What Nikon’s saying: It’ll be a new lens mount, it’ll be full-frame (no medium format or APS-C here), and it won’t replace Nikon’s DSLRs. Yeah. That’s it. I’ve got nothing more for you. No pictures, no video. That’s all they said. (Full press release below if you think I’m saving the good stuff for myself)
What the rest of the world is saying: There’s a teaser video prematurely posted by Nikon Europe that doesn’t say that much, but the supernerds out there (bless ’em) brightened the hell out of it to reveal some more info — and then they Zapruder’d it to hypothesize on basically everything. There are some leaked teaser photos and more sleuthing has the announcement date pegged at August 23rd.
What it all means: Sometime reasonably soon, Nikon’s gonna step into the ring with Sony, Leica, and Fujifilm. Unlike Canon’s half-hearted EOS-M mirrorless systems, this is a big-time full-frame play. Nikon is aiming this camera squarely at the people willing to spend thousands of dollars on a camera body and invest into a lens ecosystem. Expect the specs to play up what’s really great about mirrorless — video, high FPS stills, wicked fast autofocus and big megapixel counts — but don’t expect this camera to out-and-out replace the D850 or the D5. My hunch is that Nikon’s mirrorless system won’t be marketed as a “pro” system but will be more aimed at the travel or lifestyle photographer: someone who wants ultra high quality but doesn’t necessarily want the bulk or weight of a full Nikon DSLR system. That is to say, I’ll bet you my right arm this thing will compete squarely with the Sony A7R III while hopefully bringing some of Nikon’s famed build quality and ruggedness into the mix.
Whatever it is, it looks like we’ll have answers pretty soon.
NIKON ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT GENERATION FULL-FRAME MIRRORLESS CAMERA AND NIKKOR LENSES—FEATURING A NEW MOUNT—THAT PURSUE A NEW DIMENSION IN OPTICAL PERFORMANCE
MELVILLE, NY (JULY 25, 2018 at 12:01 A.M. EDT) – Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the development of a next-generation full-frame (Nikon FX-format) mirrorless camera and NIKKOR lenses featuring a new mount.
The new mirrorless camera and NIKKOR lenses that are in development will enable a new dimension in optical performance with the adoption of a new mount. The system is the result of Nikon’s unsurpassed optical and manufacturing capabilities gained through more than a century of imaging expertise. Proven reliability and trusted performance are core traits of Nikon Digital-SLRs, and decades of feedback from professional creators around the world has further contributed to the development of this system.
Through the development of this new mirrorless camera, Nikon reaffirms our commitment to providing photographers with the ability to capture images that are richer and more vivid than ever before.
Additionally, an F-Mount adapter is being developed that will enable the use of a wide variety of F-Mount NIKKOR lenses with the new camera.
Nikon will continue to lead imaging innovation with the launch of the new mirrorless camera and the continued development of Nikon Digital-SLR cameras as well as the impressive NIKKOR lens lineup. Soon, Nikon users will have two industry-leading camera systems to choose from, giving consumers the choice to enjoy the unique values that each system offers.
Content relating to this product is available for viewing at the following URL: http://www.nikonusa.com/mirrorlessiscoming. Please stay tuned for more information.
Details, including the release date and suggested retail prices, will be shared at a later date.
About Nikon
Nikon Inc. is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo and video capture technologies; globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for an award-winning array of equipment that enable visual storytelling and content creation. In 2017, Nikon celebrated a legacy of innovation with its 100-year anniversary celebration. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories, Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras and Nikon software products. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., announced the production of 100 million NIKKOR lenses, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers and visual storytellers to the Web’s most comprehensive learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo, Flickr and Snapchat (@NikonUSASnap).
