Nikon Announcement Scheduled for September 15th

by Mike Zawadzki, Technical Specialist
Earlier today I talked about some of Nikon's newest Coolpix cameras, but I also mentioned that there are new rumors regarding the highly anticipated Nikon D7000 which is the confirmed name for the D90 replacement, not D95 as I expected.  Based on Nikon's release schedules in other years leading up to Photokina and information reported on Nikonrumors.com Nikon is expected to announce new products on September 15th.  In addition to the D7000 it is almost certain that a new 200mm f/2.0G N VR II lens will be introduced as well.  More recent information also hints at a 35mm f1/.4G N, but there is also a chance this lens will be announced early in 2011.  Also a long needed SB-600 replacement, SB-700 has been mentioned as a high possibility of also being announced on September 15th.  Expected D7000 specs after the break.

Nikon D7000

A fake/photoshop image of the soon to be announced D7000.
Photo Credit: Nikonrumors.com

Sensor: 16.2 Megapixel CMOS 
ISO Range: 100-25,600 (100 may be lo-1 and 25,600 is probably hi-2) 
Continuous Burst: 6 frames per second
Video: Full 1080p HD video at 24fps with smooth continuous AF 
Construction: Magnesium Alloy shell with weather sealing similar to the D300s
AF System: New 39 Point layout with 3D tracking
Memory: 2 SD card slots.  There is a chance one will be CF, but I doubt it
Battery: New, unknown name
Viewfinder: 100% Coverage 
LCD: 3" 921K (Non-articulating or swivel/tilt) 
Price: $1,199 body only


Thoughts:

The new Canon 60D

Again according to Nikonrumors.com these specs are 90% certain.  Over the past year Nikon Rumors has been extremely accurate with predictions.  So I believe they will be pretty close.  This camera seems like a straight shot at the Canon 60D and the Canon 7D.  Even though it is in a totally different price point, the D7000 has specs that are very competitive with the popular EOS 7D.  

By releasing such a powerful camera at this price point Nikon has also effectively given up on the D300s.  Potential D300s customers will now probably decide to wait for the D7000.  While it doesn't shoot quite as fast (6 vs 7fps) or have quite as many AF points (39 vs 51), those are non factors for 99% of photographers.  If Nikon can't produce enough D7000 cameras, those customers are not going to be willing to spend more money for the "higher-end" D300s.  The original D300 (3 years old now) and the refreshed D300s had a good run, but advances in technology have made it slightly dated.  Don't get me wrong, my first Nikon DSLR was an original D300 and I currently have a D300s as a second body, it will continue to be a solid performer for quite some time. However if I were currently considering purchasing another camera body I would want the newer D7000.  

So based on this, the major factor here is if Nikon can deliver this camera.  The pro-body D3s is one of the best DSLR cameras released to date, but Nikon hasn't been able to provide enough cameras to satisfy the demand.  I know this because even though my main job here is creating web content, I have looked and seen how heavily back ordered this camera is in our inventory.  It's sad to see such a great tool not available to photographers who are willing to pay for it right now!  It's not just us either, you will be hard pressed to find a US Warranty D3s camera anywhere.  If you do, it's probably marked up to $6,000, instead of it's normal $5199.95 price tag.  Sorry about the sidetrack there, but the success of the D7000 depends on this alone because it's so well spec'd that it will sell itself.