Here’s Why We’re Sure We’ll See the Nikon D6 Before the 2020 Olympics

The Nikon D6 is in development according to the company, and it’s bound to be the company’s last great DSLR.

Yes, the Nikon D6 is in development. From what the Nikon press release issued for today is saying, it’s going to be targeted to professional photographers. In fact, they’re not even telling us the pricing or the release dates. But we’ve got a great hunch that it’s going to be coming before the 2020 Olympics. Don’t agree? Well, we’re pretty confident that you’d be wrong; and here’s why.

The AF-S NIKKOR 120-300mm f2.8E FL ED SR VR is Perfect for Sports

In addition to the development of the Nikon D6, the company is also announcing a 120-300mm f2.8 lens. That’s going to be a great range for photographers using the Nikon D6. Providing that the camera is still a full frame sensor device, the 120-300mm f2.8 will be able to use a feature on Nikon cameras that has been available for a long time. Nikon full frame DSLRs have a feature that lets the photographer use a crop sensor mode. So basically imagine the performance of whatever the Nikon D6 is capable of doing, this lens and the possibility of using a 1.5x crop factor using a special setting on the Nikon D6. Previous cameras have been able to do this, so I’m sure that this lens will be as well. Then also consider Nikon’s teleconverters being used with this lens and the Nikon D6. When the Olympics come around, this lens is going to be a must-have for a number of photographers. There are a number of prime lenses that Nikon has that are also great. But a 120-300mm lens at f2.8 will help a photographer really nail the shot when using Nikon’s autofocus system

Nikon Has to Find a Way to Regain Sales

Another big thing to keep in mind is that Nikon has been losing ground. But where they still own a lot of market share is with professional photographers. While Sony has been gaining ground especially in the full frame world, Nikon DSLRs are still in use with lots of news agencies, news wires, and professional sports photographers. Sony still has to build up a way to take that market. The Nikon Z series hasn’t been seeling so well and Nikon will need to capitalize on the professional full frame camera market. But we’re not sure how this will work out in the long run. It could help them for a year or two more and then they’ll need to have a much better Z system. However with all the new competition out there, Nikon will have to work harder to keep their heads above water.

Here’s How Companies Usually Do Releases

If you’re curious as to how companies usually do releases, this will make sense to you:

  • Announce it
  • Get it in the hands of Youtubers, influencers, and the press
  • Watch reviews come in
  • Fix things via firmware
  • Black Friday
  • Holiday Sales
  • If they haven’t already, start talking to working with news wires directly
  • Final revisions
  • The Olympics

That’s more or less the schedule that everyone is going to need to follow and abide by. But again, these are just my theories.

Chris Gampat