Demise of D3?

It's an interesting thoght.

I look at it this way - the D700 is a D3 minus the grip, the perfect competitor to the 5DmkII, so why have the older D3 on the list when the D3X matches anything Canon is producing in the pro sector. I know there's the thinking that the D3 offers better fps than the D3x because of the smaller sensor and so echoes what Canon does with the 1D and the 1Ds, but I expect that prosumer models are of more concern these days to the likes of Nikon et al...

I fully expect Nikon to bring out a pro-spec cropped sensor model to match Canon's 7D, probably aroudn the £1500-1800 mark), possibly the D400 when it comes. I suspect that for now though, there's no real rush on Nikon's part to be bringing out another high end, 20mp+ pro body...


...unless they can do one for £500 and then I'll be happy :)
 
D3 and D3x are completely different beasts, and the only likeness is stuff like the body and the AF. They are used for completely different things.

I can't see the D3 going without a replacement, that would be ludicrous.

I can't see a D4 yet, so maybe a D3s, perhaps with the buffer upgrade and maybe video, although I sincerely hope not. Something like the D2x to D2xs upgrade.

I normally reach for the D3 at the moment, but the X gets it's share of use as well.
 
barneyrubble said:
I can't see the D3 going without a replacement, that would be ludicrous.
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It would be odd to see it go but, and this is a big but, although full frame cameras have been introduced in something of a glut lately, it still seems pretty much a prosumer's market and if I were a camera manufacturer in the middle of a world recession, I certainly wouldn't be focussing to hard on releasing or maintaining a duo of high-end pro bodies just because it's expected of me.

Cameras like the D90 and D500 seem to be of mighty importance to the like of Nikon, and not high-end pro models; the D300s is proof of this - although it falls into Nikon's 'pro' category, it's nothing new except for the video function and shows that Nikon isn't yet ready to assault the pro market until they've sussed out how Canon and Sony will fare with the 7D and the a850.
 
I don't care - hard to see how they could beat what the D3 does for me - and there's years of use left in mine yet. Last thing I want is video!
 
barneyrubble said:
I can't see the D3 going without a replacement, that would be ludicrous...
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I agree Barney, also I'm guessing that the D3 replacement will materialise when Canon are ready to release the 1D MkIV.

Folk are still buying D3's, there still seems to be a demand so why put it to bed?

Either way, my D3 is going to be with me until it disintegrates, I'd like to think that it's still got at least 1.5 years life in it. :lol:
 
specialman said:
It would be odd to see it go but, and this is a big but, although full frame cameras have been introduced in something of a glut lately, it still seems pretty much a prosumer's market and if I were a camera manufacturer in the middle of a world recession, I certainly wouldn't be focussing to hard on releasing or maintaining a duo of high-end pro bodies just because it's expected of me.

Cameras like the D90 and D500 seem to be of mighty importance to the like of Nikon, and not high-end pro models; the D300s is proof of this - although it falls into Nikon's 'pro' category, it's nothing new except for the video function and shows that Nikon isn't yet ready to assault the pro market until they've sussed out how Canon and Sony will fare with the 7D and the a850.
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But the D3 and D3x are not "a duo". They are not aimed at the same type of photographer even remotely.

The D3 is the higher selling of the two, and making Nikon a tidy profit. Why on earth would they discontinue it without a replacement?

I think you will find that Nikon is quite happily developing their new cameras in their own time frames, and are not waiting to see how the others do. That would out them so far behind the curve, then having to respond to what the others are doing.

It would make no business sense to discontinue the D3 at this point if they were not going to bring out the D3s or the D4. The D4 is IMHO unlikely at this point.

As Tomas said, mine will also be with me till it disintegrates. Mind you, I also said there was no way on earth I would be buying a D3x :cuckoo::cuckoo::cuckoo:
 
Tomas Whitehouse said:
I dunno Ray, is there any actual evidence?
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Only that shops can't get them to sell.......

D4 is not even rumoured yet, nor is the D3s, so my guess is that the D700 is selling so well they may have used all the sensors in that :D:D:D

Nikonrumours is normally rife with rumour before a launch. Not a sniff at all bar the fact that you can't get a D3.
 
I think that some of the evidence on Nikon Rumours does suggest a replacement is forthcoming. Certainly the signs referred to in the link do make you wonder....
 
Raymond Lin said:
Out of stock EVERYWHERE and taken off their site...to me, that is evidence. :p

Its not a bad thing, a new camera is always welcome is it not?
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Definitely not a bad thing but a little weird and dare I say premature.

I wouldn't call it evidence either, it's a possible or a suggestion but not factual.

Lenses have been in short supply for months and haven't been discontinued.

Either way, I guess we will see over the next few months. :thumbs:
 
UK Site

http://www.europe-nikon.com/family/en_GB/categories/broad/318.html

German Site

http://www.nikon.de/family/de_DE/categories/broad/318.html

I think you'll find its a mistake on the DE site that has removed the Microsite. Either that or they've jumped the gun. They certainly havent removed it from their site. You can clearly see it in the link I have posted above.

As to Out of stock everywhere, warehouseexpress have them, mifsuds have them, park cameras have them. Grays are shut this afternoon so I cant check up.
 
Joe T said:
A D3s with a similar level of upgrades (not necessarily the same ones, just that level of increase in functionality) that the D300s had over the D300 would not be unexpected to me...
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I really hope they don't put video in it :bang::bang::bang::bang:

At some point the D3s is almost gauranteed. My argument here is that they won't discontinue it without a replacement.

I don't see a D4 just yet.
 
Because for most people Video on an SLR is a gimmick. If you actually read the comments a little further down he admits that it's not just a Mk2, and he also has loads of dollies and "smooth sliders" as well. So 4 cams, various other expensive bits and pieces, other HD cams.

Most people using a mk2 will not be able to come up with anything like that. Work out the cost of that setup.

He's a good filmmaker, but he will be the exception. I repeat, for most people the video will be a gimmick.
 
barneyrubble said:
Because for most people Video on an SLR is a gimmick. If you actually read the comments a little further down he admits that it's not just a Mk2, and he also has loads of dollies and "smooth sliders" as well. So 4 cams, various other expensive bits and pieces, other HD cams.

Most people using a mk2 will not be able to come up with anything like that. Work out the cost of that setup.

He's a good filmmaker, but he will be the exception. I repeat, for most people the video will be a gimmick.
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You just don't understand......It is not a gimmic.

Just because most people are not skilled to use it, why take it away?

Would you stop production of 1DsMKIII and D3 because most people can't afford it or have the skill to make use or it? NO !

The capability is there, just because the user doesn't have the skill, it doesn't mean they should take that choice away.

A gimmic means its nice but absolutely useless, a bit like a solar powered torch. HD video in a DSLR, have to potential for some incredible stuff. Calling it a gimmic is an insult to the engineers and the people in R&D.
 
I do understand, buT let's Let's agree to disagree. I've got better things to do.

The original discussion was around the demise of the d3 - let's get back on topic.
 
I do understand, buT let's Let's agree to disagree. I've got better things to do.

The original discussion was around the demise of the d3 - let's get back on topic.
 
There isn't anything else in nikons current line up to replace the D3 with, the D700 doesn't have the robustness, the double card slots or the frames per second, the D3x is aimed at a different market, but again doesn't have some of the D3 features.
Personally I think it would be a huge mistake to remove it at this time without a replacement (D4?) Maybe Canon have them on the run?
 
Interesting..... Why do you think canon maybe have nikon on the run?

With the exception of the 5d mk2 I don't see anything canon have that nikon don't.
 
barneyrubble said:
Interesting..... Why do you think canon maybe have nikon on the run?

With the exception of the 5d mk2 I don't see anything canon have that nikon don't.
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Maybe there's something in the offing from Canon that we don't know about :shrug:

If there is let's hope that they learnt their lesson with the MK III and don't rush another flawed product to market simply to steal the march on Nikon...
 
barneyrubble said:
...With the exception of the 5d mk2 I don't see anything canon have that nikon don't.
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I do, an 18mp+ cropped sensor, high fps body, a'la the 7D.

And in my eyes the the D3x and D3 are a duo; they may differ in technical spec but they are the high-end professional line that Nikon tackles the 1D/1Ds with, which are also a duo with different purposes.

I do agree with you on one thing though - there won't be a D4 any time soon....
 
a nikon D3s will just make me very sad....because it'll make me want one far far more!

I do a lot of video work as well as photo, and there are many things that I would do to have a decent video system inside the best professional camera body... yeah, a D3s with 1080p video (or higher? nikon could do serious damage to the red scarlet if they brought out a 2K camera, pronto... hehehehehe), and the same insane iso performance.... would have me scraping together every penny I could find in the world, selling kidneys etc.... :P

there's no 'downside' to having video in a camera. - no extra hardware to go wrong - yet the price is a bit more expensive, however, they'd sell more so economies of scale would bring the price down again.... or you could get a second hand D3 from people upgrading, who DID want video.... no way is having a button or a scene option or whatever for video going to damage your use of the camera in any way shape or form. And hey, just maybe, one time, you'll have a sudden, pressing need to shoot glorious, high definition footage :P :)

I would be surprised if a D3s does come out, though, the leaked roadmaps have hinted at a D700s, but never anything other than a D4 in 2010/11... and the D700s would be the same price point, spec etc as the 5d2...
 
Bet it's a D5 and not a D4 - I think the Japanese regard 4 as an unlucky number.

Just a thought.
 
you wont have to wait too long to hear about its replacement guys. October is what my Nikon rep told me ;)
 
barneyrubble said:
Interesting..... Why do you think canon maybe have nikon on the run?

With the exception of the 5d mk2 I don't see anything canon have that nikon don't.
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The 5d2 is a lot of camera for the money, the 7d again good value, in a recession that counts. I'm pretty sure I saw somewhere that canon was top in sales this year (although how it's worked out is anybodies guess) Canon was lagging behind on high iso, but the 5d2 is pretty damm good at 6400 iso, plenty good enough for us wedding togs, and it has the higher resolution as well, could be it's hitting Nikon in the wallet.
I'd hate to see the D3 go, it's a cracking camera.
 
budfox said:
Bet it's a D5 and not a D4 - I think the Japanese regard 4 as an unlucky number.

Just a thought.
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Good point,somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember it's something to do with the word "four" in Japanese (shi) being pronounced the same as the word for death, or something along those lines :shrug:
 
4 in Japan has a meaning to Death which is why the dont like to use it.

a D4/5 does make sense in terms of camera so we shall just have to wait and see.

Stuart
 
I have got some market share figures somewhere so ill have to dig them out and let you know...I know that at certain times Nikon has been higher than Canon but between the 2 they dominate with about 80% market share leaving just 20% for the others to fight over.

But i very much doubt Canon is hurting Nikons pocket. If anything Canon should be more concerned with what Nikon is doing.

Sony have done well with A200 & A350 to gain market share but have slipped recently with the other models.

Stuart
 
Well the D3 is still listed on the Nikon UK website...

I have both D3 and D3x and they are totally different cameras, aimed at totally different types of photography...
If the D3 is discontinued, D3x isn't going to be the camera that fills it's place - it'll have to be a D3s/D4...

And as to all this 'bad luck' number BS - there was an F4, remember?
 
The usually correct Thom Hogan predicted an autumn D3s a while ago, and reiterated that the other day:

http://bythom.com/ said:
Also, it appears the D3 is history as you can't find it anywhere, so we're likely to get the D3s I've been predicting for long while now.
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His prediction for the D3s was: "added buffer, sensor cleaning, minor feature changes to bring up to current models", so a pretty minor upgrade.
 
hey - I still use my D2Hs - now in a load of press jobs that IS the camera - you couldn't tell the shots weren't taken with a D3! Once they are in newsprint . . . new camera - it's just a marketing thing to get silly folk to part with pennies when they actualy have a perfectly good camera already! Nikon won't get any more of my money for years - maybe ever - I'm getting on a bit - and there's probably more life in my camera bodies than there is in mine! ;)
 
specialman said:
For the numpties out there like me who haven't got the dollar to spend on either, please enlighten us why... :)
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The D3 sacrifices resolution for speed (as in frame-rate) and low-light capability; the D3x sacrifices speed for resolution.

The D3 is pitched at the photojournalist and the sports shooter, firing off bursts in frequently terrible light. The D3x is pitched at studio shooters who need to be able to blow things up to billboard size and never need to shoot higher than ISO100.

That's a simplification, and there are lots of uses beyond those two, but that's essentially it.
 
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