Despite a sluggish economy the DSLR wars are showing no signs of slowing down as Nikon has just announced the release of eh much rumored D3X, an FX-format digital SLR featuring 24.5-megapixel resolution and what Nikon is claiming to be, “superb low-noise capabilities, which provides professional photographers with commercial-quality image performance in a familiar and extraordinarily versatile D-SLR form factor.”
Nikon claims, “The foundation of the enhanced performance of the D3X is its FX-format, 24.5-megapixel (6048 x 4032) CMOS sensor providing extreme resolution, dynamic range, color depth, detail and sharpness that clients demand.” The large 5.49-micron pixel size and high signal to noise ratio is at the heat of what the company claims are “vibrant images with breathtaking image fidelity.” The sensor also is said to reduce lost highlights and shadows, and ensures smoother tone reproduction with minimized noise. Full resolution shooting speeds up to five frames-per-second (fps) are possible with the D3X, producing 14-bit files, that when processed are approximately 138 MB,
“In 2007, the 12.1-megapixel FX-format D3 delivered groundbreaking digital SLR image quality, coupled with incomparable high ISO, low noise performance and high-speed handling. In doing so, the D3 broke photographic barriers, enabling photographers to work in ways never before possible,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon Inc. “Now, the new 24.5-megapixel FX-format D3X D-SLR provides the extreme resolution and high dynamic range capabilities needed to meet the extraordinary needs of photographic disciplines such as high fashion, commercial advertising and fine art. The D3X delivers this remarkable capability while fitting seamlessly within the Nikon system, taking full advantage of Nikon’s world-renowned collection of NIKKOR lenses and Speedlights.”
Expect to see $7999.95 MSRP on the D3X. And the beat goes on in the DSLR market – one we’ll be covering more extensively in an upcoming issue of Picture Business.
