Nikon D2X Digital SLR Review

Nikon D2X Digital SLR
Review

Nikon D2X: Professional High-End Digital SLR Camera With
12.4 Effective Megapixels For High-Precision, High-Speed Performance

Nikon D2X Front

Nikon D2X Digital SLR First Look, Nikon D2X White Balance and Exposure Control,
D2X AF System and i-TTL Support, Specifications, Nikon D2X Sample Images

Sept 16th, 2004. Nikon has today introduced the Nikon D2X digital SLR camera, featuring 12.4 megapixels of effective resolution and incorporating a new DX format CMOS image sensor. The Nikon D2X digital SLR camera is a successor to the long standing professional Nikon D1X digital SLR and features many of the performance and design innovations of the more recent Nikon D2H.

In terms of more specific innovations, the continuous shooting mode of the Nikon D2X digital SLR has been increased by adding a 4-channel output method to improve the speed of transferring image data from the image sensor to a memory card. This improvement allows the Nikon D2X to capture 12.4 megapixel JPEG images or RAW images at a rate of 5 frames per second in continuous shooting mode.

Continuous shooting at a rate of up to 8 fps is also possible with the Nikon D2X using the High Speed Crop function that crops the center of an image to a 6.8 megapixel resolution.

Update: Nikon USA Inc. introduces Nikon D2X digital SLR $500 US Rebate Offer.

Nikon D2X Digital SLR
Major Features

Nikon D2X Digital SLR Back View

New image sensor with 12.4 effective megapixels
The Nikon D2X incorporates a new Nikon-designed DX-format 12.84-total megapixel CMOS sensor which provides both high image quality and high-speed performance. Despite the high resolution, image data is recorded at a high speed using a 4-channel output method.

The main features of the new Nikon D2X digital SLR image sensor are:

DX-format size, which although optimized for DX lenses is able to use the high-performance center area of non-DX lenses

An enhanced ability to capture fine detail thanks to its high pixel count

Separate, high-speed scans for each of the four channels (R, Gr, Gb, and B)

High-speed frame advance (up to 8 fps with 6.8-megapixel images)

Support for a wider range of sensitivities (ISO equivalent 100-800) than the Nikon D1X

Low power consumption and superlative noise characteristics

Nikon D2X 12.4 MP CMOS Image Sensor

Continuous shooting at 5 fps at 12.4 megapixel resolution, 8 fps at 6.8 megapixel
The Nikon D2X offers fast continuous shooting at a speed of up to 5 frames per second at 12.4 megapixel resolution, and an impressive 8 frames per second at 6.8 megapixels; no other camera provides the same versatile solution.

Fast image processing is possible with the implementation of a high-capacity buffer in the D2X that allows for continuous shooting of RAW images at a rate of 5 frames per second for a total of 15 images.

High Speed Cropped function
A continuous shooting rate of 8 frames per second is possible with the Nikon D2X when the new High Speed Cropped function that records the center portion of the image shot at 6.8 megapixel resolution is selected.

This function gives the photographer the advantage of narrowing the angle of view (2.0x multiplier effect), thus providing even better in-camera performance and versatility - especially when using a zoom-telephoto or telephoto Nikkor lenses.

Nikon D2X Viewfinder Layout

The installed type V focusing screen in the Nikon D2X incorporates the frame that shows the effective area in High-Speed Crop Mode. The entire effective area for high-speed crop is enclosed with a frame, while the covered image area is lit in the viewfinder so that you can easily identify it. In high-speed crop mode the two focus areas outside the high-speed crop can not be used.

V Type focusing screen with the D2X

B Type focusing screen with the D2X
Supplied in a case as seen to the right

If you replace the type V focusing screen with the included type B focusing screen, the 4 corners of the high-speed crop are illuminated. The optional type E focusing screen offers a series of grid lines for assisting in composition.

High-speed crop mode is selected in the shooting menu. The Nikon D2X can also be set so that high-speed crop mode is selected quickly, by simply using the camera's FUNC. button and main command dial.

High Speed Crop Function selected in Shooting Menu

Faster read/write speed for the memory card and a USB 2.0 interface
Read/write time of the memory card has been reduced and a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface has been adopted with the Nikon D2X for faster transfer of images from the camera. These improvements mean that the user will not notice a decrease in the rate at which operations requiring reading from or writing to the memory card or image transfer are performed despite the significant increase in image resolution.

The Nikon D2X supports the following formats and image-quality settings:

Image Quality Settings as shown in the Shooting Menu

NEF + JPEG Fine	Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one fine-quality JPEG image.
NEF + JPEG Normal	Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one normal-quality JPEG image.
NEF + JPEG Basic	Two images are recorded, one NEF (RAW) image and one basic-quality JPEG image.
NEF (Raw)	Raw 12-bit data from the image sensor are saved directly to the memory card in Nikon Electronic Image Format (NEF).
TIFF (RGB)	Record uncompressed TIFF-RGB images at a bit depth of 8 bits per channel (24-bit color). Time needed to record images increases.
JPEG Fine	Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1 : 4.
JPEG Normal	Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1 : 8.
JPEG Basic	Record JPEG images at a compression ratio of roughly 1 : 16.

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Image Size Options
The Nikon D2X has settings for the following image sizes:

Image Size Settings as shown in the Shooting Menu

Option	Hi-speed crop: Off	Hi-speed crop: On
Option	Size (pixels)	Size (pixels)
Large	4,288 × 2,848	3,216 × 2,136
Medium	3,216 × 2,136	2,400 × 1,600
Small	2,144 × 1,424	1,600 × 1,064

Creative in-camera effects: Multiple Exposure
The new Multiple Exposure function on the Nikon D2X creates a single image from up to 10 exposures. Exposure for each image can be adjusted with the auto gain control feature to prevent over-exposure.

The multiple exposure auto gain control feature can be set to On or Off. In the Off (default) setting, each exposure is recorded at the current exposure setting. Gain is not adjusted when recording multiple exposures.

With the Auto gain set to On, gain is adjusted according to the number of exposures actually recorded (gain for each exposure is set to 1/2 for 2 exposures, 1/3 for 3 exposures, etc.).

Nikon D2X Digital SLR Top View

Creative in-camera effects: Image Overlay
The Nikon D2X Image Overlay function merges selected RAW (NEF) files already stored on the CF card to create a new image file within the camera. The user chooses any same-size two NEF (RAW) images taken with the Nikon D2X from the photographs on the memory card and overlays them to create a new image. That new image is saved independently and the original photographs are not affected. The original images must be in NEF (RAW) format.

Images created with Image Overlay can be saved in NEF (RAW), TIFF, and JPEG formats. If the combined image is saved in NEF (RAW) format, it can be further combined with additional images, meaning that there is no restriction on the number of photographs that can appear in a single overlay.

Advanced 3D-Color Matrix Metering II
Higher precision has been developed for Nikon's acclaimed 3D-Color Matrix Metering II (new in the D2X), with the addition of more sample images and a new algorithm that diminishes incidents of washed-out highlights or lost details in shadow portions.