How much would you pay for a Z70/80/90?

[maverick256]

After reading Thom's article about the Z lineup, it seems that a higher end DX camera is not out of the realm of possibilities. For specs, let's say that camera is a DX-Z8: Expeed 7 and a 33-40MP stacked sensor fast enough to support dual stream readout. This requires a new sensor, but at least the DX sensors are less than half the area and probably have much better yield, so maybe Nikon can squeeze that in the fab allocation they bought.

Would you want such a camera? What is the maximum amount of money you would be willing to pay for it?

 

[PLShutterbug]

As long as it is not much bigger or heavier than her Z50, my wife would appreciate the AF improvements such a camera would bring.

 

[MarkP1903]

Mini-DX Z8 is unlikely I'd say.

Much more likely they will go for a competitor to the R7 and possibly a semi-stacked or faster non-stacked BSI sensor at around 26mp and Expeed 7 with the new AF algorithms.

And at that spec they need to hit $1500 to be competitive. Now if they did that - I'd be interested.

 

[pcgeekesq]

We'd pay the same for a Z60iii (feature set and performance of a Z6iii but with a 21-24 MPx DX sensor and a Z50-like size and weight) as we just did for each of the Z6iii we just bought. The smaller sensor, reduced battery capacity, and reduced heat shedding ability doesn't substantially decrease the utility of the camera for many of our use cases, and the reduced size and weight add substantial utility in many of those cases. It would make a welcome addition to our photographic tool kit.

But we're probably outliers, and unless your name is Leica or Hermes or the like, you can't build a market just on outliers.

 

[dkyl]

After reading Thom's article about the Z lineup, it seems that a higher end DX camera is not out of the realm of possibilities. For specs, let's say that camera is a DX-Z8: Expeed 7 and a 33-40MP stacked sensor fast enough to support dual stream readout. This requires a new sensor, but at least the DX sensors are less than half the area and probably have much better yield, so maybe Nikon can squeeze that in the fab allocation they bought.

Would you want such a camera? What is the maximum amount of money you would be willing to pay for it?

Whilst I’d be interested, I think a notch down might be more appealing to a wider audience.

Take everything in a Z6 III and replace the sensor with a 40MP partial stacked DX.

 

[DaveR43]

After reading Thom's article about the Z lineup, it seems that a higher end DX camera is not out of the realm of possibilities. For specs, let's say that camera is a DX-Z8: Expeed 7 and a 33-40MP stacked sensor fast enough to support dual stream readout. This requires a new sensor, but at least the DX sensors are less than half the area and probably have much better yield, so maybe Nikon can squeeze that in the fab allocation they bought.

Would you want such a camera? What is the maximum amount of money you would be willing to pay for it?

Whilst I’d be interested, I think a notch down might be more appealing to a wider audience.

Take everything in a Z6 III and replace the sensor with a 40MP partial stacked DX.

That gets my vote for a possible future purchase, quite a while after Z6 III purchase...

 

[ZapperVT]

I would gladly have paid $2500 for the X-H2S with a 26mp stacked sensor if it had competitive AF. Alas, Fujifilm hasn't closed that gap. So I would pay more than $2500 for a 40mp stacked sensor with Nikon's latest AF tech, assuming it had close to Z8 features and functions. And such a camera would be worth more to me than the Z6iii I ordered. Put me down for $2500-$3000.

 

[pkartikk]

Would have paid upto $2500 until about a year back. Got tired of waiting for a Z90 (D500 equivalent in mirrorless).

 

[Suntan]

How much would you pay to stop seeing this exact question be asked every other week by salty DX shooters.

1. $100
2. $500
3. Whatever an a6700 costs

 

[Droster]

Mini-DX Z8 is unlikely I'd say.

Much more likely they will go for a competitor to the R7 and possibly a semi-stacked or faster non-stacked BSI sensor at around 26mp and Expeed 7 with the new AF algorithms.

And at that spec they need to hit $1500 to be competitive. Now if they did that - I'd be interested.

Pretty much that. That will be the high end crop camera. The low end being the $750 Z30 and the mid tier being the $900 Z50.

 

[NikonMan09]

Mini-DX Z8 is unlikely I'd say.

Much more likely they will go for a competitor to the R7 and possibly a semi-stacked or faster non-stacked BSI sensor at around 26mp and Expeed 7 with the new AF algorithms.

And at that spec they need to hit $1500 to be competitive. Now if they did that - I'd be interested.

I pretty much agree with this post. After reading recent posts that the Z6iii has less dynamic range that the previous Z6's, I think I would favor the faster non-stacked BSI sensor approach, with, of course, an Expeed 7 or better processor. I am looking for a mirrorless D7500 equivalent with equal or faster focusing speed for action, and the advantage mirrorless offers for more precise targeted focusing all over the frame. I don't think I need a DX Z8 equivalent.

 

[michaeladawson]

I voted for $2000-2500. Although to be clearer, I’d pay $2500. It would have to have a minimum of 33 MP though.

 

[mosswings]

Mini-DX Z8 is unlikely I'd say.

Much more likely they will go for a competitor to the R7 and possibly a semi-stacked or faster non-stacked BSI sensor at around 26mp and Expeed 7 with the new AF algorithms.

And at that spec they need to hit $1500 to be competitive. Now if they did that - I'd be interested.

I pretty much agree with this post. After reading recent posts that the Z6iii has less dynamic range that the previous Z6's, I think I would favor the faster non-stacked BSI sensor approach, with, of course, an Expeed 7 or better processor. I am looking for a mirrorless D7500 equivalent with equal or faster focusing speed for action, and the advantage mirrorless offers for more precise targeted focusing all over the frame. I don't think I need a DX Z8 equivalent.

The DR reduction is going to be ISO dependent and if the previous generation cameras are any indication the most you will be losing is about 1/3 stop. Of course, we don't yet have a photonstophotos analysis of the actual z6iii in hand, so any posts you have read, including this one, are anecdotal or speculative at best.
Based on your criteria, you'd probably get along quite well with something like a DX Zf in a modal (modern) body, which would be a Z50ii at around $1000, but you'd want the controls and UI of the DX Z6iii, which would be a D70, at about $1500. A DX Z8 would be the replacement for the D500 and would have to be somewhere around $2750.
At most 2 of these would sell in any volume.

But heavens, we're assuming that a DX sensor will shave $1500 off the price of a Z8. The sensor may be the most expensive component in a mirrorless camera, but there's a raft of other chips that aren't cheap but still have to be present. On a Z8 size sensor, you can fit them...what if you can't on a DX sensor? Another layer of chips to stack? There goes the cost savings.

 

[MJ_Photo38]

There is two kind of cameras that the DX range lacks at the moment :

the Z30 and Z50 are more or less filling for the previous D3x00 and D5x00 range.

We're still missing the replacement for the D7x00 and the D500's successor.

I feel like a D7x00 successor can't be priced higher than $1500. The competition is pretty fierce in that range (Fuji X-S20 - $1300 ; Sony A6700 - $1400 ; Canon EOS R7 - $1500) and pricing it higher would be a disservice.

For specs I would actually see Expeed 7 + the current 21MP DX sensor that we have. The improved AF and video performance (maybe 10bit 4.2.2 4K30 no crop + 10bit 4.2.2 4K60 with a 1.5x crop) given with the Expeed 7 + a larger, better built body to match the one from the D7200 (bit taller and wider than the current Z50, dual SD slots, EN-EL15 type battery, IBIS, 3.69M dot EVF, fully articulated screen, 15fps mechanical shutter, 20fps electronic (with the drawback of heavier rolling shutter, like the Canon R7))

This could be called the Z70.

Second camera missing is the D500 replacement, and when the D500 was released, it was basically the best that Nikon could offer in a DX body : new BSI sensor, flagship autofocus.

I would expect no less for its mirrorless replacement, however I'm not convinced it would have a more than 21MP sensor. Maybe 26 if we push it, but I don't see NIkon making a higher resolution DX sensor, as they're reliant on Sony manufacturing processes, and Sony makes either 21MP (for Nikon), 24MP (for Sony), 26MP (for Sony and Fuji) and 40MP (for Fuji). Unless they make a stacked version of the 40MP sensor, using the process node that Sony uses for that small of a pixel pitch, then it would be under 30MP for sure.

And yes, it needs to be stacked if you want to have a similar AF performance to the Z9, which is what those cameras are about. Maybe give it 30fps shotting, surely the smaller sensor would be a little faster and would be able to push 30 instead of the 20 that the Z9/Z8/Z6iii does.

This could be called the Z90, and I could very well see Nikon selling it at about the same price they sold the D500, so under the Z6iii's pricing (wouldn't make sense to have them at the same price, the Z6iii would sell a lot more than the Z90 if that was the case).

So probably something like $2000 or $2200.

Any higher than that and you not only get the competition from the Z6iii, but also from other cropped sensor stacked cameras like the Fujifilm X-H2S ($2500) or the OMS OM-1ii ($2300). Nikon doesn't really have the lenses to compete with neither of those systems in the DX range, it only has better telephoto primes (and even then, it's not like Fuji and OMS are lacking on that front)

 

[olyflyer]

Nothing. Not interested at all.

 

[fotosean]

I would gladly have paid $2500 for the X-H2S with a 26mp stacked sensor if it had competitive AF. Alas, Fujifilm hasn't closed that gap. So I would pay more than $2500 for a 40mp stacked sensor with Nikon's latest AF tech, assuming it had close to Z8 features and functions. And such a camera would be worth more to me than the Z6iii I ordered. Put me down for $2500-$3000.

I'm with ya on everything (including the X-H2S, which I actually pre-ordered before changing my mind) save for the 40mp, which I don't need. Anywhere in the 24-26mp range, partially stacked or stacked (guessing partially stacked if this is Nikon's way of keeping the price down going forward), pro DX features like the D500 had in its day (compared to the D5, so like u said pro features compared to the Z8), and I'm all the way in.

I'd pay up to $2500 for such a body, but I'm guessing if it ever does happen (I am in the vast minority here, but I do actually think it will come to fruition, I think Nikon has a very vested interest in keeping alive their history of pro DX like the D300/D500) I would guess the price of such a sweet ride would be in the $2200 range, as I don't think they would price it higher than the impressive new Z 6 III.

Just a question of how long to wait. I think the last Nikon USA refurb price for the Z8 was somewhere in the $3200 range. That's getting close to being very tempting...at least for me.

 

[unhappymeal]

I would gladly have paid $2500 for the X-H2S with a 26mp stacked sensor if it had competitive AF. Alas, Fujifilm hasn't closed that gap. So I would pay more than $2500 for a 40mp stacked sensor with Nikon's latest AF tech, assuming it had close to Z8 features and functions. And such a camera would be worth more to me than the Z6iii I ordered. Put me down for $2500-$3000.

If you're willing to switch systems, as you indicated by your willingness to buy an X-H2S, OMS will happily sell you the OM-1 and OM-1 II, which are better than the X-H2S.

 

[unhappymeal]

After reading Thom's article about the Z lineup, it seems that a higher end DX camera is not out of the realm of possibilities. For specs, let's say that camera is a DX-Z8: Expeed 7 and a 33-40MP stacked sensor fast enough to support dual stream readout. This requires a new sensor, but at least the DX sensors are less than half the area and probably have much better yield, so maybe Nikon can squeeze that in the fab allocation they bought.

Would you want such a camera? What is the maximum amount of money you would be willing to pay for it?

Whilst I’d be interested, I think a notch down might be more appealing to a wider audience.

Take everything in a Z6 III and replace the sensor with a 40MP partial stacked DX.

How much are you willing to pay? $2.5-$3k? More? Because now you're asking for a sensor that even Sony doesn't have available off the shelf.

 

[unhappymeal]

Would have paid upto $2500 until about a year back. Got tired of waiting for a Z90 (D500 equivalent in mirrorless).

Judging by historical sales data, you're in the minority. Crop sensors at that price point are doing awful. See: OM-1/OM-1 II (yes, they do just about everything people ask for in a Z90); X-H2S; and G9 II.

 

[unhappymeal]

There is two kind of cameras that the DX range lacks at the moment :

the Z30 and Z50 are more or less filling for the previous D3x00 and D5x00 range.

We're still missing the replacement for the D7x00 and the D500's successor.

I feel like a D7x00 successor can't be priced higher than $1500. The competition is pretty fierce in that range (Fuji X-S20 - $1300 ; Sony A6700 - $1400 ; Canon EOS R7 - $1500) and pricing it higher would be a disservice.

For specs I would actually see Expeed 7 + the current 21MP DX sensor that we have. The improved AF and video performance (maybe 10bit 4.2.2 4K30 no crop + 10bit 4.2.2 4K60 with a 1.5x crop) given with the Expeed 7 + a larger, better built body to match the one from the D7200 (bit taller and wider than the current Z50, dual SD slots, EN-EL15 type battery, IBIS, 3.69M dot EVF, fully articulated screen, 15fps mechanical shutter, 20fps electronic (with the drawback of heavier rolling shutter, like the Canon R7))

This could be called the Z70.

Second camera missing is the D500 replacement, and when the D500 was released, it was basically the best that Nikon could offer in a DX body : new BSI sensor, flagship autofocus.

I would expect no less for its mirrorless replacement, however I'm not convinced it would have a more than 21MP sensor. Maybe 26 if we push it, but I don't see NIkon making a higher resolution DX sensor, as they're reliant on Sony manufacturing processes, and Sony makes either 21MP (for Nikon), 24MP (for Sony), 26MP (for Sony and Fuji) and 40MP (for Fuji). Unless they make a stacked version of the 40MP sensor, using the process node that Sony uses for that small of a pixel pitch, then it would be under 30MP for sure.

And yes, it needs to be stacked if you want to have a similar AF performance to the Z9, which is what those cameras are about. Maybe give it 30fps shotting, surely the smaller sensor would be a little faster and would be able to push 30 instead of the 20 that the Z9/Z8/Z6iii does.

This could be called the Z90, and I could very well see Nikon selling it at about the same price they sold the D500, so under the Z6iii's pricing (wouldn't make sense to have them at the same price, the Z6iii would sell a lot more than the Z90 if that was the case).

So probably something like $2000 or $2200.

Any higher than that and you not only get the competition from the Z6iii, but also from other cropped sensor stacked cameras like the Fujifilm X-H2S ($2500) or the OMS OM-1ii ($2300). Nikon doesn't really have the lenses to compete with neither of those systems in the DX range, it only has better telephoto primes (and even then, it's not like Fuji and OMS are lacking on that front)

What's crazy is what you've described more or less exists today. The OM-1 hits many of those specs and more. For people here who are willing to switch, why not put their money with their mouth is? For the existing Nikon Z DX faithfuls, you have my sympathy.