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Nikon 41-Megapixel MX Format Sensor for Digital Rangefinder?
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 2:30 AM on September 6, 2008
We've been following this for a little while to let some meat stick on the skeletal rumours, and it's finally feeling substantial enough—though definitely still a rumour—to throw your way. It looks like Nikon's got a 41-megapixel medium format (MX) sensor up its sleeve, which is most likely for a digital rangefinder. Nikon itself teases something BIG for the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International convention in Feb. in the pages of Rangefinder magazine. Finally, Nikon Watch has a tip (albeit unsubstantiated) that the MX format sensor is 48x48mm and in fact 48MP, and will go inside of a digital rangefinder that's "not to [sic] dissimilar to the older film Mamiya 6 camera philosophy." There's more.
Obviously, a new format means you'll need new glass. But, the tipster says that the rangefinder will be able to use DX and FX lenses with a mount adaptor, giving you crop factor of 1.5 for the DX, 1 for the FX and 0.5 for MX lenses. When shooting with FX,you'll be able to rotate the sensor crop from landscape to portrait instead of having to turn the whole camera, and somehow you'll still get to shoot the full square resolution. And yes, this thing will have live view. Given Nikon's penchant to leak like the Titanic, we'll know more about this puppy soon, no doubt. [Nikon Rumors, Nikon Watch - Thanks Peter!]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Spoondizzle
Posted 2:44 AM 6/9/08
I wish I could get into MF but digital is CRAZY expensive and finding a local developer is like finding a virgin in a whorehouse.
If this costs less than a car I'm tempted, but nobody's made a cheap digital MF camera yet.
Spoondizzle
screamlordbyron
Posted 3:12 AM 6/9/08
I am highly skeptical this is going to be a rangefinder camera. Nikon has been out of the rangefinder business for quite a long time, and so having to bring itself back into this design loop would be very inefficient. Their real design expertise for quite some while has been in SLR development. As such, I would expect them t be far more likely to stick with this technological fork.
While they may be working on a medium format sensor (although the "proof" behind these rumors is still more than a bit sketchy), the basis for rumors that it will be for a rangefinder camera seems to be based largely off wishful thinking, wild-ass guesses ,and from the fact that there was an ad in Rangefinder magazine (which by the way, is NOT a magazine about rangefinder cameras, it is a general interest photography magazine for professional photographers, with a strong (but not exclusive) bent towards wedding and portrait photographers). Maybe I'm wrong here, but I just don't buy it!
screamlordbyron
endless
Posted 4:01 AM 6/9/08
as a borderline nikon fanboy this leaves me very confused.
the only thing that makes sense to me is nikon is going to release a back for other MF cameras using their most recent sensor developments. which would be exceedingly neat.
starting a whole new line of glass for MF seems really silly to me. especially when their bread and butter 35mm/DX line could definately use some refreshing. (PRIMES!)
endless
mknawabi
Posted 4:07 AM 6/9/08
If Nikon truly does make a digital rangefinder, they better damn use something similar to the M-bayonet mount in order to allow current rangefinder users to use the new nikon RF.
However, I think the chance of this sensor being incorporated into a DSLR is much more likely than a rangefinder.
mknawabi
misterwho
Posted 4:27 AM 6/9/08
@screamlordbyron: This would seem like a wise move from a marketing perspective. If Nikon is able to go toe-to-toe with Mamiya and Hasselblad or at least play in the same league, then their brand credibility would shoot way past that of Canon, et al, in the consumer/prosumer market.
This is similar to an auto maker, like Honda, participating in Formula 1 racing. A win in this arena would give them bragging rights all around. Go Nikon!
misterwho
LoganAdams
Posted 5:10 AM 6/9/08
I love using a Canonet QL GIII that I restored a few years ago. It's totally quiet, feels rather different and helps me take photos that have an interesting feel to them. The thing is, if I could get one that had a working meter (It was made for mercury batteries, and the zinx-oxide ones don't last worth crap) and made digital files, i would be in heaven. DSLRs are so big and noisy. I want the stealth and anonymity of a rangefinder.
Nikon just might make me switch over with this.
LoganAdams
lnbolch
Posted 6:15 AM 8/9/08
@endless: Nikon has been making large format lenses for decades. Not only large format but also medium format - the last film camera I bought is a Plaubel Makina with a brilliant f-2.8 80mm Nikkor.
Wedding photographers tend to favor the Mamiya6 and 7, since they are small and quiet, while still delivering a medium format image. Nikon also has produced a couple of cameras, D3 and D700 with truly remarkable low-light capability. Marry the two and you have an excellent camera for wedding shooters - many churches do not allow flash.
Of course, it would also be good for corporate communications, landscape work and so on.
lnbolch