Dear Nikon,
I’ve been watching
what’s going on in the camera world for the last little while and I’ve noticed
the fundamental shift in technology. Everybody seems to be developing
mirrorless technology, with video functions gaining increased importance.
I’ve also noticed
that you are falling behind a bit in both these areas. Now don’t get me wrong,
I love your DSLR’s. Hell, I learned photography on a D3200 with its great
18-55mm kit lens! The D500 is on my wish list right alongside that totally
insane, double-take-inducing monster, the D850 (I kinda like that one, too).
And then there’s
your Nikon 1 system! ...Umm... Y-Yeah, the AW1 is a fantastic idea.
Interchangeable lens underwater camera? Great! ...umm... Anyway...
Okay, so I get that
you don’t want to cut into your DSLR market with your mirrorless system, but
there are better ways to go about it. I thought I might share some of my ideas
with you. Just things that have occurred to me over time, sort of thing. Just
putting them out there to see what you think. So where do I start?
Well I guess I’ll
start with this; stop trying to compete with Canon because, in the mirrorless
market, they are playing catch-up too. Yeah they might be a step ahead of you,
but considering that Panasonic, Fujifilm and Sony have lapped you Canon just
isn’t your problem. No, I would suggest that it is time, instead, to start
learning from Panasonic and what they are doing. Specifically, you need to
learn video. In fact, I think that should be the focus of your mirrorless
system.
The professional
photographer of today is expected to be able to provide video as well as stills.
You obviously know this because of your integration of video technology into
your DSLR’s. What I suggest is that you keep your DSLR system primarily
stills-oriented but capable of video, and then create a mirrorless system that
is primarily video-oriented but capable of stills.
So how would I go
about it?
First things first,
I would stick with an F mount lens system. That way you don’t need to spend a
huge wad of cash on developing a new mounting system (or salvaging the
reputation of the 1 system), your existing customers have more incentive to
stay with you because they already have the lenses for your new mirrorless system,
and potential new customers are going to see a mirrorless system with the
largest selection of lenses in the mirrorless market.
Next, and this ties
in with the F mount point, I would go with a 24megapixel APSC sensor. It gives
you a bigger sensor than the micro four thirds manufacturers, meaning you would
be capable of better dynamic range, low light performance, etc. And, of course,
you know how to work APSC with your lens mount. Again, you make savings in
research and development and it’s good for your clientele, existing and future.
Now I’m going to
really focus in on my target market. And for me, initially, I am going to go
after the vloggers. It’s a huge market that is always on the lookout for the
next ‘best vlogging camera’. To really snag the vlogger market, and pique the
interest of the videographer, I would:
·
Make sure I had 4K video capable of 60p, with 1080 capable
of 120p, at a minimum.
·
Keep your great low light performance. Vloggers can
find themselves in any number of lighting situations, and a flexible vlogging
rig capable of dealing with those situations is essential.
·
Provide at least
a flat picture profile, and preferably a log profile (‘N-Log’, perhaps?) so
users can integrate video from other cameras like drones or action cams.
·
Create an in-body stabilisation system that works with
the VR system in the lenses. The more stable a platform you give a vlogger the
happier they’ll be.
·
Develop a line of lenses specifically for video
shooters with a built-in aperture dial and a smooth, refined zoom and focus
optimised for video.
·
Increase the range of DX lenses available. This would
be good not only for your mirrorless clientele but also your DX-sensored DSLR clients.
·
Include aperture adjustment in live view for those
lenses that don’t have the aperture ring I mentioned earlier.
·
As always, make sure there are headphone and
microphone jacks.
o A bit of an aside;
why not get together with Rode or Sennheiser or some other audio specialist and
develop a directional mic specifically for vlogging that links into the camera’s
pre-amp through the hot shoe? You could power the mic the same way. Just a
thought.
·
Make sure the pre-amp is a good one so your clientele
don’t need to invest in external recorders.
·
Have a rear screen that flips out to the side, like
you find on the Panasonic cameras, to make it easy for vloggers to frame and
monitor their videos.
·
Really refine the auto focus system for video so it
doesn’t hunt, it focuses quickly and it doesn’t miss. The Sony A6500 is a great
example of how to do video focus.
·
Finally, keep the weight of the body and the video
lenses down. I’d probably want to keep the weight of any new DX glass down a
bit, too.
That’s just what I
think. I’m not an engineer or designer, I’m not a corporate accountant and I
would never work in marketing. But I am a photographer, and I am getting into
vlogging and videography in the New Year. And I am a Nikon shooter, so I have a
vested interest in seeing a good mirrorless system with good video capability
from Nikon that doesn’t require me to buy into a whole new system. Do that and
I’ll be with you for a long time.
I hope you enjoyed
the read!
Please check out my
portfolio at:
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find me at:
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@BobCartPhoto on Twitter
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