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Nikon D3x Specs Leaked Today - Official Launch Dec 1st
By Jason Heller, November 28, 2008 @ 02:00 AM (EST)
We've been reporting the rumors all year, and Nikon shooters can finally rejoice - the 24.5 megapixel D3X is here. Well, almost...official announcement is Monday.
 
The specs and details were accidentally leaked this morning by a blunder, or evil genius online buzz generating ploy, by Nikon Pro magazine (Europe), which arrived in some mailboxes earlier than intended. Of course this information is all to our benefit., but would have been in our hands in a few days either way. Personally I have been waiting for this release for months and can't wait to get my hands on one.
Nikon D3x
Underwater photographers have been waiting for the release of the Nikon D3x for sometime. We knew it was on the way as soon as Sony released the Alpha 900 (same sensor). Many pros (and amateurs who can afford the steep price tag) have been shooting with the D3 since the first underwater housings hit the market earlier this year. As one of the first underwater photographers in the water with the D3, I can attest to the stellar quality of the FX full frame sensor. We have had several reviews here on DPG about the D3 for underwater photography (of course I still have not had a chance to put up the Sea&Sea D3 housing review, but it's coming, I promise!). Click on the tag "D3" (on the left) and you can find related articles and reviews about it.
 
The Nikon D3 is a great camera. But yet, Nikon had not offered an SLR at the 20+ MP range to compete head-on with the Canon 1Ds Mark III.
 
Enter the D3x. At 24.5MP and improved ability to handle wide tonal ranges, the D3x is billed as "medium format terrain".Since we have not heard otherwise, and in true Nikon fashion, we assume there are no body changes and the D3x will slip into our D3 housings like a glove. The only difference should be the power and resolution inside this bad boy.
Nikon D3x
From the scan of Nikon Pro magazine:
(thanks to Seb Rogers!)
 

THE SENSOR
The D3x has an exclusive 35.9 x 24mm (FX format) 24.5MP image sensor with unique OLPF (optical low pas filter) and high-speed channel readout. ISO range covers the equivalent of 50-6400.

IN FOCUS
The widely acclaimed speed and accuracy of the MultiCAM3500 AF system with 51-AF points. Individual selection assumes a new importance in combination with the high resolution: it’s easy to isolate and focus on small details in the scene.

SPEED AND RESPONSE
At full 24.5MP resolution, the D3x shoots at 5fps, 7fps is possible in DX Crop mode. The camera is as responsive as the superfast D3. 12ms start up with a shutter release lag time of just 41 ms (CIPA standard). It writes files to the dual CF slots at about 35MB per second.

IMAGE PROCESSING
The D3x’s 16-bit EXPEED engine is specially tuned to deliver detail-rich, colourful files with low levels of noise and high detail. It is also tuned to minimise the effects of colour fringing with older F-mount Nikkor lenses, and to minimise the effect of unnatural-looking (digital) noise patterns. Vignette (peripheral fall-off) can also be controlled for creative effect.

ACTIVE D-LIGHTING
The D3x features a new Extra High Active D-Lighting setting, designed to better manage extremely high-contrast scenes, especially tonal gradation in highlights.

SCENE RECOGNITION SYSTEM
Information from the 1005-pixel RGB sensor with diffraction grating is used to recognise the subject position and colour prior to capture. The results are then used by autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance.

LIVE VIEW
The D3x is the highest resolution digital SLR yet to offer Live View. Allowing photographers to compose and shoot via the 3in monitor instead of the viewfinder brings a variety of practical advantages both in the studio and on location. Two modes are offered: Handheld and Tripod. Contrast-detect autofocus is available in Tripod mode.

MONITOR
3-inch wide-angle (170deg) rear viewing screen, with 922,000 dots, is ultra-high definition, and proven to exhibit extraordinary levels of damage resistance.

THE INTERFACES
USB 2.0 downloads images off the camera fast when tethered, and flexibly when connected with the WT-4 wireless transmitter. With both HDMI and AV/Out ports GPS data can be captured into the EXIF as before. The new, compact Nikon GP-1 GPS unit can also be attached via the 10-pin terminal and mounted in the hotshoe, or clip on the camera strap.

POWER MANAGEMENT
The D3x uses the same high performance lithium-ion battery (EN-EL4a) as the D3. Thanks to efficiencies in the camera’s onboard EXPEED image-processing system, battery performance is comparable with the D3.

THE BODY
Extremely durable magnesium construction with economically optimised and weather-sealed buttons, dials and LCD displays. Extensive use of high-grade rubber grips means the body is comfortable to handle for long periods of time, and in a wide range of temperatures.

Official release to follow as soon as we receive it directly from Nikon - stay tuned!

 

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