Is there any truth to the new D200 camera replacing the D100 in larger CCD, higher sync speed, firewire ability & integrated pocketwizard like function for wireless triggering a product soon to be announced? is this fact or fiction?

Like many boards, we really frown on rumors. Like I like to remind folks over and over again, those in the know have signed agreements called NDAs which forbids them from talking. So anyone who says they're in the know, is lying or has lots of money to deal with the legalities of their actions.

But if you just look at the economy, indicators like Kodak and Sigma being later and later on their releases, I serously doubt at new DSLR is coming soon.

Moose

I don't even pretend to understand the marketing prowess of big camera mfgs, but I'd imagine they know exactly what they're doing. Nikon didn't show a lot of new stuff at last year's show, so the buzz has been it'll happen in March.

But if I think about Nikon's product line, I wonder how much could change or be better? I personally don't need - and would never use - any more than 6mpixels. They just get too big and clumbsy to fool with IMHO. Now the point and shoots at Kmart may play with that, offering a 10mp plastic lens digital for $200.00 - in the consumer/amateur world megapixels are all the rage.

Metering, color etc on the D1 and D100s seem pretty close, especially if you use methods described on this board. So if they came out with a D2000 or whatever, so what? Who would buy it? How much better could it be than the D100? Would they discontinue the D100/x? Reduce the price?

Nah, I don't think so. My only pipe dream is a D1x that behaves as quickly as the D1H...

Moose mentioned things like the economy and market demand just isn't there right now for a new wonder-camera. That is probably the most logical preview as I've heard in quite some time...

I would think Nikon or any company would take the time to see if they can supply the equipment before doing a new product announcement 1-2 years in advance. Hype has killed many a current very good selling item. I would not in my opinion think they would make the D100 write faster or have a bigger buffer. That is my only complaint about it. "almost"... The smaller buffer and keeping it limited to USB1 allows the difference between the D1 series to stay a viable seller. If they cranked up the write speeds, bigger buffer, actually calibrated the meter why spend more on the D1x or H unless you need bulletproof. The other complaint I have with my D100 is the dark metering, I sent it back 2.5 weeks ago to be calibrated, I hope there is a difference for the better. If so I will be very have with my purchase.

Someone will eventually put a real "expansion slot" in the SLR (the way some folks tried with Flashpoint powered cameras). It could allow a plug-in GPS card, or a Wifi card, or something else creative like a voice recorder. They can do it for $200 PDAs, so it is just a matter of willpower & volume.

That's an example of something that I think could add value to future D-SLRs without having to resort to more pixels. In my case I'd buy embedded GPS in a heartbeat as I know would many others if they had the option, but from the discussions on the Sports forum, they'd be buying a lot of Wifi cards!

Just for fun:

How 'bout user programmable matrix metering that allows photographers, via Nikon Capture or similar interface, to enter image pixel/camera data (including compensation, WB, etc)from their own image files files into the cameras database - talk about the ultimate personalization!

Or what about real TTL flash that uses pixel data directly from the CCD during actual exposure - a bit more realistic and useful!

On the "way out there" scale, it would be cool to have a zoom lens that uses magnetic fields, rather than glass optics, to bend and shape light and has limitless range/enormous maximum aperture - I suppose it would take more than an EN-4 to power that one! (Yes, I watched too much Star Trek as a kid)

Getting back to reality, though, we've got pretty good gear now if we let go of what we "might have" and learn how to use it effectively.

Unusually light-heartedly,

Intersting comment about the GPS and Nikon, here is a link to a photographer who I talked with, that photographs the entire california coastline from oregon to mexico using his Nikon D1X, apple powerbook and GPS software. The link is http://www.californiacoastline.org/ Look under "about project" to see his equipment. You can also see the thousands of photographs also, a really neat project he's on.

Also, thank you for all the comments, it assures me that many are either satisfied with our D100 and no more improvements are needed or maybe some light modifications would be nice, but not esential because the D1X & H are sufficiant upgrades, including the increase in price you'll have to invest.

Lastly, for the first comment stating bonified personel would not "spill the beans" under contract, but since this not the enquirer, I should of re-phrase my question with "would it be possible if the newer D100 had...etc etc.". Like most digital geeks, we always want to wish a better product for our hard earned money. We will always ask for a faster computer with bells and whistles, or a car with more features, so don't take it personal when digital geeks like us just ripple the manufacture, for our wish list, and try to sneak between the christmas wrapping to see if its what we want.

Weldon--My favorite (completely made up) matrix metering rumor to start is that the reason Moose likes it so much is that Nikon used his images for the 30,000 they used to program it:-)

On TTL flash there is actually a much better and more clever solution than metering off the CCD. We'll hint at it in a product/technology review in February (don't get too excited as it is nothing near term, but there are some cool new technologies that over the next 5 years will change things dramatically.)

Rumors seem like self-fulfilling wish lists. I never believe the on line speculation. I do believe the things my friends “don’t” tell me. So no I don’t expect a new prosumer camera from Nikon. What I do hope for is… a tremendous upgrade for the D1x. A 14 MB pixel count or better and new metering, focusing routines, as well as a fully implemented firewire output would be great. I say the bigger, the sharper, the better. Resolution and sharpness are my hot buttons. I think it’s a shame one has to spend 25K on new Canon gear to use the 1Ds, which is a very cool camera. In fact I think its the first real step of a revolution, film will be a thing of the past. Like it or not, in five years you’ll have to work as hard as you did a few years ago to shoot digital to continue to shoot film. As for the big files… bring ‘em on… I’ll just get a faster box.

I rather try to improve my photographic techniques, instead of going into this megapixel craze. I just bought my second D1.;-)
Just my 2 cents.

Styx