New Nikon DSLR camera announcement date set for January 17

A new Nikon DSLR camera has been scheduled to be announced officially on January 17, 2014, said Nikon Middle East & Africa in a Facebook post.

As 2013 is drawing to a close, there are little chances that any camera makers will introduce a new device, especially when considering the fact that the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 is less than a month away.

The rumor mill has recently begun speculating that Nikon will reveal two lenses and one DSLR during or around CES 2014. The trio includes a 35mm f/1.8 lens for full frame cameras, the D3300 APS-C camera, and a new 18-55mm zoom lens kit.

Nikon Middle East & Africa confirms that a new DSLR camera is coming on January 17

New Nikon DSLR camera will be offered as a grand prize at the end of a photo contest organized by Nikon Middle East & Africa. The device will be announced on January 17, 2014.

Up until now, there has not been any proof to back up these claims. Thankfully, Nikon Middle East & Africa has announced a new photo contest on Facebook for photographers in the surrounding regions that will offer Nikon’s latest DSLR launching on January 17, 2014 as the grand prize.

The image competition and the announcement are all available on the official Nikon MEA channel on the world’s most popular social networking website. Since this is not April 1, then we can rule out a joke or prank and we can take it for granted.

New Nikon DSLR camera possibilities: D3300, D4s / D4x, or D400

For those wondering which camera is coming next month, there are a number of possibilities. The first is obviously the D3300. The rumor mill has talked about it, said that it is coming in January, and it is the perfect time to replace the entry-level D3200.

The second choice is a new D4-based camera. Such a device has been rumored before and it would be called D4s or D4x. The DSLR will not be replaced, instead it will merely offer an extra choice to professional photographers ahead of the Winter Olympics 2014 in Russia and World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

And then there is the elusive D400. The D300s  is in desperate need to be replaced. It has not been one of company’s biggest successes and it has become outdated pretty fast, although it has still managed to live for more than four years, while the Canon competitor, the 7D, is believed to have attracted significantly more buyers.

The D3300 is probably the next Nikon DSLR to be announced

The company says that the photo contest winner will be awarded a new Nikon DSLR camera. This is why we can rule out a Coolpix compact or a 1 mirrorless shooter.

Out of the three possibilities mentioned above, we would say that the D400 is the least likely of them. There is not a single shred of evidence to point that it is coming soon, as all previous rumors have turned out to be bogus.

The D4s would feel like a rushed camera and Nikon cannot afford another fiasco. Additionally, it would be too expensive to be offered as a prize in a contest. This is why the most likely new DSLR is the D3300.

Please note that this is based on rumor and speculation, so you can never be sure unless the product in question becomes official. As it stands, we will find out which DSLR is the next to be announced by Nikon on January 17.