Nikon teases mirrorless with video and microsite

Unfortunately the attention it received from me was to turn off the video in disgust. They are not advertising ANYTHING-not even the idea of something, just an idea of the idea they might announce something. Two other points-There is SO much online and off fighting for our attention that to have it wasted with dreck like this is frustrating and maddening. Either show me something or don't or say Hey, we made a cool and abstract video, wanna see it? Second-cannot imagine the cost of producing and promoting that POS-maybe if they spent less there, the products could actually cost a bit less in the long run. I am already interested having shot nikon professionally for over 30 years. I concur with KeepCalm-just tell me when it is ready, the specs, and how much. Enough with the rest of the C--P.

Scott, agreed- the vid clip was utter crap, akin to something directed at some Cheeto eating, 12-hour per day video playing teenager as opposed to directed to people who'd likely spend $5-8k on the camera and associated lenses and gear. I'm of the same sentiment-- just get on with showing me the specs.

Vadimka - yes. Sony’s Imaging Division and Sensor manufacturing Division are separate businesses. I suppose that it’s still Sony and they could pull the plug, but ultimately it still business either way. Nikon could source other manufacturers anyway.

Yeah, it does look like an a7. I'm really concerned about that. I can't stand my 7RM2's ergonomics...

I'm REALLY hoping that Nikon carries their DSLR ergonomics over to their MILCs! If the layout is just like a D7500 or D500, Sony would simply get smoked right out of the gate!

It's conceivable with that massive mount that Metabones, etc. could make a Sony lens adapter. How'd THAT be for irony! ;)

And no disrespect, Fourbillionyears; Sony may have been making MILCs years before Nikon, but Nikon's been making cameras for over 100 years. Sony came to market early in digital photography with the Mavica. But yeah, Mavica... Then they bought Konica-Minolta to make better cameras. But yeah, Minolta...

Nikon has all the camera tech over Sony, except for Sensors. But Nikon just buys their sensors from Sony... It's not a quantum leap to go from mirrored to mirrorless. Nikon proved that with the Nikon 1 V series.

Continued...

The V3 was exceptional, but the whole Nikon 1 line was just overpriced, and therefore doomed from the start.

However, a $3,000ish FF Nikon MILC should be chock full of what makes Nikon great. AF is questionable as no MILC can even touch a DSLR for AF ability and Nikon probably doesn't have a magic solution for that yet either. But I'd expect Nikon could match or beat Sony on MILC AF performance on Nikon's first try. Then Sony would really have no advantage over Nikon whatsoever, except *maybe* for an academic statistical sensor advantage with no "real life" advantage.

Done...

Did I touch a raw nerve?

Lol, Four. :)

No, not at all, other than just thinking of my 7RM2 ergonomics is a bit of a raw nerve. Well, and the thought that the Nikon MILC just may be copying them makes me uncomfortable.

As I was writing I even caught myself blathering on and hoped you wouldn't take it the wrong way.

I just honestly don't think there's all that much technologically different between MILC and DSLR. And Nikon's been doing EVFs for a longtime in their bridge cameras, premium compacts, and Nikon 1. So many people are expecting Nikon to have all these mirrorless growing pains, but I just really don't expect many/any. That's all I'm saying. :)

Will I let go of Sony bodies? Almost certainly not, as all I care about is the sensor and as you correctly point out there is no meaningful difference there, and I am so used to the Sony ergonomics and menus that I don't feel like trying something new - good or bad it works for me.
The good part? Competition will bring prices down.
Take care

Royal Majesty said
"...questionable as no MILC can even touch a DSLR for AF ability..."

lol , wot?

Is it news to you that mirrorless AF sucks?

Mirrorless AF can be extremely accurate, but its constant inability to lock focus quickly is beyond frustrating. And further, the expected focus "hunting" every time I pick up any of my mirrorless cameras is infuriating, and results in so many missed shots that I don't even consider mirrorless a format worth shooting yet with AF unless you're shooting still life or otherwise have all day to setup a shot. Then it's no problem. But why, when you could just get a DSLR that's better at everything instead?

@Class A,

There was a reason that the scene looked "awful":

You were out of focus, set for under exposure and your white balance was off.

Never saw those things before in your low resolution optical view finder, did you?

Tedolph

@class A,

Well, sometimes that happens when you guess. OTOH, I wasn't there so I will just have to take your word for it.

As a Leica owner, I have to say that I find the optical view finder experience of your modern DSLR dismal: dark, myopic and impossible to focus manually on the non-existent ground glass.

So, you see two can play at your game as all things are relative.

Tedolph

There is almost no chance of an adapter for Nikon 1 lenses because 1) the lenses and mount are much smaller, and 2) they are also for mirrorless and have a short flange distance, so an adapter would not fit between the lens and the camera, unlike with lenses made for a large flange distance. I'm sorry, but you have a dead system. But your equipment is not dead, so you can still use it. Just don't expect more bodies of that type in the future. Finally, it would be a shame to have a full frame camera only to get Nikon 1 quality images it of it.

Seems weird that Nikon would develop a lens-mount-ring-flash and only use it on one of their mirrorless cameras. Must be a pro feature. /s

How could any photographer be opposed to improving camera technology?

If Nikon carries over their existing DSLR ergonomics and menus to their MILCs, the learning curve will be very nearly flat. And I don't see any reason for Nikon to NOT do that. Unless Nikon feels some need to copy Sony, which would be a HUGE mistake as Sony's ergonomics are awful.

I welcome this new addition to the photographic world. Mirrorless has many advantages over mirrored, as well as weaknesses. To each his own. Or to some like myself, both. The right tool for the right job. A DSLR for this, a MILC for that... :)

Wow... "An artist is born not created." Hear that, everyone? No need to read "The Camera" by Ansel Adams. You'll never make yourself a better photographer. Don't worry about your photo equipment, photography classes, or practice. If you can't pick up a random camera and simply stun the world with what comes out of it, you weren't meant for photography. And that is exactly why all current professional sports photographers shoot either a Canon F-1 or Nikon F2 with manual film advance and a 50mm F1.4 lens... Lol. ;)

No offense, km25, but really all I have to say about your sentiment is "hataz gonna hate." It's sad that you don't seem to realize that more tools in the box makes for more and potentially-better outcomes...

@Thematic: "Sony users were right".. that's odd. I remember many Sony users claiming Nikon and Canon will never have a full frame mirrorless because they have neither the will nor the know how.

I do look forward to what Nikon and Canon come up with..and expect them not to make the litany of mistakes (growing/learning pains) that Sony has done and in some cases still continues to do.

Many people have said that Canikon are too late/very late to the game. Looking at how the tech needed to develop over the years (better batteries, higher resolution EVF's, focusing speed, lag... to name a few..) I think Canikon are releasing their fullframe mirrorless products at the "right" time.

Nikon made their F lens mount work up to this day. Something Canon couldn't (or wouldn't) do. When small sensor DSLR's were first introduced Nikon made sure DX lenses were compatible with FF(again unlike Canon). Infinite kudos to them for putting their customers first (something else Canon couldn't or wouldn't do). Long live the F-mount. Too many people dump on Nikons F-mount lens. This mount works as well or better than any other mount available today and compatibility is the best.

Has anybody alerted Captain Kirk yet?

I knew it was a black hole!
The message is clear, that is where you money goes...

@Goflorp, I’ll do it now, Better later than never.

@lalilulelo and why is that? I certainly hope you don't think Nikon is gonna kill Sony in mirrorless? It takes time. Sony is far ahead. Seems as though it upsets you that they are. lol.

Sony will take a hit, a huge hit in their business once Nikon and Canon release their new FF mirrorless models.

Right now Sony has basically 100% of the FF mirrorless market: there is literally no competition. I am not counting Leica since they are a very specialty niche in their own little world.

So by definition Sony marketshare in FF MILC will shrink and most likely collapse. Look at what happened in APS-C mirrorless when Canon entered with their EOS M series, which is not really the most serious attempt by Canon. The Canon models have taken a big chunk of that market and Sony has dramatically slowed down their new releases for crop sensor mirrorless.

It's going to be worse for Sony in FF, since Nikon and Canon are going to be coming out with very serious models. There is a real potential that Sony will indeed go away as they find their market share doesn't merit much more investment. The Sony A73 was a last bit desperation attempt.

The Nikon 1 system actually produced fantastic images. Even the original kit 10-30mm CX lens was optically really nice. The problem was with the horrendous J-series ergonomics! The AW1 had vastly superior ergonomics, but sadly, also had an optically really crappy standard waterproof zoom. But the AW1 body with even the standard 10-30mm is a very nice usable package that makes fantastic images, albeit with very limited ability to blur backgrounds.

The V-series had good ergonomics, but was overpriced.

Nikon shot themselves in the foot by overpricing the whole system and dooming the J-series from the beginning with utterly unforgivable ergonomics that they didn't steer away from until the J5. But by that point the J-series was already a laughing stock.

For me, Nikon's SLR/DSLR ergonomics have always been second to none. I don't expect Nikon to make J-series mistakes with DX, FX, or larger mirrorless bodies that no doubt will be expensive. My concern is old lens compatibility and AF...

@ Royal Majesty Agree. We will never know the true reason about cancellation. To me it looks like they are recalibrating their focus and overall strategy. I guess them may relaunch some sort of 1" compacts once Mirrorless product launch is kinda stabilized

Sony is in no position to refuse selling sensor to Nikon - sensors are designed by Nikon anyway, if Sony don't want to make them I am sure Samsung or LG can make them.

Sony Semi is not Sony Imaging. Two different companies. Sony Semi is much larger than Imaging and very profitable. Sony imaging lost money until Sony shuffled Sony pro video into imaging.
Sony Semi works with everyone, even Canon. Most of the Canon fixed lens cameras have Sony sensors. Nikon Precision builds the equipment Sony Semi makes sensors on. Japan Inc is very inbred. There is no chance of Sony Semi telling anyone willing to pay that they can't have anything they want.
Nikon is still a bigger customer of Semi than Sony Imaging.

I don’t understand Sony Fans Facination about Nikon using Sony sensors.

If Nikon stops using Sony Sensors it will be worst for Sony as Nikon would be probably largest camera sensor (APSC n FF) customer for Sony with ~30% market share and nearly all using Sony Fab.

Another thing is Component industries are very interdependent due to their products and patents. Just look at Apple and Samsung, through out their legal fight Samsung never stopped supplying to Apple. Similarly while Sony competes with Nikon in cameras it can never afford not to sell sensors to Nikon

Nikon 1. A clever rouse to keep the other photo companies from getting wind of the master plan. It's not coincidence that they officially "discontinued Nikon 1" a week ago even though it was not selling.

Sony and Canon are stuck, unless they YET AGAIN change the mount.

Nikon had the F mount for since 1959. Nikon has absolutely future proofed themselves 50 more years with the new Z mount.

Game, set, match.

Good post.

Nikon's last DSLR release is still rocking the industry:

Nikon D850 propels company to TOP FULL FRAME SALES ...
https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/nikon-top-full-frame-seller-for-december-2017

"The D850 produced a whopping 776% increase in overall profit ..."
https://www.dpreview.com/news/2953539022/nikon-restructuring-and-strong-d850-sales-lead-to-8x-increase-in-annual-profit

"Will Nikon’s big shakeup result in new high-end cameras?"
https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/nikon-posts-may-2018-profit-amid-restructure

The D850 has been the best-selling FF camera since its release. No other DSLR can compare.

The same trend will continue with Nikon's PRO mirrorless releases ... watch it happen.

F mount is a primitive mount.

That makes sense. FF is the new DX 😂

It's a historical sore point that F-mount's smaller throat diameter would not permit Nikon to match Canon's prestige 50/1.0L, a mistake that Nikon will not make twice.

Z-mount's larger diameter has nothing to do with MF, but everything to do with a 50/1.0.

haha you made my day..some very needed humor in this comments section :-)

I bet this new Nikon uses a Sony sensor.

If it does use a Sony sensor.... it will be of Nikon's design.

It may use a Sony sensor, but rumors suggest otherwise. If it does, great. Sony makes great sensors.

But a sensor is not the entire camera. Nikon has proven again and again that they can use Sony sensors better than Sony, and put them in a better package.

It's kind of like Apple and Samsung. Apple makes better phones, but gets many of the components from Samsung. Samsung is great at making those types of components, but less skilled at designing the entire phone.

Nikon is better at designing cameras, but Sony makes great sensors.

Well, didn't this sub-thread just become a display of irony.

Nikon has never manufactured their own sensors. Nikon claims to design them, but come on. They are Sony sensors. And that's perfectly okay from an imaging standpoint. They are awesome sensors. But if Sony decides to stop selling sensors to Nikon, it's curtains in a moment!

The D850 ended up well overshadowing the Sony A7RIII which was announced shortly after the D850. In fact I bet overall the D850 has far outsold the A7RIII.

Sony can announce what they want, but Nikon is still the bigger brand in photography, and the interest in this Nikon MILC proves it. Sony couldn't pull off this type of marketing campaign and generate this type of interest.

Just like with the D850, the key will be the product. If it's a grand slam home run like the D850, then nothing Sony can do will subtract from that.

What will happen is this: Sony has had the FF MILC market all to themselves for years now, and the 2 big players are about to enter. Sony market share is guaranteed to drop.

"Sony market share is guaranteed to drop."

It's percentage of the FF mirrorless camera market will drop, yes. All Nikon has to do enter that market...

Rather than share, it's volume that's going to be interesting to watch. Do people buy Nikon instead of Sony A7, or are Nikon mirrorless cameras going to be bought mostly by people who wouldn't have bought a Sony A7 anyway?

I hope Nikon DOES use Samsung sensors. At least Samsung makes sensors with copper. I'd like to see a sensor made with gold. After-all, those things are so expensive already, I don't think half a gram of gold will make them much more expensive.

Samsung officially not making sensors for cameras but smart phone. They left the camera industry several years ago so that's not possible.

Or back to my idea of - APS sized SQUARE sensor, with optical speedbooster adapter to FF, allowing the native Z mount lenses to be short and fat, keeping FF for when you want it, adding the desirability of ditching "portrait" format photogaphy (making ergonomics simpler- you could have a button for a portrait crop) Native Z mount lenses just need to include a couple of f1.0 lenses (easier with the massive mount) to keep Bokeh Brigade happy.