Do manufacturers hold back spec?

[RalphC]

As the manufacturers upgrade each of their pro, semi-pro and amateur ranges, do they hold back 'spec' to maintain relativity between ranges. For example, the new D800 has 36mp, does that mean the the D8000 will also have that? Price-point is clearly an issue, so which high-spec items are cheap to add to the amateur and semi-pro ranges and which are exclusively for the pro models?

 

[hobodan]

Without question they do. They leave certain aspects out of each camera which could probably be put in easily & cheaply to encourage you to splash out on the next best model. It's just marketing, if they put the latest spec in an entry level body no-one would buy the pro bodies & they'd go bust

 

[squishy]

Definitely, as much as they can get away with.
Except sometimes it'll be better for a brand to put their best tech into a lower level camera to win sales from others brands, even if it does cut into their sales of higher level gear.

 

[freecom2]

The screw drive AF motor in your D7000 is a classic example of Nikon doing just that!