Nikon still is playing down the importance of the mirrorless market saying DSLR still for advantages for PRO. I guess one day Nikon manager will wake up and notice that it will be too late for them to compete against all other mirrorless camera makers!
Here are some of the key points of the interview released by Nikon manager Jaspers at Amateur Photographer:
– You shouldn’t underestimate the Nikon 1 system…
– Nikon has not been able to fulfil demand for the Nikon 1 V3
– mirrorless is on a very small scale [in relation] to the size of the [overall] market.
– DSLR offer advantages over CSCs, in terms of AF speed, tracking and ‘reliability of the life cycle’.
…..
Sleep Nikon sleep…..
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Well is talking about a new mount, not that it will happens soon, but most likely a FF mirrorless and then, of course Nikon will also make it.
Remembers me to fate of Zeiss-Ikon (Contarex SE, Icarex…) or Rollei (thinking TLRs are there for ever…) in the sixties….
Allthough I personally think mirrorless cameras will belong the future and the DLSR dinosaurs will vanish one day, I also think people should spend more time in thinking about pictures than thinking about the technics behind.
(I case of Nikon, I am afraid that “pride comes before the fall… 😉
DSLRs, just like TLRs before them are going the way of the dodo.
Mirrorless are only a few years old but are already superior in many many ways to DSLRs systems that CaNikon have been trying to perfect for much longer.
In terms of image quality, AF speed, tracking etc… mirrorless are already up there.
The only thing DSLRs have going for them is the OVF and when you look at how good EVFs have become over the past couple years, I can’t imagine a future where EVFs aren’t superior in every way to OVFs.
If Nikon and Canon don’t adapt, they will join Kodak and Blockbuster and many more companies who thought their business model was immortal.
Oh here we go again. Going on 7 years now of predicting the imminent death of the DSLR, as though that’s a thing. You know, when Olympus and Fuji and Sony were trying to sell DSLRs, DSLRs were best; once they all failed in that market and tried to come up with something different, all of a sudden DSLRs were the worst.
In terms of image quality, AF speed, tracking, “etc.” DSLRs are still better. In terms of battery life and start up speed, DSLRs are still better. In terms of seeing with infinite resolution, zero viewfinder tearing or delay, real life contrast, real life subject color and relationship, your subject as it really exists, DSLRs are still better.
Nevertheless, DSLRs are the worst, and have been dying for years and years, yet somehow remain the only profitable segment. Uncanny.
Let me add one of the biggest advantages of DSLRs.
The typical AFS DSLRs are much cheaper than mirrorless. This is huge. They have slightly better resale value. They can be found at most retailers. Their support and distribution network is superior, all of which adds up to more money in the pocket and more security for the consumer, in addition to all the above named technical advantages.
It’s no wonder people naturally gravitate to them.
I agree that DSLRs are better in many respects, but mirrorless has been catching up fast, and offers a few things DSLRs can’t. There will always be applications for which DSLRs are best, just like there are still applications for which view cameras are best, but there are plenty of applications already in which mirrorless is even with DSLR, if not better.
It’s not about which is better in the abstract, but which collection of advantages and disadvantages suits you better.
And look at those Nikon 1s! No DSLR can be that cute! 😉
You are exactly right, J Shin. All are cameras, all are much more alike than different. A person can weight the advantages, including features and price, and make their own decision accordingly. Choice and competition are good from a consumer perspective.
What I don’t get is the constant marketing rhetoric, rejoice, comrades, the future is Mirrorless! Die, DSLR, die?
Really? Why? Why must the DSLR die, why the constant, increasingly desperate, insistence? Says more about he who posts than anything about cameras.
One thing I don’t understand. Why Nikon does not produce a camera made like a small DSLR but w/o mirror, full frame, weighting less than a d7100. The d750 could have been this thing. They have a gorgeous collection of ff lenses, they would destroy Sony a7 (and its few lenses).
So true!
What would be the point?
Video maybe but most people want mirrorless for the size reduction. If nikon removed the mirror, the gap would still need to be there. The register distance can’t change, and nor could the camera size significantly.
Well, Samsung just presented the nx1, which is the biggest mirrorless camera to date, yet it’s gathering a lot of interest for the specs on paper. Nikon could actually create a camera smaller than d600/610, way lighter, yet compatible with its existing mount.
Or even better they could do a new mount (reduced flange distance) which can be used with existing lenses through a supplied adapter (electrically coupled for AF, ois and aperture).
Reading between the lines a bit, Nikon might be on to something here. Perhaps, just maybe, they are thinking that not only DSLRs’ days are numbered, but also that large sensors’ days are numbered as well. A bit of wishful thinking on my part, I’m sure, but I do think Nikon 1 has plenty of potential, at least to be on par with µ43, and Nikon has not neglected it.
One size will never fit all. Large sensors will live on.
Nikon fear cannibalizing their DSLR APS-C and FF cameras. They wisely don’t talk loud about APS-C or FF mirrorless. That would hurt DSLR sales. But they are probably wise enough to prepare for a mirrorless APS-C and FF future as well, without telling us and hurting their DSLR sales. Nikon mirrorless APS-C or FF might be a future product, or might be cancelled. Nikon won’t decide on that yet, and they will wait even longer before they would tell us.
When a giant don’t know when to stop, they will die falling down a cliff
I do not know how much electronics you can squeeze inside a body like that,but the response from Nikon (and its FF) should be a camera with features and size of the FM2/3A.
A sort of Fuji X-T1/A7 obviously a little bigger (see FF+Flange distance),with smaller battery,small or no grip,real manual control,but not the abortion that was the Df.
If they have managed to put together a little “gem” that is the Coolpix A (APS-C in a compact),I don’t see how it is not feasible.
If Nikon just releases a FF sensor in a d3300 body I would not even look at mirrorless anymore. But as long as all FF dslr bodies are so freaking large and heavy mirrorless always wins for me.
I think Nikon is not heading in a dangerous direction. The reason is, even if Nikon are not selling a large-sensor mirrorless, nevertheless Nikon are in the game, developing the technology of mirrorless cameras, albeit with a smaller sensor. i.e. they are learning and developing the technology. At the instant when they need to shift to large sensor mirrorless due to sales/market conditions, they will have the experience and know-how to make a large sensor mirrorless. If Nikon were not in the mirrorless market at all, I would be worried for them. But I can see how they could swiftly come out with a mirrorless large sensor camera given they are developing the tech in the 1 series cameras.
The market will continue to change and Nikon will continue to evaluate when and if a mirrorless camera with a bigger sensor is sustainable. Just because they aren’t releasing one today doesn’t mean they won’t next year or some other time in the future. They have to be careful in not following Sony’s footsteps and suffer some of the losses they have.
Nikon did go to a larger sensor with their Nikon 1 – so rather an odd statement –
the rumor is that Nikon is not doing well financially and there have been some talks between Nikon and Canon –
The cell phone market went with smaller cameras – and thinner etc – imagine cell phone from 10 years ago or 15 – they where many huge –
FF of course has its advantages – but it means size and weight which many are not keen about – the goal should be to make a camera that is small and light and fits well in the hand – one that can be brought to most places – as that ensures that special moments are captured – when I only had primarily large FF DSLR gear I found my self just not wanting to drag it along – now I have added mostly M43 and some Fuji X/100s/x20/X-T1 cameras and Sony NEX5n and NEX5n –
I find my self with my M43 system the most – and why? – size and weight – I now just put in my order for the Panasonic LX100 – a great combo – no need to worry about lenses etc –
Yes there are compromises – but with FF DSLR gear maybe not so much as so many times I just would not want to drag that heavy gear with me –
I think the Nikon Chief was just defending himself – I think seriously any camera maker should me aware that the mirror-less cameras are getting better and better and have a great advantage with size and weigh –
and other things – what Nikon DSLR has 4K video ?? there are several mirror-less cameras that do