At the moment, I use Canon equipment and I am happy with it, but competition is always good and the better Nikon gets, the better Canon will get.

During the last two years, Nikon has really caught up to Canon. The introduction of the super telephoto lenses with VR and especially the amazing D300 and D3 and recently the D700 have put a lot of pressure on Canon. Nikon also has the wonderful 4/200-400 VR for which there is still no equivalent from Canon.

But to be fully ahead of Canon, Nikon is still missing some cameras and lenses. What follows is my suggestions of what I think would be a great addition to the Nikon product portfolio:

D3X

This is probably the item on the wish list that will be added in the very near future to the Nikon camera family. Most rumors on the web expect the D3X (or whatever it will be called) to have a 24 MP full frame sensor in a body that is similar to the D3. That camera would help Nikon not only close the gap to Canon’s 1Ds Mark III, but even get the lead in the megapixel race (maybe together with Sony, who are also supposed to introduce a 24 MP sensor, maybe the same as will be used in the D3X).

D3H

With the D700, Nikon has put the D3’s full frame sensor in a D300 body. Maybe it would also be great to put the D300 sensor in a D3 body. With the D300’s sensor and 10 frames per seconds and a (even) faster AF than the D300 (due to more powerful CPUs), such a camera might be the ultimate camera for sport and bird shooters.

f4 versions of some of its f2.8 lenses

Nikon has a wonderful 2.8/14-24 and another wonderful 2.8/24-70 which where introduced with the D3. Nikon also has a 2.8/70-200 which is considered to be a great lens. It seems to have some problems with the full frame sensor of the D3, though.
The problem with those lenses is, that they are very heavy, especially if you have to carry them over long distances (like when photographing in the mountains). A f4 version of those lenses would be very welcome. Either with the same zoom range, or maybe something different like a 4/16-50 and 4/50-200 VR (that would be a killer combination).
Canon offers an 4/17-40, 4/24-105 IS and 4/70-200 (two versions, one with and the other without IS). Those are great lenses and compared to the 2.8 versions much lighter (and cheaper!).
Currently, Nikon does not offer those f4 lenses in professional quality like the 2.8 lenses mentioned above.
To be fair, Nikon has a 3.5-4.5/18-35mm which is not bad, but a new f4 version designed for use with the full frame sensors would still be great.

4/300 VR

Nikon’s 4/300 still does not have VR. A new version with VR is really overdue. An interesting alternative would be a 4/100-300 VR, which would be a real advantage over Canon’s 4/300 IS prime lens.

5.6/400 VR

Canon has a wonderfully sharp and light 5.6/400 (although still not with IS). Nikon should add such a lens to its portfolio, too. That would make a great (and affordable) lens for sport and nature photographers, especially for birds in flight.

5.6/600 VR

That doesn’t exist from Canon, either. But it would be a great alternative for people who want a long telephoto lens, but cannot afford a 4/600. A 5.6/600 would also be much lighter.

4/200-500 VR

Another lens, that does not exist in the product family of any manufacturer. Sigma has a 2.8/200-500, but that is nonsense for most photographers as you would need a mule to carry it and an elephant to lift it.
A 4/200-500 VR would be the nature and sports photographers dream and that lens alone would make many people move from Canon to Nikon (or from Nikon to Canon if Canon comes out with one first).
Nikon builds a wonderful 4/200-400 VR, so they should be able to build a 4/200-500 VR.

5.6/200-600 VR

An alternative to a 4/200-500 VR which would probably be lighter and cheaper.

5.6/300-800 VR

More an exotic beast, that one would still be very helpful for some nature and sport photographers, at least when you don’t have to carry it over long distances. Sigma has a very popular and sharp 5.6/300-800 but it lacks VR (IS) and does not have the fastest AF motor (although it’s not bad, either).

This was my Nikon wish list. Tomorrow I will post my Canon wish list. What are your thought’s? What do you want to see Nikon adding to there product family in the near future?