Nikon Readying Medium Format DSLR?

By Charlie Sorrel
September 05, 2008 | 6:24:29 AM

We've been watching a few rumors drifting around in the past weeks regarding a possible new large format sensor from Nikon. A tip-off received yesterday by Nikon Watch ties them all neatly together.
The background: Nikon put out a print advertisement in Rangefinder magazine, regarding an announcement to be made at next year's WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) conference. The teaser reads "Don't miss it. It's gonna be BIG!"
This subtle hint combines with a leak to Nikon Rumors which seems to show the specs of a new, larger sensor, called MX Format. The final piece of the puzzle comes from the afore-mentioned Nikon Watch: A reader tells them that the MX sensor will be a huge 48 x 48 mm. That's right, a decidedly old-school medium format square sensor. A big sensor that will sport a whopping 48 megapixels.
This certainly ties in with Nikon's current strategy. The D3 and D700 both have a relatively low pixel-count for their sensor sizes, resulting in some very clean low-light performance. Instead of just squeezing more pixels onto the same chip, it looks like Nikon might be keeping the same pixel density and just making the whole thing bigger.
Nikon Watch's source continues: The sensor will be similar in design to the D3 sensor and the camera itself will be able to use existing FX (full frame) lenses via an adapter. This will give a crop factor of 0.5x -- pop on a 50mm lens and it will act like a 25mm lens. It will also shoot rectangular pictures by cropping the image from the sensor, which means that you can choose either landscape or portrait orientation without actually moving the camera. Finally, the camera wil be cheap. Not D60 cheap, but a lot less than the current $40,000 offering from Hasselblad.
Now, allow me a little speculation if you will, in the style of the Scooby Doo gang piecing the evidence together. The official Nikon ad appeared in Rangefinder magazine. The announcement will be made at a conference for wedding photographers, a group who shoot a lot in dark places (churches and wedding receptions) and like to print very large pictures. Could we be looking at a giant rangefinder along the lines of the old Mamiya 7? A rangefinder with stratospheric ISO settings? It would certainly be a lot easier to handle than a big medium format DSLR.
We'll see. If this comes true (and we certainly hope it will), then it will be one more victory for the new, revitalized Nikon. Come on, Canon -- let's see what you've got.


Otoji spy shot (updated) [Nikon Rumors]


Nikon Digital Rangefinder? MX Format? Medium-Format-ish?! [Nikon Watch]


Nikon MX Format [Photography Bay]

This was posted by a NR reader in the comment section. Here is the original source and the English translation:

It appears Nikons 2009-10 schedule for release of cameras and lenses has been leaked. At least that is the claim. But it can of course just as well be fantasies or a wish list created by someone having to much time to spend!

A short summary:

August 4 introduction: (Apparently the end of July presentation is for compact cameras)

* Nikon D3000
* Nikon D300s with Full-HD movie 24 fps, improved AF, self timer + mirror-up, cf + sd-slot
* AF-S DX 17-65/3.2-4 G VR with 72(!) mm filter

October 15 presentation:

* Nikon D700x with 24.5 MP, Full-HD movie 24 fps, improved AF and self timer + mirror-up
* AF-S Nikkor 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR (The FX-dream-walk-around-lens?)
* AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II (What everybody waited for! 82 mm filter, 1530 g)
* AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.4G
* AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G (No VR?)

Q1/2010:

* AF-S Nikkor 14-28mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
* AF-S Nikkor 120-450mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR II (Replacement for 80-400? 82 mm, 1480 g)

Q2/2010:

* Nikon D4 with 15.7 MP, improved 1 EV, Full HD-movie 30fps
* Nikon D400 with 13.8 MP, improved 1 EV, Full HD-movie 24fps

Q3/2010:

* AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4G VR (On the waiting list for many!)
* AF-S Nikkor 400mm f/5.6G VR (Have been missing a long time!)
* AF-S Nikkor 70-240mm f/3.5-4.5G VR (The missing medium size telezoom!)
* AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/2G DC (A small surprise. No VR?)
* AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/4G VR
* AF-S DX Nikkor 60-95mm f/2G VR (The DX dream-telezoom!)
* AF-S DX Nikkor 17-60mm f/2.8G VR (Replacing 17-55 with addition of VR)
* Nikon Coolpix P1DX with DX 12.3 MP stabilised sensor, 28-85/3.5-5.6 zoom (comparable to FX, actually 18-56), 2.9 inch 920k-display, movable upwards for macro.

Q4/2010:

* Nikon D4X with 30.2 MP with 1 EV improved sensitivity

I assume all VR-lenses are actually VR II even if it is not stated.

Here is the full text of the leaked 2009-2010 Nikon roadmap (Google translation from the same source):

“A man working in England at the Kingston branch of a large IT company.
The company has said in charge of infrastructure and software of Nikon UK, particularly in the training center, but not in it.
So I will continue to draw … just said to get out 37-page set of notes with strategic Nikon
for the years 2009-2010. I can not confirm its authenticity, perhaps it’s just a joke and invention at any level,
but 37 pages is quite enough to give you someone such work with its smuggling. There are also
information that is not interesting to anyone outside, respectively. they can not even understand. File Structure
poskládaným is rather a set of different information and comments than any učesaným document or presentation.
The following are statements which relate to innovations in the area of D-SLR:

…… 4. August 2009: introduction
Nikon D3000,
D300s,
AF-S DX Nikkor 17 to 65 mm f/3.2-4G ED VR

Nikon D3000: Effective pixels: 12.3 million … Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data ….
[S] 4.288 x 2.848 … pentamirror … 95% coverage … 0.78x magnif. …. Compatibility AF-S and AF-I …
1 / 4000 p. 30 … p. 3.5 fps … 420-zonal RGB sensor …
Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, Night portrait, Night landscape, Party / Indoor, Beach / snow, Sunset, Dusk / dawn, Pet portrait, Candlelight, Blossom, Autumn colors, Food, Silhouette, programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)
Exposure compensation + -5 EV in 1 / 3. Exposure bracketing - not known, ISO 200 - 3200, steps 1 / 3, N-1 Lo, Hi +1 (?)
AF MultiCAM 380 (* new) - 7 focus points, 1 cross type, AF-S, AF-C AF-A, M + electronical rangefinder,
AF area mode: Single point, dynamic area, car area
Live View focus - contrast - detect AF, face priority
Movie - not known!
Active D-Lightning: Auto or Off
Internal flash sm. number 17/56 at ISO 200
LCD monitor: 2.7-in, 230 to-dot … FIXED
HDMI - N
Battery: EN-EL9a
124 x 92 x 62 mm, 480 g.

Nikon D300s - differences from the D300:
Continuous high-speed mode: 7 fps, without batterygripu, 8.5 fps with batterygripem, 14-bit mode included
1 Release mode addition: Self-timer + MUP
2200-pixel RGB sensor
LCD monitor: 920 to-dot, 2.9-inch, Výklopný
Enhanced contrast detect AF
Enhanced phase detect AF: new 2,200-pixel RGB sensor cooperates with 3D Tracking, Auto-Area AF-C is dynamic area,
flashing auxiliary section plus focusing direction “display in the viewfinder with the” user-control “change of direction
The new processor speeds up AF and significantly increases the quality Movie mode as compared to the D90 and D5000,
Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 24 fps Quicktime MOV, H.264 codec
3.1-fold compared with the cache memory D300
795 g
Extra High Lightning D-mode
AF Fine Tuning enhanced: -30 to 30 for the near focus distance, infinity, the shortest and longest focal length
CF + SD slot
…. I do not see a price anywhere!

AF-S DX Nikkor 17 to 65 mm f/3.2-4G ED VR:
- Lightweight zoom middle class at an affordable price for use with the new D300s with other Nikon DX cameras,
2 ED and 2 aspherical members, 72 mm filtrov thread, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode (??!)

….. 15. October 2009: presentation
Nikon D700x,
AF-S Nikkor 24 to 135 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
AF-S Nikkor 35 mm f/1.4G,
AF-S Nikkor 85 mm f/1.4G

Nikon D700x - differences from the D700:
effective pixels: 24.5 million … Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data ….
[S] 6.048 x 4.032
Continuous high-speed mode: 5 fps without batterygripu, 6.5 fps with batterygripem
1 Release mode addition: Self-timer + MUP
2200-pixel RGB sensor
LCD monitor: 920 to-dot, 2.9-inch, Výklopný
Enhanced contrast detect AF
Enhanced phase detect AF: new 2,200-pixel RGB sensor cooperates with 3D Tracking, Auto-Area AF-C is dynamic area,
flashing auxiliary section plus focusing direction “display in the viewfinder with the” user-control “change of direction
Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 24 fps Quicktime MOV, H.264 codec

AF-S Nikkor 24 to 135 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR:
lightweight and affordable zoom with high image quality, 77mm filtrov thread, 610 g, 7 rounded blades diaphragma,
3 aspherical and 2 ED members, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
revised lens for maximum optical performance in the digital FX zrcadlovkách Nikon,
VR II for up to 4 stops, filtrov thread 82 mm, 1530 g, Nano - Crystal Coat, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

AF-S Nikkor 35 mm f/1.4G:
peak lens completely revised design, Nano - Crystal Coat, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

AF-S Nikkor 85 mm f/1.4G:
top portrait lens with SWM focus and Nano - Crystal Coat, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

Q1/2010: performances:
AF-S Nikkor 14 to 28 mm f/3.5-4.5G ED:
77 mm filtrov thread!, Enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

AF-S Nikkor 120 to 450 mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR
VR II for up to 4 stops, 82 mm thread filtrov, 1480 g, enhance contrast-detect AF-S mode

Q2/2010 time:
Nikon D4,
Nikon D400

Nikon D4 - new features:
effective pixels: 15.7 millions, FX sensor completely new design with maximized by increasing the sensitivity of more than 1 EV
as “ultra-fast pixel register cache”, which allows to double the frame rate or increase dynamic range, including
effective aid noise reduction with natural lodging details.
[S] 4.852 x 3.234
Continuous high-speed mode: FX & DX mode 11 fps, 16 fps mode FX with a double-exposure with the phase detection AF & mirror up 8/sec.,
DX mode 18 fps with a double-exposure
FX & DX DR enhanced double-exposure mode: 5 fps for dNEF (* new) JPEG, and without the composition, 3 fps for the car, the JPEG
DR enhanced double-exposure mode: Auto, manual setting of time for both the ISO and exposure in “M”,
in the “A”, “S” and “P” mode with a semi-double exposure corrections in the range of + -5 EV in the range of 1 s. and 1 / 8000 p. and ISO 200 - 6400
Format dNEF,
ISO 200 - 12800, Lo-1, Hi 2
100% Viewfinder, 0.78x magnification, integrated hledáčková magnifying glass for the DX cropping
Integrated sensor management Nikon CLS
Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 30 fps
Multi-CAM 4500: 61-point AF, Auto / User Drive dynamic AF-C, intelligent co-operation with 2200-zónovým 3D Color Matrix meter
to achieve the elusive success of autofocus, the possibility of combination with contrast-detect AF final doostřením
for specific uses. The possibility of the electronic image projection or additional information to the entire area of a large viewfinder.
Dual histogram for the double-exposure mode. Highlite map.

Nikon D400 - new features:
effective pixels: 13,8 millions, DX sensor completely new design with maximized by increasing the sensitivity of more than 1 EV
as “ultra-fast pixel register cache”, which allows to double the frame rate or increase dynamic range, including
effective aid noise reduction with natural lodging details.
[S] 4.550 x 3.034
Continuous high-speed mode: 8 fps, 10 fps with BG,
12 fps with a double-exposure phase detection AF & mirror up 6/sec.,
14 fps with BG to double-exposure with the phase detection AF & mirror up 7/sec.,
ISO 200 - 6400, Lo-1, Hi 1
Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 24 fps
Multi-CAM 4500 DX 61-point AF, Auto / User Drive dynamic AF-C, intelligent co-operation with 2200-zónovým 3D Color Matrix meter
to achieve great success autofocus.
Screening of additional information across a large area of the viewfinder.
Dual histogram for the double-exposure mode.

Q3/2010 time:
AF-S Nikkor 300 mm f/4G VR
Nikkor AF-S VR 400 mm f/5.6G
AF-S Nikkor 70 to 240 mm f/3.5-4.5G VR
AF-S Nikkor 105 mm f/2G DC
AF-S Nikkor 24 to 85 mm f/4G VR
AF-S DX Nikkor 60 to 95 mm f/2G VR
AF-S DX Nikkor 17-60 mm f/2.8G VR

Nikon Coolpix P1DX
Compact camera with DX 12.3 MPx sensor.
Hours outbreaks distance from 28 to 85 mm, f/3.5-5.6 speed, stabilization sensors,
2.9-inch LCD for the 920-dot, Výklopný, head-up viewfinder, the internal flash
Telepředsádka 1,8 x

Q4/2010 time:
Nikon D4X - new features:
effective pixels: 30.2 millions, FX sensor completely new design with maximized by increasing the sensitivity of more than 1 EV
as “ultra-fast pixel register cache”, which allows to double the frame rate or increase dynamic range, including
effective aid noise reduction with natural lodging details.
[S] 6.736 x 4.490
Continuous high-speed mode:
FX 6 fps, 10 fps with a double-exposure phase detection AF & mirror up 5/sec.,
DR enhanced double-exposure mode: Auto, manual setting of time for both the ISO and exposure in “M”,
in the “A”, “S” and “P” mode with a semi-double exposure corrections in the range of + -5 EV in the range of 1 s. and 1 / 8000 p. and ISO 200 - 6400
Format dNEF,
ISO 100 - 6400, Lo-1, Hi 1
Movie - mode: 1920 * 1080 at 30 fps”