M Mount Nikon Digital rangefinder?

[Mike Rawcs]

The Online Photographer has a rumour of a rumour that PMA will bring a Nikon digital rangefinder with a Leica M mount. I hope it's not (a rumour).

"Actually one rumor I've heard that won't seem to go away is that Nikon is preparing a digital M-mount rangefinder, with three manual-focus M-mount DX lenses including a 35mm-e ƒ/2. But it's a rumor".

The Online Photographer

Mike.

[k-hawinkler]

Doesn't sound like it would be FF though?

[innerimager]

Full frame would be best of course. But even a cropped sensor that delivers clean ISO 3200 or 6400 as does my D3, or even higher (as in the D3s) would get a serious look from me! I'd sell the D3 and nikkor lenses for it in a heart beat as this is the only thing I currently need it for, as I don't use very long lenses, don't do sports, and don't do macro. best....Peter

[noah_addis]

If it's a full-fledged, full-frame digital rangefinder with an M-mount, I may have two M9s for sale

Or maybe it will be an EVF camera with an M-mount and APS-C? Perhaps the X1 sensor?

As I contemplate sending my M9 in for repair for a line problem, this would be tempting, if only as a backup.

I really wish someone would take an APS-C or APS-H sensor and stick it in an EVF camera with an M mount for $1000. It would be great if it used SD cards and though it's unlikely, really, really great if it used the M8/M9 battery!

[AGeoJO]

If they do, I hope that it would have a built-in electronic rangefinder. I love that in Nikon DSLRs for using ther execellent selected MF Ai-S lenses....

[charlesphoto99]

Yeah this might be an ideal back up to the M9. I would imagine it would use the same or slightly updated sensor as the D300 (rumour mentions DX lenses).

[jonoslack]

Hmmm. sounds like an X1 with interchangeable lenses . . . . not much of a substitute for an M9, although it might be an addition.

[zlatkob]

The rumor of a Nikon with an electronic viewfinder an interchangeable lenses seems to be pretty consistent over on Nikonrumours.com where they describe recent patent applications. But the Online Photographer is the only site (I've seen) that mentions an M-mount. I suspect it is really another micro four thirds camera, like the Olympus E-P1 and E-P2, rather than an M-mount camera. I imagine that Nikon sees a bigger market potential in micro four thirds than in the M mount, but who knows?

[lsolum]

It isn't clear what "M mount" means. Thom Hogan, for example, has used the phrase "M" or "MX" to refer to a new Nikon interchangeable lens system that he believes would use a smaller than Micro 4/3 sensor. Of course, Leica users assumes M mount would be Leica M, but in the Nikon world that is not necessarily the case.

[charlesphoto99]

Originally Posted by jonoslack

Hmmm. sounds like an X1 with interchangeable lenses . . . . not much of a substitute for an M9, although it might be an addition.

I was really thinking of addition as no way I can afford a second M9 at the moment (the only true back up). As it is I would expect any offering from Nikon to be less than an X1 which at $2k is too much for a camera that one holds at arms length.

[markowich]

I'd love to trade the M9 for a FX nikon rangefinder....any time of day or night. preferably M mount but nikon mount wold be ok, too. unfortunately it is only a rumor.... i expect a micro four thirds nikon this coming fall though.
peter

[jonoslack]

Originally Posted by markowich

i expect a micro four thirds nikon this coming fall though.
peter

Hi Peter
The idea that Nikon will join the m4/3 consortium (i.e. Olympus, Panasonic and possibly Fuji) seems entirely incredible to me - certainly a hat eating scenario.

I'd expect them to jump on the mirrorless interchangeable camera scenario with either an APS/c sized sensor - or possibly something smaller than m4/3.

There is such a big gap between the pixel density of the cropped dSLR cameras and the best of the compacts:

2.1 Mp/cm2 = M9
3.3 Mp/cm2 = X1 / Nikon D300
5.1 Mp/cm2 = M4/3 cameras (EP and Panasonic G)
23 Mp/cm2 = G11

I think there is a real market for something inbetween which could be genuinely small with excellent image quality.

P.S. - do you have an M9 to trade? and if you do, why?

[Jeff S]

Originally Posted by noah_addis

If it's a full-fledged, full-frame digital rangefinder with an M-mount, I may have two M9s for sale

Seriously, or in jest? If the former, what would be the enticement?

Jeff

[ModernMan]

Originally Posted by Jeff S

Seriously, or in jest? If the former, what would be the enticement?

Jeff

Innovation, perhaps?

[NB23]

All I want from a M rangefinder is to have at least 4 fps with a big bufffer. Once that camera hits the market, I can finally sell all my DSLR gear and never look back. But for now I'm stuck with the DSLRs for wedding work and I don't like it.

[W4Leica]

I wholehartedly welcome Nikon Rangefinder if rumor is true. Though I might not commit myself, I am sure it will add competition which we all could benefit for price drop from M9. W

[mmk60]

I look forward to it with my $$$$ (hopefully not more than $$$$)

[marknorton]

TBH, I'm not holding my breath. There were rumours a couple of years ago, maybe not that long, about Nikon entering the MF market, which (so far) has come to nothing.

Given Nikon make more cameras in a day in just one of their plants than Leica make in a month, it's difficult to believe the business case for a rangefinder camera stack up, especially since profits at Nikon have been hard to come by. I would have thought a D3x in a D700 form factor was a much more attractive proposition.

The problems Leica face supporting M lenses on a digital platform don't suddenly go away just because you're making the camera in Sendai instead of Solms. Even if there is a new camera using the M mount, that doesn't mean Leica's problem children will work on it, as the 28mm Summicron ASPH on the Panasonic G1 shows all too clearly.

[Mike Rawcs]

Originally Posted by ModernMan

Innovation, perhaps?

Reliability? SD cards will work? No dead pixel lines? No cracked sensors? No need to remove battery to fix dead camera? No constant return of camera to Solms?

I hope it arrives, is smaller than the M (film and digital), has a coupled rangefinder (I'd like AF but will settle for a rangefinder) and has (if required) Live View with focus confirmation.
APS-C sensor will be fine.

Mike.

[noah_addis]

Originally Posted by Jeff S

Seriously, or in jest? If the former, what would be the enticement?

Jeff

Well, actually not innovation, per se. I would prefer a traditional optical RF, framelines like the M9, with a minimum amount of bells and whistles (and the ones that are there can be hidden in menus instead of covering the thing with buttons).

Don't get me wrong, I think this rumor is probably not true and I think it's very unlikely that Nikon or anyone else will make a full-frame DRF. Anything other than full-frame may be ok for backup but it can never be my primary camera. As with film. there's no substitute for real estate.

But for the sake of discussion, I would expect any offering from Nikon to have better write times, faster processing and a larger buffer. I don't need 4FPS but I'd settle for 1 or 2 FPS continuously until the card was full.

Also, I would expect the camera not to have a red edge problem. I would expect it to not have a vertical line problem when basically brand new. And I would hope that the customer service people would actually return my phone calls and emails, which is more than I can say for Leica NJ. I would hope NPS would offer loaners. When My M8 went down Leica had none even though I'm a member of Leica's pro service. I haven't even been able to get an answer about a loaner now that my M9 needs to go in.

And from Nikon, I would expect that it would cost less. Perhaps I could buy three (or four) for the price of two M9s, which would mean the reliability, service speed and availability of loaners would be less of an issue since I could afford a third camera.

That's the short answer