John--That'd be cool!

In any case, once I get home to my 18-200 I'll definitely play with it some more on my D700, and of course I look forward to how Gavin uses it effectively on his D3.--David

I may have had my wish fulfilled.

This was on a rumor website.

It appears Nikon's 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.

John--Thanks for passing along the info (rumor or not, it's of course interesting). My gut (aside from thinking "about time" for many of the lenses like the 24-35, new 70-200 for FX without vignetting and 120-450 to replace the ancient 80-400) is that it is _a lot_ of lenses (and even cameras) for 1 year.

SO: I'd bet money they won't all be announced (or at least all ship) in that timeframe, but they all make sense so I can believe they are all in the pipeline in some state.

Agreed that a nice FX 24-135 would be a great walk around lens. I can wait a few months:-)--David

David, we do use it in DX mode, for us (ski pics) the loss of res is not a problem and the smaller file size is a good thing.
The extra reach at 200mm is and bonus for me.
This stock photo issue is a pain in the arse, I have have several photo's that agents have wanted to use, but shot in DX jpeg is not what the kids running these places want.
Used to be fine at 2 or 3 meg but no more, so maybe they should take down the half dozen billboards of my shots around the country that where done of files that are "too small"
Gav

Gavin--Thx for the info. Agree that DX mode resolution should be "just fine" since that is all we had for years, but no one seems to have any luck pushing that with the stock folks.--David