Below are a list of rumors regarding the Nikon D7000, newest first. Please rate how credible you believe these to be, and feel free to add your own comments/thoughts. If you have any more information, please email us at rumors@dentonimages.com or click Rumors Wanted. We'll continue to add new rumors to this page as we come across them.
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NR claims the D90 replacement will be called the D7000, but gives no further information.
However this makes perfect sense. As we speculated many months ago, if the D90 replacement was to be a tweaked version of the D90 based on a derivative of the same sensor (like the D300s and others), then the replacement would be called the D90s. However if it had a new sensor, it would be the D7000 (why? because the entire consumer line naming is changing to Dxxxx, and the higher-end bodies in a given line always begin with a '7': the D70 was the first 'advanced consumer' model in the consumer model, and the D700 was the first full frame prosumer model, so the name D7000 is the obvious choice for the next 'advanced-consumer' model).
Given the new D3100 appears to have a Nikon produced sensor (as opposed to a refined Sony sensor), it appears that Nikon may be producing their own sensors for all future models. That would eliminate the possibility of a D90s, and point instead to the next model being a D7000 instead.
With a massively confident 80% probability rating based on a single source, NR claims the D90 replacement will be announced mid-September (probably on/around September 15th, 2010), along with an update to the 200mm f2 lens.
According to NR, the D90 replacement will be called the D95, have a magnesium body (like the D300s), 16Mp sensor, 1080 video, 6 f.p.s., new 39 point AF system, and retail for $1199 (body only).
If true, this camera could decimate D300s sales (more Mp's, higher quality video, only slightly slower frame rate). The big jump in price is also a concern - the $1k price point is a big barrier for a lot of people, and the D90 and it's predecessors have always been high volume cameras.
Presumably the 16mp sensor is from the rumored upcoming Sony DSLR's.
NR has posted a picture of a D7000, originally from a fotofabrikas post way back in May. The picture appears to be a Nikon D90 with "D7000" photoshopped on, and a different shutter release added (black, not shiny, detail around the shutter release is a little different from the D90).
Given this dates back several months and the similarities to the D90, we'd be amazed if this wasn't a fake. See source link below for picture.
According to NR, with a very high 80% probability, the D90 replacement will have a 16MP DX sensor (presumably the new Sony unit), same noise performance like the D700, full HD video, 8fps, new video AF and performance, and parts of the body will be aluminium.
So, comparing the new D90 to the D700, it will have more pixels, the same high ISO ability, and adds HD video. If true that will seriously decimate D700 sales, leaving the D700 for people that need better weather-sealing, the performance of the CAM3500 AF system, or really narrow depth of field when shooting wide open.
It also would all but eliminate the need for D300s, missing primarily the AF system and weatherproofing, but trouncing it elsewhere.
NR gives it an 80% probability, and given Nikon has shown what it can do with the D3s, then these specs are aggressive, but potentially (barely) within the realm of what might be possible. However a lot of D300s/D700 users won't be happy that a consumer grade Nikon outperforms them in several key areas, especially when you consider rumors are rife that neither the D700 or D300s will be upgraded until 2011. Still, Canon has a similar situation where the 5D Mark II outperforms the current 1Ds Mark III on a number of levels... we'll see.
Continuing on our previous report (here), it appears the problems encountered in testing the 'new D90' were video related.
Given the D90 was Nikon's first video enabled DSLR, it makes sense that the replacement, two years later, would be an ideal platform to introduce their second generation video implementation, so from that perspective the information we've been given makes sense. Currently trying to find out more.
Source: Confidential. on 7/26/2010.
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We've heard from a new source that during a conversation a photographer from a giant broadcasting/media company, they claimed Nikon were having a lot of problems with the 'new D90' during testing.
The source does appear to be legitimate, but we don't have anything else to back up this information yet.
Source: Confidential. on 7/24/2010.
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NR is linking to an interview with Nikon executive Nabuaki Sasagaki (General Manager, Marketing Department of Nikon Imaging Japan) in Focus-Numerique.
According to the article, with regard to a D90 update with improved video and white balance:
"It is therefore very likely that such an update to intervene in the near future."
Vague, but from that description it sounds more like a D90s refresh, rather than a new camera (likely called a D7000).
Thom has updated his 2010 predictions (from the best we can tell, these are based largely on speculation combined with some likely reliable inside sources).
He's now claiming the D90 replacement (due in August) will be called the D7000, not the D8000 as he stated before.
According to a roadmap posted by NR, the D7000 replaces D90/D5000 and will be announced in Jan/Feb 2010.
Supposedly it will have a 14MP* CMOS sensor (similar to Sony A550 sensor), No AF motor (so will need G lenses), a new AF module (CAM2000, 20 area), 5 FPS, Live View & 1080 video, and will be smaller/lighter than the D90.
We think this is unlikely - the D90 is due for replacement/update later this year, but the D5000 is relatively new still, and consolidating those two bodies into one makes little sense. Having 1080p in a consumer body when the brand new flagship D3s supports only 720p would be a bizarre move also.
Thom Hogan has released his 2010 predictions (see source link below), and is predicting a D90 Redux, although he expects it to be called the D8000 instead of D90s.
He expects a different sensor, different AF, and improved video.
Our take: Yes the D90 hits 2 years old in 2010, so a redux is due. If Nikon introduce a new sensor we'd expect it to be the D7000 not D8000 (since Nikon likes to bring in the "upper end" models starting with 7 - i.e. the advance consumer bodies went D70->D70s->D80->D90, and the pro-sumer FX bodies started at D700).
However Nikon has been heavily reusing sensors to help control costs (think D200->D80->D40x->D60->D3000 all with derivatives of the same sensor, and so far the D300 sensor has been seen in the D300->D90->D5000->D300s). Given the D90's massive success, we still believe it more likely to see an iterated D90s rather than a new body/sensor (either D7000 or D8000).
After the recent and likely fictional Nikon Roadmap Leak (see Nikon Roadmap in our forums for the full translation), Thom Hogan has put together his speculated "Possible Nikon Roadmap".
Note Thom does have good sources, and a pretty good track record when it comes to predicting Nikon products, so his version of the roadmap is probably best described as "educated speculation".
Thom speculates mid 2010 for the Nikon D7000 release, to replace the Nikon D90. He expects:
It's probable that a new DX sensor is ready in this time frame, and thus I'd suspect a D7000 to initiate Nikon's use of it. Whether that's 14mp or 15mp (or even a new Nikon 12mp) is actually a rather uninteresting question, as none of those choices really up the ante in terms of image quality. More likely changes would be 1080i video support, a tilt-screen, and changes to Live View and video autofocus.
His full roadmap with a lot more background info and explanation can be found by clicking the source link below.
