Is there a logic to the Nikon naming convention?

At least with Canon it goes:

xD - premium / "professional"
xxD - "Semi-pro" - Keen hobbyist
xxxD - Hobbyist / Amateur
xxxxD - Budget

With all but the xD series, the bigger the number, the more recent. xD series, the lower the number, the higher end it is.

Nikon:

DXX = Starter
DXXX = Mid range
DX = Pro

Where X is a number, so models like D3x are pro and D70s are starter.

Cool. I assume that the numbers increase with upgrades? So a D80 is newer than a D70 which is newer than a D60?

Quote from: zpyder on January 15, 2013, 14:37:07 PM
Cool. I assume that the numbers increase with upgrades? So a D80 is newer than a D70 which is newer than a D60?

Sort of, I had a D50, Nikon then brought out a D40 and then a D60 so they sort of screwed things up slightly there.  You've also got the D300 (due an upgrade soon so probably D400 this year maybe) and D600, the D300 is a semi-pro crop only body the D600 is a semi-pro full frame body so who they're actually aimed at I dunno.  Oh yeah then there's the D800 which well is a high res semi-pro full frame body yet has a high resolution than the top of the line pro model the D4.  Confused yet?  It is quite a weird system, but I think they're trying to more categorise the cameras by what they're meant for, the D4 is an all round pro body, the D800 more for the videographer and well everyone else too.

Have a look at these wiki pages, shows the current cameras and what market they're aimed at quite well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nikon_DSLR_cameras
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon#Digital_single_lens_reflex_cameras

 

That is just plain old confusing. I guess if you're a nikon user and follow the releases etc, it'd make sense, but I'm pretty sure despite that explanation, next time someone says about having or wanting a "Nikon Dxx" I'll just stare blankly and assume it's a good camera!

Quote from: zpyder on January 16, 2013, 08:57:22 AM


That is just plain old confusing. I guess if you're a nikon user and follow the releases etc, it'd make sense, but I'm pretty sure despite that explanation, next time someone says about having or wanting a "Nikon Dxx" I'll just stare blankly and assume it's a good camera!

Yeah just a tad confusing, best bet sell all your canon gear and buy a nikon, once you start using them you soon work out whats what sort of!