Considering the directions taken by Olympus and Pentax where to for Nikon?

[f6andBthere]

The new mirrorless Pentax is a strange creation but it will probably sell OK ... and the Olympus OM-D certainly seems to be grabbing attention so obviously there is a new direction for the larger camera makers to take with healthy potential sales if they give us designs that grab our attention. We love our new toys after all!

Simple question ... If Nikon are paying attention and decide to jump in and give us a mirrorless EVF camera (with a decent sized sensor) of their own to add to the mix, what direction do the Nikon fans here feel they should take? Should they follow Olympus's move and give us something nostalgic that harks back to the early Nikon F or should they take the Pentax approach and start with a clean slate?

[celluloidprop]

Nikon has already produced a mirrorless EVF camera, the V1. It seems quite nice.

[f6andBthere]

Originally Posted by celluloidprop

Nikon has already produced a mirrorless EVF camera, the V1. It seems quite nice.

True ... but I was thinking more along the lines of something that can also take the older F lenses and has a larger sensor.

As nice as that current offering is, to me it just seems like something to fill a space in a handbag!

[Snacks]

I doubt they would want to eat into their DSLR profits with an F mount system, unless they wanted to produce something in the classic F body style. Maybe they will do some kind of limited edition to test the water?

[f6andBthere]

Originally Posted by Snacks

I doubt they would want to eat into their DSLR profits with an F mount system, unless they wanted to produce something in the classic F body style. Maybe they will do some kind of limited edition to test the water?

True again but they have to also think about the future direction of digital cameras and the eventual phasing out of the mirror system entirely ... after all it's now a sixty year old design!

As you say ... maybe something to test the waters?

[charjohncarter]

Originally Posted by celluloidprop

Nikon has already produced a mirrorless EVF camera, the V1. It seems quite nice.

But will we be able to use heritage lenses? Nikon and Canon have a spotty history of orphaning lenses? I have never seen a NEX or the other mirrorless lenses but it seems to me that a Leica type digital camera (M mount) is wrought with IR filter, and other too close to the sensor problems. Maybe that is why those lenses on the NEX camera don't seem to be that small.

[rover]

The small aps-c dslrs are every bit as small as a mirror less camera in form and function. Sony nex lenses are too big, and outside of a couple primes, m43 lenses are significantly large. I don't see a need for canon or Nikon to do much.

[Trius]

Originally Posted by f6andBthere

As nice as that current offering is, to me it just seems like something to fill a space in a handbag!

Possibly the best RFF post ever.

[hub]

Tough call. With the decline of p&s sales, totally taken over by cellphone (like iPhone), camera vendor like Nikon will need to find new things. The Nikon 1 seems to address part of it, too bad it brings nothing to the competition beside the badge. But it is know that sometime the badge is enough to sell. :-/

I think we are unlikely to see a rangefinder anytime soon form Nikon/Canon/Sony/Olympus.

[shadowfox]

Of course Nikon ought to follow Olympus going retro

I imagine they will be running out of sensors to meet the demand should they come up with a full-frame F3-D complete with the modern equivalent of the kick-butt MD-4 (mine can power a juice blender, and it's 30 years old equipment ).

[kbg32]

I would bet that within 7-10 years, all dSLRs will be EVF, with each manufacturer offering at least 1 with an optical viewfinder.

[kbg32]

Originally Posted by hub

I think we are unlikely to see a rangefinder anytime soon form Nikon/Canon/Sony/Olympus.

I sincerely doubt this will ever happen, as EVFs make cameras bodies much, much smaller and lighter. This is what the public wants, and quite a few professionals as well. Rangefinders, and I own quite a few, and I hate saying this, will eventually disappear. Leica might continue to occupy a niche market, but there will be very few of us around to keep that market alive. Leica is going to have to "innovate or die", as the saying goes. Younger photographers, except those on RFF of course, do not want the rangefinder experience. Look how much has changed within the last 10 years. The next 10 will bring even greater changes whether we like them or not. I find it somewhat sad and extremely exciting.

[MaxElmar]

Originally Posted by kbg32

I sincerely doubt this will ever happen, as EVFs make cameras bodies much, much smaller and lighter. This is what the public wants, and quite a few professionals as well. Rangefinders, and I own quite a few, and I hate saying this, will eventually disappear. Leica might continue to occupy a niche market, but there will be very few of us around to keep that market alive. Leica is going to have to "innovate or die", as the saying goes. Younger photographers, except those on RFF of course, do not want the rangefinder experience. Look how much has changed within the last 10 years. The next 10 will bring even greater changes whether we like them or not. I find it somewhat sad and extremely exciting.

Um - did I miss something - this has already happened, no?

And "handbag filler" or no, the new Nikons do take f mount lenses via an official adapter. (Perhaps shockingly to some) there's some fine work appearing. Nothing to take over the world, but some nice images are already popping up on flickr....

It would appear that this is Nikon's answer. Really good compact lenses on a small body with a state of the art (if small) sensor, and real DSLR-quality autofocus.

I don't think Nikon is as dumb as some of the critics are saying. Overpriced? Yes. But the market is already working on that....

I also find it exciting.

[jarski]

as long as their dSLR's are selling ok, I doubt neither will bring model that could cannibalize this. to quote Dpreview, Nikon seem to think people dont need large sensor compact (V1), and Canon that they do but not interchangeable lenses (G1X)

[NLewis]

The V1 is a splendid camera, especially regarding its fantastically fast/accurate AF and exposure control. The IQ is similar to the last generation of m4/3 such as the E-P3, despite the smaller sensor. I'd like to see Nikon make DX size and eventually FX size versions of the same. They could take legacy lenses with adapters. You can also put Nikon lenses on the NEX-7, same thing really.

[btgc]

Originally Posted by kbg32

I would bet that within 7-10 years, all dSLRs will be EVF, with each manufacturer offering at least 1 with an optical viewfinder.

This gets interesting - why EVF camera would need mirror (as you call them DSLR)?

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by NLewis

The V1 is a splendid camera, especially regarding its fantastically fast/accurate AF and exposure control. The IQ is similar to the last generation of m4/3 such as the E-P3, despite the smaller sensor. I'd like to see Nikon make DX size and eventually FX size versions of the same. They could take legacy lenses with adapters. You can also put Nikon lenses on the NEX-7, same thing really.

Try E-PM1, which is smaller, thinner, has a bigger sensor, and better lens selection. than the Nikon V1.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by f6andBthere

As nice as that current offering is, to me it just seems like something to fill a space in a handbag!

And as a company trying to make as much money as they can, I'm sure they would rather sell a lot of these to the many people who just want "something to fill a space in a handbag!" instead of a few people who want to adapt legacy lenses to their camera.

The bottom line is that Nikon is doing quite well enough with its current offerings.