Image from a Nikon patent (Source: Nikonrumors.com)
A month ago we told you that Nikon would announce their new mirrorless system in April. Now Nikonrumors got new confirmation from their sources: “Today I received some information from a reliable source that Nikon indeed will be targeting professional users with their mirrorless solution rather than the consumer market. I was told that the announcement will be in the next few weeks.“
We from Mirrorlessrumors do believe that Nikon’s “PRO” system will not be a full frame nor an APS-C sensor based system. They will more likely use a smaller 2.5 crop sensor (Micro Four Thirds has a larger 2.0 crop sensor). It sounds like PRO is more a marketing suffix 🙂
27 Responses
If this is true, I am very disappointed. As a long-time Nikon user, I have been postponing purchasing a mirrorless system hoping that Nikon would develop an industry leading design, perhaps like the Fuji x100 but with interchangeable lenses. A sensor smaller than m4/3, unless it is superior to APS-C in resolution and low-light performance, no matter what the other features, not only misses that mark, I think it misses the market in general.
“They will more likely use a smaller 2.5 crop sensor”
I’m really dumbfounded.
What really misses the mark is the need(?) for yet another mount. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not ready to buy a new set of lenses with every new body. And what’s the use anyway if the quality is inferior (due to the smaller sensor). Sony did almost do the trick leaving the sensor size at APS-C in the NEX-s, but then again why a new mount? Alpha-mount plus built-in stabilization would make more sense, and the camera wouldn’t even be much bigger. IMHO marketing considerations (pushing sales of lenses) prevails over common sense here, no matter which company
I am not sure I completely agree. It is undeniable that sensors keeps on making progress. I am quite certain that a sony/nikon sensor with a 2.5 crop is going to be at least as good as the current Panasonic sensors for m4/3rds
MY concern is I hope that Nikon does not make it a 3:2 ratio ONLY camera system
Let’s hope
Awful rumour if true. Any “pro” knows that a large sensor is needed for image quality and high ISO performance.
Much of Fuji’s/NEXs appeal lies in the size of their sensor, anything smaller than APS-C is a joke (if they try to sell it as a pro camera that is).
Valdemar, that isn’t true. Panasonic GH2 and Olympus E-PL2, for example, have better quality than almost all entry level APS-C reflex cameras… and they use 4/3 sensors!
GH2 and EPL2 have better quality than APS-C reflex cameras?
What are you smoking?
Dear Jack, i don’t smoke anything… why don’t you just read more carefully? i said “entry level” aps-c reflex cameras… like Canon 1000d/1100d, for example.
GH2 has better image quality, high video quality with full manual controls, better screen (touch, tilt/swivel, touch focusing), good burst rate (5fps), good performance even at 1600iso, ecc, ecc.
Obviously you can’t compare a GH2 with an Eos 60D or 7D -.-”
This sensor size was rumored early on, so either accurate, or an accurate ruse. Doubtful that low light IQ can be any better than generation 1 MFT. Focus registration distance unknown, but if proportionally longer than MFT this would be good for IQ. Functionally Nikon will get this right, which will be good for future MFT camera designs. Just hope the manufacturing is not based in Sendai, as despite initial report that Nikon plant not damaged, overall logistics will be adversely affected. One amazing thing about this disaster is the ubiquitous of videocams in Japanese society.
Check out Dpreview’s studio comparison of 60D, E-PL2, D7000, and GH2 for yourself: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/studiocomparefullscreen.asp?masterCamera=canon_eos60d&masterSample=img_0233&camera0=oly_epl2&mode0=JPEG&sample0=olyepl2_nrstd_iso%20800&camera1=nikon_d7000&mode1=JPEG&sample1=nikond7000_nrn_iso%20800&camera2=panasonic_dmcgh2&mode2=JPEG&sample2=p1010462-gh2-iso800&x=-0.2855079441502167&y=-0.25257142857142856
Seems like the images are comparable in terms of color, detail and noise up to ISO 800. So, the current m43 sensors are not that far behind event the newest APS-C sensors despite being smaller.
In terms of area, full frame is 2.25x bigger than APS-C, 4x bigger than m43, and a whopping 6.25x bigger than this rumored 2.5x crop sensor.
And even if its 2.5 crop, they will still charge premium for it.. Total catastrophy!
Very disappointing to say the least.
The fact that there is no fullframe AF mirrorless in 2011 make me wonder whether the market is playing enough. Definitely a spot where one could enter the market and topple it, easily.
There is a full frame mirrorless camera, the Leica M9, but since it costs $7,000 body only it’s out of reach for most people.
I hope Nikon is aware that if their mirrorless camera has a 2.5x crop factor pros and advanced amateurs won’t be interested. Unless the Nikon marketers are deeply cynical a pro mirrorless has to be better than the D7000, which is considered a high end consumer camera and not a semi-pro or pro camera.
The Leica M9 is not AF (autofocus). You should read posts more carefully.
My point is that there is 0 (ZERO) such cameras. This is not price whining, it’s a not-being-able-to-by-such-a-thing-at-any-price lament.
Alex, I did a quick comparison at dpreview, the E-PL has amazing results in JPG at ISO1600 or above but it’s noisy in comparison with the NEX3 or the Nikon D3100. Same goes for the GH2, try all 4 for yourself here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCGF2/page18.asp
Thank you valdemar, i took a look to the comparison… imho there’s very little difference in image quality. i think it is balanced by camera’s body and lens smaller dimensions, weight, and other interesting features like fullhd video, touchscreen ecc ecc
ps. sorry for my horrible english
^seems flipmac above has said basically the same thing; teaches me not to reload this page for hours.
For me its good news.
I don’t want to replace my DSLR (D7000) with a mirror less camera, but i want to replace my small compact with a small X 2,5 crop camera with much beter IQ than compacts
The gap between DSLR and compact is big, the IQ in 43 cameras is good but the size is not pocket able.
I would love a pocketable x2,5 camera with much beter IQ than compacts
Sorry for my bad English (is my third language)
I agree.
I am looking far a camera to replace my S95 compact, not my D90. The smaller sensor would almost exactly split the difference in image quality between APS and compact cameras. But the camera and lenses will have to be smaller than m43 before I will consider it. I am not going to give up sensor area unless the Nikon system really is smaller and lighter.
A camera with a smaller sensor will be aimed at consumers instead of pros but that is fine with me. I will not be buying a $2000+ full frame mirrorless camera regardless of how great the image quality is. Leica and the Fuji X100 have shown there is a niche market for those sort of cameras and Nikon could make a small group of photographers very happy if they made one. They could probably charge enough to make a good profit on them despite the low volume. But that is not what I am looking for.
‘Neither’ + ‘nor’
I want a digital Minolta CLE. Small body, small lenses. I’ve been holding off on a m43 camera to see what comes from Nikon, Pentax and (in my dreams) an IL Fuji X100 v.2.0. And/or a NEX w. better handling.
If the Nikon has the image quality that beats the LX5/G12 kind of rig in a very small package, I might well bite.
I wish people would stop mentioning it replacing a DSLR. Nobody said that, especially not Nikon. Why would they compete with their own Dnnnn/Dnnn line-up?
Read the rumour again, it’s a mirrorless compact aimed at pros. That means most likely manual controls, lots of buttons, high quality glass and fast lenses. And last but not least a big sensor, no matter the eventual crop.
If they make a small sensor with high MP, forget it. But if they take the latest APS-C from Sony and chop the sucker down with fewer MP but same pixel density and combine it with some small high quality primes then I’m interested. I’m right there with Tom L, make a digital Minolta CLE like camera. Take the OVF/EVF from the X100 plus 20/28/40/90/135 primes and Nikon could really have something.
I don’t know why anyone would thing or expect Nikon to produce any mirror system with the expectations of high IQ and geared towards pros regardless of market hype. I think the P7000 is a great example of where Nikon stands on IQ, build and market placement. The new P300 lacks across the board in it’s competition with the LX5. and, I just can’t see any pro taking any mirrorless camera seriously as an alternative to a P&S even as a second body with anything less than APS-C. Sorry, but when it comes to sensors, size still does matter. I expect Nikon will once again drop the ball.
Ok, so now its the 16:th of April..No Coolpix Pro yet and I doubt they will release something thats worth buying.. But i really hope Im wrong of course..