Nikon VL1 - 50 Megapixel Super-Rumor

We’ve seen rumors like this before, this one adds in the whole ‘modular digital nikon’ concept:

Supposed specs:

• 50 megapixel
• Integrated SSD holding 250 fullsize RAW shots, can be upgraded
• Removable sensor (back?)
• Built-in Wifi- capable of transferring files as quickly as it is to write to the SSD?
• Eye-tracking AF system
• Entirely new, super awesome-o software to handle it all.
• new line of lenses to take advantage of it, new lens mount?

Supposed Release: September 15, 2009. $10k.

I’m calling big bullshit on this. Even at rev. N wifi speeds, it’d be too slow and this just seems like a wish-list drawn up by fanatics, not like a plausible system designed by Nikon and, apparently, already functioning.

In addition- if they continue to write software like CaptureNX, then this thing will be a pain to deal with unless you’re using LightRoom or something.

Plus, again, there’s 0 reason to launch it in this economy.

Ken Makes it Up: Nikon MX Forecast

Oh good grief- devoid of any serious information, Ken speculates on the Nikon MX medium-format camera system. I’m going to report it because his pointless speculation is now almost funny:

Nikon may have done what we all want, which is use a real 54 x54mm square sensor with a resolution of 6,380 x 6,380 pixels.

This is fantastic; it’s the same size as a mounted 2-1/4″ transparency.

I would sure love my square medium-format back- I miss shooting that way with my hassie. But let’s get real- maybe some day we’ll see something like this, but I think it would surprise everyone.

PCWorld (huh?) reports that Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen says they’ve got a 60 megapixel H3DII-60 that yields 94% fullframe coverage on their 645 format.

Hasselblad 500cm

“We feel that it’s important to emphasize the 94% coverage, because, although we hear the phrase ‘full-frame’ being used quite frequently, no manufacturer has yet achieved true medium format full-frame,” said Poulson at the huge German photokina show.

My 500cm, dejected, weeps on the corner. “Don’t worry little 500cm, you’re still the only Hasselblad I can afford I’ll ever love. We’ll be together as long as they’re making Provia 120, 100iso.” (I’m not very romantic…)

There’s some question about the “uncrop-factor” (I’m coining the term) on the rumored Nikon medium-format “MX” sensor.

In the comments, Martin points out:

The “crop factor” is wrong. It was roughly 0.5 for my old Bronica GS-1 6×7 medium format camera. The crop factor for a 48mm square chip would be 35 divided by 48, so 0.73.

The comment that MX users would complain about the crop factor… well the reason for DX users complaining was mainly that the two systems were otherwise identical, i.e. both “35mm” SLR systems and used the same lenses, and thus bore direct comparison.

This system would be a completely new format, more along the lines of a MF-lite, like 6×4.5, but square, with all-new lenses made specifically for that format. If no one complained about 6×4.5 or 6×6 cameras in this respect before, why would they now?

I’ll trust his math and basically agree with him- presuming any of the specs are correct (and who knows?)- you’re not going to get cropped on any previous lens you can attach to this camera- your DX and FX lenses will cover just as much sensor as they ever did- it’s just that your sensor is larger than your lens will cover.

It’s like putting an DX lens on your full-frame body- if you only ever have used a DX lens, you don’t know you’re missing anything.

Then when you want to use the full capabilities of the sensor, buy some (very pricey, I’m sure) lenses.

Maybe I’ll finally not have to sell the house to get my beloved square medium-format into the digital age!

A little birdie passes along this really curious and especially informative rumor about Nikon having plans for what sounds like that old “modular” camera, but it also is a medium-format chip!

Dear Matt

FYI:
On speaking with Nikon [in country unnamed], this came to light with various questions – they already had development plans for a new Nikon digital rangefinder with approx 48mmx48mm size sensor inside it, tentatively called the “MX” format, the camera is not to dissimilar to the older film Mamiya 6 camera philosophy.

The new camera will be backward compatible with DX and FX lenses (via mount adaptor), therefore the lens factor (based on using a FX lens) will be worked out like this:

DX = 1.5x (Half frame)
FX = 1.0x (Full frame)
MX = 0.5x

Custom format choice:
When shooting in FX mode with this camera, you will be able to “rotate” the sensor crop from landscape to portrait rather than turn the camera as well as be able to shoot the full square resolution this camera provides. options for 5:4 etc will also be available.

Viewfinder/Live View:
For more critical cropping (like for still-life and macro work) you will be able to use the live view function for exact framing rather than the rangefinder component.

Sensor:
about 48 megapixels, similar to the Nikon D3 design.

Lenses:
New range of lenses required for the full MX format, zoom option available covering different ranges on different formats, lenses relatively compact for format size.

Summary
A relatively compact traditional “medium format-esque” camera in a new camera line that will be aimed at studio, portrait, landscape and wedding photographers needs, with a more affordable price point than present larger format digital backs. This will allow the continuation of the D line as the sports and news photographers choice, expanding on the D3 with an upgrade to a 24mp sensor (hopefully available for the D3 body!) and future plans for 60 frame rate video recording modes in future models.

Please keep my name, email and location anonymous.

Wow- I really hope this birdie’s right, I’ve love to see something like this- I’ve been missing using my Hasselblad and its square format, which I loved. Can you image the images you’d get from a medium-format sized sensor using pixels the size of the D3. Now add in pixel-binning and you could see ISO’s in the stratosphere!