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Nikon's New D3X DSLR
December 1: 2008: Nikon has unveiled its new D3X DSLR camera, which features a 24.5-megapixel (effective) 35.9 x 24.0 mm Nikon FX-format CMOS imaging sensor.

The D3X is a successor to the popular Nikon D3, which was released in November 2007. Designed for serious professionals, such as studio photographers, the new model will also suit photographers who take fashion and product shots, as well as those who shoot weddings, architecture, landscapes and those involved in large poster production.  A new image processing system, based on Nikon's EXPEED digital image processing and optimised for the D3X, provides superior image quality, faster processing speeds and lower power consumption.


Front view of the Nikon D3X.

The D3X employs a new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor with 24.5 effective megapixels covering an area of 35.9 x 24.0 mm. Nikon has optimised the pixel characteristics to provide a higher S/N ratio and wider dynamic range by securing a greater amount of light received by each pixel, thereby reducing lost highlights and shadows, and ensuring smoother tone reproduction with minimised noise. The new model supports an ISO range from 100 to 1600 and sensitivity can be increased to ISO 6400 and decreased by one stop (down to ISO 50 equivalent). Auto sensitivity control is also available.


Rear view of the Nikon D3X.

Just like the D3, the D3X claims a start-up time of 0.12 second and a shutter release time lag of 0.04 second. Continuous shooting is supported at approx. 5 frames per second in FX format (36 x 24) or 5:4 (30 x 24), and 7 frames per second in DX format (24 x 16. The new camera is also is fully compatible with UDMA high-speed memory cards. Dual CF card slots are provided and users can choose from Continuous recording, Backup recording and RAW + JPEG Separation recording (records the same image in RAW and JPEG on different cards). You can also copy the data from one card to another.

Features unchanged from the D3 include the Active D-Lighting, Scene Recognition System that controls exposure by detecting the brightness and colours of the subjects as well as four kinds of Picture Controls: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, and Monochrome.  Scene Recognition can be applied to control Autofocus, Auto Exposure, i-TTL Balanced Fill-flash and Auto White Balance. The Multi-CAM 3500FX AF sensor module is also included in the new model, along with the 3-inch, 920,000-dot LCD monitor. The same two Live View modes are provided: Handheld and Tripod and optional Camera Control Pro 2 software enables monitor focus and control shutter release from a computer.  

As in the D3, an accelerator sensor incorporated in the body of the camera detects inclination and displays it in the LCD monitor. In Live View shooting, virtual horizon is displayed in the LCD above the monitor image. It can also be displayed in the top control panel and in the exposure indicator of the viewfinder. The D3X can also interface with the optional GP-1 GPS unit to allow location data to be recorded in image files.

Nikon Australia has not released any information on pricing. These data will be added to this report when they are available later this month, when the camera is due to arrive in shops. For more information visit www.nikon.com.au. It's also worth checking Thom Hogan's post at http://www.bythom.com/nikond3xcomments.htm.  

SPECIFICATIONS

Image sensor: Nikon FX format 35.9 x 24.0 mm CMOS sensor, total pixels: 25.72 million; 24.5 megapixels effective

Lens mount: Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF  contacts
Compatible Lenses: 1) DX AF Nikkor: All functions supported; 2) D-/G-type AF Nikkor): All functions supported (excluding PC Micro-Nikkor and IX Nikkor)
3) AF Nikkor other than D-/G-type (excluding lenses for F3AF) and AI-P Nikkor: All functions except 3D-Color Matrix Metering II possible; 4) Non-CPU AI Nikkor: can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data (AI lenses only)
Focal length crop factor: 1x
Image formats: NEF (RAW) 12-bit or 14-bit, uncompressed, losslessly compressed or compressed; TIFF (RGB); JPEG; RAW+JPEG
Image Sizes:  FX format  6,048 x 4,032 [L], 4,544 x 3,024 [M], 3,024 x 2,016 [S]; DX format (24 x 16): 3,968 x 2,640 [L], 2,976 x 1,976 [M], 1,984 x 1,320 [S] 5:4 (30 x 24): 5,056 x 4,032 [L], 3,792 x 3,024 [M], 2,528 x 2,016 [S]
Image Stabilisation: Lens-based only

Dust removal: Image Dust Off data acquisition (Capture NX required)
Shutter speed range: 1/8000 to 30 sec in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV plus Bulb; X-synch at 1/250 sec.

Exposure Compensation: +/- 5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Self-timer: 2, 5, 10 or 20 sec. delay selectable
Focus system: TTL phase detection with Nikon MultiCAM 3500DX module; 51 AF points (including 15 cross-type sensors) with single point selection from 51 or 11 points

Focus modes: Single-servo AF, continuous-servo AF, manual focusing; predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status
Exposure metering: TTL full-aperture metering with 1005-pixel RGB sensor; 3D Colour matrix Metering II, Centre-weighted (75% bias to 8-20 mm circle at centre), Spot metering (4mm circle)
Shooting modes: Program AE with flexible program, Shutter-priority auto, Aperture-priority auto, Manual

Picture Style/Control settings: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls

Colour space options: sRGB, Adobe RGB
Custom functions: 48

ISO range: ISO 100 to 1600 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV; can be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100, or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, or 2 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) over ISO 1600
White balance: Auto plus seven manual modes with fine-tuning, colour temperature setting; bracketing of 2-9 frames in increments of 1, 2 or 3
Flash: ISO 518 accessory shoe for Nikon Speedlights; support for iTTL and Nikon Creative Lighting System
Sequence shooting: DX format: 5-7 fps high speed, up to 5 fps low speed; other formats: up to 5 fps
Storage Media: Double slot for Type I/II CompactFlash cards/microdrives
Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism; 100% coverage; approx. 0.7x magnification; 18mm eyepoint; dioptric adjustment -3.0 to +1 dpt

LCD monitor: 3.0-inch TFT  colour LCD, 920,000 pixels
Live View modes: 1) Handheld: TTL phase difference AF with 51 focus points   2) Tripod: focal-plane contrast AF on selected point
Data LCD: Yes; displays full photographic and digital settings
Playback functions: Full frame, thumbnail (4 or 9 segment), zoom, slideshow, RGB histogram, shooting data, highlight point display, auto image rotation, image comment (up to 36 characters), voice memo (input and playback)

Interface terminals: USB Hi-speed, HDMI, Video Out (PAL/NTSC), GPS, 10-pin remote
Power supply: EN-EL4a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; Quick Charger MH-22/MH-21, AC Adapter EH-6 (optional)
Dimensions (wxhxd): 159.5 x 157 x 87.5 mm
Weight: Approx. 1,220 grams (without battery, memory card, body cap or accessory shoe cover)
Supplied accessories: Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-22, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-D3X, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-2, Eyepiece DK-17, Battery Chamber Cover BL-4, USB Cable Clip, Software Suite CD-ROM

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