Earlier this year, I published a long wishlist of features that I would like to see on the Nikon D820. Since Nikon decided to skip this model number and jump directly to D850, I figured it was time to revisit that article with more realistic goals and features many of us would be willing to upgrade our D810 DSLRs for. I think as a large community of Nikon shooters, we should do our best to reach out to Nikon directly and put in our requests, so that the company knows what its dedicated user base expects from the future generations of their cameras.
Table of Contents
More Resolution
At this point, it is hard to say what resolution the sensor on the Nikon D850 is going to be, but considering how proud Nikon seems to be of this upcoming announcement, I expect the D850 to have more than 36 MP of resolution. The biggest question is whose sensor is the D850 going to have? If Nikon decides to go with a Sony sensor, it will most likely be the same 42 MP sensor we have previously seen on the Sony A7R II. Anything higher means either a Nikon-developed sensor or some other sensor we have not yet seen on the market. No matter what route Nikon takes, I hope the new sensor is going to have similar or better dynamic range as the Nikon D810 (I am hoping for ISO 64 or lower). Anything significantly less would be a potential deal breaker for many, including myself. I would welcome a 42 MP BSI sensor with higher dynamic range and high ISO performance than the D810!
D5 Autofocus System
Considering that the Nikon D500 and the D5 have a newer, more versatile AF system with a whopping 153 focus points, I really hope that Nikon implements the same AF system on the upcoming Nikon D850. With a very fast AF system capable of focusing even in extremely low-light situations, the D850 should do very nicely in any shooting environments.
Live View Split-Screen Display Zoom Enhancement
When shooting landscapes and architecture, many of us have to calculate hyperfocal distance in order to get the entire scene look sharp. While the process is not very difficult, whenever calculation of distances is involved, there is always a chance for error. With the introduction of the D810, Nikon gave us a wonderful feature called “Split-Screen Display Zoom”, which allows one to get extremely accurate results in regards to calculating the best hyperfocal distance. In Live View mode, the screen is split into two halves and one can look at two areas of the frame independently and rotate the focusing ring in order to get both areas as sharp as possible while zoomed in:
I personally found it incredibly useful, as it leaves no room for error – one can really nail focus with this feature. However, there is one huge drawback to the way Nikon implemented the Split-Screen Display Zoom – it only allows for simultaneous vertical movement of the zoomed in area, which makes this feature only useful for shooting in vertical orientation. As soon as you switch to horizontal orientation, you can no longer look at both the foreground and the background at the same time! Nikon should really address this problem by allowing one to move the focused area independently of each other. This should have been addressed via a firmware update on the D810, but I really hope that Nikon fixes the issue on the upcoming Nikon D820.
Backlit / Illuminated Buttons
Nikon typically only gives us illuminated buttons on top-of-the-line DSLRs like the Nikon D5, but how many of us shoot with such cameras at night? In fact, I bet most D800/D810 users need this feature more than the D5 shooters do, simply because of the type of photography they are engaged in. Action / Wildlife photographers wrap up their shooting at night, whereas night time is when astrophotographers come out to photograph those stunning Milky Way shots:
NIKON D800E + 20mm f/1.8 @ 20mm, ISO 3200, 20 sec, f/2.2
So why not add illuminated buttons to the Nikon D850? Far more people would benefit from such a feature, particularly when shooting in very dim environments. Nikon did it on the D500, so it is time to copy this feature to the Nikon D850.
Fixed sRAW Implementation
When Nikon introduced sRAW initially, many of us got excited about the feature. Thinking about not only potential space savings in some situations, but also about the different options we could have when shooting with a high resolution camera like the D810, it seemed like a wonderful option. However, after we looked deeper into the sRAW format, it turned out to be more of a marketing gimmick, with larger than desired file sizes, cooked / lossy data and other problems. Does this mean that sRAW is doomed forever? It does not have to be – Nikon could make sRAW very useful by reworking it completely. If one could shoot at 42 MP in full resolution, 24 MP in medium resolution (mRAW) and say 12-16 MP in low resolution (sRAW), but with real pixel binning to reduce noise levels in images and reduce their physical size, how awesome would that be? And please, no stripping of important data! We do not want to see 8-bit, 10-bit or 11-bit implementations of sRAW – all data should be preserved, which means storage of data in full 14+ bit lossless. This way, we do not have to worry about posterization and other related artifacts, as we had previously seen on Sony mirrorless cameras:
Built-in GPS
I would love to have a built-in GPS on the upcoming Nikon D850. When traveling to remote areas, it would be wonderful to know exactly where I captured images, so that I could share that information with others and potentially come back to the same location later, which I could do with accurate GPS coordinates. Sadly, Nikon has been pushing external GPS units, which are very impractical to carry around and use in the field, as they have to be connected via a wire to the camera to work. GPS is a very important feature for landscape and travel photographers and Nikon should include an integrated GPS chip in the upcoming D850. If Canon was able to do it on the 5D Mark IV, it should be a no-brainer for Nikon to offer this feature.
Built-in, Working WiFi
The same goes for WiFi – Nikon should integrate a built-in WiFi chip on the D850! And not of the practically useless Snapbridge type we have seen on the Nikon D500, which did not even have an iOS app ready after the product already hit the market, but something that works seamlessly well with a number of different platforms. One should be able to easily copy images from the camera into a mobile device and use an app to be able to remotely control the camera.
Fix EFCS So That It Works Properly
I love the fact that the Nikon D810 has an Electronic First Curtain Shutter (EFCS). In fact, that’s the #1 reason why I personally decided to move up to the D810 from my D800E, as I wanted to be able to completely eliminate camera shake caused by the camera shutter mechanism (which is often worse than the mirror slap). Despite the fact that EFCS is a wonderful and truly useful feature, the fact that it only works in some modes like Mirror-Up is puzzling. Why couldn’t Nikon make EFCS work in other modes such as live view? With live view, the mirror is already raised and the shutter is open, so why the camera needs to close its shutter before capturing an image is beyond me. Nikon should seriously fix this flaw in the upcoming D850.
Silent Shooting Mode with EFCS
While at it, why not give us a truly “Silent Shooting Mode” with an electronic shutter? Wedding photographers would love to have such a feature, particularly when shooting in churches, allowing them to capture moments without any shutter release sound. Sure, there would be limitations to such a feature when shooting movement, but if one understands the limitations, they would be able to take advantage of such features when needed.
Tilting, Touchscreen LCD and Pinch Zoom
A tilting screen on any digital camera is a very nice feature to have, because of the ability to capture both stills and video at odd angles, something that is much harder to achieve with a fixed LCD screen. Traditionally, tilting screens have been used on non-weather sealed point-and-shoot and entry-level DSLRs, so when the same feature started appearing on higher-end DSLRs, some photographers resisted the idea, making assumptions that a tilting LCD screen would compromise both weather sealing and build quality of the cameras. In reality, that’s certainly not the case – as we have seen by now, professional-level full-frame cameras like the Pentax K-1 feature tilting LCD screens without compromising on anything.
My Nikon D750s feature a tilting LCD as well and so far I have not had a single problem with this feature, after shooting both video and stills for many months. So there is no reason to exclude a tilting screen from high-end DSLRs like the Nikon D850! It would be nice if Nikon made the tilting angles a bit more versatile though, perhaps similar to what Pentax has done, but even the same tilting screen from the D750 would be good enough to start with.
4K Video
This one is certainly not a priority for most stills shooters, but considering that every major camera announcement puts 4K in the headline, it would make sense for Nikon to feature 4K video recording on the Nikon D850. If Nikon can do it right, but giving us 4K at 30+ fps, uncompressed HDMI output, zebra and S-Log features, it would make the D850 a highly desirable camera among not only photographers, but also videographers. Even if one shoots 1080p video exclusively, being able to shoot at 4K opens up a lot of opportunities to increase video quality – one can downsample 4K footage to 1080p in order to yield crisp video footage. The advantage is similar to shooting with a high-resolution camera.
On-Sensor Phase Detection Pixels
When compared to mirrorless cameras, DSLRs use phase detection AF system that is located on the bottom chamber of the camera, as explained in our article on how phase detection autofocus works. Because of this, DSLRs can have potential accuracy issues with focusing, especially when lenses or even worse, camera AF system are not properly calibrated. We have written a detailed article on how to calibrate lenses and as you may already know, the process can be both overwhelming and frustrating, especially for beginners.
Why not integrate phase detection pixels on the camera sensor directly, as mirrorless camera manufacturers have been doing? This may not sound like a good idea for a DSLR, as the camera would have to be in live view mode to make use of such a feature, but it does present a few advantages. First, it allows the camera to focus much quicker than contrast detection AF in live view mode, which can be very useful for shooting video. Canon has been integrating on-sensor phase detection for this reason alone in its current generation DSLRs. Second, once phase detection sensors are located in two places, the camera can potentially take advantage of the two. Why not use the on-sensor phase detection to calibrate the camera AF module and lenses? Sensor is what actually captures images, so it would make sense to use the same plane of focus for accurate calibration of the AF system. Third, if Nikon implemented on-sensor phase detection, it would allow the company to improve the AF speed and accuracy of the system for the future mirrorless systems Nikon might be working on. Lastly, combining intelligence of the sensor output with on-sensor phase detection allows for many focusing opportunities, including face / eye / smile detection, etc, which are currently not possible with traditional phase-detection AF systems found on DSLRs.
Automated AF Fine Tune / Enhancement
We have already seen Nikon’s attempt at automating AF fine tune on the D500, but I feel like this could be improved even further. We know that lens calibration only works for specific distances and focal lengths, so calibration is not as simple as we would like it to be. Nikon should give us the ability to store AF fine tune for each focal length on zoom lenses and allow calibration of different subject distances. But it would be a nightmare if we had to do it manually – Nikon should help us automate the process, by giving us a good guidance system that tells us where to move and what focal length to change to during the calibration process. Images are taken, evaluated and re-taken to get the best out of each focal length and distance. If Nikon can do it, it will greatly enhance the AF system precision and keep DSLR shooters from having to send gear back to Nikon. Ideally, Nikon should allow lens calibration using a simple USB dock, similar to what Sigma has been doing on its latest generation lenses. Combine that with the automated AF Fine Tune feature and we will end all focusing frustrations in the field.
Dual XQD or Dual SD Option
Nikon should seriously consider moving away from CF cards completely. We already know that CF is not fast enough for the D5, so why continue giving us a single CF and a single SD card slot? I love being able to use two SD memory cards on my D750 – I don’t need to worry about carrying two different memory card types with me when traveling. That’s not the case with my D810 – if I want to shoot to two cards, I have to use one CF and one SD card, which is a nuisance. I would rather have either two CF or two SD cards. Better yet, give us the ability to choose between dual XQD and dual SD option on the D850. In fact, why not make it easy to swap out memory card modules? Nikon could make the D850 semi-modular this way and sell dual XQD, dual SD and even dual CF option for those who have a bunch of CF cards they want to use.
Built-in Radio Transmitter
I would love Nikon to include a built-in radio transmitter on the Nikon D850 to control the SB-5000 speedlight. This would make a lot of photographers happy, since we would not have to invest in a separate accessory to trigger speedlights.
Lighter and More Compact Body
If Nikon can pack all of the above into a smaller and more compact body without compromising anything, it would be an amazing achievement.
What other features would you like to see on the upcoming Nikon D850? Please share your thoughts below, but keep in mind that the features you request should be realistic to implement!
Every camera manufacturer should seriously start to consider offering histogram from real raw data files, not JPEG preview especially on higher end professional DSLRs
Shyam -absolutely agree. I would simply love to have a low and high out of range flashing indicator through the viewfinder for RAW. Thanks to the fast raw viewer program, I can see the differences, but only after the fact.
Exactly! For me, this is the ultimate wish for a camera.
unless Nikon has some other model in mind for action/sports photographers, I would like to see some reasonable fps in D850 too. 10 would be a deal maker, even if it requires using a grip with D5 battery.
Nikon said that the D850 will “exceed our expectations” … and specifically stated “commercial sports”.
5 frames per second misses so many key moments. 6 fps at 1.2 crop and 7 fps at DX take away the value of the D810’s resolution.
Yes just spotted the word “sports” in their official announcement. That gives some hopes, but also rises a question – how can they create a camera equally good for sports and landscape photography, as well as astrophotography. Really looking forward to more details on D850
Sigh – this always ends up with “what I want”, and Nikon can only produce to “what the market wants”.
The Sony 42MP sensor hits the highlights because of the other technology Sony includes with it, in the A7RII – will they hand that over to their rival, Nikon? – or just sell them the sensors?
AF suits some more than others – on my D810 I rarely use it, although it’s useful on my other cams. What “I” would really like is something that enables me to determine what is the focal point of the image – I spent half a century with a split screen & fresnel ring on my Zeiss Contarex, and chasing these spots around the screen to lock one onto someone’s eyes in a hurry isn’t as easy as it’s described in the photographic press. Nikon’s film cams gave you a chance to choose your own, and swap them around – that would be more use “to me” than pursuing a paddock full of focusing points around the screen.
Tilt screens are “useful” – but a “wealth hazard”, because it’s too easy to wreck them. Plenty of customers would love them – others prefer the fixed screen, for safety reasons. Having a tilt screen fall half off its moorings while you’re away on a shoot could be disastrous – a fixed screen is simply less convenient.
While I have to face the fact XQDs are taking over, I invested heavily in getting “enough” cards for my D810 and telling me they can’t be used in the D850 is telling me quite bluntly NOT to buy a D850. So after that remark, I guess none of my opinions is worth a cent, in the context of this article.
Very interesting comments, and I fully agree with all of your points.
The D7500 started the trend of removing core features (AI-S metering).
Apparently this trend continues with the XDD-only in the D850.
Deal-breakers, all.
All I was really interested in was the sensor improvements.
Otherwise, D850 looks to be simply “too much” that I don’t need.
Autofocus joystick pleeeeeeeaseeeee!!!
Very disappointed with 850 delay…
Delay from what? Was a date announced?
1. To be mirrorless :)
2. 5 axis stabilization
3. 4k 60-120p
4. Tilt screen
5. Better Dr, iso
6. Dual xqd
7. 20 fps, unlimited buffer
8. Af from d5 or better
9. exposure for night / astro over 30s
10. Focus stacking in camera
11. 40mpx
12. Automated af fine tune
Dream on…..
Besides all the above, I would like to see a sexier viewfinder display, same as the D5
According to following video from Nikon Asia, D850 is supporting 8K resolution for time-lapse. Not very clear if this means 8k video is supported.
www.youtube.com/watch…paRJ3eqKzk
Thus a possibility of 50MP+ sensor in D850 cannot be denied (not that the two are related).
After producing that video, I can’t image Nikon not offering a 50-mp, 8k sensor on the D850. Many people use the predecessor as a wildlife/sports camera, but I don’t think that it was aimed at that market. 50-mp will result in huge files and slower fps (say 5 to 7-fps) but the resolution will be stunning. If they can do that and not take a step backwards in DR, then this’ll be a killer body.
I’m a Canon shooter, but hope that you guys get this.
8K time lapse – you can almost do that with the D810 36MP(7360 × 4912 image).
8K being 7680 x 4320.
The 42 Megapixel sensor could easily do this.
ISO control on the right side please!
already possible with custom buttons
I have just sold my Nikon equipment mainly because of the lack of Nikon failing to maintain the advancements that you have mentioned in your article, and of course, the extraordinary cost of their equipment when other manufacturers are improving their equipment to probably the same quality of Nikon with possibly more innervation.
They have nerves now?
I would like to see brand new software too – current software is like software of mobile phones before smartphone era. And as we know, a lack of software improvements did kill a giant like Nokia….
Easily accessible predefined customized setting banks with a possibility to fast return to starting values, possibility to store advanced presets -> film emulations like Kodak Gold, Fuji Velvia, etc….
BTW did you know, that if you develop RAW image with built-in RAW converter in D800 with no values modification (so it will use the same values as it was taken), you will get different looking JPEG file in compare JPEG, which you will get immediately on a shot, if you have turned on RAW+JPEG option? Different colors, etc… interesting
Also it may display (optionally) misc advanced values -> hyperfocal distance for given configuration, current safe DOF for given configuration and focus distance (in centimeters) – and warning, when in a group portrait there is a face out of safe DOF, motion blur warning for given config + focus distance + (moving people AND/OR handshake)… whatever info, what can be calculated from known values…
Golden/Blue hour for given GPS position + additional astronomical info about sun position.
And more software updates too…
Correct: current DOF for given configuration and focus distance (in centimeters for example)
I’m probably in the minority but I’d like the choice of no video option at a slightly cheaper price point. I have a D700 and would love to upgrade to a camera that also has no video option as it’s not something I want.
we all know that is not going to happen with D850, right?
Pete, you’re not in the minority. There have been surveys over the years that show that most photographers don’t want or use video. The video people make a lot of noise but they are in the minority. How do you know this is true? Nikon has been really slow to implement higher end video features on their DSLR’s. That’s a dead giveaway. Video is added just to attract a few new buyers and to look competitive in the market. Nikons major customer base continues to be with stills photographers.
I’m with you Pete, no video would suit me just fine. I don’t care about the time lapse either to be honest. I have a D800 for 4 1/2 years and have never taken a video with it.
If Nikon can pack all of the above into a smaller and more compact body without compromising anything, it would be an amazing achievement.
It would be an amazing achievement indeed. Nikon would have found a way around the physical limitations of both optics and electronics manufacturing.
Gear is good! Vision is better!
Since this only a dream I’ll add that I want all that was mentioned in this article at the price of a mid-range Nikon.
I would like to see DSLRs implement focus peaking in live view. Given we’re looking at a digital image I don’t see any reason why it is not possible. And other visual goodies.
I’ll be very happy if Nikon can produce a problem-free D850, but that is too much expectation for Nikon…
i have a probleem free d810 – the best i have ever had and it is a very reliable Nikon
the Nikon FE, Nikon 801, Nikon f100, nikon d2x, Nikon d3 Nikon d3x and nikon d800E were also very reliable.
Yes they are. And I have had dirty mirror mechanism with D7000, then AF problem with my D800 (on the left focus points only). I was planning to buy D750 but Nikon announced “free” repair 3 times for the shutter!
And don’t forget about the D600-D610 fiasco.
I know this isn’t realistic, but I’d like to see built-in wireless not just for the flash, but for wireless shutter releases too. I’d love a first-party wireless shutter release that requires no separate receiver.
Barring that (or in addition to that), I wish they’d move the flash button so that it isn’t blocked by third-party wireless shutter releases! It’s such a pain to reach it as-is.
Another feature I’d really like to see, which is actually realistic and could be easily implemented, is U1/U2 modes just like the lower-end DSLRs. It absolutely infuriates me that saved setting are so annoying to do on the D810 vs. the D610, D750, etc. It would be so easy — just make them come up when you hold down M and scroll, just like the other modes. It’s so weird to me that they don’t do this.
I would also like to see a live view option where live view displays in one aperture, but you can still take shots in another aperture. This would make live view a lot more useful in dark environments when shooting narrow apertures.
I would also like the built-in level to work when facing down (i.e., when shooting a table). This would make it easier to level a lot of shots for me.
I’d also like a live-view auto-off setting, so that I don’t accidentally kill the battery if I leave the camera in live view.
Another feature I’ve always wanted on a camera, although this isn’t realistic at all, is automatic motion triggering. I’d like the camera to have a touchscreen interface, and have the ability to draw a line or an area on the screen. If the camera detects movement in that area, it instantly triggers. That would be so nice and would eliminate the need for laser triggers and elaborate setups etc. a lot of the time.
It would also be nice if we could see just a bit more shots per second. I know they can’t step on the D5, but maybe just one or two more shots per second. It would make a big difference.
I would also like to see a focus point joystick like the D500/D5. If the D500 can have it, surely the D800 deserves it.
Absolutely agreed on your point “Another feature I’d really like to see, which is actually realistic and could be easily implemented, is U1/U2 modes just like the lower-end DSLRs. It absolutely infuriates me that saved setting are so annoying to do on the D810 vs. the D610, D750, etc. It would be so easy — just make them come up when you hold down M and scroll, just like the other modes. It’s so weird to me that they don’t do this.”
It pisses me off that only the enthusiast Nikon DSLRs have this amazingly useful feature and the pro models all have the awkward and virtually useless (unless multiple photographers share the same body) Custom Settings Banks. Nikon should give firmware fixes to all it’s pro models to add user modes. For my shooting it would be great to have my bird in flight settings available with a push of the mode button and turn of the control wheel. This should be so easy to implement – for the life of me I can’t figure out why Nikon withholds this from the top of the end models.
I second focus peaking in live view, for video and stills.
Regarding 4K video, they really must include H.265 at 100Mbps as well as H.264 encoding, and keep uncompressed HDMI output (which the D810 already had). And none of this forced 2x crop factor crap for 4K that the D5 and D500 have, that’s a joke. You can’t get any use out of wide angle lenses. There should be four video crop modes: 1:1 for full sensor, 1.2x, 1.5x (DX), and 2x and all of them at least 3840×2160 in output resolution. There are plenty enough pixels for that if it can do 8K timelapse (meaning at least 40MP).
For comparison, my DJI Phantom 4 Pro quadcopter can do Cinema 4K at 4096×2160 30fps @ 100Mbps in H.265 and 60fps @ 100Mbps in H.264. I realize it’s a 1″ sensor instead of 35mm, but I really hope Nikon can deliver equal specs or better for video.
Looks like they dropped the pop-up flash. That won’t bother me much if they add a wireless trigger for the SB-5000. About the only thing I use my D810’s pop-up flash for is to trigger my SB-900 via CLS.
I am just hoping that Nikon will dig themselves out of the disgraceful hole called Snapbridge with the announcement of a killer new app to go with the 850. (It is probably too much to hope it will fix the horrible useless rubbish of the current implementation of wireless connectivity on the D500 – sadly) To me nothing else matters really. It may simply have great resolution, speed, focussing and processing, but we all expect that.
If it fixes that alone I will take a real interest and get rid of my D800 and my D750 quick smart.
DSLR is dead for most users but some specific nich. Thats why they will announce thire mirrorless this year.
Nikon is already a dead company as compact camera and dslr are both history.
I live in thailand and for two years now never saw a dslr. Years ago they where in every traveller arsenal. Now we all have mirorless so d850 is yesterday news
They need to close the entire line except sports photogrhapers and move forward.
Does years of bad managamant and market vision misinterpretation will end it? Does all thus users that already jumped boat will be back?
Let wait….
Thanks for dropping by and give us your invaluable opinion. :)
lol
Wow, what insight. DSLR’s are far from dead and Nikon is also far from dead. Don’t let your own closed-in, personal observations speak for the camera industry.
Rubbish. I have been to several, extremely-congested tourist areas (Yosemite, Big Bear, etc.) and I almost never see a mirrorless camera. If anything, the DSLR-to-mirrorless ratio I have seen is about 100-1.
1. More resolution. Okay but please ask Adobe first how to handle these files in Lightroom.
9. Switch to 1.
Further, very curious of what the D850 really can do!
If Nikon could build a good RAW for 46, 36, 24, and 12 MP that would turn around Nikon completely as a camera company. We know they stink at software, so I do not have high expectations.
So many good thoughts here! I’d like to add a pipe dream in the area of software. A focus stacking program. I guess this would consider the lens and aperture settings and take a series of exposures with in a selected range.
Hi,
i will put my 2cents into this too ;-)
1) EVF (but i know this will never happen)
2) Illuminated buttons
3) Improved DR / low iso performance
4) Focus peaking (like Olympus om-d or Sony Ax)
5) Improved resolution
6) Improved split screen mode
7) Tilting Touchscreen
This is only my opinion as a “hobby”-landscape photographer.
But with a possible better resolution, please Nikon give us some better f4 optics (16-35/24-70). It is a pain in the ass to hike over long distances with the holy trinity ;-)
Best regards and greetings from Bavaria
Klaus
The Nikon D810Astro has some nice features: longer than 30 sec shutterspeed… and actually the best is a bit more red sensitivity in the [email protected] . Yes I know it influences White Balance a bit, but this can be arranged by processing / software.
sensorshiftmode like Pentax, for long exposures from the stars, yes I’like to photograph astroscapes or astro lapses.
Bjorn
Hi, Nasim! Your wishlist is very complete and reasonable. If they managed to get all of this sorted out, I’d be putting some economies out to take a step-up to this level of camera for sure. With mRAW and sRAW properply implemented, it would fit for a wide range of purposes, for both professionals and enthusiast. It would be a great hit by Nikon for sure. If they could get all of this into a smaller body like the D500 would be even better. Best regards, Carlos.
I like most of the suggestions, but I for one do not want to see a smaller body. I prefer a larger, robust body, because I have some huge, heavy lenses that need to be attached to a real body.
I remember putting my 300mm onto my girlfriend’s tiny D5600 … and it was a joke. A bad one, too.
High-quality, fast glass is heavy … and it needs to go onto cameras of some substance.
I think Nikon will create a smaller mirrorless for snappers/travel photogs, but having a good-sized DSLR is still a bonus IMO.
Size and Weight, put the new camera on a diet. I love the D810 for landscapes, but it is getting to be too big and too heavy as i get older. And that stimulated me to get a M43 system which is great for walking trails and wildlife, but, from a IQ point of view, is not the equal of the Nikon D810. The current “Presets Memory Banks” are confusing and poorly implemented, and from what I read are better implemented on other Nikon bodies.
A simple request I think. The position of the focus aid (Green Circle) at the bottom of the screen is useless if you do not shoot on a tripod or use live view. Just have the selected focus bracket turn green when focus is achieved, much like the old slit-ring or micro-prism of film days. The red light already comes on, so the electronics is there. It would be a boon to manual focusing for your eye to stop leaving the main subject to glance down at the green circle – which can cause you to lose framing, etc.
So Nazim you just want the Nikon D850 to be the Sony a9!! ;)
The A9 does have a sensor that gives stripes ; nikon will and has never done that..
I know, as analyzed by dpreview, dued also to AF embedded sensors, but in special light conditions. My point is that many of the request listed in the post are already implemented in Sony a9, so Sony already went in the right direction even some issues are still there.
Hi Nasim
I am “afraid”, the camera with all those features would be the best camera for all – landscapers, wedding photogs, sports. I think this is not realistic. Technically and economically too. As a slow working landscaper I would be happy with
1) more resolution (linear at least+20%, same or better IQ)
3) LiveView enhancement
10) Tilting Screen
4) Backlit Buttons
8) Better EFCS
16) Lighter Body
… in that order, numbers are from your list. As has already been said, I miss RAW HISTOGRAMS too!
The other fetures you name are for me between “why not” to “not necessary”.
I hope it will have a built in flash like the D810!
Even so a bigger flash is useful, it’s very convenient to have the built in always with you …
In-body stabilisation, automated focus stacking, shutter delay coupled to an accelerometer, RAW histogram, exposure bracketing with shadow and highlight protection (instead of the brut-force +- options), menu system configurable from a PC interface (so I can clean out the smiling cat face mode), pixel shift mode.
User Presets for a full recall of camera states. U1, U2 or U3 – so I can instantly set up for long exposure and then rapidly change for something else.
Meaningful firmware upgrades……………………
1) Digital gradual ND filter
2) Folding focus (for macro)
This was the big 100th Anniversary announcement? Darn I was hoping for a gamechanging 16-400mm DX zoom.
Ditto to:
1-This was the big 100th Anniversary announcement? Darn I was hoping for a gamechanging 16-400mm DX zoom.
2-Digital filters, not just ND.
3-No need for video.
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I would like to see Nikon folllow the example of some of its other lesser cameras and include programmable presets i.e. P-1 P-2 etc. That would make changing from lets say landscape to portrait mode easier than going through the complicated menu system that the D800 series offer.
I will throw my vote into getting rid of the video, and put it into a specialized edition. I’d like the weight and cost savings that could bring. I guess I am one of the few people who likes my CF card. I like the size and heft of it. I will miss that a lot. I can’t stand SD cards, so easy to lose, so hard to work with. But ever wanting more speed, I just hope the QXD cards are a good size. And I definitely don’t want U1, U2 buttons or dials clogging up the outside of my camera. They are not necessary. The camera back and top should be reserved for important function buttons. The configuration of the D810 buttons is nearly perfect. If they added an image area button, that would make it complete, though it can be assigned at the current time. I just think a dedicated button would be nice. However, I suspect that the entire camera design is already set and all our wishing will not change any of what must be already in the works.
Voice Memo !!! just like the D3 series D4 and D5
DPreview copied and pasted your list… hahaha… You forgot better buffer/write speed, super High ISO low noise and better long exposure features…
In camera focus stacking
With the upmost respect Nasim, but i can’t see Nikon giving anything more than 40% of your requests, sad i know but its just a feeling I’m getting : ((
Two different versions of D850, one with video having dual XQD , the other only with still photo having dual SD. Different firmware to match the two types.
In these days of computer control I find it hard to conceive that modern cameras cannot do what most editing software packages can do with ease. When you edit a photo you can select the gradient tool and darken down the sky to better balance your photo. Why do you need to? Because the camera cannot ‘see’ that the sky is too bright as we would interpret it and causes the exposure to be unbalanced; hence the pros and enlightened amateurs use grad filters to balance their exposure. But these same cameras use processors and software just like your PC/Mac so why can’t it be allowed to compensate? I might sound radical but consider this:
1. set your camera up on a tripod
2. select from your menu a graduated filter option and use the up/down controls to extend an area from the top of the sensor down to your horizon
3. select how dark or light you want it using the left/right controls
4. take balanced photos with the camera processor correctly exposing taking your filter inputs into account
There would need to be a slightly different Raw option as it would affect the recorded image, but under your control. This should all be visible in live view so you would know exactly what you were selecting. The need for large external filters would be removed so no more dust, scratches, added weight, time to set up, or rain hitting them and spoiling a bad weather shot. No extra noise would be generated as the sensor would not be affected, just the camera’s processor writing a lesser brightness onto the image for the selected area.
Sounds too easy, why hasn’t it been done before? Don’t shoot the messenger with this suggestion, but wouldn’t it be a fantastic option for the D850? I would sell my D800’s just to get one!
Hallo,
Additionally I would like to have a nice plugin-interface either in camera or through the snapbridge interface on the smartphone. By this all those innovative features like DepthofField display, Focusstacking, focuspeaking (after the shot),…. could be developed in a plugin eco system with much faster turnaround times,… adding a massive benefit for nikon, while they could still concentrate on the hardware. If it would run on the smart phone, not all types of plugins would be possible, but even their real time requirements, crash security of the camera itself would not be jeopardize by 3. party plugins.
I want 5fps uncompressed raw and preferably 8fps (7 would do) in dx crop mode with an en-el18 battery installed in the grip.
A downsampled raw mode would be nice, something the 5ds offers.
Backlit sony sensor — yay
U1 and U2 !!!!!!!! Nasim, I’m a bit surprised you didn’t include this in the article. Also, things NOT to change: the battery and the USB connector. It’s so nice not to have to have these different in every camera.
Smart Picture Control that automatically uses the Portrait mode when it detects faces, and applies it only on the faces even if the rest of the picture is in Vivid mode.
Yes, and I want my D850 to feature a transform button which, when pressed, transforms my camera into an espresso machine.
Nice, probably the best I’ve seen from Nikon. I’d love to see the new ergonomic design, just like the d500 and d7500.
Has anyone already talked about the EVF? I dream it!
www.sonyalpharumors.com/compe…fovf-dslr/
Well, I´d love to see a radical change in what Nikon does. There is no point in offering entry-level, advanced and pro gear as everyone has the same issues. I as a working pro would love to see a body like the Oly E-M1(incl. grip) but with all the finesse only Nikon offers (to me) – eg. the button layout, the menues etc. but with the freedom of full customization of (nearly) every aspect of the camera´s behaviour. I´d like to have the battery stamina Nikon provides (1500+ shots) or higher my D3´s provide me with. Working WiFi and GPS – very helpfull once you´ve to upload your shots and give exact EXIF data to a Editor. Does pro-gear really need to weigh a ton? Not really and most of the pro´s i know do a lot of different venues (not just Sports or weddings) – can´t we agree that we stick with say 16MP which gives a good balance between maximum resolution and high ISO performance? That would make a “one-body-fits-all”-solution. In addition – for those who need 30+ MP – give them a interchangeable sensor-unit at an extra charge. Lenses? Well, we need one travel-lens and a full set from 12 – 400mm – if Oly can provide such gear at a reasonable price-point, lower weight and extraordinary performance – why can´t you Nikon?
Buttomline – no matter if a user is a amateur, hobbyist or working pro – we all have the same issues – weight, size, performance (may it be great AF-performance or high ISO or whatever). The masses don´t need camera´s – the small P&S are dead and so are (mostly) bridge-cameras and even those buying entry-level DSLR´s mostly enjoy what they get from their iPhones or Android mobile phones. What remains is a group of people who made photography a serious hobby (amateurs) or make a living from it (Pro´s). They can (and always will) spend more – more money, more effort, more passion in what they do to get “the shot”. So why not concentrate on those? Skip the entry level bodies and lenses, skip the bullshit 18-xxx lenses and every other lens no one really needs – a simple and clear line-up would do – 14-400 (up to 800) plus a travel-lens or two – done. Just provide one body plus the sensor exchange option and some speed lights (two max). With such a lean product portfolio you would adress 99% of the target audience and with a customer retention scheme they would stick with you forever (registration of gear, extended warranty, insurance etc.).
Just my 2-cents
Things I would like to See:
It should have real wifi built in so that images can be transferred directly to a PC folder like the Canon 6D and not to have to buy an adapter that cost $500-1000 that never works.
Capture software should be included with the camera and not sold separately.
Wireless flash control built into D850 so as not to have to have another piece of equipment to make D5000 flash work wirelessly. I have now gone to 3rd party flash systems and more powerful mono-lights that cost far less than one D5000 to avoid this so it is a loss of sales for Nikon to continue down this road.
Other things I would like to see:
EVF Would be Nice
Film Simulations
Universal Battery that works with all Nikon bodies (I’m tired of all the different batteries I have to carry)
Built in Image Stabilization
Price Below $3500.00
Why would anyone want more megapixels? They’re such a marketing gimmick at this point. A friend of mine tested Canon’s 50 MP camera vs my Nikon D810 with an 85mm @ f5.6 and found that my D810 produced sharper files… All it really means is that you’re buying more hard drives and spending more time retouching an image. When it comes to cameras like Phase One’s XF100, sure, 100MP looks great, but that’s also because it’s attached to a $45k camera body/sensor combo with a larger surface area to record the higher resolution.
I disagree with 4k30 being useful 4k30 is useless, People that shoot videos need 4k60 if they want to output 4k videos as you can’t slow down 4k30 enough to make dramatic footage look cinematic, All I want is better high ISO capabilities and 4k60 and I would be happy
Now that D850 is launched
Can any one comment on how much Nikon listened to us.
I investigated the possibility of changing from Canon to Nikon but I was amazed that Nikon high end models do not have custom slots where you can save all settings. Total dealbreaker. All Canon’s probably have 3 of them and already that is a bit disappointing. Why not have 5 or 7 even. At least 5 would fit the dial easily and I can’t understand how that it would make any difference from manufacturers pow if they make 3 or 5.