Rumor: Nikon Digital FM2 - Retro look

[SiliconVoid]

Certainly does sound like a fun product that could possibly kick serious butt!
However, for those looking away from Sony's recent A7/r ...
What's the register distance for the A7?... is it short enough to handle adapters and a variety of other makers lenses? If so, makes a very versatile imaging back end compared to an F-mount.

Yes, it can handle adapters for Nikon, Leica, Canon etc. There are already videos on youtube of people testing pre-production models with 3rd party lenses, such as the 17-40L, with working autofocus. Also, Samyang has announced that they'll be releasing 5 lenses for the Sony FE mount (14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC, 24mm f/1.4 ED AS IF UMC, T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC, 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC, 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC).

Also, given that Sigma has their lens mount swapping service, I wouldn't be surprised if they came up with their own FE mount.

In reading comments here and other forums regarding the new Sony body, I do not think people realize how crappy AF performance is going to be using other lenses than the new Sony lenses.. That realization along with the plethora of older 3rd party lenses will mean - manual focusing - which is even crappier using an EVF.. Mirrorless bodies are neat and all, certainly a means of access to more lenses than any one manufacturer ever dreamed of, but it is of limited benefit and not a functional substitute for an OVF and dedicated AF sensor.

As for the excitement over body size... all any manufacturer needs to do is drop pop-up flashes, drop 3.x" displays, drop the gadgetry that provides no benefit to actual photography (GPS, WiFi, etc) and maybe even ditch video recording (though that does not effect camera size other than another button, but is less than ideal with a ~2" lcd) and there would be plenty of room to shrink the body size around a FF sensor, mirror, and OVF.

In reality it is the average consumer today wanting any gadget they think will take the photo for them and tell everyone else they were there that prevents manufacturers from producing small foot print DSLRs - - NOT the current technology.

 

[Dylan777]

Wonder if Canon going to have something like this? as a fun camera:

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Rumor Dimensions & weight: 143.5 x 110 x 66.5mm (765g)

Vs

5D III - 150 x 110 x 76mm (860g)

 

[verysimplejason]

Some updates:


Will be called Nikon D4H
Will use EN-EL15 battery
3" LCD Screen
EVF/OVF hybrid viewfinder
Can be used with true mirror lock up for non-AI lenses while still allowing viewing through view finder.
New hybrid mechanical shutter
No AA filter
No video in low power mode but otherwise it will have video (?)
Expeed 3A processor
Price: $3,000 for body only, $3,300 for a kit with the new 50mm f/1.8G lens
Black, Black/Sliver and Chrome version will be available

There's also a video on it right at Nikonrumors. Looking nice but expensive.

 

[eml58]

Probably come with an optional Oil throwing shutter mechanism.

Immediately followed by the D4H/10

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[AvTvM]

Nikon - Pure Photography #1

"in my hands again" .. oO

reminds me of the Oly Pen clips 3 years ago, with Kevin Spacey - "don't be a tourist". ;-)

 

[verysimplejason]

I like a chrome version of a digital AE1 with same specs as a 6D but a little bit AF and priced just a little bit above 6D. If that's the case, my 6D would immediately go on sale. I don't know but I love the design and grip of some old cameras. It seems I'm missing the chrome finish from my dad's Yashica fx 103. I shot with it till the circuit board got fried. I was told it's better to look for another one rather than fix it.

 

[moreorless]

Wonder if Canon going to have something like this? as a fun camera:

The problem I'd say would be that Canon is limated by the mount switch to EOS, Nikon not only has a lot of manual lenses on the second hand market but actually still produces a lot of the AIS lenses.

I'm guessing when/if Canon release an EVF/OVF viewfinder SLR it'll be much more geared towards video.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

I share some of the concerns that are being posted on the Nikon forums: What is Nikon's intent with this camera? What niche is it trying to fill?

Is it aimed at photographers who like the retro look and want a walk around street camera? Is Nikon trying to take some of the retro business from Leica?

It sounds like an interesting camera. But before I can make any comparision to other cameras, prior to purchase, I would like to know more about this camera.

 

[unfocused]

I can't decide if this is a brilliant cutting edge move on Nikon's part or a pathetic attempt to squeeze dollars out of the camera collector market by recycling old designs and old components.

It seems like it could go either way.

If the rumored price is correct, I'm inclined to now go with my second assessment.

 

[Dylan777]

Some updates:


Will be called Nikon D4H
Will use EN-EL15 battery
3" LCD Screen
EVF/OVF hybrid viewfinder
Can be used with true mirror lock up for non-AI lenses while still allowing viewing through view finder.
New hybrid mechanical shutter
No AA filter
No video in low power mode but otherwise it will have video (?)
Expeed 3A processor
Price: $3,000 for body only, $3,300 for a kit with the new 50mm f/1.8G lens
Black, Black/Sliver and Chrome version will be available

There's also a video on it right at Nikonrumors. Looking nice but expensive.

One question: when Canon will have something like this? Man, I love the RETRO/CLASSIC/VINTAGE look

As a Canon shooter, I'm little jealous here :-X

 

[Rienzphotoz]

According to Nikon Rumors the "D4H specifications posted yesterday were 100% fake". According to the new info the camera will be called Nikon DF (apparently DF stands for "Digital Fusion") ... check this out at: (http://nikonrumors.com/2013/10/24/the-name-will-be-nikon-df.aspx/)

 

[zim]

One question: when Canon will have something like this? Man, I love the RETRO/CLASSIC/VINTAGE look

As a Canon shooter, I'm little jealous here :-X

Me too, would look right at home round my neck;

RETRO - yip
CLASSIC - mmm, well maybe not
VINTAGE - yip

I have absolutly no doubt Canon will get into this market... in about 5 years time just as futuristic/contemporary comes into style

 

[paul13walnut5]

If you really want to go for that old school, just replace your EF's with ZF's or Samyangs and set your cam to Tv or M

Nothing like an aperture ring and MF to bring back the nostalgia.

Maybe even push the boat out and fit a split prism / microprism ring focus screen.

Similar user experience, or is it all about the look?

To be fair, I am guilty of this, the only film cameras I would seriously consider buying these days would be an FM2 or FM3, a Contax G2, or a Minolta CLE. And mainly for the aesthtics of being seen using them, if I'm honest. I might get a fixie bike whilst I'm at it. And large rimmed glasses.

 

[moreorless]

+1 on your gig tonight?

I'm guessing that besides that and appealing to former users of older camera's it might also be a response to size saving.

If the camera is going to have a form factor similar to the F3 then that isn't going to leave room for a top plate LCD, you dump that and marked dials are going to give you similar info without having to look at the back screen or the viewfinder.

 

[MrFotoFool]

The fact that it (reportedly) has no video mode is reason enough to buy it.

 

[paul13walnut5]

No video mode? Did they rip out live view as well?

If not it's only a magic lantern hack away.


Heres a thing, as much as I lived handling the nikon fms fas etc when I was selling them, ergonomicslly they are horrid. The new plastic rubber grip af style bodies may be souless and disconnected, but they do rather fit the hand well.

I used a minolta sr-t303 very regularly up until around five years ago, loved the winder the finder the wind on, but on a cold day and generally, not all that nice in the hand.

 

[moreorless]

From the latest video it does look like theres some kind of grip, looks similar but larger to the F3's.

 

[weixing]

Hi,
Hmm.... just wonder will they remove the rear LCD to complete the retro look...

Don't really care about the retro look... anyway, 20 years down the road, my 6D will be the retro look camera... if it's still working.

Have a nice day.

 

[AvTvM]

No video mode? Did they rip out live view as well?
If not it's only a magic lantern hack away.

Not if Nikon really does as promised in video teaser #3 "No clutter. No distractions".

Fairly easy to cut the video clutter on a DSLR
* no microphone built in
* no microphone jack
* no headphone jack
* no HDMI connector, just USB 2.0
* no red "record-video" button
* hardware incapable to pipe through uncompressed video, only low-quality stream for live view
* proprietary hardware and software that ML or others cannot hack for another 10 years

I'd salute them for that. Would be the frist DSLR in a long time witghout threads from video-guys demanding audio levels and zebars and this and that. What a relief.

 

[paul13walnut5]

Not if Nikon really does as promised in video teaser #3 "No clutter. No distractions".

Fairly easy to cut the video clutter on a DSLR
* no microphone built in
* no microphone jack
* no headphone jack
* no HDMI connector, just USB 2.0
* no red "record-video" button
* hardware incapable to pipe through uncompressed video, only low-quality stream for live view
* proprietary hardware and software that ML or others cannot hack for another 10 years

I'd salute them for that. Would be the frist DSLR in a long time witghout threads from video-guys demanding audio levels and zebars and this and that. What a relief.

Hardware incapable... so a slow system bus?
No USB 3.0?
Proprietary hardware and software... yeah, cause hackers tend to obey such orders.

Anyway, it's camera that I'm not going to buy so it can have or not have whatever, just a shame that because some folk don't use video that some feel nobody should use video. I don't use PIC or averaged spot metering, maybe I could save a few bucks if canon would make a camera just for me without these features.