RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: D800 in 36MPs is Really Around the Corner! Who Said FF DSLRs are Dying?

Saturday, February 04, 2012

D800 in 36MPs is Really Around the Corner! Who Said FF DSLRs are Dying?

This break-the-rumour but yet rumour report is in a firm tone, cited source of information is being the French CDI magazine!

http://www.photographydailynews.com/2012/02/nikon-d800-breaking-news/

So, what we have is the ever highest pixel count 135 DSLR in FF, ISO up to 25600, packed in a magnesium alloy body, with a built-in flash (which Canon never gave us for their FF models!), 1080p/30 frames Full HD video, 100% FF optical viewfinder, up to 6 fps in 36MP(!) with battery grip, to be sold for a suggested retail price of under 3,000 Euro..!

Once again, I think this report is true, it coincides with other more sensible rumours. For example, this one tells the same set of specs and it shows a copy of invitation card from Nikon Thailand and it is also cited for the source of information, for a professional guy who regularly posts at the Sina mini-Blog with his net nickname..

http://forum.xitek.com/thread-965910-1-1-1.html
(in Chinese)

After all, who said that Full Frame DSLRs are dying and EVIL (ILDC) cameras should be the future? I bet the D800 is going to be stronger and it will write a new page for the history of photographic gear! Frankly, I think that even the IQ of the 645D is endangered, for just 1/3 of the price we've got nearly the same pixel count and much the same IQ but far more features and most importantly better portability and the ever strong machine power, I believe.

Btw, what will Canon respond? Well, my Canon L and prime lenses are still collecting dust for waiting a better Full Frame body in "affordable" price! :-(

As for Pentax's current situation, there would be quite probably no FF in the meantime (no matter DSLR or ILDC). But I think the D800 sets out a good thing, that is, there is still new 135 FF sensor being newly designed and supplied (possibly by Sony?). That means that either Pentax could use the new sensor, or at least the price of the older sensors of the last generations could be reduced, if they have not yet been discontinued.

Last Related:-

The New Nikon D4, 16.2MP, 10 fps, $6000

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Rob · 686 weeks ago

I agree that FF is far from dead. It is clear that there is a market for those who want the maximum number of pixels in a DSLR form factor. For working pros, having FF capability is almost a must.

If Pentax decides to compete in the FF market, I think they have to deliver something Canikon have not to this point - a FF DSLR that is roughly the size of a APSC DSLR for less than $2000. Put a FF sensor in a K-5 body for $2000 (street) and Pentax will have a hard time making enough. If they cant doe that - and it may not be possible to fit all that in a K-5 body - I think they should concentrate on APS-C weather sealed bodies. The 645D needs a refresh - 60-80MP - and lenses to put some distance between it and these new mega FFs. I would love to see what Pentax could do with a 645D that could shoot 4K video. Talk about a game changer.

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Gustau · 686 weeks ago

Personally, I think Pentax could so something even more daring: a FF EVIL. Their K01 is big enough for that.

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Mage · 686 weeks ago

The fact that this new D800 is being released does not mean DSLRs are not dying. A camera like this takes many years of work to get to this stage. Did the release of the Olympus E-5 mean their DSLRs are not dying? A few years is a very long time in technology. I doubt that there will be a D900 and so I predict the D800 will be the last in the series. The D4 and and perhaps a D5 may last longer because they are more niche prfessional products that are not threatened as yet by mirrorless cameras.

6 replies · active 686 weeks ago

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Rob · 686 weeks ago

Some of us cant stand EVFs and never will. I LIKE my mirror. I LIKE the size of my APS-C DSLR. I dont want a EVF or a no-VF as my primary system. THere is a very good reason SLRs have been around so long - they work!

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Mage · 686 weeks ago

Sorry to say this but everything will die, sooner or later, including you and me. The stronger and healthier ones last longer. Canon and Nikon's DSLR busines is healthier; Kodak and Fuji's DSLR have died and it seems Samsung and Sony too because their DSLR business was not strong or healthy. People used to say that cannot stand CDs' digital sound too, preferring instead heavy belt driven turntables and analogue LPs. Let's see what happens with the weaker DSLR businesses still left, like Sigma, Olympus and Pentax.

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drj · 686 weeks ago

I may be wrong but I have the strong feeling that the very retainment of a K mount for the Pentax K-01 means that there won't be more DSLR from Pentax. Be that for the MF, potential 24x36 or APS-C replacement, they are looking towards mirrorless cameras. This is further to be strenghtened from the recent Ricoh partnership. Finally, no one is considering Pentax cameras for their stellar AF (Nikon reign). My opinion is that they are going to follow a path somewhat related to the one of Fuji.

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Rob · 686 weeks ago

Just about the ONLY reason i would move from Pentax is if they stopped producing a DSLR. And before I do that I would buy 2 K-5s and put one in climate controlled storage. I should be able to last 10 years that way.

For all the talk about mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, their total sales still represent a tiny percentage of the overall market. I am willing to bet more D3100s and D5100 will be sold this year than all the mirrorless cameras combined.

I remember when film point and shoot was supposed to kill SLRs.
Then APS cameras were going to kill SLRs.
Then digital super zooms were going to rule
then 4/3rds and Micro 4/3rds
Yet the SLR (D or not) is still king

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Rob · 686 weeks ago

I know flickr stats are unscientific but....

Panasonic GF1 - #1 Panasonic camera, 308 users a day average

Olympus EPL-1 - #1 Oly camera, 255 users a day average

Nikon D90 - #1 Nikon, 4048 daily users

Canon EOS 5DmkII - #1 Canon - 4015 daily users

So the D90, which is out of production, and the EOS 5DmkII, which cost $1800+ have 15-20x more users. How about this for scary - the Nikon D40 has been out of production for 2 years has 1100+ daily users

I was wrong about the 5100 - the D7000 is selling way better or at least attracting more flickr users.

BTW - Pentax K-5, #1, 284 users a day average

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Zebooka · 686 weeks ago

You are wrong.

First of all, Nikon has splitted top line into two - now D4 is reportage hi-speed cam, while D800 is landscape hi-resolution cam. This is their new strategy.

Secondly, do not compare 2x cropped cam with really professional full frame one. Lenses work much differently on full frame body. I can tell you that as an owner of FF. This is just physics - when you get same DOF (35/1.4 on APS and 50/2.0 on FF), you use smaller aperture on FF - lens is performing better on such apertures (I mean fast end of apertures), as well as you still have even wider apertures on FF for even shallower DOF.

FF DSLT will live for pros and amateurs, but cropped ones may really die. See Sony - it is now producing SLT, which are not DSLR any more.

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Rene · 686 weeks ago

APS-C DSLRs will die first, probably within 5 years. As for FF DSLRs, they won't die, they just fade away ;-)

1 reply · active 686 weeks ago

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aurele · 686 weeks ago

Long time ago the 6x6 and the 6x4.5 ruled, the 24*36 was smaller, not better, but cheaper and more carriable. the 24*36 ruled sales.

FF is better, but APS-C is cheaper, and somewhat very good for almost everybody. APS-C will keep rulling.

But like 645, FF will remain a sort of king, that everyone that like photographie and spend time for it, will want.

APS-C and FF will remain the big two format (for 99% of the market.)

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Simon · 686 weeks ago

This will be a helluva camera, but pricy too.

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Saturday, February 04, 2012

D800 in 36MPs is Really Around the Corner! Who Said FF DSLRs are Dying?

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