Nikon D3x
In late fall Nikon revealed a technology upgrade to their revolutionary flagship digital SLR the D3. The D3, a full frame CMOS with an image capture device of similar dimensions to that of 35mm film, ushers in after 10 years of development a product comparable to 35mm professional film. The D3's full frame specification means that existing film aficionados can begin comparing digital film to its analog cousin and begin finding acceptable alternatives to professional film.
The D3x "ushers in new level of image quality with extreme 24.5-megapixel resolution, processed image files exceeding 138 MB".
-Nikon
24 megapixels is the level of resolution I get when I scan my professional film (ex: Kodak 100GX) using a Nikon Coolscan Slide scanner. I am impressed at the package Nikon has provided in its D3x, just enough to contemplate purchasing one to complement my F100, it is too bad that it costs almost $10,000CAD.
Existing DSLR packages are designed for the film user who wouldn't mind archiving and printing their priceless photos at the corner store or using a point and shoot for everything from weddings to insurance claims, but there are those who take photography a little more seriously, and for them the D3x is a great beginners camera. The D3x CMOS is impressive at 6048 x 4032 pixels. This resolution is sufficient enough to enlarge your photos well beyond 8x10 and enough to notice a smug in your subjects eyeliner. It provides fashion, fine art and landscape photographers piece of mind when it comes to archival quality imaging. A 5.49 micron high signal-to-noise ratios pixel allows the Analog to Digtal Converter (ADC) enough information to record 14-bit 138MB file size usable for more than just marketing headline.
Surrounding this impressive capture device is years of technical knowledge that went into the File formats (RAW, TIFF, JPEG) and capture cards (ex: UDMA CompactFlash by Lexar) needed to record such a massive amount of data at over 5 frames per second. That is 5x138MB = 690MB of recorded information per second. Yet with all that speed and nomenclature what is most important to the serious photographer is not frames per second but the image itself. More specifically the quality of the image. Kodak and Fuji have worked for years perfecting the look and feel of their professional films, not to mention the grain and color of each film to match the printing process. So it would be a shame to return to the early 1900s and throw all that technique out the window. Nikon's EXPEED processor has been improved to take advantage of some of the most revolutionary thinking when it come to digital white balance and focus. Nikon's image processing system takes advantage of more than just ambient lighting, but information passed from the camera's CPU-enhanced-lenses, the 1,005 pixel RGB sensor, 3D colour matrix metering and 30,000 image database, and not least the Active D-Lighting technique enhanced by the Multi-CAM 3500FX focus module. So much technology put into combination could lead to the photographer loosing control over the creative process, however Nikon has made it so that it enhances the traditional photographers natural abilities by keeping the controls simple and making the process transparent.
Nikon comments on their achievement by stating that "Nikon’s Picture Control System enables you to adjust your images to pre-set parameters such as Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome that apply tweaks to image sharpening, tone compensation, brightness, overall tone and saturation. Photographers have creative control over these image parameters with the use of up to nine available customizable presets. "
-Nikon
Little more needs to be said about this latest achievement by Nikon. In comparison to Canon's EOS 1Ds 21 megapixel camera this can match its specifications, durability and value. I recommend keeping a close eye on Nikon's latest camera system while feeling satisfied that Nikon is on course to satisfying their most ardent critics and aficionados alike.
Check out other reviews:
DPReview.com
Nikon Europe
Nikon USA
Nkon Canada
-Nikon
Little more needs to be said about this latest achievement by Nikon. In comparison to Canon's EOS 1Ds 21 megapixel camera this can match its specifications, durability and value. I recommend keeping a close eye on Nikon's latest camera system while feeling satisfied that Nikon is on course to satisfying their most ardent critics and aficionados alike.
Check out other reviews:
DPReview.com
Nikon Europe
Nikon USA
Nkon Canada
