Tell Nikon what you want

[Duke Leto]

Okay for a bit of fun, post a response on this thread BUT to keep it simple, a few rules
1, Do not comment on another persons wish
2, Enter only your top 3 wishes per post
3, Number your wishes in priority order, 1 highest 3 lowest

I'll keep an eye on this over the coming weeks and when theres enough responses I'll post the wish list back on the thread.

Let me kick it off

1, DX D-SLRs CMOS sensors to have better noise characteristics
2, 600/5.6vr
3, Dual CF slots on any body that is marketed as professional by Nikon

[pe'rigin]

1. Improved new sensor, quality, colour, and sensitivity across DX and FF.

2. A mid-ranged DX @ 15Mb, matching D700 specification at a sensible price, no video or other gimmicks.


3. 400mm F4/5.6 VR with nano coating.

[Phil Bishop]

!. A high frame rate, high iso (but at the same time a wide dynamic range) DX body would be nice. 12Mp is plenty for me.
2. An update to the 200mm micro with nano coating.
3. 400mm F5.6 vr

[imagedude]

1) 400mm F4
2) An autofocus Nikon F3 with a digital sensor
3) 400mm f5.6

[fugl]

1. 400mm f5.6ED vr
2. DX sensor with improved noise handling
3. ??

[daniel_st]

1. AF-S VR 400/5.6 (a great compliment for the big gun when doing birds in flight)
2. Higher frame rate than 8 FPS on a prosumer-body (at least 10 FPS)
3. Better noise performence on DX-format at high ISO (matching my D700)

// Daniel

[stoop]

1. AF-S 400mm f5.6 VR.
2. AF-S 300mm f4 VR.
3. Satisfied with D300.

[bkrownd]

1) An end to the endless power problems! Argh!
2) VR in the 300mm f/4 or a VR 400mm f/5.6, duh.
3) Fix the ergonomics: Move all the buttons on the back of the body to the right side and closer together so they can be worked with the right thumb without removing hand from the grip. Also, move the lens release button to the other side of the lens so we don't have to swap hands to change lenses!

[ikw101]

1. AF-S 400mm f5.6 VR.
2. AF-S 300mm f4 VR.
3. A 15mp replacement for D300 c/w a DX CMOS sensor with the noise characteristics
of the D3.

[rioja]

1) An AF-S 80-400mm or similar VR f5.6
2) A 2.0X TC that is as good as Canon's appears to be.
3) The D400 !

[Helios]

A couple of old primes.

1) 600mm f5.6 with AFS and VR
2)400mm f3.5 also

And to force a drop in price of the D3 and D700:-

3) D4 or D800

[pduxon]

1. A compact with dSLR performance
2. A wide dx prime (the 35f1.8 is lovely)
3. one of 300f4 VRII, 400 VRII f5.6, 80-400 with AFS and VRII

i'd love to be able to comment on some of the above ;)

[gandytron]

1. 400mm VRII f5.6
2. 400mm VRII f4 - similar size/weight to Canon's DO
3. D90 replacement to have flash synch up to 500/sec (instead of 200/sec)

[martin england]

1 AF-S 400mm f5.6 vr
2 AF-S 300mm f4.0 vr
3 AF-S 80-400mm vr

And above all else LOWER PRICES PLEASE NIKON

[Sussex bird man]

I'd support much of this.... basically affordable telephotos at the 400/500mm end, VR maybe. Canon can do it why not Nikon?

RR

1 AF-S 400mm f5.6 vr
2 AF-S 300mm f4.0 vr
3 AF-S 80-400mm vr

And above all else LOWER PRICES PLEASE NIKON

[I4ani]

1. Pro grade body (a la D3), with interchangable plug in sensors.Body upgrade every 5-7 years, sensors as and when.
2. Lighter and more affordable pro grade lenses.
3. Autofocus system that works beyond f5.6.

[jourdaj]

I'm surprised that noone has mentioned a 400mm f/5.6 w/ VR!!! :)

That's my only choice!

[postcardcv]

a D3 that works with my Canon lenses would be nice...

[Duke Leto]

I'm surprised that noone has mentioned a 400mm f/5.6 w/ VR!!! :)

That's my only choice!

Sorry check below most people have or suggested a better 400/4

[Duke Leto]

a D3 that works with my Canon lenses would be nice...

LOL

[rioja]

Sorry check below most people have or suggested a better 400/4
It was meant to be no comments but as you have I will.
I think if you read it again Jourdaj was more than aware that the 400f4.6 is the number one choice !

[Duke Leto]

sorry I started the thread made the rules and broke them, apologies I have told myself off so please no more comments

[yossi]

1. 70-420 AFS VR
2. 800/8 AFS VR
3. A reducer to use DX lenses on an FX camera

[rdspalm]

1 Greater range of professional lenses.
2 Some way of being able to use Canon Lenses
3 A lighter D700. (I love mine, but its a brute to cart around!

[DFBHeron]

1) 400mm prime AFS lens for under $1600 usd, f3.5 (|:D|).
2) d300x = 15+mp, internal sensor cleaning from d60, 2 cf card slots, no video.
3) 100-400mm VR f5.6 to rival canon's 100-400mm IS ...

[Chachulski]

1) Electrical connections through macro devices (tubes & bellows)

2) Re-launch of earlier 2,000mm mirror lens

3) Re-launch of earlier 80-200mm AFS

[gvca1]

OK, for those on a budget:

1) VR in the AFS300 F/4

2) Always lower noise in high ISO's

3) Ultra-small EVF camera (like Micro 4/3rds) but keep image quality at D300 or better. (EVF = Electronic View Finder, so no need for mirror box)

[imagedude]

A Nikon F2 with a digital sensor

[Duke Leto]

Okay without over complicating the response I've listed below all those that scored 2 or more votes, I've not weighted them in accordance with peoples priorities

Here's the BF members top 8, anything else had only one vote (IMHO).

No. 1 10 votes 400/5.6 I'll assume with vr
No. 2 7 votes better noise characteristics
No. 3 6 votes 300/4 vr
No. 4 3 votes 600/5.6vr
No. 4 3 votes 400/4
No. 4 3 votes newer models!
No. 4 AF-S 80-400vr
No. 8 Nikon bodies that accept Canon Lenses

Personally I find a two of these amusing, No 1, get a 300mm/4 and stick on a 1.4, you get a 420/5.6 lens..
No.4 newer models, wait 6 months and you'll get your wish

Anyhow a bit of fun

[Chalky W]

just for fun my 3 would be

1) lower prices
2) lower prices
3) and lets not forget lower prices

really though

I have wondered why 'digital noise' is an issue with any manufacturer, surely the technology is there to make 'noise' redundant these days but I admit I'm ignorant of the technical issues, but you'd have thought......

I also think that (Duke, in response) 6 months between upgrades is too short a period, lets have a really decent upgrade every 18 months - 2 years so that we (the customer) don't get that over whelming feeling of 'bugger, if only I'd waited 2 months longer', I've got a D200 sat here that is gathering dust - if only I'd waited 2 months longer... If you can upgrade in 6 months then you knew you can upgrade in 6 months. I know, profits to be made.

Just my 2 pence worth.

[Duke Leto]

Couldn't agree more, my last slr was a Contax 167mt, bought it in the late 80's and used it until it was sold in 2006. Never did I consider upgrading it.....
Saying that though the biggest upgrades were in the film so I suppose that there were updates.
Ha maybe we should have D-SLR's that you can upgrade components such as the CMOS device etc.......

[pe'rigin]

Chalky,

You may just get your three wishes.

Looking at the price reduction of the D300s, it can only be one reason....its not selling! Could be an early bath for this model!

We'll have to wait on Canon's 7D, to see if it going to suffer the same fate!

[daniel_st]

...No 1, get a 300mm/4 and stick on a 1.4, you get a 420/5.6 lens...

Yes, you get a 420/5.6 lens, but with the 1.4x TC AF-speed will decrese and you will get a slight loss in sharpness. Not much but there is a small difference, specially with the speed. And don´t forget that such a lens are probably weather-proofed and with a TC that is not possible.

// Daniel

[rioja]

Chalky,

You may just get your three wishes.

Looking at the price reduction of the D300s, it can only be one reason....its not selling! Could be an early bath for this model!

We'll have to wait on Canon's 7D, to see if it going to suffer the same fate!

The D300 was discounted in exactly the same way. Remember, the UK market opens at an higher price than say the US price. The discounters start to open their bids here and before long you have a stable price.
Without a doubt the D300s is a tweek rather than a new model but I think it will be the latest DX model for at least 12 months . It was enough to encourage me, a D200 owner to upgrade but was never aimed at current D300 owners I'm sure.
Time will tell though !

[gvca1]

just for fun my 3 would be
...
I have wondered why 'digital noise' is an issue with any manufacturer, surely the technology is there to make 'noise' redundant these days but I admit I'm ignorant of the technical issues, but you'd have thought......
...
Just my 2 pence worth.

That's what's fascinating with the move from analog to digital, and not just in photography. The same is true in audio, for example. The laws of physics apply pretty much the same regardless of whether you are working with analog or digital hardware. Noise in digital detectors mimics noise in film, although the characteristic look is a bit different than film grain. Yes, as CCD's or CMOS imagers improve, the SNR gets better, but you can't cheat mother nature.

The fathers of information theory like Shannon and Nyquist did their seminal work decades before digital photography was even imagined, but their mathematics still applies.

Jim

[pe'rigin]

Jim,


Are you saying atmosphere conditions can affect digital recording?

Noise in photography is exactly what you say, its ‘old film grain’, but produced by the sensor in poor light conditions, under/over-exposure and excessive enlargement. It is an inherent digital fault.

Noise should not be apparent to the human eye if reproduced/viewed within the parameters of resolution and enlargement of the sensor and output device.

Your digital sound sentence is fascinating, because I’ve just bought a classic Zappa album DVD, in which they dissect the sound tracks, and some of the analogue sounds still cannot be reproduced digitally.

Digital colour still has problems matching certain film colours.

[Duke Leto]

Yes, you get a 420/5.6 lens, but with the 1.4x TC AF-speed will decrese and you will get a slight loss in sharpness. Not much but there is a small difference, specially with the speed. And don´t forget that such a lens are probably weather-proofed and with a TC that is not possible.

// Daniel

not noticeable, I think that most people with a 300/4 will normally have a 1.4 bolted on as its a negligible addition
Agree if you were producing A3 prints that it may be detectable but for web / A4 reproductions you won't be able to tell.
The 300/4 doesn't have a weatherseal on the mounting ring so the addition of the TC wouldn't change its capabilities

[stoop]

Actually bought a Nikkor 300 f4 on Monday. Had been umming and arghing between it and the 80-400. Have to admit I was a bit jealous of the Canon 400mm f5.6 for about the same price in the display case across from Nikon (It was sitting next to the chunkier Canon 300 f4 -which was also 30000yen more exy, but they both looked nice). I don't really want to spend 50000 yen on a TC. I'm yet to really test my new get but when I do I think I'll stick to it as a 300mm and wait for that AF-S Nikkor 400mm F5.6 IF-ED VR next year. Anyway I hope I'll improve on the quality of my overhead shots for the time being.... It's nice and new and I really like the big box.

[rioja]

I'll stick to it as a 300mm and wait for that AF-S Nikkor 400mm F5.6 IF-ED VR next year.

Inside information ???!!!!

[daniel_st]

not noticeable, I think that most people with a 300/4 will normally have a 1.4 bolted on as its a negligible addition
Agree if you were producing A3 prints that it may be detectable but for web / A4 reproductions you won't be able to tell.
The 300/4 doesn't have a weatherseal on the mounting ring so the addition of the TC wouldn't change its capabilities

Some say it is noticeable and some say it is not...and as you say for web and A4-sized prints maybe it is not so important, but I would´t buy a lens for only that use, often I like to go up to A3 and sometimes A2. I think image vice there are small to very small change in quality, but it definatly slow down AF speed and accuracy, not much, but there are a significant change.

And for the weather-seal, I haven´t used the 300/4, so that was new to me, but who knows what Nikon has up their sleeves with the new 300/4 VR?

// Daniel

[stoop]

...Sorry, left out the 'G'. That's AF-S Nikkor 400mm f5.6 IF-ED VR G.

(..Just rumours??)

[rioja]

who knows what Nikon has up their sleeves with the new 300/4 VR?

// Daniel

HaveI missed something here too ?!

Where does the info come from about a new 300VR and a 400f5.6Vr too ?

[stoop]

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=146328

As I said. Just rumours.

[rioja]

Thanks for the clarification Stoop.

[Duke Leto]

I see little point in a 400/5.6 now a 500/5.6vr would be a v.nice addition

[rioja]

I see little point in a 400/5.6

Seems a popular option with Canon users though !

[Duke Leto]

hmm what can they go to after that? a 500/4, no wonder the 400/5.6 is a popular lens!! Canon or Nikon are unlikely to do 500/5.6 or a 600/5.6 as it would affect there sales of the /4 units, would I be bothered by one stop for a lens at half the price, not at all.

[rioja]

hmm what can they go to after that? a 500/4, no wonder the 400/5.6 is a popular lens!! Canon or Nikon are unlikely to do 500/5.6 or a 600/5.6 as it would affect there sales of the /4 units, would I be bothered by one stop for a lens at half the price, not at all.

I think you are making assumptions on price Steve. Take a look at Canon's 3x 400mm range f2.8.f4.f5.6.
The one stop theory certainly doesn't apply to price points !

[bkrownd]

Agree if you were producing A3 prints that it may be detectable but for web / A4 reproductions you won't be able to tell.

I have to guess that you have some sort of odd religious aversion to the normal routine of cropping down to the interesting-content part of the image, or cropping down to inspect the details? People use their cameras in a WIDE variety of ways, so the concerns or assumptions of one person often don't apply to others.

I took some photos of a labordia tree the other day. When reviewing the photo later I saw some specs on undersides of the leaves. Looking at the image at full-resolution I saw that the specs were some 1-3mm native snails. I now have both a nice photo of both the tree foliage and one of the rare snails because of the excellent resolution of fine detail. That kind of thing happens a lot for me - sometimes when reviewing photos taken months earlier, or sometimes when trying to isolate ID characteristics or things in the backgrounds of my collected photos. The little details do matter a LOT to some of us.

[Duke Leto]

I think you are making assumptions on price Steve. Take a look at Canon's 3x 400mm range f2.8.f4.f5.6.
The one stop theory certainly doesn't apply to price points !
Sorry my point wasn't aimed at 400mm lenses but 500 / 600, but you make a good point I never realised that the 400/4 was so expensive, thats my theory well and truly burst.....