Nikon D700 and D300s discontinued, D800 launch on 7th February 2012

[Red Dot Photo]

The Nikon D700 was launched in in October 2008, being the affordable full frame camera next to the Nikon flagship D3. Having 12.1megapixels and all the FX goodness, it was a challenger to the full frame cameras of the Canon 5D/Mark2, and Sony A900. The rumour mill has gone to overdrive lately with the looming Olympics and recent announcements of the Nikon D4 and Canon 1DX, that a D800 is surely in the works, and we need no further evidence with a possible launch of the D800 on the 7th February as well as the publication at the Nikon Japan website that the Nikon D700 is officially discontinued.

The D300S, is also listed in the website, joining the ranks of the Nikon faithful cameras which have been discontinued. There is hardly any rumour on the D400, if any. We believe the D3xx range will be discontinued as the D7000 has proven to be such a good replacement of the D90 that the D7000 has eaten to the share of D300s.

All eyes will be on the announcement on the 7th February 2012!
Watch this space!

[zeddified]

Feels like a 5Dmk2/7D competitor should be in the works.

D7000 seems like an undecided camera line -- just something that they've pushed out of the blue that turned out surprisingly good. It might be a one-hit wonder like the D40/D40x when it came out, after which the D60 didn't rate as well (it barely lasted a year before being discontinued).

D4 v.s. 1D X;
C300 is out of Nikon's league;

Unless Nikon goes mirrorless or beyond 24 megapixels (with an actual IQ increase and not just MP pushing), it would be logical to compete at the 5Dmk2/7D level.