as good an argument for producing a D4x as there is for producing the D810a but that hasn't stopped them. Their strategy is somewhat confusing all things considered.

Parke1953

Maybe it's that the D810a does not interfere with any Dxxx line of camera.

snakebunk

@danhowl: I don't think Nikon will make a D4X because high resolution full frame is reserved for the D810. I do think, however, that the D5 will be close to the D3X in resolution. So, if you want the full pro body you can either wait for the D5 or buy a used D3X in great condition, or both.

retread

Why couldn't Nikon just discontinue an older model when a new one replaced it or soon after. There would be fewer models competing with each other and they could still support older ones with parts and repairs.

Msmoto

@retread

Love your question.....and.....it so reflects the confusion as to how Nikon goes through a decision making process.

WestEndFoto

I imagine that their decision making process is pretty straightforward. It just looks confusing because we don't know how it operates and many of us do not like the results.

snakebunk

Nikon should learn from Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki who often appears in interviews, explaining the product strategy. I don't think I have ever read anything from the Nikon CEO.

spraynpray

I imagine that their decision making process is pretty straightforward. It just looks confusing because we don't know how it operates and many of us do not like the results.

Yeah, and who are we to have an opinion about the results? Buying customers? So what - how much do our wants and opinions matter?

Not to say there aren't reasons for their decisions, it's just that the results don't make sense. If there are operational or budgetary reasons for them, then they need to re-arrange their lives to accommodate us because otherwise the future doesn't look so good.

If they can produce the D810s because it is cheap and easy, why not the D4x? They could use the 36mp sensor as mentioned before? It does not need to be a machine gun so the Expeed processor out of the D810 would be well enough to give that properly tough body from the D4 more opportunity to pay them back. Seems a no brainer to me. Perhaps they have their heads down trying to do this 54mp body .

Maybe if they dropped the low end P&S stuff before it starts actually costing them money to produce and then saved those resources for things like, oh, I dunno - a D4x or a pro DX perhaps? :-?

sevencrossing

Yeah, and who are we to have an opinion about the results? Buying customers? So what - how much do our wants and opinions matter?

Not a lot

Anyone who has run a business, will know, there is often a big gap between what the customer wants and what they are prepared to pay

spraynpray

Nobody has said a price they are prepared to pay, and nobody is moaning about prices they are paying for those machines - the D3X was eye-poppingly expensive when it came out and they still sold plenty, and I wouldn't expect it to be any different (still expensive) if they did a D4x. The pro's who need them can afford them.

sevencrossing

People have made it very clear how much they are prepared to pay for a D400
Yes there are a few Pros who would pay good money for a D4x
but I imagine Nikont reckon there are simply not enough of them to warrant bringing a new camera to market
they clearly believe there are enough buyers for a D810a
Prior to the launch of D610a Nikon were probably losing sales to the EOS 60Da
with no D4x People are buying either a D810 or a D4s or BOTH so Nikon are not currently not losing many sales

Gjesdal

I reckon that Nikon is very eager to get back on the top of the mega pixel throne they'd had for so long and that would be more important for them than a D4x?
I believe that the D5 (and the D900 which will beat Canon) will come before the Olympics of 2016 and that the interim between releasing a D4X is too short for Nikon to go that path.

sevencrossing

I was watching Top Gear last night
What Nikon need is a AMG C63 S:
The number pixels and focus points could be selected by a AMG DYNAMIC SELECT system
but would people pay £75,000 for a camera ???

Msmoto

@sevencrossing

)

danhowl

UPDATE: Well my D3X might be giving up the ghost. On fashion catalog shoot today they mirror started hanging in the frame and not snapping back to home position for focusing. This was compounded by they fact that the D800 is at NPS/Nikon repair in Melville since last Tuesday. Strangely, working with the manual Zeiss lens, the electronic rangefinder/focus indicator I could keep things sharp despite viewing a fuzzy image. It was happening about 15-20% of the time. Was able to limp thru the day--tethering to check focus and composition on each set up. This is first day a six-day shoot and I have a west coast trip immediately following.

I looked into used D3X and renting bodies, but I think I have decided to get a new D810 and keep the D800 as a spare. Not sure what I'll do w/ the D3X yet. I have got to get thru my immediate jobs first. Then I might see what NPS says about repair and see if it is sensible to wait and see what develops with new products.

Feeling like this post as jinxed me...

heartyfisher

LOL .. I think its more like "the universe" is telling you to get a D810 .. you wont regret it I think. Its really an awesome kit.

danhowl

I ended up purchasing a new D810 from Fotocare in NYC. I had to quickly get out of the factory default settings and put in my AF preferences, but I got i going and was able to complete 3 days of photography without too much transition down-time. Two more to go before I have a break.

I have found the D810 to be unnervingly quite compared to both the D3X and the D800. I finally got my D800 back from Nikon repair and brought it to the shoot on Friday. While being quieter than the D3X, the D800 still has a louder mirror/shutter throw than the D810. Am starting to notice some other subtle refinements to the body but I haven't had the chance to compare files from the D800 to D810 side by side yet.

I haven't had a great amount time with the D800/810, but it seems that the D810 is eating battery charges faster. Does anyone have experience with using the EN-EL18 battery with the 810?

paulr

Hi Dan I use the D4 battery in the grip, you have to get the BL-5 end piece, but it's not expensive However the combination of the D810/grip/ En-EL18 battery makes it heavier than your D3X!. The good news is, battery life with both standard and the En-El 18 would normally last the day, even for You!