Replacement for D300??

Conrad,

I think Nikon is doing alright regarding their camera sales. The bulk so I read somewhere is the D3xxx-5xxx bracket, there are thousands of cameras flying out the door. I sometimes wonder whether this is part of a cheap-me-down process, because, letzs face it, mediocre cameras are actually already quite good these days!

So why bother with this niche market where the air is thin and the margins high, but the numbers aren't there ... they need to keep the top end busy (remember: white lenses at football games??) so people will have some identification calibration point. This will be the D800/D3s/D4 ... all covered, the DX upper level might just get quashed.

Real innovation, like the Foveon developments (download some of the samples the quality is nothing short of spectacular IMO!) and regarding the X-Trans chips by Fuji ... and where is the rest?? Same old, same old, more pixel with better algorithms to keep the noise when the signal gets amplification down. Fine tuning at best, the same Bayer pattern sensor since 1976 ...

Nuff rant! Since you have been using the X100 you know that it CAN be a joy to get back to the roots with aperture ring and shutter dial, plus compensation wheel? I feel like a teenager, back in the 70s with my first Zeiss and my first 10 rolls of Ilford something ...

What amazes me though is with what emphasis people almost seem to be begging Nikon, for a small fortu... I mean, fee, to give them the next generation Dxxx camera. Does this sometimes feel silly to ask: "Nikon are you listening??"

I think they are listening alright ...

You have fun with the X-E1, maybe the 18-55 would almost be enough for you?? Back to the roots, why not all the way?? Well, maybe not all the way aye??

Cheers

Deed