Nikon D40!

[cyclohexane]

Look here!

I have to take off, so I'll comment later, but feel free to check it out. Looks like those of us who were guessing that the screwdrive motor's going to eventually go bye-bye on the low-end were right...

[Nikonfreak]

Here's my thoughts on this.

First, if Nikon were to come out with a camera like this, would it make sense from a marketing standpoint?

I wouldn't be so sure to say, "no".

What would someone say to the average consumer that wants better quality than say a digicam can provide, but doesn't want to drop huge $$$ on a DSLR whose price is in the $1,000 USD range? Could the answer be a 6.1 megapixel DSLR with very few frills priced in the sub $500 category? Hmm... could be an interesting marketing move.

I would dare say that a 6 megapixel DSLR with a stepped up D70 type sensor could and would produce images that could far outperform an 8-10 megapixel digicam in a variety of ways. I would also say that many of those users of digicams don't print anything larger than 8X10 and you don't need more than 6 megapixels for that.

Could Nikon be taking aim at the base of the pyramid? Perhaps trying to cut into the huge digicam market? Consumers are not very brand fickle when they own a few lenses in a camera brand... they might be hesitant to change brands and might stick to Nikon for future upgrades, basically taking the legs out from under the competition at a low end. Nikon may also know that a low price is a huge enticement....

All could be true sports fans. So don't go reading the tea leaves that someone at Nikon might have gone off the deep end.

Could such a campaign effort fail? Sure. No question.

There's one thing that remains true... It's going to be an interesting 2007, 2008, 2009....

Julio

[Nikonfreak]

One more thought to add...

Have you seen the lineup of consumer grade lenses lately? Nikon seems to have added AF-S to a lot of them.

What kind of lens would a consumer that purchases a sub $400 or $500 DSLR be buying?

Chances are a consumer looking at this camera isn't looking at a 17-55 or 28-70... at least not at first.

18-135 AF-S
18-70 AF-S
18-55 AF-S
18-200 AF-S
55-200 AF-S
70-300 AF-S

Think about it. All had AF-S when introduced or in the case of the 70-300 were added...

Makes sense.

Why would Nikon add AF-S to all of these consumer grade lenses?

Julio

[cyclohexane]

Julio, looks like we were thinking the same things. Oh well, I guess I don't need to repeat them. LOL

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by cyclohexane

Julio, looks like we were thinking the same things. Oh well, I guess I don't need to repeat them. LOL

Oh man.. I should get a karma bump for reading your mind... =)

LOL

I also do side work as a free lance psychic.

[cyclohexane]

Took care of the karma bump. Sorry, I probably would have done it sooner if I hadn't been on the phone right after. =P

[Nikonfreak]

This camera is causing a buzz around the web. I don't understand why. I think it's an incredibly bold and excellent strategic move on the part of Nikon.

Julio

www.pbase.com/loansharkx

[cyclohexane]

Agreed. If you don't like it, don't buy it.

Personally, I'll be checking it out if I see it somewhere, as it's a bit smaller on two dimensions than the D50. If the price is right and I like how it feels, I might pick one up. The D50's still a little big for my go-everywhere camera (I was doing that with my D70, and it sucked because it doesn't fit into our dining lockers), so any bit of size savings is most welcome.

AF-S only is not a problem as I'd probably slap a small AIS prime on it and give up AF/metering, as I found that my go-everywhere camera usually got pulled out where the lower end AF systems would be useless anyhow.

[dougjgreen]

Remember, most of us who participate in photography forums are NOT the target market. Nikon has D80 and D200 cameras to sell us. Maybe even D2xs cameras. And quite possibly a D60 in the not too distant future. This is the DSLR for people who until now have never used an SLR of any sort. And as such, it looks pretty interesting.

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by dougjgreen

Remember, most of us who participate in photography forums are NOT the target market. Nikon has D80 and D200 cameras to sell us. Maybe even D2xs cameras. And quite possibly a D60 in the not too distant future. This is the DSLR for people who until now have never used an SLR of any sort. And as such, it looks pretty interesting.

Absolutely right. This product is aimed squarely at those that want better image quality than a digicam but without the size of a full DSLR and without the DSLR price tag.

Extra bonus that it pulls new customers into the Nikon family... add a few lenses and a flash and you have a long time customer you've captured...Yep! A very smart move if they pull it off correctly.

Julio

[Jon]

What I see in this (in my largest client segment and toughest-to-compete-in segment) is that this offering from Nikon is going to make it a lot more difficult for me to eat. Here come the hordes of schmotographers...

[cyclohexane]

Here come the hordes of schmotographers...

Or fauxtographers... =)

[Jon]

OOOOHHH

*Jon gets out notepad, writes that one down*

For those of you not familiar with schmotographers, they are a specialized subspecie of the GWC (and the bane of my ability to make a living). Read my friend Doug's article for a deeper understanding of schmotographers.

[cyclohexane]

Those guys are around at every level. CNN has a page somewhere soliciting images and encouraging people to "become photojournalists" using their cell phones and whatever else they might be carrying. Sports game sidelines at all levels always have someone who's managed to make it there even though they're just, well, there. I think even National Geographic has solicited photographs from the readership at one point.

[Nikonfreak]

Would it count if I photograph "Shmo's" sometimes? Would that make me a Shmotographer?

Julio

[Jon]

hehehe