I tread very gently in the gear world, and even more gently in the rumors world, because both can be slippery and boring slopes, but this caught my eye because I like what I see, however nefarious it might be. Apparently Wired GadgetLab has picked up a document that highlights the roadmap of Nikon’s dSLR program thru 2010. Call in the real deal or the fanboy fantasy…your guess is as good as mine (more likely the latter). Take this all with a grain of salt: It doesn’t affect my photography or yours, and it’s just “possible” gear options out there in the future, but regardless it’s sort of interesting/fun to consider.
Couple that caught my eye:
Nikon D4
15.7MP (more sensitive and with less noise)
Up to 16fps with “double exposure”
ISO 200-12800 (plus extended range)
61-point AF
1080p video at 30fps
CLS control (although no flash is mentioned)
Nikon D4x
30.2MP
ISO 100 – 6400
6fps
1080p video at 30fps
The rest of the possibly leaked cameras + a pretty serious pile of lenses after the jump. [click the 'continue reading' link below].
–
From the Wired post:
“2009
Nikon D3000
12.3MP
7 AF points
ISO 200-3200 extendable to 6400
3.5fps
Video unknown
Nikon D300s
12.3MP
7fps
HD video (1080p .mov h.264, 24fps)
CF and SD cards slots
920,000 pixel LCD screen
D700x
24.5MP
5fps
HD video (1080p .mov h.264, 24fps)
Plus a bunch of new lenses, mostly updating older classics with new G-version, the ones that come without an aperture ring, and adding internal autofocus motors to work with lower end models. These will be:
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
Then, 2010. Here come the big ones:
Nikon D4
15.7MP (more sensitive and with less noise)
Up to 16fps with “double exposure”
ISO 200-12800 (plus extended range)
61-point AF
1080p video at 30fps
CLS control (although no flash is mentioned)
Nikon D400
13.8MP (more sensitive and with less noise)
8fps
Up to 12fps with “double exposure”
ISO 200-6400 (plus extended range)
61-point AF
1080p video at 24fps
Nikon D4x
30.2MP
ISO 100 – 6400
6fps
1080p video at 30fps
Plus lenses for 2010
AF-S Nikkor 14 to 28 mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
AF-S Nikkor 120 to 450 mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
AF-S Nikkor 300 mm f/4G VR
Nikkor AF-S VR 400 mm f/5.6G
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”
And also from the Wired Blog, the somewhat-messy, whole enchilada document they were sent, all in text form:
1. August 2009: introduction
Nikon D3000,
D300s,
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 ….
[S] 4.288 x 2.848 … pentamirror … 95% coverage … 0.78x magnif. …. Compatibility AF-S and AF-I …
1 / 4000 p. 30 … p. 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. Exposure bracketing – not known, ISO 200 – 3200, steps 1 / 3, N-1 Lo, Hi +1 (?)
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, car 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 … FIXED
HDMI – 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, Výklopný
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
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 (??!)
1. 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, Výklopný
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 zrcadlovkách 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
/> 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”,
in the “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 doostřením
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.
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.
[S] 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 great 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
Nikkor AF-S VR 400 mm f/5.6G
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.
Hours outbreaks 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:
effective pixels: 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”,
in the “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
(all via Wired GadgetLab and pretty sure it tracks back to my pal at NikonRumors.)
It was fun reading all the great attempts to deconstruct the photo from Monday’s post. As you might imagine, many of you got close or even nailed some of the components, and many of you were way in left field. And that’s exactly what I expected, especially since this image has some tricky, unexpected stuff going on. 
and 
) offers some cogent analysis and great counterpoints to Anderson’s claims that are well worth the read: 
at the New Yorker: 
