Nikon D3x DSLR
Courtesy Nikon
Until quite recently, many photographers and industry professionals had come to regard Nikon as the Microsoft to Canon’s Apple: rarely first with new technology, and always a bit too conservative with new features. In short, Nikon’s top-end cameras just weren’t quite as cool as Canon’s.
For the past 18 months, though, Nikon has been back on the offensive, with two full-frame DSLRs, the D3 and D700, and great-value cameras like the D300 and D90, which have re-energised the enthusiast and prosumer market.
And now Nikon has a new flagship in the form of the D3x.
Nikon’s third FX (full-frame) digital camera, the 24 million pixel D3x offers twice the resolution of the D3, and matches the pixel count of Sony’s Alpha 900, which features a very similar sensor.
As far as the other key specifications are concerned, the D3x is almost exactly the same as the D3. Apart from the frame rates, (five frames per second for the D3x, nine for the sports and action-friendly D3) and some other very minor differences in fact, the two cameras offer the same functionality, and the same performance.
They share the same class-leading 51-point AF system, the same white balance and metering systems, the same ultra-tough all-weather sealing, and – because they share the same body – the same extensive customisation options.
One of the best things about the D3x is its scene recognition system, which links the AF, metering and white balance systems. The principle is straightforward: using a dedicated 1,005-pixel CCD sensor, the camera analyses the scene in the viewfinder, and by referring to an ‘onboard’ library of typical images it makes an informed guess about what sort of photograph you’re about to take, and biases the metering and white balance accordingly.
When you switch the camera into 3D metering mode, the D3x can even track your subject across the array of 51 AF points based on its colour and contrast. Clever eh? And the best bit is that as long as the subject stands out enough from its background, it works.
As far as image quality is concerned, the D3x displays very similar characteristics to the Sony Alpha 900. It cannot match the incredible noise-free high ISO images of its little brother the D3, but it doesn’t need to – it is designed to do a different job. The D3x is all about resolution, and low-ISO images from the D3x contain an extraordinary amount of detail. Noise starts to become noticeable above ISO 400, but images taken up to ISO 1600 remain perfectly usable. Noise increases dramatically beyond this point, though, and the extension settings of ISO 3200-6400 should be reserved for emergencies.
Edited by Holden Frith
Nikon D3x DSLR
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