So the Nikon D3100 was released and, purely based on paper, it looks quite impressive for an entry level SLR. Now the rumor mill is running high for the Nikon D7000 which should be the name of the nikon D0 replacement. With all the renaming, what is Nikon’s strategy? And with Canon’s much awaited and major let down 60D, how does Canon fit into this?
First off, you must be totally naíve if you think that Canon and Nikon do not have meetings about their line-ups. It’s like the large oil conglomerates, they need each other and it is in their best interest to keep each other, even if at a high level, informed. They always release similar stuff at the same time. The best example is the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II and the Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS II . I mean come, on both have “radically re-designed optics and new stabilization. No, of course they never talked to each other… noooooo.
That being said, Nikon’s naming convention seems to shift now and it is understandable, they were running out of names and it was getting confusing.
We used to have the Nikon DXX for the entry levels (D40-D60 base entry to D80-D90high entry), then we had the Nikon DXXX for the enthusiast to professional levels (D300 and D700) and then the top of the line DX for the absolute professionals (D3, D3X, D3s). Now the next step up on the entry level would have been D100, but that is an old model name so they had to switch and added a 4th digit. Enter the D3000 and D5000 both of which now have been combined with the D3100. It would be idiotic to create a D95 at this point as it would be the only 2 digit model and there is your D7000. So now we have a clear numbering again that separates the categories and helps marketing and sales brochures. At this point we should be happy but along come the new specifications of the D3100 and D7000. each way above in resolution and features of the tripple digit cameras. FOUL I hear you cry but please bear with me, there is an explanation.
See here the crucial specifications (rumored for the D7000) for the entry levels
14 mpixels, 15 AF points, Full HD Video recording, Expeed 2 (D3100)
16 Mpixels, 39 AF points, Full HD recording, Magnesium Alloy body, Expeed 2 (D7000)
Now, take into consideration the D300s and D700, both of which cost almost double and are older.
12 mpixels, 51 AF points, HD recording, Magnesium Alloy body, Expeed (D300s)
12 mpixels, 51 AF points,Full Frame, Magnesium Alloy body, Expeed (D700)
Now, the gadget junkies will be jumping on the new entrants. The professionals will stick with the proven pro class. Why you ask? Simple, there is a reason why the new ones are classified by Nikon as entry to high entry level. They lack certain things that cost a lot to produce and have either crippled or totally different features than professionals require. A good example is certain incompatibility with old AIS lenses or no AF motor (the D90 had one).
Yes the ISO performance has been improved from the base to higher but consistent samples have to still show up on the net and to be honest I would not hold my breath for awesomeness in entry levels. This would canibalize and destroy the sales of higher cameras. My best quess is that the D3100 and D7000′s highest ISO setting will look like the D3s’s 102400. grainy and pretty much unusable. Expeed 2 still has to be proven as a processing engine and on top of that the sensors in both cameras are now produced by Nikon. I am not saying they are bad but they are the proverbial “version 1.0″ which is why they did not introduce the sensors in the high end first.
Overall I am excited of what Nikon introduces for aD300s and D700 replacement in the future. Me thinks it will match the D3X in specifications. Please remember that technology development does not stop and all these cameras are now already “old” . They can still hold their own and are superb pieces of equipment but there will always be something new around the corner.
Lastly, Canon’s 60D. It has to be the oddest thing to release. It’s worse than the 50D on paper because it looks like the unlawful child of a Canon 7D and aCanon T2i (550D). I have no idea how they think they will place this camera because it certainly is not worth upgrading for any 50D or even 40D user. They would go straight to the 7D which gives them a LOT more. Could this be Canon’s first slip up or are they trying to shift in marketing and segmentation like Nikon , slowly?
Let’s wait and see 
Now, to everyone about the
