Nikon Roadmap Part 1

admin · #1 07-08-2009, 05:59 PM

Someone has posted a Nikon Roadmap for the next couple of years on a Czech forum, NikonRumors.com quickly picked up on it and they have a summary on their site.

We have no way to tell if this is original, but the author claims it's based on a 37 page document from Nikon, and covers the D3000, D300s, D700x, D4, D4x and a bunch of lenses people have been waiting on.

Here is the original translation (via google translate), comments and thoughts below:

Code:

A man working in England at the Kingston branch of a large IT company. 
 The company has said in charge of infrastructure and software of Nikon UK, particularly in the training center, but not in it. 
 just said to get out 37-page set of notes with strategic Nikon 
  for the years 2009-2010.  I can not confirm its authenticity, perhaps it's just a joke and invention at any level, but 37 pages is quite enough to give you someone such work with its smuggling. There are also information that is not interesting to anyone outside, respectively. they can not even understand. File Structure is rather a set of different information and comments than any document or presentation. 

The following are statements which relate to innovations in the area of D-SLR: 

  4. August 2009: introduction 
  Nikon D3000, 
  D300s, 
VR AF-S DX Nikkor 17 to 65 mm f/3.2-4G ED VR 

 Nikon D3000: effective pixels: 12.3 million ...
Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data ....
 [L] 4,288 x 2,848 ...
 [S] 4.288 x 2.848 ... 
pentamirror ...
  95% coverage ... 0.78x magnif. ....Compatibility AF-S and AF-I ... 
 1/4000 s.-30 s. ...
3.5 fps 

 420-zonal RGB sensor ... 
 Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, Night portrait, Night landscape, Party/indoor, Beach/snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Pet portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn colors, Food, Silhouette, programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)
Exposure compensation + -5 EV in 1 / 3. bracketing
ISO 200 - 3200, steps 1/3, Lo-1, Hi+1 (?)Exposure bracketing - not known,  
 AF MultiCAM 380 (*new) - 7 focus points, 1 cross type, AF-S, AF-C, AF-A, M + electronical rangefinder
 AF area mode: single point, dynamic area, auto area
 Live View focus - contrast - detect AF, face priority Movie - not known! 
 Active D-Lightning: Auto or Off 
 Internal flash sm. number 17/56 at ISO 200
 LCD monitor: 2.7-in, 230 to-dot ... FIXEDHDMI - N 
 Battery: EN-EL9a 
 124 x 92 x 62 mm, 480 g. 

 Nikon D300s - differences from the D300: 
 Continuous high-speed mode: 7 fps, without batterygripu, 8.5 fps with batterygripem, 14-bit mode included 
 1 Release mode addition: Self-timer + MUP 
 2200-pixel RGB sensor 
 LCD monitor: 920 to-dot, 2.9-inch, 
 Enhanced contrast detect AF 
 Enhanced phase detect AF: new 2,200-pixel RGB sensor cooperates with 3D Tracking, Auto-Area AF-C is dynamic area, 
 flashing auxiliary section plus focusing direction "display in the viewfinder with the" user-control "change of direction 
 The new processor speeds up AF and significantly increases the quality Movie mode as compared to the D90 and D5000, 
 Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 24 fps Quicktime MOV, H.264 codec 
 D300 3.1-fold compared with the cache memory D300 
 795 g Extra High Lightning D-mode 
 AF Fine Tuning enhanced: -30 to 30 for the near focus distance, infinity, the shortest and longest focal length 
 CF + SD slot 
 ....  I do not see a price anywhere! 

  AF-S DX Nikkor 17 to 65 mm f/3.2-4G ED VR: 
  - Lightweight zoom middle class at an affordable price for use with the new D300s with other Nikon DX cameras, 
 2 ED and 2 aspherical members, 72 mm filtrov thread, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode (??!) 

...... 15.  October 2009: presentation 
 Nikon D700x, 
 AF-S Nikkor 24 to 135 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR 
 AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II 
 AF-S Nikkor 35 mm f/1.4G, 
 AF-S Nikkor 85 mm f/1.4G 

Nikon D700x - differences from the D700: 
 effective pixels: 24.5 million ... 
Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data .... 
 [S] 6.048 x 4.032 
 Continuous high-speed mode: 5 fps without batterygripu, 6.5 fps with batterygripem 
 1 Release mode addition: Self-timer + MUP 
 2200-pixel RGB sensor 
 LCD monitor: 920 to-dot, 2.9-inch,  
 Enhanced contrast detect AF 
 Enhanced phase detect AF: new 2,200-pixel RGB sensor cooperates with 3D Tracking, Auto-Area AF-C is dynamic area, 
flashing auxiliary section plus focusing direction "display in the viewfinder with the" user-control "change of direction 
 Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 24 fps Quicktime MOV, H.264 codec 

AF-S Nikkor 24 to 135 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR: 
 lightweight and affordable zoom with high image quality, 77mm filtrov thread, 610 g, 7 rounded blades diaphragma, 
 3 aspherical and 2 ED members, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode 

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II 
  revised lens for maximum optical performance in the digital FX Nikon, 
 VR II for up to 4 stops, filtrov thread 82 mm, 1530 g, Nano - Crystal Coat, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode 

 AF-S Nikkor 35 mm f/1.4G: 
peak lens completely revised design, Nano - Crystal Coat, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode 

 AF-S Nikkor 85 mm f/1.4G: 
top portrait lens with SWM focus and Nano - Crystal Coat, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

Part 2 to follow...

admin · #2 07-08-2009, 06:00 PM

Here is the 2010 part:

Code:

  Q1/2010: performances: 

 AF-S Nikkor 14 to 28 mm f/3.5-4.5G ED: 
  77 mm filtrov thread!, Enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode 

 AF-S Nikkor 120 to 450 mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR 
VR II for up to 4 stops, 82 mm thread filtrov, 1480 g, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode 


 Q2/2010 time: 

 Nikon D4, 
 Nikon D400 

 Nikon D4 - new features: 
  effective pixels: 15.7 millions, FX sensor completely new design with maximized by increasing the sensitivity of more than 1 EV 
 as "ultra-fast pixel register cache", which allows to double the frame rate or increase dynamic range, including effective aid noise reduction with natural lodging details. 
 [S] 4.852 x 3.234 
 Continuous high-speed mode: FX & DX mode 11 fps, 16 fps mode FX with a double-exposure with the phase detection AF & mirror up 8/sec., 
 DX mode 18 fps with a double-exposure 
 FX & DX DR enhanced double-exposure mode: 5 fps for dNEF (* new) JPEG, and without the composition, 3 fps for the car, the JPEG 
 DR enhanced double-exposure mode: Auto, manual setting of time for both the ISO and exposure in "M", "A", "S" and "P" mode with a semi-double exposure corrections in the range of + -5 EV in the range of 1 s. and 1 / 8000 p. and ISO 200 - 6400 
 Format dNEF, 
 ISO 200 - 12800, Lo-1, Hi 2 
 100% Viewfinder, 0.78x magnification, integrated hledáčková magnifying glass for the DX cropping 
 Integrated sensor management Nikon CLS 
  Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 30 fps 
 Multi-CAM 4500: 61-point AF, Auto / User Drive dynamic AF-C, intelligent co-operation with 2200-zónovým 3D Color Matrix meter 
to achieve the elusive success of autofocus, the possibility of combination with contrast-detect AF final for specific uses. 
The possibility of the electronic image projection or additional information to the entire area of a large viewfinder. 
 Dual histogram for the double-exposure mode. Highlite map. Highlite map. 

 Nikon D400 - new features: 
 effective pixels: 13,8 millions, DX sensor completely new design with maximized by increasing the sensitivity of more than 1 EV 
 as "ultra-fast pixel register cache", which allows to double the frame rate or increase dynamic range, including effective aid noise reduction with natural lodging details. 
4.550 x 3.034 
 Continuous high-speed mode: 8 fps, 10 fps with BG, 
 12 fps with a double-exposure phase detection AF & mirror up 6/sec., 
14 fps with BG to double-exposure with the phase detection AF & mirror up 7/sec., 
 ISO 200 - 6400, Lo-1, Hi 1 
 Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 24 fps 
 Multi-CAM 4500 DX 61-point AF, Auto / User Drive dynamic AF-C, intelligent co-operation with 2200-zónovým 3D Color Matrix meter 
 to achieve outstanding success autofocus. 
 Screening of additional information across a large area of the viewfinder. 
 Dual histogram for the double-exposure mode. 


 Q3/2010 time: 

 AF-S Nikkor 300 mm f/4G VR 
 AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/5.6G VR

AF-S Nikkor 70 to 240 mm f/3.5-4.5G VR 
 AF-S Nikkor 105 mm f/2G DC 
 AF-S Nikkor 24 to 85 mm f/4G VR 

 AF-S DX Nikkor 60 to 95 mm f/2G VR 
 AF-S DX Nikkor 17-60 mm f/2.8G VR 


 Nikon Coolpix P1DX 
 Compact camera with DX 12.3 MPx sensor. 
 distance from 28 to 85 mm, f/3.5-5.6 speed, stabilization sensors, 
 2.9-inch LCD for the 920-dot, Výklopný, head-up viewfinder, the internal flash 
 Telepředsádka 1,8 x 


 Q4/2010 time: 

 Nikon D4X - new features: 
 30.2 millions, FX sensor completely new design with maximized by increasing the sensitivity of more than 1 EV as "ultra-fast pixel register cache", which allows to double the frame rate or increase dynamic range, including effective aid noise reduction with natural lodging details. 
[S] 6.736 x 4.490 
 Continuous high-speed mode: 
 FX 6 fps, 10 fps with a double-exposure phase detection AF & mirror up 5/sec., 
 DR enhanced double-exposure mode: Auto, manual setting of time for both the ISO and exposure in "M", "A", "S" and "P" mode with a semi-double exposure corrections in the range of + -5 EV in the range of 1 s. and 1 / 8000 p. and ISO 200 - 6400 
Format dNEF, 
 ISO 100 - 6400, Lo-1, Hi 1 
 Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 30 fps

Here is the link to the original: http://translate.google.com/translat...ote%3D1&anno=2

A very comprehensive and interesting list. The body announcements for this year (D300s & D3000 in August, and D700x before November) echo what we've been hearing from other sources.

The 2010 announcements are less believable - releasing a D400 only nine months after the D300s? It's possible, but the D300s would be a very short lived product cycle, especially for Nikon.

The Lens announcements would make a lot of people very happy if true.

The other thing to keep in mind, is specs and release dates change right up until the production run starts, so at best this would be a tentative roadmap, definitely not set in stone. It could also be an elaborate fake, based on what people widely believe is coming already, combined with some wishful thinking...

Steve Denton · #3 07-08-2009, 06:37 PM

For the body releases:

* D3000/D300s - these are widely rumored anyway for Aug.
* D700x - Thom Hogan yesterday posted that it may be here sooner than November, so we get an Oct 15th exactly one day later? either his source has the same document, or this is based on existing speculation.
* D400/D4/D4X - too soon after the D300s, this gives the D3x a 2 year lifespan which is too short for the pro line, and then there is the sensors... Nikon has so far partnered with Sony, so we typically get word about new Sony sensors way before we start hearing about bodies - we are not hearing anything relevant yet.
* Where is the D800? Surely the D700 replacement with video should be out some time in 2010? The D90 turns 2 in 2010 also.

As for the lenses, (a) wow there are a lot of them, and (b) just about every lens that people are complaining about needing is on there (70-200 update, 85mm AF-S, wide angle f1.4 etc) - if this list is real, I've got an expensive couple of years ahead of me, but lens list and the 2010 items seem like a lot of wishful thinking, and very, very aggressive.

The other thing to remember, is roadmaps aren't set in stone: there are usually several versions of a given camera with different feature sets tested prior to release, release dates move based on market pressures, technical issues etc (the claims that the D90 was accelerated to be the first with Video, D3x delayed due to technical problems etc), so even if this document is real, what actually happens over the next 18 months could be very different indeed.

admin · #4 07-09-2009, 10:31 AM

The same poster posted this further down the thread when someone asked him to produce the document, basically saying he found out it was a 'little joke' after spending 3 hours translating it (via Google Translate):

The answer came to me by mail:
*I idiot when I disclose
*It's little joke allegedly staff with responsibilities for their beloved colleagues and supervisors with shipper from the center
*So it's supposedly fancy, but had to give mad work was concerned about his colleagues were extremely happy and very creative. And from me therefore I did laugh and I to 3 hours to translate.

Sims · #5 10-22-2009, 11:58 AM

I think this is definitely fake now - the lenses are way, way off from what we have seen, and there is no way a D4/D400 will be out in the next few months given the recent D3s...