Nikon D300 replacement to use D2Xs body

This definitely has to be too good to be true!

If Nikonrumors is right, then my luck has really changed for the better, as I already shoot a D2X in an Aquatica housing.

I had planned an upgrade to the FX platform with the D700 replacement, but if this is correct then, it looks like I'll stick with the DX platform a little while longer.

I know that you shouldn't put much faith in rumors, but this time I think I might indulge myself (for a little while anyway). :)

We can only wait and hope and hope and wait. It will be good if its only half true. :)

I searched NikonRumors and cannot find anything to support this. Seems odd to think D300 repl would use full-sized body.

I searched NikonRumors and cannot find anything to support this. Seems odd to think D300 repl would use full-sized body.

Sony rumored to announce 24MP APS-C sensor, what would Nikon do? (Nikon D400)

By [NR] admin | Published: January 10, 2011

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Sony rumored to announce 24MP APS C sensor, what would Nikon do? (Nikon D400)

The current Sony a700 12.24MP Exmor APS-C CMOS sensor

Amateur Photographer is not big on reporting rumors, but today they did just that: the Sony α700 replacement is rumored to have a new APS-C sensor with high ISO “up into the hundreds of thousands” and resolution of 25MP. Sonyalpharumors also mentioned about a new 24MP sensor for the upcoming NEX-7 camera. The potential release is expected to be around September at PMA 2011 (now called CliQ 2011).

This upcoming sensor from Sony could be the base for the D300s replacement (D400?), unless Nikon really is designing and producing their own sensors now. Since the replacement of the α700 will be a direct competitor of the D300s successor, it will be interesting to see who will make the announcement first (my guess is Sony).

There are even some early rumors floating around that the D400 could go back to the PRO body design of the Nikon D2xs (pictured below) – that would be a way of “upping” the D7000 which currently has better specs than the PRO D300s model.

Sony rumored to announce 24MP APS C sensor, what would Nikon do? (Nikon D400)

Nikon D2xs body

If Nikon really goes with a new full-body style for the D400, this will also ensure Sony that they will not have a direct competitor for their α700 replacement.

Read more on NikonRumors.com: http://nikonrumors.com/2011/01/10/sony-rum...x#ixzz1AkDcymlu

I guess it's also not impossible that Nikon will have 3 bodies with DX sensors, a D2x equivalent to compete with the Canon 1DMKIV, a D300s equivalent to compete with 7D, and the D7000 high end amateur camera.

If you have 24 Mp on a Dx sized chip, I'd question whether there is any lens with enough resolution to take advantage of the increase in the chip's resolution. If the lens doesn't have the resolution the extra Mp are of no real value. And I'd guess that most zoom lenses are already resolving less that the current 12-18 Mp Dx chips. I'd rather see true 16-bit (or higher) color capture. And a greater dynamic range to handle more contrasty subjects and things like sunbursts.

Fred

I hear what you are saying, but who knows, maybe Nikon has discovered something that the rest of us have overlooked. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened.

24 MP is nice, but I could make do with 16-18MP personally. Greater dynamic range, higher flash sync speed, and cleaner high ISO images would be more useful for me.

The use of an existing camera body as the foundation for the new camera is intriguing for me as I might be able to fit the new camera into my existing housing and save the price of a new housing in the process. This would be of great benefit to the housing manufacturer also as they would be able to build sales volume on an existing model with sagging sales performance with little cost as compared to the construction of an entirely new housing.

Realistically, if this rumour was to be true, I would expect at least a few design changes would have to the old housing, such as a new back, would be in order to fit the new camera into the old housing and preserve most of the functionality of the camera. So while it might be cheaper for existing customers with a D2X housing -- it might not be as cheap as one could expect to make the upgrade.

All I can say is, time will tell.

24 MP is nice, but I could make do with 16-18MP personally. Greater dynamic range, higher flash sync speed, and cleaner high ISO images would be more useful for me.

The D7000 does all these. 16MP, greater dynamic range than D2X, higher flash synch, cleaner high ISO images. On sale now!

I don't see Nikon re-using the D2X chassis again now - the LCD screen is too small and putting in a bigger one would mean moving all the buttons.

As for 24MP on a DX chip - crazier marketing driven decisions have been made in the past, but lets hope not.

Alex

Yes, the D7000 is all that and more. I am so close to buying one(or two!) that it isn't even funny -- but I think I will hold off on the purchase just a little while longer. I do agree that the LCD screen on the back of the D2X is too small, hence my comment about the need for the housing back to be changed.

I guess part of the reasoning why I am not purchasing a D7000 right now is that in the past Nikon maintained a clear distinction between the pro and amateur camera bodies. I am led to believe, rightly or wrongly, that the D7000 is a massively upgraded amateur body. If this is so, and Nikon decide to keep this strong delineation between amateur and pro bodies, then possibly it might be very worthwhile to see what their next iteration in a pro body encompasses.

It would have been a done deal for me to purchase the D7000 had Nikon chosen to make the camera full frame. I really miss the large viewing screen of the full frame cameras. I am not a fan of pop up flashes on the cameras as I feel adding a pop up flash to a camera comes at the viewfinder's expense. Just my personal opinion, nothing more, nothing less. My eyes are getting old and are yearning for the comfort of a full frame viewfinder.

On a slightly different note, I just took a look at my old F4E (the "E" model has a bigger battery compartment than the "S" version) and thought how nice it would be to have a camera with an interchangeable viewfinder directly on the camera like the DA20 sportsfinder inside the housing instead of having a viewfinder adapter sticking several inches out the back of housing.

I do plan on upgrading my camera and housing shortly, but for now, I think I will sit on the fence a little while longer.

I do plan on upgrading my camera and housing shortly, but for now, I think I will sit on the fence a little while longer.

I hear you!

I'm in the same position. Looking to upgrade to a new camera from a D2x. I have been test driving a few cameras, among them D300, D3 and D3s. After that last one I knew I would want a high iso camera to help in achieving those deep/arctic/low light stuff we have here in Norway and I suspect in Canada...?

24MP on a dx chip doesn't make sense to me, if anything I thing Nikon has played smart and not let them selves be lured into a MP race but rather focusing on the output quality. I'm hoping for a 16-18MP FX for max Iso/resolution output in a D800, but I'm expecting to see similar features in a D4. The D400 I don't expect we will see until 2011, unless Nikon has decided to not make the D800...

On another note. High sync speeds is dependent on strobe development as most pro/semipro Nikon cameras support this. My ancient D2x will do 1/4000th of a second with flash.

E.