Hi
I would recommend, not to jump now immediately in the "Nikon boat". Lets remember some important factors:
1. The time until Zeiss officially will release more details about ZF lenses and any other implications regarding the Nikon System will be very probably not before mid of January.
2. The past has shown, that there is always a strong delay between announcing somthing and actially having it avalable at the dealer to buy it. This is not Zeiss specific, all companies have this "delay problem", but I think if you start with a new system, you double check more often to be sure that everything is really 100% (see Zeiss Ikon delays)
3. We do not know yet, what else might be in the pipeline. Just bear in mind, 2006 is Photokina year. Photokina is the biggest Photo-event worldwide, bigger than PMA etc. Andd Photokina is in Germany. And Photokina is only every 2 years.
So if Zeiss wants to announce something "earthshaking" at all, I would guess they would do it rather at Photokina than any other minor show.
and the rule of time differences between announcing and delivering would apply here too.
3. So I would rather wait and see at least 1-3 months before investing now already in a Nikon or any other System, to be sure not to regret it later on. We all have already equipment to make photos. This is a big advantage compared to a newcomer, who does not have yet any camera. We have time.
4. All what I am writing here is no insider knowledge, just my thoughts when sitting back in my chair with a glass of Cognac in my hand, so do not quote me on that, if at PMA 2006 surprisingly somthing gets published
But IMO what is the good thing about all this?
The major message I read here is that Zeiss is moving. Zeiss wants to be back on the front seats. Whether the ZF lenses will be already all they have to offer in 2006 or whether even more will come we do not know.
But for sure Zeiss gives us the indication, that they at least try to make a living also in the future in photography. And this is an important message. If you think about it, 3 montsh ago, not many people thought that Zeiss will ever make it back, since they had no cooperation partner.
So with these ZF news we all have a kind of great christmas time. We know now that Zeiss is working on at least one option for new lenses. IMO this is the whole purpose of this marketing c&aign.
Whatever will come on top of it is welcomed. I would find it logic, if they try also more options incl. new bodies and would announce this in 2006.
Zeiss knows about sales numbers of C/Y system and N-system. They know also, what increased and what decreased during the time period when both were avaliable at the same time. So I am sure they try to find more ways to make money with this knowledge. I was not that much convinced 3 months ago about this simple statement