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©2003-2008 Keith Cooper
The Nikon D3x (or D900?)
Rumours about Nikon's higher MP 'D3x' full frame camera
31st August ... No D3 update yet?
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Latest articles (not rumours... :-) on our site: >> basICColor CaliCube and Gray Card - A spectrally neutral 25% grey card for optimum camera white balance, and a lighting cube that as well as black, grey and white faces, has a built in light trap and chrome ball for checking specular reflections and absolute black points.
We'll put any detailed D3X info on this page rather than the 5D2 page
2008 August
31st The 5D replacement(s?) and new Sony FF are in the hands of reviewers, but no D3'x' [DPR]
28th I see that NR have a shot of a D3z box... (good old photoshop ;-)
27th 'Only' a D90 at the moment? [DYX]
• 12.3-effective megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor
• Continuous shooting as fast as 4.5 frames-per-second
• D-Movie Mode — Cinematic 24fps HD with sound
• Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200
• 3-inch super-density 920,000-dot colour LCD monitor
• Built-in image sensor cleaning
• 11-point AF system with Face Priority
• One-button Live View
• Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System
• Comprehensive exposure control
• Auto Active D-lighting
• Shutter precision and durability
• In-Camera Image Editing
• GPS geo-tagging
- Good to see shutter precision! ;-)
24th Nikon's high res option (24.8MP) may be announced in November rather than at Photokina according to one of our more regular sources. With Sony and Canon announcing FF cameras at the event Nikon might delay things (the D40 was announced in Nov. 2006 which was a Photokina year)
20th Lots of Yes/No speculation on a new high MP body at Photokina [DPR] much agreeing with TH that any high MP body is a 2009 offering
12th An announcement by Thursday 28th? ...and a D300s [DPR] as well?
or the 27th [DPR] - agreed by TH (suggesting a D90)
July 21st Are we to get a 24MP D800 using Sony's big chip?
Some speculation in the French magazine Chasseurs d'Images (issue 306, Aug- Sept 2008) also suggests a new version of the D3 with anti-dust technology (I've had a 1Ds3 since November and the amount of dust i've seen is a fraction of that on my old 1Ds)
There's a scan of the magazine article at NR
I'd personally be more inclined to trust Thom Hogan's thoughts where he says:
"I received a message out of Japan that the high-resolution camera is in the D3 body."
Also news of a Nikon Press conference on September 3rd...
2nd In a lengthy DPR thread there are some interesting suggestions (ok wishes ;-) for what Nikon will do next
However the option of a D900 (with the 24mp Sony sensor) is mooted to compete with the Sony A900 and 5D2
1st It's a FF D700 rather than any D3X that gets announced.
That well known source of Nikon info, Thom Hogan, suggests that the next batch of Nikon updates will be in late August
June 30th Numerous reports of the price of the D3 falling - currently ~£2560 in the UK (CPB track prices)
29th Whilst there is now wide expectation of a D700 announcement in a few days, I've heard of several dealers hinting that a D3X won't be far behind it.
June 8th There have been enough D3X comments that we thought we'd put a few on a page of their own...
The most credible source for a lot of info is Thom Hogan, who is widely regarded fro his Nikon info. He summed up a DPR comment with:
"Thus, I'm predicting that by Christmas the Nikon DSLR lineup will look like this: D60, D90, D300, D3, D3x, and possibly the D10 or whatever the lower-speced FX body is called."
Thom is also not afraid of making predictions, so for a good discussion of what's expected and what he got right last year, see his 2008 predictions..
There is also a supposed YT video.
Even more in the land of speculation there's the likes of...
28 or even 32MB?? In a DPR thread we get:
- "Today told that while the resolution of the new top Nikon is a closely guarded secret, a strong hint was dropped in that it will offer an additional 12mpg crop. This sounds as though it will exceed the resolution of the 1DS MKIII - possibly 28mpg or 32mpg - at full resolution..."
We're told that this underwater housing for the D3, originally included a mention of the D3 and D3X but now it doesn't...
It seems that in a Delkin Press release back in December there was mention of the D3X
- "Poway, CA. December 3, 2007 - Delkin Devices, Inc. today expanded the outer limits of CompactFlash card storage capacity and speed for digital cameras by announcing its 16GB UDMA enabled CompactFlash PRO card. This latest addition to Delkin’s Compact Flash PRO line boosts screaming fast read/write speeds—up to 305x (45MB/sec sustained transfer speed capability). Now photographers using UDMA enabled cameras such as the Canon 1Ds Mark III, Nikon D300 and Nikon D3X have a memory card that can maximize the full benefits of their camera investment."
However as is pointed out by those with more critical rumour checking skills, there is no D3 on the list, so just a typo? ;-)
The Nikon D3 specs - until we get D3X ones...
Nikon D3 Key Features
- First ever Nikon DSLR with a Full-Frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor (aka FX format)
- 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch)
- ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25,600)
- Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens)
- 5:4 ratio crop mode (10 megapixels, up to 9 fps, viewfinder masked)
- 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
- Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
- Super fast operation (power-up 12 ms, shutter lag 41 ms, black-out 74 ms)
- New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 300,000 exposure durability
- New Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
- Auto-focus tracking by colour (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
- Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
- Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
- Picture Control image parameter presets (replace colour Modes I, II and III)
- Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
- Nine frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking
- Eleven frames per second continuous without auto-focus tracking
- Ten / eleven frames per second continuous in DX-crop mode (AF / no-AF)
- Dual Compact Flash card slots (overflow, back-up, RAW on 1 / JPEG on 2, copy)
- Compact Flash UDMA support
- 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
- Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
- Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display)
- HDMI HD video output
- 'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
- Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes colour in darkness
- New MB-D10 vertical grip fully integrates into body, multi battery type compatible
- Buttons sealed against moisture
- Dual battery charger as standard
Nikon D3 specifications
| Price (body only) | US: $ 4999 UK: £ 3399 EU: € 5180 |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor FX format RGB colour Filter Array Built-in fixed low-pass filter 12.9 million total pixels 12.1 million effective pixels 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Image processor | Nikon EXPEED |
| A/D conversion | 14 bit |
| Image sizes (FX format) |
4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP] 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP] 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP] |
| Image sizes (DX format) |
2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP] 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP] 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]] |
| Image sizes (5:4 format) |
3552 x 2832 [L; 10.0 MP] 2656 x 2120 [M; 5.6 MP] 1776 x 1416 [S; 2.5 MP] |
| File formats | NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW) NEF + JPEG TIFF JPEG (EXIF 2.21) |
| NEF compression | Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80% Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60% |
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts No field of view crop (full-frame) When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop |
| Usable lenses |
Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported |
| Auto Focus | 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors) Multi-CAM 3500FX AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature) Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode |
| Lens Servo | Single Servo AF [S] Continuous Servo AF [C] Manual focus [M] Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in [S] or [C] AF |
| Focus Point | Single point from 51 or 11 focus points Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame |
| AF Area Mode |
Single point AF |
| Focus Lock |
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| AF assist | External Speedlite only |
| Exposure modes | Program Auto [P] with flexible program Shutter-Priority Auto [S] Aperture-Priority Auto [A] Manual [M] |
| Metering |
TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor |
| Metering range | 3D colour Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens |
| Meter coupling | CPU and AI |
| Exposure lock | Locked using AE-L/AF-L button |
| Exposure bracketing |
• 2 to 9 frames |
| Exposure compen. | +/-5.0 EV 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps |
| Sensitivity |
Default: ISO 200 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps |
| Shutter | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter 30 to 1/8000 sec (1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps) Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec Bulb |
| DOF Preview | Stop-down lens aperture by pressing button Activates modelling flash |
| White balance | Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor) Presets (seven) with fine tuning Manual presets (four) colour temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps) White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps) |
| Picture Control | Standard Neutral Vivid Monochrome |
| Image parameters | Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve Brightness: 3 levels Saturation: Auto, 5 levels Hue: 5 levels |
| colour space | sRGB (Standard and Vivid modes) Adobe RGB (Neutral mode) |
| Viewfinder | Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1m-1) Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0m-1) Focusing screen: Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen Frame coverage 100% Viewfinder magnification approx 0.7x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens |
| Focusing screen | B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II Superimposed focus brackets On-demand grid lines |
| LCD monitor | 3.0 " TFT LCD 922,000 pixels 170° viewing angle Brightness adjustment |
| LCD Liveview |
Handheld mode: TLL phase-difference AF with 51 focus areas (15 cross-type sensors) |
| Shooting modes | Single frame Continuous Low [CL]: 1 - 9 fps Continuous High [CH]: 9 fps (9 - 11 fps with DX format) Liveview [LV] Self-Timer (programmable) Mirror-up mode |
| Continuous buffer | JPEG Large/Normal: 64 shots (at 9 fps) RAW: no data yet |
| Self-timer | 2 to 20 sec custom |
| Flash control |
•TTL flash control with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash available with SB-800, 600 or 400 |
| Flash Sync Mode | Front-curtain Sync (normal) Red-Eye Reduction Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync Slow Sync Rear-curtain Sync |
| Flash Accessory Shoe |
ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided |
| Flash Sync Terminal | ISO 519 standard terminal, lock screw provided |
| Flash compensation | -3 to +1 EV 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps |
| Creative Lighting System |
With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash colour Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock |
| Orientation sensor | Tags images with camera orientation |
| Playback mode | Full frame Thumbnail (4 or 9 images) One-touch zoom Slideshow RGB histogram Shooting data Highlight point Auto image rotation |
| Languages |
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) |
| Custom functions | ? custom functions |
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector |
| 10-pin terminal |
GPS: NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional) |
| Communications | FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (IEEE 802.11 b/g) |
| Storage |
Dual Compact Flash Type I or II |
| Power | Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a/EL4 Included dual battery charger MH-22 Optional AC adapter EH-6 |
| Battery monitoring | The LCD monitor on the camera back displays the following information about the battery: Remaining charge (%) No. of shots taken since last charge Battery life (5 stages) |
| Dimensions | 160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 1240 g (2.7 lb) |
| Operating environment |
Temperature: 0 - 40 °C / 32 - 104 °F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation) |
| Box contents |
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-22, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-D3, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-2, Eyepiece DK-17, Battery Chamber Cover BL-4, USB Cable Clip, Software Suite CD-ROM |
| Optional accessories |
Wireless Transmitter WT-4, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-17M, AC Adapter EH-6, Capture NX Software, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software |