Nikon D3X
Encyclopedia
The Nikon D3X is a 24.5 megapixel professional-grade full frame
(35mm
) digital single-lens reflex camera
(DSLR) announced by the Nikon Corporation on 1 December 2008. The D3X is the third camera in Nikon's line to offer a full frame sensor, following the D3
and D700
. As Nikon's new flagship model, it augments the Nikon D3S
, Nikon's high-speed professional model, and while the D3S retains advantages in terms of high ISO performance and higher frame rate, the D3X offers a dramatic increase in resolution and image detail.
The D3S and D3X follow the earlier Nikon D1
, Nikon D2H
, Nikon D2Hs, Nikon D2X
, Nikon D2Xs, and Nikon D3
as the company's top-of-the-line DSLRs intended for professional photographers, which in turn share a lineage with the Nikon F
through Nikon F6
series of film SLRs. As of January 2011, Nikon manufactures no other DSLR model with such a high-resolution sensor.
, and vignetting
("vignette control") and lens distortion ("distortion"), as well as image rotation ("straighten") via playback ("retouch") menu and in camera 5:4 aspect ratio
cropping.
Reception of the Nikon D3X by independent reviewers has been very positive, with reservations centered on just a few disadvantages, especially its high price. Imaging Resource concludes that the D3X produces the highest image quality of any camera they have tested to date. Digital Photography Review
likewise concludes that the resolution and image detail is stunning, probably the best of any digital SLR camera on the market, including the closest competitor from Canon, the EOS-1Ds Mark III
. Nikon claims the D3X is a competitor to medium-format digital backs, a claim supported both by testing and by many D3X users who report on their experiences online. On the down side, Digital Photography Review notes that the D3X performs worse than the D3 in terms of speed (frame rate) and high ISO performance. Like many reviewers, they also point out the most obvious disadvantage of the D3X: the camera lists for $8000, though the present market price is much lower.
The Nikon D3X has been tested by many other independent reviewers. Sample images with many cameras at all ISO speeds
can be compared. In May 2009, the D3X won the TIPA European Photo & Imaging Award, in the "Best D-SLR Professional" category.
Full frame digital SLR
A full-frame digital SLR is a digital single-lens reflex camera fitted with an image sensor that is the same size as a 35 mm film frame....
(35mm
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
) digital single-lens reflex camera
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
(DSLR) announced by the Nikon Corporation on 1 December 2008. The D3X is the third camera in Nikon's line to offer a full frame sensor, following the D3
Nikon D3
The Nikon D3 is a 12.1 megapixel professional grade full frame digital single lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D300 DX format camera. The D3, along with the Nikon D3X, was a flagship model in Nikon's line of DSLRs, superseding the D2Hs...
and D700
Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 is a professional grade full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by the Nikon Corporation in July 2008 and manufactured in Japan. It uses the same 12.1 megapixel "FX" CMOS image sensor as the Nikon D3, and is Nikon's second full-frame digital SLR camera...
. As Nikon's new flagship model, it augments the Nikon D3S
Nikon D3S
The Nikon D3S is a 12.1 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon Corporation on 14 October 2009. The D3S is the fourth camera in Nikon's line to feature a full frame sensor, following the D3, D700 and D3X. It is also Nikon's first full frame...
, Nikon's high-speed professional model, and while the D3S retains advantages in terms of high ISO performance and higher frame rate, the D3X offers a dramatic increase in resolution and image detail.
The D3S and D3X follow the earlier Nikon D1
Nikon D1
The Nikon D1 is a digital single-lens reflex camera introduced on June 15, 1999. It featured a 2.7 megapixel image sensor, 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting, and accepted the full range of Nikon F-mount lenses...
, Nikon D2H
Nikon D2H
The Nikon D2H is a professional-grade digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by Nikon Corporation on July 22, 2003. It uses Nikon's own JFET-LBCAST sensor with a 4.1 megapixel resolution, and is optimised for sports and action shooting that require a high frame rate. In 2005, the D2H was...
, Nikon D2Hs, Nikon D2X
Nikon D2X
The Nikon D2X is a 12.4 megapixel professional digital single-lens reflex camera that Nikon Corporation announced on September 16, 2004. The D2X was the high resolution flagship in Nikon's DSLR line until June 2006 when it was supplanted by the D2Xs and later on by two new flagship cameras: the...
, Nikon D2Xs, and Nikon D3
Nikon D3
The Nikon D3 is a 12.1 megapixel professional grade full frame digital single lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D300 DX format camera. The D3, along with the Nikon D3X, was a flagship model in Nikon's line of DSLRs, superseding the D2Hs...
as the company's top-of-the-line DSLRs intended for professional photographers, which in turn share a lineage with the Nikon F
Nikon F
The Nikon F camera, introduced in 1959, was Nikon's first SLR camera. It was one of the most advanced cameras of its day. Although most of its concepts had already been introduced elsewhere, it was the first camera to combine them all in one camera. It was produced until October 1973 and was...
through Nikon F6
Nikon F6
The Nikon F6 is a 35mm single-lens reflex camera body that became commercially available during 2004, and is the sixth top-of-the-line professional film camera in Nikon's line since the introduction of the Nikon F in 1959...
series of film SLRs. As of January 2011, Nikon manufactures no other DSLR model with such a high-resolution sensor.
Features
It otherwise offers nearly all the features of the D3S, including robust weather-sealed alloy-body construction, a built-in vertical grip, automatic correction of lateral chromatic aberrationChromatic aberration
In optics, chromatic aberration is a type of distortion in which there is a failure of a lens to focus all colors to the same convergence point. It occurs because lenses have a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light...
, and vignetting
Vignetting
In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image's brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center. The word vignette, from the same root as vine, originally referred to a decorative border in a book. Later, the word came to be used for a photographic...
("vignette control") and lens distortion ("distortion"), as well as image rotation ("straighten") via playback ("retouch") menu and in camera 5:4 aspect ratio
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
cropping.
Reception
The combination of very high resolution with the option of 14-bit per channel recording and a very sharp anti-aliasing filter (which Nikon claims is a unique design, but provides few details about) provides extremely high image quality, with superior dynamic range and color accuracy compared with that of other 35mm-format digital cameras.Reception of the Nikon D3X by independent reviewers has been very positive, with reservations centered on just a few disadvantages, especially its high price. Imaging Resource concludes that the D3X produces the highest image quality of any camera they have tested to date. Digital Photography Review
Digital Photography Review
Digital Photography Review is a website about digital cameras and digital photography. The website has comprehensive reviews of digital cameras, lenses and accessories, buying guides, user reviews, and very active forums for the individual cameras as well as general photography forums...
likewise concludes that the resolution and image detail is stunning, probably the best of any digital SLR camera on the market, including the closest competitor from Canon, the EOS-1Ds Mark III
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
The EOS-1Ds Mark III is a digital SLR camera body by Canon designed for professional photographers. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is successor to the EOS-1Ds Mark II and was announced in August 2007. The camera features a full-frame 21.1 megapixel CMOS sensor with 14 bit A/D converters for a total...
. Nikon claims the D3X is a competitor to medium-format digital backs, a claim supported both by testing and by many D3X users who report on their experiences online. On the down side, Digital Photography Review notes that the D3X performs worse than the D3 in terms of speed (frame rate) and high ISO performance. Like many reviewers, they also point out the most obvious disadvantage of the D3X: the camera lists for $8000, though the present market price is much lower.
The Nikon D3X has been tested by many other independent reviewers. Sample images with many cameras at all ISO speeds
Film speed
Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
can be compared. In May 2009, the D3X won the TIPA European Photo & Imaging Award, in the "Best D-SLR Professional" category.
External links
- Nikon D3X – Nikon USA
- Nikon D3X Review at Digital Photography ReviewDigital Photography ReviewDigital Photography Review is a website about digital cameras and digital photography. The website has comprehensive reviews of digital cameras, lenses and accessories, buying guides, user reviews, and very active forums for the individual cameras as well as general photography forums...
- Nikon D3X Sample Photos at Pbase.com