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.
 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 |
