Nikon D3 SLR Update
Hot off the press is Nikon shocker of an announcement, the all new Nikon D3. Well, OK, that isn't the shocking part. The shocking part, IT'S FULL FRAME! I don't think if you asked any Nikonian 2 weeks ago if the next series of DSLR from Nikon was going to be Full Frame, anyone would say yes.
Of course, this might be because Nikon was pretty adamant about its DX sized sensor being perfect for digital photography. Not that a company can't change it's mind, but we must be able to laugh just a little bit about it, right? :)
So, this new machine comes with some pretty advanced functionality. I won't bore you with all the minute details until the end, I'll just highlight the specifications that really stuck out.
OK, so with that out of the way, let's talk about the sensor coming in at only 12.1MP. Why you might ask? Well, if you remember back to the D1 days, fist came the D1, then the D1h and then the D1x, all progressively increasing in megapixel count.
Will this be the case again? Seems likely, but odd as the D3 seems to be positioned as the D3h in terms of function and speed, with the D3x coming in the Spring/Summer at probably closer to 20MP with less FPS. So to process 11 frames per second, you're going to have to give up some MP at this point. If you're not a sports shooter, hold on until 2008 when the D3x is revealed and you'll have exactly what you need.
- Umm, FULL FRAME
- 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor - seems low until you read:
- ISO RANGE 100-25,600, and no that's not a typo
- 3" 922,000 pixel LCD. Compare that to the D2x @ 2.5" and 230,000 pixels and you can imagine just how much data that is!
- 9 frames per second / 11 frames per second on crop mode
- 51 Point auto focus
- Dual compact flash cards with RAID0 or RAID1
- Live View
- HDMI Output!
- Comes with a dual battery charger, an industry first
- $4999 Street price
What do you think about this new camera??
Comments on the Nikon D3:
pixelpeeper on 8/24/2007 2:10:09 AM wrote:
One thing you forgot to mention was the new wireless transmitter, the WT-4. Aside from doing everything else WT-1, WT-2 and WT-3 does, the Nikon WT-4 can link together up to 5 other cameras, wirelessly, from a computer and allow the operator full control over the camera, as well as remote thumbnail viewing for each camera! Imagine the possibilities with that? Sport and event photographers can now setup their equipment wirelessly and control it all from the safety of a camera and not be stuck up on a catwalk or something.
I'm guessing though, that Nikon Capture is going to be required to use it.