What the Nikon D400 Needs To Be

August 29th, 2008

Now that the D300 is out, and the D700 is out, and the D90 is out: What's next?

I don't care too much about Nikon's flagship, the D3. It's just too big, too conspicuous and too noisy for my style of wedding photography.

I do like the current D300 - and possibly - the D700. But I hate the concept of carrying two cameras with differing formats, DX and FX on the same gig. I want a new camera, a D400, which will be all I need for my job. Nikon, please add these features to it:

*  much quieter shutter than the D300, even quieter than the D80. A little damping should go a long way here. This is crucial so I can get more and better shots in quiet settings

* Keep the DX format. I've gotten so used to it that I like it. It works. FX is unneccessary.

* Add dual card slots, preferably of the same format. Two 32-Gig CF cards in place would keep me going all day and night.

* Add an easily retractable display hood so it's visible inbright sunlight

* Add a mechanical ISO-Dial like film cameras for quick ISO changes

* Improve White Balance handling. How about a WB meter similar to the exposure meter showing the current color temperature? A mechanical °K WB-Dial? Nirvana!!! Green-Magenta compensation also has a dedicated button.

* Optionally save JPG images with maximum (14 bit) depth (maybe in a special format, not RAW) so highlights are recoverable in post processing where neccessary.

*  Add a couple of programmable buttons to which ANY menu function can be assigned (I'd want to access CLS flash settings with a single button, e.g.)

* Same light strap as the D3, but with no Logo or text on it. Just a plain black strap, please. I hate those which scream "D3" or "D300" at you. Ugh!

* Eliminate the top display and move it to where the corresponding buttons are (the back), same as on the D3.

* Add a 1:1 "image sharpness check" key.

* Add even more AF points, especially at the edges.

That's it.

The end of this list.

Nikon R&D: To work!

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