Nikon Announces 24.5 Megapixel D3x
by Wesley Fink on December 1, 2008 12:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Nikon today announced the D3X, their newest professional Digital SLR. In a widely anticipated move, the D3x will feature a 24.5 MP CMOS sensor in a body that otherwise appears identical to the current D3 professional model.
As a concession to the doubling of sensor pixels, the new D3x will top out at a continuous 5 FPS, compared to the 9 FPS of the current D3. Shooting in 10 MP crop mode the D3x can reach a speed of 7 FPS.
Sharp-eyed readers will notice that the D3x sensor specifications exactly match those of the recently introduced Sony A900. Nikon makes no claims to have designed or manufactured the D3x sensor so it is likely the same sensor as the Sony A900 with customized Nikon image processing.
What was NOT expected is the $8000 price tag Nikon USA has announced for the new D3x. With the 24.5 MP Sony A900 selling for $3000 and the now shipping 21.0 MP Canon 5D Mark II with an MSRP of $2699 most expected a selling price nearer the $5000 D3.
Since the Nikon D3x and Sony A900 appear to use the same Sony 24.5 MP sensor it will be interesting to see if the D3x can effectively compete against a full-frame rival that uses the same sensor and is selling for about one-third the price. The Nikon features a 100-1600 ISO range, with expansion down to ISO 50 and two steps up to ISO 6400. This compares to the Sony A900 ISO range of 200-3200 with expansion to 100-6400, which is a virtually the same sensitivity rating.
No doubt Nikon has worked their normal magic with their Image processing chips in the D3x, but will that justify three times the price? The Canon 5D Mark II has also started shipping, and we will soon know if the newest Canon full-frame is truly useful at its expanded ISO range to ISO 25600.
The Press Release is on page 2. Images of the new D3x are on page 3. Nikon states the D3x will be available beginning in December 2008 at Nikon dealers.
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Koing - Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - link
Pro camera-ultra fast focusing : the A900, 5DmkII simply do not have the focusing speed/ accuracy of the Pro cameras
-dual memory cards that work as you expect. I hear the A900 implementation is a bit crappy
-full weather sealing : priceless
-extreme durability and tank like build
-hugely better shutter (admittedly, you can get 2-3x pro sumers for an 8k camera!)
Thats what the extra 5k buys you. If the above doesn't matter to you, then it doesn't make sense to spend that much extra for one. Much like most pro type things in life (racing parts for a car, pro mechanic tools, pro studio equipment). They are a lot more expensive then normal prosumer stuff. If it doesn't matter to you then it's not worth it.
Sure in most settings the 3k prosumers will perform practically identical to the pro cameras, but when you get in to challenging situations thats where your pro camera does the business.
Most pros would not buy a camera if it didn't have 2 memory card slots for real work. The risk is too much for them.
D3/D700 speed demon and low noise, not the greatest res
5DmkII : resolution, low iso, not a fast camera and action shorts will be harder to get, limited focusing
A900 : resolution, 5fps, not the best high iso as the rest
So depending what you shoot pic one :D
I want a canon with D700 build (flash included :) and video. Not fussed about MP as 12MP is fine for me. Or a Red Scarlet depending how it actually turns out
Servant of Shodan - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - link
As a response to the audiophile article we had yesterday, I said there are getting to be too many articles on cameras and other non-pc-related topics.You guys can do what you want, it's your show... But if this continues, I'm just going to stop coming here every day.
Nice review by the way. But I don't think the vast majority of people come here for camera reviews.
Kahlil - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - link
Those familiar with Nikon will know that Nikon frequently produces different versions of a camera for specific work. The D3x is clearly focused for studio work, clearly seen with Base ISO of 100 and available ISO of 50 in Lo settings. This is mean to compete with Canon's 1Ds camera.I agree, those professional photographers with enormous amounts of cash vested in Nikon glass will most likely willingly/want to purchase this camera for studio work. This is the market this camera is intended for.
Nikon makes no claims of High ISO Low noise performance, in my mind that is what the Nikon D3 is for. If you want High ISO low noise performance, get the D3. If you have full control of lighting, as you would in studio work, you want to get as low ISO as you can, and this is what the D3x is aimed for.
As far as Sony dilemma, there has been no claim made from both Nikon or Sony if the same sensor from the A900 is being used. Although Nikon has used Sony sensors in the past, Nikon does design/spec their own sensors. Regardless, for the most part, Nikon cameras using Sony made sensors, ISO and Noise performance has always been better than what Sony can do in their own cameras. I'm sure Nikon's processing has a lot to do with the end result of the image. So even if the sensor is the same, the processing done makes a difference. For example, if the sensor in the D3(which I think is NOT speced/designed by Sony), D300, and D700 is sony made, from what I read when I was in the market for a DSLR body, no Sony camera had comparable ISO/Noise performance, processing makes the difference.
FYI, its not far from normal for manufacturers to outsource manufacturing to another company. Nikon is not as big as Sony or even Canon for that matter, and they most likely outsource the manufacturing, but the design and spec are most likely all Nikon
Just my .02 cents
melgross - Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - link
This may very well be intended to compete with Canon's 1Ds mkIII. But that will be a short competition indeed. Canon is expected to replace that camera with a newer one in March or so.Considering that the 5D mkII uses an improved version of the 1Ds mkIII sensor (actually, the same base sensor, but with new gapless micro lenses, and newly computer optimized color filters and anti-aliasing filter), and the new Digix 4 processing chip, the 1Ds mkIII has already been bettered.
What will Nikon therefore be competing with come spring?
The sensor is suspected to be the Sony sensor, but just like Canon re-did the lens and filters module for the new 5DmkII, it's believed that Nikon supplied a new module for the base sensor as well, and that's what they meant when they said that it was "unique", without actually saying that it was their own "sensor" design.
mcnabney - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
Anyone considering purchasing a new professional DSLR of this quality is not shopping between brands. Real SLR photographers are going to have tens of thousands of dollars of lenses of their chosen brand (generally, Canon or Nikon) and will purchase new camera bodies to go with their lenses. Nikon is charging this much because they can. When you are already invested in the expensive lenses you aren't going to bat an eyes at a couple thousand dollars in price difference between a Sony (Minolta) and Nikon digital body.Wesley Fink - Monday, December 1, 2008 - link
Several Professionals have commented on Forums that they can buy a Sony A900 and several Carl Zeiss Pro lenses for the Sony for less than the price of the D3x. It will matter to some Pros. I do agree a couple of thousand will not sway a Pro invested in a particular system, but 3 times the price for the same sensor is certainly reason to at least pause and consider.It took Sony to v4 firmware to get the A700 image quality in the same league with the Nikon D300. The larger question will be how image quality of the A900 and D2x will compare.
spazmedia - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - link
How do you know its the same sensor?strikeback03 - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - link
It is known that Nikon has typically purchased sensors from Sony in the past, though they did have one of their own design back in the D1 days IIRC. As sensors of this size are expensive to design and manufacture, and as Nikon would no doubt be heavily marketing the origin of the sensor if it were their design, then it is a good bet that the sensor is at least somewhat related to the Sony.spazmedia - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - link
How do you know its the same sensor?Its not just a question of the same megapixels.
Heidfirst - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - link
the physical size, Mp & dotpitch all match.if you've seen a picture of it it looks like a Sony package & I believe that in 1 of the press conferences that Nikon admitted that it's sourced from Sony.
Note that we aren't saying that the A900 & D3X sensors are identical just very, very closely related.