The huge success of the Nikon D3 is a well-known story. But it still took a long time waiting for the “X” version of the D3. At the beginning of the year Nikon launched it’s new Top camera with the words “Meet the boss”. I was curious to see if the camera could hold that title …
History:
Nikon always had 2 series: The “common” serie (sometimes added with the letter “H” or “Hs”) and a superior “X” serie. The first serie is designed for photographers who needed speed, the “X” serie is designed for photographers who needed the resolution. The last cameras produced are the Nikon D3 in the common serie and the D3X in the superior X-serie.
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D3X engine:
- 24.5 megapixel Full-Frame sensor (36 x 24 mm)
- ISO: 100 – 1600
- Boost modus ISO: 50 – 6400
- Nikon EXPEED image
- Super fast operation (power-up 12 ms, shutter lag 41 ms, black-out 74 ms)
- Kevlar / carbon shutter (up to 300,000 shots)
- Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type)
- 7 frames per second in DX modus
- 2 Compact Flash card slots (overflow, back-up, RAW on card 1 / JPEG on card 2)
- Compact Flash UDMA support
- 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
- Live View
- Virtual horizon
- Live View
- HDMI HD video output
- Active D-Lighting met new ‘Extra High’ setting
- Full wheater sealing
- Double battery charger
ISO
The D3X has a wide range of iso. It all starts with iso 100 (D3 doesn’t officially have iso 100, only L-1.0) and ends with iso 1600. With the boost menu, you can go up to iso 6400. It’s largest competitor, the Canon 1Ds Mark III, has the same low iso values, but stops at iso 3200.
Nikon EXPEED image processor
Like all other professional Nikon cameras, the EXPEED system, takes care of the image processing. In the D3X the system would be modified to reduce the power utilization.
Multi-CAM Auto Focus sensor
In the Nikon D3X, you can find the Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor. It delivers 51 AF points and 15 cross-type sensors. With this module, Nikon has taken a huge step forward, especially with the 3D-tracking.
7 Frames per second in continuous and DX mode
The Nikon D3 can take up to 11 frames per second; the D3X can “only” take 7 in DX mode and 5 in FX mode. As the D3X isn’t made for speed, but for resolution, it’s acceptable that it can take just 5 frames per second. Every image is delivered with 24,5MP. The Canon 1Ds MK III does the same, but with only 21,1MP.
Body
The D3X body is completely identical to the D3, with the only exception in it’s name (D3 vs D3X). All the buttons are at the same place, which gives a great advantage for photographers using next to the D3X also a D3, D700 or a D300(s). The body lies perfectly in hand and looks build for extreme conditions with the full weather sealing. At the back, you will find the same LCD as the D3. A high resolution LCD of 3,0” with 920000K. Below this, there is a smaller screen with information about:
- ISO
- Quality modus per memory card: RAW / JPEG / …
- White balance
- Bracketing
- Recording
Above the LCD screen, you will see a large round finder, that can even be closed. It is really a huge pleasure to use it! Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never want to go back.
The D3X is a full frame camera, but can be used with DX lenses. The finder will automatically cover a part and reduce the quality resolution up to 10,5MP. The function is great if you want to use such a lens, but to buy a D3X and then to use it always with DX lenses would be a shame.
As with the D3, you can insert 2 compact flash cards at the same time in the D3X. You can change the settings so that the second card will be used as “Backup”; the second card will save the same pictures as the first card or, if you choose to select the “Overflow” modus: the second card will be used when the first card is full. If you want to produce a Nef (raw) and a Jpeg at the same time, than you can select the modus that will save the Nef’s on card 1 and the Jpeg’s on card 2.
The D3X produces Nef (raw) images of 50MB each! An enthusiastic photographer will fill those 2 compact flash cards at a short period. The capacity of these cards is increasing every month and the prices are dropping. At the moment, I use cards of 8GB each. After 330 pictures my 16GB (2 cards of 8GB each) where full! As a concert photographer, I find that reasonable. Sport- or nature photographers on the other hand wouldn’t probably be so pleased and would need to buy cards of 12/16GB each.
Connections
The D3X has connections on 2 different places. On the front, underneath 2 rubbers, you can find a connection for a remote cable and Flash PC sync (or for a GPS adaptor). On the left side, there are 2 large rubbers to protect a mini USB2.0, Video out, DC-IN and HDMI connection.
© Dpreview.com
Using the D3X
The D3X has, like all other professional cameras, a large amount of buttons, but still is easy to handle when you know where all buttons are located. At the top, like all other Nikon camera’s, you can find 2 wheels. At the bottom, you will find another 2 wheels with the same functions as those on top. To change between the 4 shooting modus’ (A, S, M, P), you need to push the button at the top and use the wheel at the back of the camera.
To change Single frame to Continuous low speed, Continuous high speed, Live View, Self timer or Mirror up you need to push a really small button at the left side of the body. At the same place, you can change the setting of the flash sync modus, bracketing function and shutter speed lock (always in combination with the wheel at the front).
To change every setting, you need to push the menu button at the left side of the LCD. The menu is endless, that’s why it is called a professional camera! You can easily get lossed in the menu, so don’t start with changing everything but read the manual! A professional photographer likes to change his camera, a semi pro or amateur doesn’t. But this camera isn’t made for amateurs!
Do you need to change a lot your settings? Nikon made it easier for you by letting you make profiles. All settings are saved in profile 1 and other settings in profile 2. When you need to change from the setting 1 to 2, you just change the profile. Really easy!
Most of the settings you change while photographing (like white balance and iso) can be changed with both hands. With one hand you push the button and with the other hand you turn the wheel.
DxO Mark
The new Nikon FX sensor has made it possible to place the D3X on the first place in the DxO Mark ranking. In the meantime Phase One launched his P65+ camera and DxO placed him before the D3X. There is no reason that the D3X needs to be ashamed, the P65+ costs about 32.000 euro. It’s more an issue that DxO doesn’t see the price difference.
CONTINUE TO PART 2 ...