SMH Nikon

[MCLV]

I hope Nikon will have a new body announced later this month, although I am currently happy with Z7 as my FF body.

Nikon needs to quit playing the Apple surprise announcement game. Nikon is supposed to be for Professional and serious photographers; not oh-wow crowd.

Professional photographers are in business, they need to know the where and when to be successful and profitable. Serious photographers spend their money for equipment which has a strategically planned future. Both types "buy in" to a system - cameras, lenses, flashes, adapters, and filters.

Nikon needs to put forth roadmaps with time frames for future Z bodies, Z lenses, Z flashes & Z adapter as a flourishing Z system. Current Z roadmap does not show any future Z# bodies...

I don't think they need more roadmaps. They need to get more lenses and bodies on the market.

Past year was pretty bland if one isn't interested in flagship body or exotic primes and that is showing in the general mood here.

 

[EricK214]

I've been saying since the summer that Nikon will not be bringing out a new camera in 2022 that will allow the sales of the Z9 to be compromised. So nothing that will have the same or even similar AF system. This is nothing unexpected, just people dreaming to rumors that Nikon would.

2023 was going to be the earliest, meaning once the backorders we're done and you can regularly get them off the shelf. You can now but not quite regularly yet.

 

[MCLV]

I've been saying since the summer that Nikon will not be bringing out a new camera in 2022 that will allow the sales of the Z9 to be compromised. So nothing that will have the same or even similar AF system. This is nothing unexpected, just people dreaming to rumors that Nikon would.

But at the same time, Nikon is losing sales to people who don't want to buy Z9 but also aren't interested in other older bodies. It's a balancing act.

I personally don't plan to buy anything (neither a body nor a lens) until new bodies are released.

--
Eric
Wildlife/BIF Hunter: Nikon Z9 is my weapon of choice, the 500mm f5.6 PF is my ammo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nikondoesabodygood/

 

[BackToNature1]

Folks usually don't get important points, until it's too late. Same for companies. So while it might be important to get this lens out, it might have been far more important to address customers needs with far more limited Budgets. Sony and Canon have likely deeper pockets to get corporate users, to help in branding their most expensive products. I don't know if we can say the same for Nikon by comparison.

 

[michaeladawson]

The comments from Canon users is the R6II is basically a yawn. Same thing with the last few Sony cameras.

Is anybody really yawning about the 600mm?

I am, for one. I get the importance of the 600mm for Nikon to capture and to hold the pro crowd. I totally do.

But when it comes to sites like Nikon Rumors putting up multiple posts on the 600mm, it's coming, it's here, spec comparison, etc.... Yeah, big yawn.

People are going to make the argument that even if I don't care about it and will never buy it, I am impacted by the release because it helps Nikon's ability to deliver other products that I do care about. Perhaps true, but it doesn't change the fact that to me news of the 600mm is a yawn.

 

[Franz304]

I just wish Nikon had a more balanced lens rollout....before it was no teles beyond 200 mm, now it's only teles beyond 200 mm...

Also, I very much doubt that this 600 mm will make huge profits for Nikon, since while it may provide good margins per unit I very much doubt it has sales volume. And that's without taking into account the likely very high R&D costs. It's more or a halo product than anything else.

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Sell to Nikon Imaging primary target market you mean.

Yes, the photojournalist market has always been the main reason for the division's being since the F came out in 1959. And sports is the main photojournalism use these days. And Major Sports are coming very soon.

Those shooters need this lens. Period.

Nikon cares not that you are shaking your head. They know what side of their bread the butter is on.

Until this lens announcement, the Z was not a true system for the PJs. It wasn't even a consideration until the Z9 came out. But then only with the adapter and F mount lenses. This is corrected now. Very nicely corrected.

So be happy about it. The Z system is now as serious a system in the Nikon universe as the F system. That can be only good news.

Other things for us amateurs will certainly come along in time. This lens cements that.

And, no. I'm not buying one. I have little to no use for it. But I certainly see what it means to the future near and far.

Stan

 

[JasonTheBirder]

Canon and Sony announce two new cameras that will have mass appeal and Nikon announces a lens that will sell maybe a few hundred copies around the world.

C'mon man!

The thing is, in terms of mass appeal, Nikon already has some great cameras that are more than enough for most people. I realize people on this forum are not satisfied with the AF of the Z6/Z7II a lot of the time but people on DPReview are already in the minority when it comes to photographers.

 

[Hooligans Imagery]

Canon and Sony announce two new cameras that will have mass appeal and Nikon announces a lens that will sell maybe a few hundred copies around the world.

C'mon man!

The thing is, in terms of mass appeal, Nikon already has some great cameras that are more than enough for most people. I realize people on this forum are not satisfied with the AF of the Z6/Z7II a lot of the time but people on DPReview are already in the minority when it comes to photographers.

Very true but there is the "shiny new thing" thing if you know what I mean. So these cameras are dated and not so shiny out of the box.

 

[thayes15]

I think people want Sony and Canon AF ability but the same cost as a Sony A7R4 or Canon R5

 

[Guuulj]

With the release of A7 IV and R6 Mark II, Nikon is basically left in the dust. Difference of $500 is not enough for the gap.

They need to bridge that gap quickly, if they don't have a release in this or next quarter they're in a huge problem.

Think of the Z6 II, A7IV and R6 II as benchmark models from BWM, Benz and Audi.

3 series, C class and A4 are bread and butter of their brands, not the S class, or 7 series or A8. Same thing with cameras, Z9 wont keep Nikon afloat.

 

[Antal I Kozma]

...........................

Canon and Sony already had a 600mm lens on the market for their mirrorless systems. Nikon just put theirs out yesterday and just surpassed their offerings. Nikon was playing catch-up to them in their mirrorless systems but now is putting out the best glass in the market, more cameras will come.

Exactly. To be considered as a top tier player those exotic long telephoto lenses are very much needed. This new 600mm lens is another engineering marvel, with the built in 1.4x converter it is a dream lens for not only the professional sport crowd but a good number of wildlife photographers as well.

Price? Well, it is serious money but do not forget that lenses are outlasting generations of cameras. So spreading the cost over many years while having an incredible tool in one's hand is not that bad at all. Sure, it is only the top tier of wildlife photographers, amateur or professional that will buy this lens. Oh yes, and the sports shooters on every touchline and stadium.

Furthermore, F mount exotic telephoto lenses were just as expensive in their time and the same "too costly" argument was the same back then too.

Best to all, AIK

 

[john isaacs]

Canon and Sony announce two new cameras that will have mass appeal and Nikon announces a lens that will sell maybe a few hundred copies around the world.

C'mon man!

Nikon released the Z7, 24-70/f4, and then the 14-30/f4, upon which I bought them. Hoping for a 70-200/f4 (or longer) to match those lenses. Hoping for a replacement for my 200-500f5.6. Waiting almost 4 years, and there is no f/4 on the charts for the mid-telephoto and the 200-600 is on the charts but still not coming.

I just don't use Nikon much anymore; I am not their target audience.

 

[BGD300V1]

Professional photographers are in business, they need to know the where and when to be successful and profitable. Serious photographers spend their money for equipment which has a strategically planned future. Both types "buy in" to a system - cameras, lenses, flashes, adapters, and filters.

Nikon needs to put forth roadmaps with time frames for future Z bodies, Z lenses, Z flashes & Z adapter as a flourishing Z system. Current Z roadmap does not show any future Z# bodies...

I haven't seen a detailed roadmap like that from any major camera maker.

What good would it do to see a list of nomenclatures? Z6iii? Z50ii? Z4? Z8?

Without specifications those are meaningless. They simply provide a basis for silly speculation. With specifications they are revealing to competitors who make no such promises themselves.

 

[Cryhavoc38]

I've been saying since the summer that Nikon will not be bringing out a new camera in 2022 that will allow the sales of the Z9 to be compromised. So nothing that will have the same or even similar AF system. This is nothing unexpected, just people dreaming to rumors that Nikon would.

But at the same time, Nikon is losing sales to people who don't want to buy Z9 but also aren't interested in other older bodies. It's a balancing act.

I personally don't plan to buy anything (neither a body nor a lens) until new bodies are released.

this is all I'm trying to say in the first post.

 

[Brian Homer]

Presumably they are targeting Sports pros for the world cup. It is frustrating as there are few who will swing for $16k for such lenses. My main dealer in the UK is frustrated too - they have had some more mainstream lenses but no bodies to sell. They only have seen one Z9 weeks ago and it flew straight out. They lost a sale to Hong Kong grey imports - a client saved nearly $3k on a Z9 and three lenses - no way they can compete even if they had stock.

 

[MrHollywood]

Here's the bottom line:

If I was starting from scratch and I didn't want a retro camera like the Zfc or a pro camera like the Z9, it would be VERY UNLIKELY that I'd buy anything from Nikon against Sony and Canon's latest cameras.

That's it. That's the game and until Nikon does something about the Z7/Z6/Z8 line, they are losing.

I have no issues with my Z7II, but I already own it along with a bunch of Nikon glass. It's a fantastic camera, and for me, superior to my D850.

But Nikon needs a Z8 or Z7III and if there's anything they can do to improve Z7II/Z6II auto focus, they should do it soon. Every day is another lost sale for them.

Robert

 

[john isaacs]

Here's the bottom line:

If I was starting from scratch and I didn't want a retro camera like the Zfc or a pro camera like the Z9, it would be VERY UNLIKELY that I'd buy anything from Nikon against Sony and Canon's latest cameras.

That's it. That's the game and until Nikon does something about the Z7/Z6/Z8 line, they are losing.

I have no issues with my Z7II, but I already own it along with a bunch of Nikon glass. It's a fantastic camera, and for me, superior to my D850.

But Nikon needs a Z8 or Z7III and if there's anything they can do to improve Z7II/Z6II auto focus, they should do it soon. Every day is another lost sale for them.

Robert

I have my doubts about significant improvement in the Z6/Z7ii, mainly because the sensor readout is too slow. They need a new sensor with 1/60s or 1/120s readout; that would allow more frequent sampling for AF which should improve it. That's how the Z9 can be so good; fast readout means quick response.

But a new sensor will not help with the lack of lenses.

 

[EricK214]

Folks usually don't get important points, until it's too late. Same for companies. So while it might be important to get this lens out, it might have been far more important to address customers needs with far more limited Budgets. Sony and Canon have likely deeper pockets to get corporate users, to help in branding their most expensive products. I don't know if we can say the same for Nikon by comparison.

I have news for you, Nikon had the 100-400, 400f4.5, the 800PF and this 600f4 in the works and likely done before they released the Z9 but we're waiting for the Z9 to be released and well received. They are just staggering the releases. These aren't lenses that are R&D, designed and produced in a couple months. They were just waiting for the body that could actually use then.

 

[BackToNature1]

Folks usually don't get important points, until it's too late. Same for companies. So while it might be important to get this lens out, it might have been far more important to address customers needs with far more limited Budgets. Sony and Canon have likely deeper pockets to get corporate users, to help in branding their most expensive products. I don't know if we can say the same for Nikon by comparison.

I have news for you, Nikon had the 100-400, 400f4.5, the 800PF and this 600f4 in the works and likely done before they released the Z9 but we're waiting for the Z9 to be released and well received. They are just staggering the releases. These aren't lenses that are R&D, designed and produced in a couple months. They were just waiting for the body that could actually use then.

I also have news for you, that's not news. Properly Addressing customers needs with far more limited budgets over a certain timeframe is the point, not the known factors of lengthy R&D cycles.