XML FeedsJanuary 2012. Nikon launches the D4. Time for a review of its product strategy.
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With the launch of Nikon's new flagship D4 and the rumored specs of the upcoming D800 – supposedly to be launched on February 7 – it seems like a good time to try and take a look at what may be on their (marketing) mind, especially because everybody has already extensively reviewed the D4's specs, while no hands-on tests are yet to be found.
During the last decade or so, Nikon have had more than their fair share of “game-changers”, like the D1 (first professional digital camera for under 10K), the D700 and D3S (still DxOMark top 1 and 2 in high ISO), the D3X, third in DxOMark's overall score, only behind two Phase One digital backs, and the D90 (first DSLR with video), amongst others.
Still, they have also been late in many other ways.
Nikon was extremely late in going from CCD to CMOS and moving from DX to full-frame (FX), which is why Canon lead the clean high ISO race for the best part of the 2000's, until Nikon changed the game with the arrival of the D3 (2007), D700 (2008) and more decisively with the D3S in 2009.
Although they were the first to launch a DSLR with video capabilities (D90), its implementation was rather rudimentary, which is why this lead was soon lost to Canon, which has been selling the hell out of its EOS 5D Mk II ever since.
That's it for Nikon in 2011
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This has definitely not been a good year for Nikon, nor for most other Japanese companies or the Japanese as a people, for that matter.
The devastating March 11 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami followed by severe flooding in Thailand in November 2011 must – even if Nikon has been extremely careful in its damage assessments – have servery affected normal operations.
Our hearts go out to all the Japanese and Thai families who have lost their homes, properties, livelihood and dear ones in these natural disasters, and our hopes are for the proverbially resilience of the Japanese and their neighbors to recover from what – to other nations – could well be the definite blow.
October 5, 2011. A farewell to Steve Jobs.
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The essence of a creative person: think, reflect, act. The XXth Century Leonardo da Vinci, Tomas Alva Edison. A man who, in spite of his affliction, managed to change our outlook on the world within less than a decade. Let's take heart and inspiration from his 2005 Stanford Commencement address: Farewell Steve, you've done good. |
September 21, 2011. Nikon launches Nikon One: 2 mirror-less cameras, 4 lenses, and a host of accessories.
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| Nikon One V1, 10-30 mm f/3.5-5.6 VR and 30-110 mm f/3.8-5.6 VR |
On September 21, 2011, Nikon launched the Nikon One mirror-less camera system, consisting of two cameras - named J1 and V1 - plus four lenses: 10 mm (27) mm, 10-30 (27-81) mm, 10-100 (27-270) mm and 30-110 (81-297) mm.
The main difference between the J1 - with its built-in flash - and the V1, is that the latter has a built-in accessory shoe, which turns it into an interesting system camera.
The V1 is compatible with the ML-L3 IR wireless remote control, already known from Nikon's entry- and mid-level DSLR line, while the accessory shoe accommodates and powers either the SB-N5 dedicated flash, the ME-1 stereo microphone - launched in April of 2011 - or its very own external GPS device, the GPN-100.
Both cameras are built around a new 10,1 Mp. CMOS sensor, developed by Nikon and baptized CX. It has a size of 8,8 x 13,2 mm - a bit larger than a quarter of a DX sensor - and a crop factor of approximately 2,7x.
Many DSLR users have expressed their disappointment about this "small" sensor size, however, it is good to keep in mind that this is two point five times larger than the largest among the pinky-nail sized chips used in P&S cameras.
Take the 1/1.7" CCD used in the Coolpix P7100, for example, which measures a measly 5,7 x 7,6 mm, or the the 2/3" CMOS in the Nikon P100, which is only 4,5 x 6 mm.
In other words: so small that they fit more than amply on the tip of a cigarette.
August 24, 2011. Nikon may finally give us the launches we have been waiting for.
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| Something like this, maybe? Credit: Denisa Mrackova |
UPDATES:
(24-08-11) DISAPPOINTED!. I'm not going to spend precious time or blog space to even comment on this one.
Heck, even the mirror-less fell through; we just got a bunch of Coolpix, which - as we all know - are not particularly noticeable in comparison with the rest of the P&S crowd, never have been.
Moreover, this release does not even distinguish itself in comparison with the Coolpix P&S crowd...
Some launch date! Nothing worth mentioning, really...
(18-08-11) Seems like we're getting a mirror-less and a bunch of Coolpix. Who cares?
(02-08-2011): Nikon Rumors now says we will probably get a new version of the D3S (D4) plus the nextgen D700 (D800?).
Still no rumors on specs, though, which makes me think that this might all be just hype...
According to Nikon Rumors - generally well informed - Nikon has set a date for mayor press events in various countries: August 24, 2011.
This may very well be Nikon's most anticipated launch date in years, because we might finally get the nextgen Professional and Prosumer cameras many people feel they have been waiting for too long.
Two years have passed since the last update of the Nikon flagship line, which is normal given most manufacturer's historical upgrade cycles.
That is, if you count the D3S as an upgrade, which some of us apparently don't. To these people the last “serious” update was the 24 Mp. D3X in December 2008.
Moreover, Nikon's Prosumer segment is not only behind on its own “habitual” release schedules, but also way behind on those of the competition.
