Nikons worst kept secret ever?

[Jonathan]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1109/11092120nikonlaunch.asp

and

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1109/11092119nikonJ1.asp

So yeah, this is what the bizarre "there's no news from us" PR last week was all about.

Discuss?

[greypoint]

Are Nikon users more interested in a D300s or D700 replacement - discuss too? 

[Jonathan]

Yeah that's one of the things.

They have been leaping all over this mirrorless thing and kind of ignoring people saying "where's the D800?  Can we please have a D400?".  Like they did for years and the primes.

Based on a quick scan of the spec sheet I think.....

1. Clearly crippled for a later "pro" model - flash OR sensor cleaning?  Electronic shutter can only sync at 1/60???
2. As always - too expensive for the UK market
3. Sensor is too small - people are buying the X100 largely because of the sensor size
3. Mainly.....not Nikon enough to make it a no brainer for Nikonites.  As a dedicated Nikon owner I don't see why I'd buy this over say a GF1 - I would still need new lenses etc so it will come down to which is better for me.  If they had managed to cram a DX sensor in there and proper F mount then this would have been my next camera.

[Oldboy]

It depends on which markets they are going for. 

[Jonathan]

It depends on which markets they are going for. 

They are going for the market that spends £800 on a compact and then buys more lenses....  TBH I'm not sure how much of that market will accept a sensor this small.

[John Doyle2]

Yet another type of Sensor! 2.7 Crop! Nikon have not done too well with their 'Coolpix' range! So, I guess that this will be a new source of revenue, especially with a new range of lenses to match the body. Ouch, the price, nearly $900/- in the USA for the high end model.. Olympus – Panasonic – Samsung are all much lower in price. Anyway, all the three of them are probably laughing today!

[Jonathan]

From our friend Amy's review on Techradar....

"it's a little disappointing to find options such as Aperture Priority hidden away in a sub menu".

I believe the cool kids refer to this as a massive fail.

[Paul Montgomery]

And it appears to need new versions of 'standard' Nikon accessories such as flash and gps. Do they think we've got money to burn?

[Graham]

    The news has reached the Starship Enterpise!

                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNsrK6P9QvI

                                            Graham. 

[greypoint]

mmm  ... must get a pink one