Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Editor P.O.V. Image Service" <editor@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Nikon lens mount changes


> Well, we have heard that something new is due from Nikon
digital this
> fall.. Something big..
>
> I tend to think this news is dis-information from the Canon
side..
>
> Because if it isn't, it'll be a marketing/design failure on a
scale of
> the  "New Coke" fiasco...
>
> Fact is, for well over 30 years, Nikon has marketed their
lenses and
> bodies on backward and forward compatibility.  The idea you
could use
> old lenses on new bodies and new lenses on old..  (with limited
> exceptions and the reality that advanced features would not be
available).
>
> There are tons of news shops out there still using Nikon bodies
and
> glass to the consternation of shooters who want two things..
>
> 1)    A full frame digital chip
>
> 2)    Auto White balancing equaling that in the new Canons
>
> If  Nikon were to proceed in this manner, you'd see:
>
> 1)    Nikon news shops switching to Canon - why go to an
untried product
> from a manufacturer who just suckered you...? The shooters
would already
> rather move to Canon for the most part.  In this case any
executive
> resistance would be gone..  ESPECIALLY if Nikon's new glass is
bigger
> heavier and more expensive.. LOL
>
> 2)    Loyal Nikophiles (myself included) dumping Nikon glass
and bodies
> en-masse (that might be a good thing for current D1 and D100
owners, as
> well as film purists., but it won't buoy Nikon's reputation)
>
> 3)    I'll move to Canon (after 20+ years with Nikon) faster
than merde
> through a goose..
>
> 4)    The betrayal of a basic corporate selling point
(retaining glass
> to use on your next body, and the next, and the next, etc.)
would
> virtually destroy any Nikon corporate credibility with many
pros - and
> particularly with the news shops
>
> 5)    Even the consumer Nikon market would erode significantly.
(just
> look back at how Canon grabbed consumer market share when they
came out
> with fast big auto-focus glass well before Nikon - people buy
what they
> see pros using on TV and Nikons were outnumbered back then -
early to
> mid 90's) What happened back then will be nothing compared to
this wave..
>
> 5)    Nikon will become a minor consumer camera player..
equivalent to
> Minolta..
>
> 6)    Key Nikon executives will eventually commit seppuku (hara
kiri) in
> shame..
>
> Just my 2 cents, but it's based on talking to other pros in
news shops,
> etc..
> Keith

I will archive this message and we will see in spring next year
whether Color Foto had any info for that news.

Is the existing diameter of the Nikon mount limitating the rear
element size of the lenses compared to Canon's lens mount and
that of other 35 mm SLR mounts? Canon claims it has the widest
size now.
At least a wider mount for the Nikon with the same or less
'flange to film' distance will allow an adapter construction for
the old lenses.

Olympus has another approach and explains that a CMOS or CCD of
the same size as 35 mm needs another optical design for the light
falling on the sensor. So they reduce the sensor and keep their
lens mount.

http://cf.olympus-europa.com/FourThirds/press_release.htm

Ernst