Nikon D400 speculation

[fvdbergh]

As you have probably noticed, Toshiba announced an SD card (UHS-II spec) that they claim can reach ~250 MB/s read and write speeds.

Following Thom Hogan's lead: what camera can possibly make use of such a fast SD card?

Since SD cards are decidedly more APS-C grade than full-frame grade (except 7D, of course), that does seem to suggest that the Nikon D400 would support the UHS-II spec.

Do you agree that this development (Toshiba's new card) is a hint that we might actually see the D400 soon?

 

[bwana]

Do you agree that this development (Toshiba's new card) is a hint that we might actually see the D400 soon?

They'd abandon XQD so readily?

IMO you're grasping at straws.

 

[fvdbergh]

They'd abandon XQD so readily?

XQD is for professional use, so I expect the D4x to continue using that (or maybe abandoning CF completely).

IMO you're grasping at straws.

Yes, hence the title "speculation". But keep in mind that the Nikon D7000 was the first body to support the UHS-I SD card spec, and that the UHS-I cards started appearing around the same time as the launch of the D7000.

 

[LazyDemoni]

Oooh, I'd be sorely tempted to upgrade from my D90 (not that it's holding me back in any way) if a D400 is released. I just wonder about the pricing. Is there still a market for a high end crop body with even more high end features than the D7100? Is Canon also going to upgrade the 7D? If they are, then Nikon might want something to go head to head with that. I imagine that thousands of D300 owners will be relieved if this is true.

 

[fvdbergh]

Is there still a market for a high end crop body with even more high end features than the D7100?

Yes. The D7100 is great, but it does not have a pro build (full magnesium body, or pro weather sealing). More importantly, the D7100 is not really all that good at burst shots --- the buffer is still disappointingly small. Those three things are probably going to keep D300(s) owners from buying a D7100.

In addition, look at the price spread: D7100 at roughly $1200, D600 at roughly $2000. There is definitely a gap there for a pro-build APS-C body, and the D600 is definitely not pro, so it is not like you are going to convince your current D300 users to "upgrade" to a D600.

It seems as if there are three announcements (going by the rumours) that are in the wings, one of which is the D4x. Since the D4x is likely to be launched early 2014, it improves the chances of a D400 announcement soon (maybe August).

 

[fvdbergh]

The plot thickens. I saw Thom Hogan mention the specs of the new Fujitsu Milbeaut ISP (the processor on which the Nikon EXPEED is based). This processor can handle 24 MP images at 12 frames per second, which will serve nicely for a D400. Or even an upgraded D5300, which has been mentioned on Nikonrumors (not that I think the D5300 will do 12 FPS, but there are some power savings in the new Milbeaut too).

So how does the math pan out? Based on a D7100 raw file from DPReview, an ISO100 raw file weighs in at about 29 MB. So 12 FPS at ~29MB is roughly 342 MB/s. Suddenly an SD card capable of a write speed of 260 MB/s does not sound so crazy any more.
Sure, the (hypothetical) D400 will have deep buffers, but with a 260 MB/s card you can clear 1 second's worth of photos in about 1.5 seconds, compared to about 8 seconds of a 45 MB/s card. But maybe the D400 will use XQD instead --- or more likely, one UHS-II SD and one XQD slot, somewhat like the D800.

Of course, this is pure DSLR entrails reading, but it does add up ...