The previous sensors were made by Aptina, which had a patent sharing agreement with Sony, and is now sold to ON Semiconductor. Now they are using essentially the same sensor as the RX100 III in the J5 and DL, each version probably tweaked slightly.

Sony makes the J5 sensor now - it's all but certain that Sony makes the DL sensors. You're right, we can bet it will be better than the old Aptina sensors - just look at J5 sample images ;) It's actually quite amazing what Sony is getting out of these things given the sensor size.

Yes just take a look at DPreview's excursion to mexico with the Rx100 mk4.

Footage despite pretty harsh conditions(underwater) was spectacular.

I know it's better then the old (cr)aptina's. But they were utter thrash anyway. The J5 showed a significant leap forward. Thing is it just doesn't match the Sony 1"inch specs. Which we see in Panasonic, Canon and Sony products.

It is possible that it rolls out of Sony fabs. But without a proper analysis we just can't be sure. Remember the Toshiba D7100 no one saw coming.

It may even be Samsung who knows.

They weren't THAT bad, and got noticeably better with every iteration, but you're right they were nothing special. The Sony units they use now are significantly better, but I don't think many customers of the Nikon 1 system were scrutinizing detailed aspects of sensor performance outside the forums.

In your opinion... :)

A lot of people found the 1-series to be a bargain, since nobody else offered pro level AF and FPS at such a low price point, not to mention you could get pretty much about as much reach as you wanted for cheap. It has it's tradeoffs, just like every other system. Doesn't sound like it worked out for you but there were lots of happy customers who found it to be incredible value if their usage required the reach/speed of the 1 system.

The DOF is not infinite by any means, you can easily get an OOF image with a 1-series (I know because I have plenty of them, but they were my fault).

Cellphone image quality is a gross exaggeration and untrue. The 1" sensor is roughly 8 times larger than a typical cell phone sensor.

They didn't work out FOR YOU. Look at the N1 forum if you want to see all the people who are happy with them. You are projecting your opinion onto everyone else. It's fine that you have an opinion but so do other people who own those cameras and use them every day.

DOF equivalence and sensor quality are two entirely different things, I don't think you understand the argument you're making. Your above-average sized smartphone sensor is still over 4 times smaller than a 1" sensor.

and i can use 2 stops lower ISO because the lens is F2 instead of F3.5-4

Making it a wash thank you very much

Given the Nikon sensor in their DSLR's, it's Canon who has to worry about. They have been having the same type of underperforming sensor for years now. We'll see how the latest high end ranks in Dxo since they finally tried to do something new in the sensor design.

Well ok ... it's a darn big camera compared to Olympus's 20MP/50MP Pen-F.

It's a tank of a camera built for huge battery life, robustness in the field and fast auto-focus. The opposite of a mirrorless camera.

"Wow! .. physically.. that camera is way too huge.. given it's pixel resolution."
Exactly! But, when you push all these pixels into the camera, a few may overflow or get squeezed out. Some companies stir the camera and pixels to make more room.

Seriously now, some folks have no idea what a camera like D5 is about.

Morpho:

And those cameras you cite have sensors 1/4 the size of the sensor in the D5.

I just bought my D750 with two SD Extreme SanDisk after many years of using CF and I absolutely hate SD. Flimsy, they gave me errors in the first hours of usage. I want my CF slots!

nicolaie:

Then you need better quality SD cards. I've never had errors with SD cards, even when the casing has broken.

CF card slots have pins, there's a reason to avoid them.

I've had CF cards die on me (stopped being readable). Hasn't, so far, happened with SD cards.

If you mean mirrorless, that's no innovation.

@villagranvicent The Minolta 7D is also kind of getting there.

Hahaha! Good one :-)

@marike6 - The problem is that its just another iteration on the Nikon pro series. And I get thats what working pros need but whos is going to buy it? Pros with a worn out D3/D4? Sure, why not. Nikon used to be about innovation, now they seem to be nothing more that "Canon has this, so we'll have that".

Just get a D610 already.

@nicolaiecostel You must be joking.

what are you talking about. they just put out that elite POS 16-80 PE lens. best dx zoom value lens out there for $1100.

I am an amateur wildlife photographer and changed from Canon 7D mark 11 and 70D to Olympus OM D EM1 bodies for that very reason - weight. I do feel, however, that many APS-C and FF users still look at M43 as a toy system. I would not have changed if I had still been able to carry my APS-C gear comfortably. Now I have I am very happy with M43. But the point I am making is that most APS-C/FF users will not have the opportunity to field test a M43 system and will not consider changing to it unless forced to do so - like me. If that is the case I think the D500 will fly off the shelves. Amateurs and enthusiasts are the biggest customers. I would seriously have considered changing from Canon to Nikon for the D500 (if the full reviews matched the paper spec). I have now had my Olympus sytem for three weeks and know how good M43 is. I have the Olympus 40 - 150mm f2.8 + 1.4TC, 60mm f2.8 macro and 12 - 40mm f2.8 with the Olympus 300 f4 and Panasonic/Leica 100 - 400mm on order.

"For birding pros are changing to 3/4 systems"

OK

Yes, 3/4 x 4/3 = 1 = FF

What do you know what “pros” will and will not do?

I currently cover weddings with a D600+70-200mm II and D800+16-35mm f4. I also use the 105mm f2 DC for portraits.

My D600 is up for sale because I want to use the D500 with the 70-200.

How many pros do you actually know?

At the end, it's everything abot the sensor. M4/3 is simply not enough. Amazing ideas but lack of quality.

Good M4/3 are too expensive to compete with small 1" cameras.

m/43 - sensor too small, lenses too expensive, bodies are near rebel size anyways.

Whatever the point was with m43, im not sure if it still exists.

You can point to evf's all you like, but a rebel or tiny 5300 still trumps.

@Arn

So you pick the just released luxury street shooter with no weather sealing to add a zoom too for birding and price comparison?

More interesting is those that upvoted you.

The Pen F and the Nikon DL do not comets with each other. At all. At all. Yes I said that twice. The DL is intended for the DSLR user that does NOT want to change lenses or have a second system to deal with. The 1" sensor also outputs at a 3:2 image dimension ratio which stays familiar with APS-C and FF users. Other than the inability to change lenses, the new DL actually out specs the new Olympus Pen F by a lot. Go watch the Pen F review that The Camera Store did. Auto focus is not great. Even with their new 300 f/4 lens. And video..... not many kind words.

And I disagree with your assessment of what the D500. It's not just for birding. Sports is an obvious use, but with Sigma's 1.8 zooms, I foresee wedding photogs using this too. (Shhhh, people use the D810 "landscape and portrait" camera for weddings too). But go on, tell us more. You've obviously spend time in marketing. Lol