Paper launches the new norm in photography?

[BernardLanguillier]

Following the paper launches of the Canon 1Dx and their recent tele lenses (10 months or more btwn announcement and availability), Nikon is apparently now starting to follow the trend with their 800mm f5.6.

Do we like this trend?

I personally feel that press releases loose most significance when there is no real world product associated to them... on the other hand, they may be trying to help us manage our investments?

Cheers,
Bernard

[Gary Brown]

I personally feel that press releases loose most significance when there is no real world product associated to them... on the other hand, they may be trying to help us manage our investments?

FWIW, Thom Hogan wrote an essay on more-or-less that topic last month. AFAIK there's no way to link directly to it, but if you go to this page and search for “More Superzooming” you can read it.

[marcmccalmont]

At least they haven't taken up the aircraft industry's, announce a new aircraft, take preorders and deliver 3 years late!
Marc

[FredBGG]

How about Phase One.....

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and BAD KREUZNACH, Germany, September 15, 2011 — Phase One, medium format market leader and precision lens maker Schneider Kreuznach today announced a series of new lenses. Building on two years of intense collaboration including delivering four new lenses to market, the companies have now designed another four superior quality lenses for professional photographers.

The four new leaf shutter (LS) lenses are now under development and the first two lenses to reach the market are the 75-150 mm LS and 240 mm LS.

10 months later and still no 75-150 LS or 240 LS and still no official ETA.

[K.C.]

Oh come on guys. Vaporware is a standard tactic in marketing. Has been for a long time. Nikon would be remiss if they didn't let us know they're at least working on the new glass to support the D800/D800E.

From everything I've read Japan's economy is pretty bad and manufacturing has far from recovered from the quake/tsunami. Products aren't going to get to the market in the time frame they used to.