The Nikon D3x

November 28th, 2008
Due to the premature release of Nikon Pro magazine in the UK, we learned today that the much anticipated Nikon D3x is indeed a reality.  If you are like many photographers, the temptation to have the "latest and greatest" camera is a powerful one.  So let's take a look at the D3x compared to the D3.

So what does this tell us? The D3x is basically the D3 with a new sensor.  Depending on your point of view and photographic needs, this is either a big deal or not.  I've colored the table above with perceived advantages. I say "perceived" because one photographer's idea of "good" may not always match what others think.  So let's look at this from a couple of perspectives.

The Studio Photographer's Tale
The Studio Photographer makes her living shooting in controlled lighting conditions.  Her clients demand files that have maximum resolution for advertising and commercial use.  High ISO does not matter to her; she brings her own light to the party most of the time.  Compared with the medium format digital cameras, being able to use a smaller form-factor body and still generate 24 megapixel files is a big plus, not to mention the stark difference in price.  While no price has been set for the D3x, there is no doubt that it will be signficantly less than a MF digital body or back (the Hasselblad D39 is around $35,000!).  Verdict: Good Choice.

The Pro Landscape Photographer's Tale
The Landscape Photographer wishes to produce images that capture as much detail as possible and produce large prints.  Most of his prints are produced on large-format professional printers capable of printing 24" wide or more; his smallest prints are usually12x18".  The Landscape Photographer will occasionally use higher ISOs, but often wants to use a lower sensitivity setting for blurring streams and moving water.  The Landscape Photographer could consider a medium format system, but prefers the smaller size of a 35mm SLR body and lenses. Verdict: good choice.

The Wildlife Photographer's Tale
The Wildlife Photographer has a need for speed and resolution.  There are many situations where she is shooting in lower lighting conditions and still needs to freeze motion.  Most animals, especially birds, require shutter speeds of 1/250th or more to avoid motion blur.  For her, pixel density is also important.  When using telephoto lenses, the more pixels that cover her subject, the better the image will be.  The D3x has a 10MP crop mode, which is good, but not as good as the current D300.  The D300 also has a slightly better ISO range (200-3200) than the D3x.  For the price of a single D3x, the wildlife photographer can purchase multiple D300s.  Verdict: Consider a DX body or the D3.  If you are going to use the crop mode most of the time anyway, then a DX camera is probably a better investment.

The Photojournalist's Tale
The PJ shoots lots of images and must upload them to his wire service using wireless connectivity.  He has to get it right in the camera because his agency won't permit him to shoot RAW.  He travels light and uses available lighting most of the time.  When action strikes, he needs to be sure he gets the shot. He also shoots sporting events in low-light conditions.  Verdict: Get a D3, not the D3x.  The D3 wins hands-down in terms of ISO performance and frame rate.  The smaller files are a blessing because they take less time to upload to the web.  In fact, 14x9"  is plenty large enough for the cover of most magazines, and the 12MP images from the D3 can produce double-trucks (2-page spreads) with ease.

The Hobbyist's Tale
The Hobbyist likes having hgih quality equipment, but does not make a living from photography.  He prints at home on an inkjet printer capable of producing 13x19 (Super A3) prints. He spends a lot of time on photography forums--more than he does taking photographs, and he wants it all-- more megapixels and higher ISOs. Verdict: Overkill, but he'll probably get it anyway just to have it, and then spend hours online complaining about how it isn't good enough. For someone making 13x19" prints, 12 megapixels is actually plenty.  Sure, you need to up-rez your images a bit, but in side-by-side comparisons, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between prints made at 300 dpi and those made at 150 dpi. Using 200 dpi gives excellent results for 20x14" prints, which is well within the limits of most prosumer printers.  Additionally, people who obsess over noise at higher ISOs will likely be disappointed that the D3x is not as clean at ISO 6400 as the D3 or D700 is.  If you want to shoot in low-light conditions, get the right tool for the job.

So, do you fit into any of these categories?  Remember, more megapixels means bigger files, and bigger isn't necessarily better.  Be prepared to upgrade your PC or Mac with bigger hard drives, more RAM, and possibly a faster processor if you shoot RAW.  If you have a 13x19" printer, you actually can do just fine with 12 megapixels.  On the other hand, if you make a living printing BIG (20" or wider) and high ISO isn't paramount, then the D3x might just be for you. 

Price and Avaliability

At this time, there is no word on pricing or availability, although my guess would be that this body will start shipping by March 2009 with a price tag in the neighborhood of $7000 USD (just my guess).  That doesn't include upgrading your lenses, computers, and printers to handle the files!

Update 1 December 2008:  According to Nikon USA's press release, the D3x will be available in December 2008 (that's fast) with a pricetag of $7999 (ouch).  I was kind of hoping that Nikon would surprise us all and lower the price to put pressure on the 1Ds Mk III.   Looks like Nikon is willing to accept Canon's price point for a high MP flagship body.

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