Nikon D800 "Missing Features"

Uhmmm..... There so many things that could be added or taken..... From your list..... 1- I never use Live view, only the viewfinder. 2- I'm trying to figure this out..... If I have the camera on a tripod or hand holding the camera and I rotate the lens mount, the sensor would stay in the same position, wouldn't it? How could that help? 3- This could be good if there was a line of sensors to choose from. Specially one with only 12 MP. 4- You can create them. 5- For me, black is the way to go. In my list of things to get rid of: 1- Too many pixels 2- Movie. I have been playing with my V1 and I hate the movie switch. It's always on the way.

Rene' when one rotates the lens mount, sensor would rotate with it. At least that's the theory.

Got it!! Good when using a tripod..... easier the way it is when hand holding the camera, i think.

The only thing I missed (and I`m not sure, I still don`t know the complete list of features) is about the flash. I`d have prefered a more serious thing; better than the usual "toy flash", something like a built-in SU-800 kind of commander, a really good triggering device or so.
One more time we`ll have to deal with the almost useless (to me) "toy flash" and the IR panel. Another lost opportunity.
Otherwise, the D800 seem to me a real wonder, exactly as it is. Personally, no need of articulated screens, rotating sensors, colors, film emulation, etc. Lesser is more...

Well, instead of "rotatable sensor-lens mount" I'd prefer a square sensor with a quick menu ability to pick your desired frame: square, landscape crop 3/4...3/5...4/5 or portrait crop 3/4...3/5...4/5 etc. This is more helpful and easier to implement IMHO.

I also miss the articulated LCD and as well a GPS module.

It would be a great idea to have available a D800 barebone and one to have the option to pick between D3s, D4 and its 36MP sensor... but I doubt Nikon will go this path ever.

Just because Nikon makes a patent on something, doesn't mean it's always coming out right away (or ever). Nature of the business.

Honestly, the new cameras are amazing for what they are designed to do. The articulated LCD is, I think, very much an amateur feature, and probably prone to break anyway. The rotatable lens mount would add more to the cost than it would be worth to consumers. The interchangeable sensor is, I think, asking for a feature that no other DSLR-maker is offering, and I am not hearing a lot of clamor for it anyway. And black cameras seem to be working just fine for Nikon. White would get dirty and silver would look totally amateur.

Jose...... Have you tried those little toy diffusers for the Mickey mouse flash on your D700? Of curse is still a toy flash but it does wonders...... I really like mine and it's on my camera 90% of the time.

Apurva - interesting list, but I have to say that none of the things which you mentioned are things that I care about in a DSLR - with the possible exception of an articulated LCD, but I'd probably prefer that the camera be robust. That's not to say that your requests are invalid, I'm just demonstrating that not every Nikon customer matches your requirements; I'd go so far as to guess that - with price and robustness compromises - you might be in a minority with some of these. I'd be extremely surprised if 2 (because the mirror unit would have to move) or 3 (because the sensor is pretty integral to the camera design) ever appear in a Nikon DSLR - although a medium format back provides both, along with #5.

There are things that each of us would like in a new camera. I submitted a request list to Nikon - some are in the D800, some almost definitely aren't, and I don't know about some of the others yet (and won't until the final firmware is released). The ones which are expensive or fiddly to implement are the ones about which I have the greatest doubt - for example, I'd love a sensor with rear movements. :-)

The commercialisation of any product is a compromise. I accept that not everything I want is going to be available in any given product, and I certainly accept that there are features I'm not going to use without feeling the need to suggest that they need to be removed from the camera. Despite my girth, the world doesn't revolve around me, and the people who do want these features are subsidising my camera purchase.

There's some good stuff in the D800 beyond the headline resolution increase (and you can always shoot at lower resolution, although if there's a low-res RAW format then I'd be happier). I have to say, despite mostly wanting other features, the fact that it does have such a high resolution and therefore complements rather than replaces my existing D700 makes me more tempted to get one. I'm waiting to see how many other improvements are in there when we know about the BIOS. It's a little early to criticise except for those features which require mechanical implementation, and those are always the least likely to get included.

This is, of course, in danger of turning into a wish list thread. Just saying. :-)

"…silver would look totally amateur"

My old Leicas are pouting.