Where is Nikon?

[Mike Tesh]

Wondering why Nikon seems to have skipped the whole digital video thing.

They have lots of years of photography and lens experience. Made great super 8 cameras and even tried a video camera or two many years ago.

So why aren't we seeing a prosumer DV camera from them. Maybe something to compete with it's long time rival Canons XL1/2.

Maybe we should start a petition. Or maybe no ones cares enough.

[Bill Pryor]

I still use my 1989 Nikon ED 8.5-172mm lens on my DSR500, but I don't think they even make broadcast lenses anymore. Too bad; it's a great lens. I guess they decided a long time ago to stick with still photography. Back in the film days they made a very nice Super 8mm camera, though it wasn't in the same league as the Beauleau. Along those lines, Kodak made some of the best 16mm cameras (back in the pre-battery, windup days). You'd think they would have got into the more professional cameras too. But, just because a company doesn one thing well doesn't mean it can do something else even if it's in a closely related field.

[Jeff Donald]

Nikon has limited resources to compete in the market place. The 8mm video camera they sold was just a re-branded Matsushita (Panasonic). Cameras stores were their principal outlet and camera stores are no more. Ritz is it. They decided to concentrate their resources on the market they know best. A good decision, I think.

[Jacques Mersereau]

I brought this up at the end of another thread, but Nikon is one of
the few big camera companys that *could* make a HD video camera
head with HD 292M output. Nikon could steal the indie market
without killing their other investments and sell a ton of lens.

Canon could, but isn't going to threaten their big lens market.
Someone is going to do this, and it may even be the guys
working hard in our 'alternatve imaging' area of this board.

The XL2 is now at the front of the line for me, but it is still DV25.
I had really hoped that Canon would include an uncompressed
SDI out (which would also steal the blue screen shooters market)
but alas they left out what could have been a major step forward
for our market.

Nikon doesn't have to do much more than
port the CMOS chip's output off of a 100D to HD 292M or even 601 SDI
to open my wallet for immediate purchase.

[Jeff Donald]

Without spending a portion of my day browsing financial statements, I doubt Nikon is even a tenth of the size of Canon. They have had financial difficulties of late (losing money) as have most of the camera manufactures (i.e. Olympus, Pentax, Minolta etc.). In fact Nikon is a constant rumor of takeovers because of their consistent loses and lackluster performance. Nikon or any other camera manufacture are unlikely to branch into new markets. I doubt Olympus is even pursuing the rumored HDV camera they once talked about.

[Jacques Mersereau]

Well, you know what they say Jeff, evolve or die.

If they want to stay in that market selling few units with no profit margin
one the units they do sell that's their choice.

Me, I'd add an HD SDI 292M output on a D100 and sell 'em for 5K! :)

[Mike Tesh]

Jacques I think it's been said befroe that cmos chips can't handle video.

Even so I'd like to see a Nikon DV cam with an F mount. However they would accomplish it.

[Jeff Donald]

The Nikon D100 uses a CCD, as does the new Nikon D70. The D2H uses a JFET. JFET (Junction Field Effect Transistor) is similar to CMOS sensors.