Nikon DRF with F or M mount?

This topic has been discussed in several threads here at RFF and there seems to be a big group of members believing that it will be M-Mount because the many M-mount lenses that are out there in the RF world.

I for one find that highly unlikey. To believe that Nikon would invest significant money into a RF camera for the small nische segment and to do that to "promote" competitive lenses is highly unlikely. IF there will be anything like a Nikon RF at some point in time it will for sure be a Nikon system including lenses.

My personal guess is that the closest we will get to such a Nikon RF is an advanced "coolpix" type of fixed (zoom) lens camera with a mixture of features from the RF/DSLR and P&S worlds. You can see that type of trend with for example the Sigma DP1 etc.

Jon
 
Most likely neither.

A rangefinder camera with a register of 46.50mm like an F-mount SLR does not make much sense, and its hard to imagine Nikon making a camera with a mount that isn't their own. But stranger things have happened!
 
JonR said:
My personal guess is that the closest we will get to such a Nikon RF is an advanced "coolpix" type of fixed (zoom) lens camera with a mixture of features from the RF/DSLR and P&S worlds. You can see that type of trend with for example the Sigma DP1 etc.
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My thoughts exactly!
 
I agree it would be weird for Nikon to put out an M-mount.

The F-mount would certainly be useful for those Nikon DSLR shooters with many lenses who need a compact camera for everyday shooting, but don't want to sell all their gear and buy a Leica. But that transform might happen if Leica is coming up with some good dRF's in the future.

I hope there will be more than just an advanced P&S, I hope that the Sigma DP1 and the DMC-LX3 are just a pre-taste of the evolution from high-end P&S's to eventually turn into RF's.

Time will tell.
 
Anyone stop to ponder that F mount lenses are for slr cameras and don't have any coupling for rangefinder focusing not to mention nikon already has its own rangefinder lenses that could be use on a m mount body with the right adapter?
 
jonmanjiro said:
Most likely neither.

A rangefinder camera with a register of 46.50mm like an F-mount SLR does not make much sense, and its hard to imagine Nikon making a camera with a mount that isn't their own. But stranger things have happened!
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Well, Zeiss Ikon came out with M mount and ZM lenses, so Nikon could too. If they were interested that is.
 
Mattikk said:
The F-mount would certainly be useful for those Nikon DSLR shooters with many lenses who need a compact camera for everyday shooting, but don't want to sell all their gear and buy a Leica. But that transform might happen if Leica is coming up with some good dRF's in the future.
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My last post wasn't very clear.

It doesn't make sense to manufacture a rangefinder camera that accepts F-mount SLR lenses. Despite the fact that you have to somehow couple the lens to the rangefinder (as mentioned above), a 46.5mm register (i.e the distance from the lens mount to film plane) means you might as well stick a mirror in there anyway. By way of comparison, the register of an M-mount Leica is 27.95mm.
 
It could be an "extended" M mount, i.e. able to take classic M mount lenses with additional features (autofocus, aperture coupling, etc.) for Nikon proprietary lenses only.

It wouldn't be the first time Nikon builds Leica-mount lenses ...

And just imagine Puts reviewing the Olympic 50/1.4 to be better than (and half the price of) the ASPH Summilux on his M8.

Cheers,

Roland.
 
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The DRF that Nikon comes up with will use the older Nikon RF mount. The new body will support those lenses built for that mount as well as new "G" lenses that do NOT have apertiure rings and require you to change the aperture from the body. :D
 
leicasniper said:
Wonder what percentage of Nikon DSLR owners use old manual lenses?
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I do, too. Been using Nikon SLR gear for 23 years, and when I bought my first digital camera (which was also my first auto-focus camera...), I didn't feel like buying a whole new set of lenses, never mind, switching brands, so I've just been using all my old Nikon MF gear- pre-AI, AI, and AIS lenses, which have served me fine for a long time. Sure, sometimes it was annoying not getting to use most of the features of the D70, only shooting in manual mode and not having in-camera metering- but I've been shooting that way for years with my Leicas. For a while I did consider switching to Canon- especially after the 5D came out- but then Nikon (FINALLY!) introduced AI meter coupling for backwards compatibility with older lenses on their pro digital bodies, and now I'm perfectly happy with my Nikon D200- and looking forward to the D700! Maybe one of these days I'll get an auto-focus lens, or even (dare I say it?) a zoom lens! But meantime, there's nothing like a portrait shot with that 105 f1.8!
 
F or M mount may sound like a crazy question but lets think outside the box. Could Nikon make a sensor that moves in and out to focus instead of the lens. Combined with a modern electronic finder/rangefinder in a very different type of rangefinder camera. Perhaps the M3 design has gone as far as it can and it's time to completely break out of that pattern. Erwin Puts was just writing about that on his website. Joe
 
leicasniper said:
Wonder what percentage of Nikon DSLR owners use old manual lenses?
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It's impossible to know.

What I do know is Nikkor AI/AIS lens prices have gradually increased over the past three years on eBay, at B&H and KEH. Also, Zeiss continues to expand their ZF lens line. For some reason Canon 5D owners are fond of using Nikkor lenses as well. So, there is circumstantial evidence that manual Nikkor lenses remain popular.

Nikon seems to care less because all they offer are more and more slow, one-lens-will-do-it-all-zooms or specialty tilt lenses.

I use six Nikkor AI/AIS lenses (105/2.5 AI, 50/1.4 AI, 35/2 AIS, 28/2.8 AI, 24/2.8 AIS, 20/2.8 AIS). They all perform well on the D200/D300 and some are spectacular (105/2.5 AI and 28/2.8 AI).

willie
 
I have a friend who went to a Nikon event this week. When asked, the Nikon Rep replied what is the market for a Nikon DRF? So at the minimum it doesn't sound like a Nikon DRF is coming soon. Although if I was there I guess I would have asked what was the market for the SP 2005? Sorry if this is a little vague, I know the person signed an NDR.

James
 
willie_901 said:
It's impossible to know.

What I do know is Nikkor AI/AIS lens prices have gradually increased over the past three years on eBay, at B&H and KEH. Also, Zeiss continues to expand their ZF lens line. For some reason Canon 5D owners are fond of using Nikkor lenses as well. So, there is circumstantial evidence that manual Nikkor lenses remain popular.

Nikon seems to care less because all they offer are more and more slow, one-lens-will-do-it-all-zooms or specialty tilt lenses.

I use six Nikkor AI/AIS lenses (105/2.5 AI, 50/1.4 AI, 35/2 AIS, 28/2.8 AI, 24/2.8 AIS, 20/2.8 AIS). They all perform well on the D200/D300 and some are spectacular (105/2.5 AI and 28/2.8 AI).
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This is what I've written at another thread.

If Nikon cared a bit about manual focus AI/AI-S lenses owners, they would have marketed a kind of D40X DSLR with an AI prong ring - very easy to do - and less useless gadgets (those pesky results programs, for instance). AI/AI-S lenses owners don't care about matrix metering, either - center weighted and spot are enough for those knowing where to do the metering in A or M mode.

The market for such a camera would be WAY larger and lucrative than what the market-niche for a DRF would be. I would have bought such a DSLR as soon as it had been on my retailer's shelves.

But Nikon never did it - and never will.

They will never make any DRF, either.
 
James you are right!

Then we have to ask Nikon what they wanted to do with the Nikon SP 2005 Special Edition?

I can´t believe that the big ones (Canon and Nikon) have no interest in manufacturing the idea of the rangefinder any further. Sure, the market want´s DSLR´s, but:

When they only let new DSLR´s on the market every few months, it is no wander that no one want´s rangefinders? Here a new knop, there some more pixels... Is this what everybody want´s? Oh, I´m so tired of reading these "news" of "new" DSLR´s.

I´m very happy, that we have the rangefinderforum for these few creatures... like me!

Bully
 
I do not know the technical side of it. But one of the appeal of this machine is that it is more time proven and hence could be a platform to invest in. If the glass can be reused, you can start with what you have. Now the main case is whether the sensor can be downgraded and upgraded.

Dream on -- If it is Digital Back based, it can use 120/135/... That means (if it meant anything) one can start with a body, a new 6 Megapix Black and white with 16 bit sensor /a 12 Megapix sensor with D3 ISO depth plus you can use 135 ERA 100, Shanghai GP3 120 film. Well, one now has something that one can rebuild on.

Once I decide not to upgrade to FX in Nikon platform until Dxx with D40x body and full film come along :). As a hobby, the big advantage of moving to a heavy machine with a new set of glass does not appeal to me. The same SLR platform really does not appeal to me as it does not show large enough difference. Instead I jump in and try the RF and TLR in the last 3 months and go back to film/enlarger/nikon scanner etc. But if they have that platform, that would get me back on their game and upgrade/upgrade/....

One can dream, can one? But is that technical viable and if so would Nikon do it. I tried to find a link to bythom and/or dpreview site on their mention of this kind of prototype. They do say that interchange back. Have to look again for the dream.
 
Maybe S-Mount to New RF Mount

Maybe S-Mount to New RF Mount

Thinking about the recurrent subject of a Nikon DRF, I figure the S3 and SP special editions were a play to collectors who would buy every one if production was kept small. It is self-evident that Nikon shrewdly understood this market and capitalized on it brilliantly.

Consequently, it is reasonable to think that should Nikon produce a DRF, it might well be a special edition in the old Nikon S mount. From Nikon's perspective, it makes sense as they will be assured of selling every single one and serve as a very nice test of the market.

Incidentally, Cosina wouldn't mind since such a camera as it could revive their discontinued line of S-mount lenses and give incentive to broadening the Zeiss offerings.

Moreover, if demand for the digital special edition wildly exceeded expectations, a new camera certainly could be engineered in a more modern mount that would be adaptable to use S-mount lenses. However, I now doubt that Nikon would use an M-mount even though I'd certainly appreciate it.

I expect they'd make an entirely new mount that incorporates digital capabilities right from the start. It would likely be something patentable so as to retain exclusivity for advanced features and to drive customers to its new lenses. Third parties would still be supported through the S-mount converter which, likely as not, would become discontinued after the first year or so.

Then again, maybe Canon is envious of the prestige of Nikon's special editions and tries to one-up them by introducing a digital version of the Canon 7s, the Canon 7D which everyone figured was going to be the 5D update but isn't. Plus, they already had a proprietary outer bayonet on the 7s that could be the starting for a whole new line of digital glass and maintain compatibility with every piece of RF glass they made.

But now I'm speculating wildly and even recklessly bandying about the C-word on a Nikon forum; so I just better stop now and try to get hold of myself.
 
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If they really want to be backward compatible. Make a full frame digital back for my Nikon F!!! Pardon me, I have crazy ideas now and then. Joe
 
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