Nikon Likely to Release a Low-End Full-Frame DSLR

After being for many years the only manufacturer to have 35mm full-frame cameras, Canon should finally reconsider its crippling policies as Nikon is determined to release more full-frame DSLRs, and this time with a much lower price tag. The best example of the crippling policies is the EOS 5D, which offers great image quality, but does not have the build quality and the pro features of the 1D models.

On the other hand, Nikon is known for releasing cameras loaded with features normally seen on the pro models. The best example is the latest D300, which sports the same autofocus module as the full-frame D3 and tons of features that bring the successor of the D200 extremely close to the flagship model.

Back to Nikon's releases, Steve Heiner, senior technical manager of Nikon SLR marketing, was quoted by news.com as saying that there will be more FX-based DSLRs.

"I think you'll see other FX products. It's a sensor size we're committed to," Heiner told reporter Stephen Shankland of news.com.

Shankland believes that Nikon's next 35mm full-frame camera will be in the low-end segment of DSLRs. If we consider Nikon's policies of cramming more and more features into affordable products, it's likely that the next FX-based camera will be a full-frame DSLR, but at a much lower price than the D3, to be available for around $5,000. Something like Canon's 5D, but with more features.

So far, from what we've seen in the official high ISO images, Nikon's new FX solution seems to offer full-frame capabilities with spectacular results. However, a full review is needed to check if Nikon has all the pieces of the full-frame puzzle.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, Canon might review its policies with the next 35mm full-frame camera to prevent the migration to Nikon. In fact, it's the first time when Canon users are considering a switch.

I guess we will see how Canon sees all this when the EOS 7D or EOS 5D Mark II, nobody knows the name of the 5D successor exactly, is announced.

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