We are in the midst of Summer 2013 and still waiting for details about the new Nikon D400. The camera is expected to be announced Fall 2013 with availability in late 2013. At this point, D400 rumors are scarce and some still doubt that Nikon will release another DX camera above the D7100. In use, the consumer-grade D7100 falls short of real professional duty, with a limited buffer which restricts continuous shooting bursts necessary for wildlife and sports photography. For many enthusiasts, the D7100 will be the top-of-the-line choice. But for professionals only a D400 would satisfy with a rugged body able to withstand the rigors of daily use and the weight of long telephoto lenses.
On July 30, it will be 4 years to the day the previous DX flagship D300s was announced. Today the Nikon D300s is still listed as the top DX camera on Nikon USA, and sells at $1,699 suggested retail. From a price-perspective, the space between the $2,099 D600 and $1,199 D7100 all but guarantees there will be D400.
Historically and culturally, Nikon has been a conservative company. Since 2012, the company has been more aggressive by releasing three full-frame cameras and three DX cameras, as well as several iterations of the Nikon 1 (initially released in late 2011). They have taken a no holds barred approach to outsell rival, Canon. It is difficult to compare the two companies by financial data alone because Canon lumps in camcorders, printers and broadcast equipment with their digital cameras. What is more obvious is that Nikon and Canon are quick to release cameras aimed at the same market as closely as possible. Canon is expected to release a 7D replacement toward the end of 2013 at the soonest, but not release it until 2014.
As a professional DX camera, the Nikon D400 would share several attributes with the D4 and D800. A few notable technical details that would describe the D400:
- Full mangesium body and internal frame
- Rugged and weatherproof body
- CompactFlash (CF) card with UDMA compatibility
- 1/8000 maximum shutter speed
- 1/250 flash sync
- 8-9 fps continuous shooting
- 2-9 frames bracketing 1/3, 1/2 and 1 EV
- mirror lock up mode
- ISO 100 native
- Nikon CLS support
- Flash sync terminal
- Face-detect autofocus
- 3.2-inch diagonal LCD
- HDMI output with uncompressed video
- USB 3.0
- Stereo mic input
- Wireless and GPS support via optional accessories
- 10-pin connector
- AF-ON button
Some wish list items that would make the D400 camera outshine the competition:
- Integrated vertical (portrait orientation) grip
- EN-EL18 battery (2,600 shots per charge)
- Weight under 1000g
- Ethernet port for tethered control
- Integrated WiFi
- Integrated GPS
- 60p video at 1080×1920 resolution
- 4K Ultra HD at 30 frames per second
Rumors of the Nikon D400 are heating up. The next wave of Nikon camera announcements should come in late August or early September 2013, and the D400 is a possibility. It is highly likely we will see another refresh of the Nikon 1 and some new Coolpix this fall. The the entry level DX D3200 (announced April 2012) will also be due for a refresh around the end of this year as it continues on roughly 1.5 year cycles.
The D400 will slot above the D7100 and be aimed at professionals and advanced amateurs who crave a high FPS and a full magnesium body for durability, but want the reach benefit of a DX sensor for wildlife and sports photography. The sensor is bound to be 24MP as offered across the current DX-line, and most likely a variant of the Toshiba-build D7100 unit if not something more advanced for better low-light capabilities. Sports and wildlife shooters demand speed, and boosting 7 to 9 frames per second in full-DX mode is a goal, and will require some major upgrades given the amount of data processing necessary. A larger buffer is one thing the D7100 currently lacks, and the D7100 can only do a 1.3X crop at 7fps.
Those who shoot long lenses as a profession demand a strong body for durability in the field as well as a large, comfortable grip to handle hefty professional lenses. The D7100 only offers magnesium on the outside shell, not in the internal frame and lens mount, where it matters. A high-end DX would have the build level of the D800 and D4, internally as well as externally. It may also include a bigger form factor, like a mini-D4 with integrated grip and extended battery capacity.
Built-in WiFi and GPS are becoming standard on many cameras, however Nikon may elect to keep them as optional accessories as they have in recent releases. Since it will be a professional camera we might see built-in network capability for tethered Ethernet control similar to the D4.
DSLR Video capabilities are a given, and the D400 should offer a host of video features. Uncompressed HDMI output, 1080 HD at 60p would be possible with extra processing power. To get a leg on the competition, Nikon could give the D400 4K video capabilities, something Canon only offers in their $12,000 EOS-1D C.
Regarding price, Nikon will have to slot the D400 between the high-end consumer D7100 at $1199 US Dollars and most likely below the full-frame D600 at $2099 US Dollars. Placing the D400 as a professional DX option around $1700 would seem logical. The D300s still sells at $1699 suggested retail in 2013.
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February 21, 2013: Nikon announces the D7100, its new flagship DX camera. The Nikon D7100 is almost everything that the D400 would have been. It pushes the D7000 envelope further, updating the sensor to 24MP, improving its autofocus to Multi-CAM 3500DX with 51 AF points with the center point functional at f/8, upgrading to the EXPEED 3 processing engine and adding new wireless connectivity options.
The D7100 brings many firsts for Nikon. Its 100% viewfinder display is augmented with an Organic LED display rather than the standard monochrome LCD of previous Nikon cameras. The OLED improves visibility of shooting information when looking through the viewfinder. Nikon also adds a 1.3X crop mode, which increases continuous shooting to 7fps from 6fps. This effectively makes the overall crop factor 2X compared with the full frame 35mm FX format. The D7100 also introduces an i-button to quickly access the most frequently used features.
The D7100 offers the same dust and moisture resistance as the D300s. The top and back of the camera are made of magnesium alloy, while the front is poly-carbonate. Its shutter is designed to last for at least 150,000 shutter actuations. Like the D800E, Nikon has removed the anti-alising filter to improved sharpness. The LCD size has increased to 3.2 inches and 1,229K dots. Nikon has also done away with the built-in plastic screen protector.
The D7100 is packed with video features. Offering 1080/30p H.264/MPEG-4 video, which can be boosted to 50i/60i in 1.3X crop mode, as well as HD at 720/60p. There is now a built-in stereo microphone, as well as external microphone input. Dual SD card slots offer many storage options.
Nikon uses the word “enthusiast” to describe the D7100. Indeed, the word appears four times in the Nikon USA press release. The camera is aimed at the high-level enthusiast, similar to the FX F600. But the D7100 falls short of the pro-level build of the D800 and D4. Whether a D400 pro-level DX camera will come is a question that will be debated for some time. For now, the D7100 offers the most features Nikon offers in a DX format camera.
The D7100 packs a lot into a small package. The overall size is just a few mm larger than the D7000, while shaving 15 grams off the overall weight. Its price is also kept trim; $1195 at introduction for the body only and $1595 when paired with a 18-105mm VR lens. The D7100 will be shipping in March, 2013.
Pre-Order the Nikon D7100 today!
Amazon:
Nikon D7100 (body only) at Amazon $1196.95
Nikon D7100 with 18-105mm VR Lens at Amazon $1596.95
B&H Photo
Nikon D7100 (body only) at B&H Photo $1196.95
Nikon D7100 with 18-105mm VR Lens at B&H Photo $1596.95
Adorama
Nikon D7100 (body only) at Adorama $1196.95
Nikon D7100 with 18-105mm VR Lens at Adorama $1596.95
After Nikon released the D600 on September 13, many waiting for the D300/D300s replacement were left wondering if there would still be a D400. What is clear is that Nikon made the D600 for the consumer market, and even use the term “enthusiast” to describe its target customer. While the D600 incorporates many high-features, it also lacks some elements that separate it from Nikon’s professional ranks.
The D600 has a body with top and back made from magnesium alloy, but the front of the camera and its internal frame is polycarbonate like the rest of the consumer line. For this reason it is not suitable for rigorous use with a long telephoto lens. Professional cameras have a full magnesium frame and body and can withstand more abuse. The D600 Multi-Cam 4800FX auto focus system was adapted from the D7000. While it offers increased sensitivity down to f/8, it is not the more advanced AF offered in the D800 and D4. The D600 will not provide the advanced tracking expected by wildlife photographers. The D600 maximum shutter speed is only 1/4,000 second. Professional D4, D800 and even the D7000 offer 1/8,000 second shutter. The D600 lacks the standard PC sync port and has a slow flash sync speed of 1/200. It has a maximum continuous shooting frame rate of only 5.5fps which can not be increased with a battery grip. Perhaps the most important fact is that it only offers 10.5 MP images in DX mode. This is lower than even the 5-year old 12.3MP D300.
Dirk Jasper, Product Manager at Nikon Europe, was asked by dpreview at Photokina how the D600 compares with the D300s. Jasper explains, “The D300S is a different concept. It’s a semi-pro DX system camera and [D600] is an enthusiast camera.” Although Nikon expects some to upgrade from the D300/D300s to the D600, the customer is different. The D600 is a consumer-oriented version of the D700.
In recent history, Nikon has not always maintained existing camera lines. Just because there was a D200 and D300 may not necessarily mean there will be a D400. The D800 was not a follow-up to any camera, but rather a new concept. Nikon essentially phased out the D3X and D700 by bringing out the D800 and D600.
The Nikon D7000 is about due for an update, while the D300s is overdue. What will Nikon do with high-end DX? If we look to Nikon’s rival, Canon, we see that a 7D Mark II is in the works for early 2013. The D400 would be its direct competitor, and we know from history that Nikon and Canon are in lock-step when introducing products.
Nikon has plenty of room in its product line between the D7000 currently at $999 and the D600 at $2099. There is a possibility that Nikon could combine the D5100 and D7000 into one line, an enthusiast DX aimed at both photography and video, and then make the D400 a professional or semi-pro DX around $1799. The D400 seems more of a certainty at this point than a D7100.
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Today Nikon officially announced the 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR Nikkor lens. The ultra-wide range 16.7x zoom provides a one-lens solution for Nikon DX-format DSLR cameras. Vibration Reduction (VR II) provides stabilization for both sharp still photos as well as HD video recording.
The 18-300mm VR features a total of 19 lens elements in 14 groups, with 3 ED glass elements to increase contrast and reduce flare and 3 aspherical elements. The 9-bladed aperture diaphragm stops down to f/22-32 throughout the zoom range. The lens can focus down to 1.48 feet (0.45m) and uses a 77mm filter size. Total lens weight is a reasonable 29.3 oz (830g). The Nikon 18-300mm VR has a retail price of $999.95 and will be available in late June 2012.
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As the months pass and hardly a trace of a D400, it seems Nikon is overlooking the high-end DX segment. Rumors of an upcoming D600 entry-level FX camera have many wondering if Nikon is abandoning DX and leaving it to amateurs. The recent announcement of the D3200 unveiled a new 24MP sensor in their entry level DSLR. While it is possible this new sensor could trickle-up into the higher end DX line, whether it will make it all the way up into a D400 is yet to be determined.
Nikon was quick to bring the D3200 to market. Their entry-level line is always updated at faster intervals than their professional cameras. The resolution outperforms the rest of their DX line (D5100, D7000, D300s) and this should be rectified in the future. What does the D3200 hint at for the future of DX? We see the introduction of the WU-1a WiFi adapter. It offers wireless connectivity and the ability to share pictures directly from the camera to the Internet via an Android app (and soon iOS). They also produce the D3200 in Thailand, a great sign showing that their badly damaged factory is getting back up to speed. Their Thailand factory produces all their DX DSLR camera bodies and several lenses. The camera has already hit store shelves, unlike the month or longer previous products have taken. These are positive signs for Nikon’s production capabilities. Will a D400 be coming down the pipe soon?
The D7000 and D5100 are still due for an update soon, and it is hard to believe there is going to be much room between the D7000 update and a possible entry-level FX D600. The D400 could offer a build quality and pro-features above the level of the D600 and justify a similar or even higher price, although it would seem out of place to have a DX camera priced above an FX. The converging pricing of different formats would not be new for Nikon. With the CX format Nikon 1, the V1 was introduced at a higher price than the entry level DX D3100. But how many DX DSLR will Nikon want to have in their lineup? In the near future the choices may be DX: D3200, D5100, D7000 and FX: D600(?), D800, D4. With the new FX models D4, D800/D800E and possibly D600, Nikon is luring DX users up to FX format.
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Today, Nikon UK added the new 18-300mm DX lens to its web site. The 16X super zoom lens adds an additional 100mm of reach on top of the existing 18-200mm DX lens. Its official release may come in the next few days, perhaps accompanied by a new or updated DX DSLR.
Features of the new lens include Vibration Reduction VRII technology to help stabilize hand-held shots, thereby allowing use of shutter speeds up to 4 stops slower than without stabilization. The 16 times zoom brings distant objects into view and provides a 27 to 450mm equivalent focal range in 35mm terms. A zoom lock switch prevents the lens from extending when the camera is not in use. The use of nine rounded aperture blades provides pleasing out of focus effects for smooth bokeh. Three ED-coated elements reduce flare and ghosting, while three aspherical elements correct for distortion. The silent wave motor provides quiet auto-focus function.
Specifications:
Focal length: 18-300 mm
Maximum aperture: f/3.5-5.6
Minimum aperture: f/22-32
Construction: 19 elements, 14 groups
Aspherical lens elements: 3
ED lens elements: 3
Auto focus: Nikon Internal Focusing (IF) System
Focus motor: Silent Wave Motor
Minimum focus distance at 300mm: 0.45 m (1.48 ft) from focal plane
Maximum reproduction ratio: 1/3.2x
Diaphragm blades: 9 rounded aperture blades
Filter thread size: 77 mm
Dimensions: 83 mm diameter x 120 mm length
Weight: 830 g (29.3 oz)
A review of previous Nikon DSLR camera announcements may predict what is due for update this year:
D3000 series:
D3000 July 30, 2009
D3100 August 19, 2010
D3200 (?)
Schedule: 1 year updates
Status: D3200 overdue (delayed due to floods?)
Prediction: D3200 announcment in 2012 highly likely.
D5000 series:
D5000 April 14, 2009
D5100 April 5, 2011
D5200 (?)
Schedule: 2 year update schedule
Status: on schedule
Prediction: D5100 not due until 2013.
D7000 series:
D90 August 27, 2008
D7000 September 15, 2010
D7100 (?)
Schedule: 2-year update schedule
Status: on schedule
Prediction: D7100 due in late 2012.
D100-series:
D100 February 23, 2002
D200 November 1, 2005
D300 August 23, 2007
D300s July 30, 2009
D400 (?)
Schedule: Approximately 2 year update schedule
Status: D400 overdue (delayed due to floods?)
Prediction: D400 due in 2012.
Given the history of Nikon DSLR announcements, it seems the D3200 and D400 are the most likely cameras to be released soon. The D7100 may come later in 2012. The current D7000 is in extremely short supply due to the Thailand situation, with back orders stacking up for months. This will most likely be rectified before the updated D7100 is released. The D3100 and D5100 have not experienced as many shortages.
The D400 is most anticipated DSLR due for update. In his February 15 commentary, Thom Hogan notes the price gap between the $3000 D800 and $1200 D7000. He beleives with “100% confidence” that there will be camera to fill this spot. His thinks a $1700-2000 camera would fit and it would most likely be DX format. “History and price say that it will be DX,” he states. He thinks a full frame camera in this price range is unlikely due to the sensor cost.
We expect Nikon to make the D400 announcement soon. The Nikon D3200 is likely to follow. The D7100 will probably come later this fall.
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Nikon’s Thailand factory was devastated in 2011 when floods reached Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya. The plant produces the bulk of its DSLR cameras, including the D3100, D5100, D7000 and D300s models and would be the most likely candidate for the Nikon D400. Rising water put the entire ground floor of the facility under water and destroyed its components and assembly equipment, amounting to losses of over 10 billion Yen.
Last month the facility started to resume limited production. Nikon representative Tetsuya Morimoto has said that by the end of March it should be operating at full capacity.
As production resumes there is a worldwide shortage of Nikon DSLR cameras. Many dealers and customers have been waiting for months to receive their D7000 orders. It is not known where the D400 will be produced, but the situation in Thailand will undoubtedly delay the new camera’s production and announcement until Nikon can get its production back on track.
]]>This year is shaping up to be huge for Nikon. A tumultuous 2011 brought many setbacks. First a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March which shut down their Sendai factory for several weeks. This halted production of their full-frame pro DSLR (D700, D3S, D3X) which were produced at the facility and delayed the release of the D4 and D800. Then in October, Nikon’s Thailand factory was flooded under several feet of water for weeks, stopping production of the rest of the DSLR line: D3100, D5100, D7000 and D300s. Worldwide shortages hit just before the holidays, severely affecting their revenue.
Amazingly, Nikon has bounced back as if nothing happened. In the first two months of 2012 has announced two new DLSR: the flagship D4 sure to win over sports and action photographers and the D800, the landscape photographer’s dream. Both cameras are scheduled to be delivered in March. What is next? The most logical new camera might be the D400.
Currently, there is a gaping hole in Nikon line. The D300/D300s is long in the tooth and has been technically surpassed by the enthusiast-level D7000. There is no new option between the D7000 at $1200 and the stunning $3000 D800 that was just announced. Nikon may keep the D700 in the lineup for a while alongside the D800, but it can’t sell the D300s or D700 in Japan due to its battery design. A top-end DX camera priced between $1600 and $2000 with pro-quality features and weather-sealed magnesium body would fit nicely in Nikon’s 2012 lineup.
A new D400 DX-format pro camera would fill the niche perfectly. Sony has a 24MP CMOS sensor. But Sony has had trouble of its own since its factory was flooded in Thailand. That same flood drowned Nikon’s facility where the D400 most likely was to be produced. Sony has been unable to deliver enough of their own 24MP-based SLT-A77 and NEX-7 cameras due to the floods. And there is still some doubt whether the sensor with its 24MP are too much for DX. Perhaps the D800 will change perceptions about pixel density.
What can the D400 offer that the D7000 currently lacks? Better video, higher continuous shooting frame rate, more advanced auto focus system, higher resolution, sturdier build as well as incremental improvements in ISO and dynamic range. What would you want in your Nikon D400? What would you be willing to pay?
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