Sorry, but knowledgeable digital RF rumour...

[Bill58]

If they'd just make an improved RD-1 w/ traditional Nikon quality at a reasonable price in LTM, I'd buy one...or two.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Not good! I never knew that Nikon was experiencing financial problems. You wonder who's going to be left standing once the economic turmoil we find ourselves in runs its course.

Jim B.

I wouldn't take anything Olsen says about Nikon too seriously 😉 Afterall, he was telling us that Nikon was for sale in the post below copied from this thread.

Why Nikon is for sale, I don't know. They have been improving their camera business results the last few years. <snip>

 

[snegron]

Ultimately I don't think it will matter if Nikon produces a digital rangefinder or not. If they do, it will probably cost a fortune and will be available to only a few.

As for the 50th anniversary F, I would love to see one. However, I imagine that this F will only be available to a few rich collectors in Japan.

I doubt very much Nikon is listening to any of us loyal followers. Funny thing is that many people are begging for a fast, high quality, compact digital camera system. The closest thing to this is the Lumix LX3. Retailers can't keep them on their shelves long enough! Imagine if that compact camera had interchangeable lenses, a built-in optical viewfinder, and responded as quick as a DSLR? I wouldn't doubt for a minute that companies like Panasonic and Cosina (Voightlander) aren't working on an affordable digital rangefinder in M mount as we speak. Maybe Nikon might realize its mistake of not developing a digital rangefinder when it sees the customer waiting list for the Lumix or Voightlander digital rangefinder! After all, look at how they were caught off guard when they released their compact P6000 which was blown away by the LX3!

In the meantime, I have found comfort in my Lumix LX3. Thank you Panasonic!

 

[jbf]

Tons of photo journalists, documentary photographers, and professional photographers (be them wedding, commercial or otherwise) will tell you they would love to have their 5D or D3/D3x in a compact rangefinder sized body/package.

 

[kjoosten]

Uhhh..

Uhhh..

The OP speaks...

Holy Smokes. Sorry y'all. Didn't think this thread would twist off into RFF hyperspace,

BUT....

How about that Lumix DMC-G1? Not one I would buy yet. Sensor too small, artificially designed to look like a (D)SLR.

BUT...

The technology and marketing pieces may be starting to fall into place. I have not peered through the electronic viewfinder yet, so I remain skeptical.

 

[snegron]

The OP speaks...

Holy Smokes. Sorry y'all. Didn't think this thread would twist off into RFF hyperspace,

BUT....

How about that Lumix DMC-G1? Not one I would buy yet. Sensor too small, artificially designed to look like a (D)SLR.

BUT...

The technology and marketing pieces may be starting to fall into place. I have not seen the electronic viewfinder yet, so I remain skeptical.

Panasonic has created several winners, the G1 is definitely on the right track. The body actually resembles their old FZ-50 more than it does any other DSLR. I think that Panasonic has done its homework and has developed cameras that appeal to photographers.

I have an FZ-50 and an LX3. Both cameras are remarkably well built. If panasonic were to release a camera with the LX3 sensor in an FZ-50 body, I believe that they would not only take over the market in terms of sales, but they would also start a new trend that would probably contribute to many other camera manufacturers either follow suit or be left behind in Panasonic's dust.

 

[kjoosten]

Panasonic has created several winners, the G1 is definitely on the right track. dust.

Hmmm. I have never used a Panasonic (Nikon freak), but as you point out they are heading in interesting directions.

It seems to me it is time for the marketeers to transition from "a gazillion megapixels" to "huge sensor". This is starting to happen among the informed, but it needs to translate to more mainstream consumers.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I don't know if Nikon will ever make a DRF but it would be nice with a D700/D3 sensor. As for the Panasonic FZ-50 being remarkably well built, I would say it was just your average plastic bodied digital camera. Yes, I own one and it works well enough. If the Panasonic G1 has a much improved EVF that would be good too and a step in the right direction. The EVF on the FZ-50 is not that great in my experience for manual focusing but again a good idea that needs exploiting of it's potential.

Bob

 

[snegron]

Hmmm. I have never used a Panasonic (Nikon freak), but as you point out they are heading in interesting directions.

It seems to me it is time for the marketeers to transition from "a gazillion megapixels" to "huge sensor". This is starting to happen among the informed, but it needs to translate to more mainstream consumers.

Yes, I agree with you. And, thankfully, so did Panasonic when they developed the LX3! They focused on giving us useable features in the LX3 such as a fast Leica vario summicron 24-60 f2.0 IS lens, a sensor capable of producing outstanding images, 10 megapixels, RAW capture, and a quick start up time all in a mostly metal body. I find that the images of the LX3 straight out of the camera rivial those I have taken with My D200's and D1X's.

I think that consumers have responded well to the LX3. When I purchased mine a couple of months ago I was on a back-ordered waiting list. The moment I was notified of its arrival at the store, I made the purchase. The store was out of stock that same day! This was at B&H. This success hopefully sends a signal to Panasonic so they can continue develppment into cameras of this type. My hope is that they reach the idea of a digital rangefinder sometime soon!


p.s. I have been a Nikon user (fan) since 1983, Prior to that I used Pentax gear. While I love Nikon ger, Panasonic has started to draw me in!