RSSNikon Unveils High-End Digital SLRs
By Nate Mook | Published August 23, 2007, 2:37 PM
Nikon on Thursday officially announced two new digital SLR camera models that target professionals and those wanting to be professionals while saving a few thousand dollars. The Nikon D3 features the first full-frame sensor on a Nikon digital camera, while the D300 bumps the D200 up to 12.3 megapixels.
The D3 replaces Nikon's previous top-of-the-line D2x, adding a new EXPEED image processor, second CompactFlash memory card slot, 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor and ISO capability up to 6400. The 3-inch VGA LCD also offers a live view of what the camera lens is seeing, and the D3 can shoot up to 9 frames per second.
Other features include a 51-point autofocus and HDMI output. But the D3's extensive feature list doesn't come cheap: list price on the new camera is $5,000 USD without lens. For those not wanting to spend the cash, Nikon's D300 may be a better choice at $1,800 USD.
While it lacks the full-frame sensor, HDMI output and second memory card slot, the D300 does sport the same LCD, autofocus capability, and EXPEED image processor. Both cameras are slated for a November release, which means pre-orders will likely begin at retailers shortly.
Removed double post...
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|Just a minor correction, the D300 does indeed have an HDMI output! http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond300/
I think it will be a fine upgrade from my aging D70. :-P
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|finally =)
been waiting for this moment for so long lol
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|I love looking at stuff that I won't be able to afford until it's 15 years old. When 2022 rolls around I'm totally getting one of these though. :)
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|Wow, do my eyes deceive me? or are there actually pictures in a BetaNews article?
So this is what the 21st century is all about;-)
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|i like how the lens on the d3 is so much nicer, couldn't have compared them evenly..
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|The Nikon D3 features the first full-frame sensor on a digital camera.
Your kidding right. Canon has several full frame models for a couple years now.
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|My Sony DSC-R1 also has a such one. And it is a bridge camera.
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|Looks like Canon is winning the pro SLR race. They already announced a 21.1 megapixels model to debut in november this year...
http://www.betanews.com/...gital_Camera/1187706183
lvthunder,
You're right, full-frame sensor is something that canon have since eos-1D (about 5-6 years already?)
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|no you don't. you have 21.5 x 14.4 mm APS size sensor which is not a Full Frame (FF)
but it doesn't matter since your camera is not DSLR meaning you cannot change the lenses and that also means that the entire FF debucle is not of your concern whatsoever -
some peps are complaining that their APS sized sensors cut the FOV of their Conventional lenses. hence all the stink and pressure by camera makers to build one. while there is number of advantages to FF the truth is it is not really needed, APS does the job just fine. besides with APS you only use the sweet spot of your conventional lence.
Yokozuna, not saying you got bad camera though. i actually like Sony cameras or more correctly i like the pics the produced until about .5 year ago. if only they throwed the idiotic memory stick away... my old nikon d70 uses APS sensor built by sony
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|why are you qouting only part of the statement??
the full statement says "Nikon D3 features the first full-frame sensor on a NIKON digital camera" which is true.
common man...
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|It didn't say Nikon when I copied and pasted it.
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|more megapixels does not determine equipment quality. this megapixel race is only for PR reasons and real pros (not one of them, but know a couple) don't care about PR, they care abpout substance.
both canon and nikon make exeptional equipment today. it is simply down to personal preference. i prefer nikon. but if it makes you feel better i will admit canons are winning Pixel count war. enjoy
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|in that case my appologies.
good job on editing mistakes out of the articles (to whoever edited it)
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|Rubbish!!!
The number of megapixels has a very significant impact on the quality of a picture (and therefore the quality of the equipment).
In particular, when you start wanting to do things like enlarging a small portion of a picture (e.g, making a headshot from a full length photo), you can't have too many pixels, even if you're using very clever enlargement plugins or algorithms.
--->more megapixels does not determine equipment quality
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|the scenario you described - making portraits out of groupshot is absurd. that is not how it is done.
when you want to enlarge a portion of your picture ie make a portrait you use higher zoom and take tighter zoomed picture in the first place. if you find that you need to crop more then 20% of the picture you are doing something wrong. very wrong
more pixels provide higher resolution, and unlike the guy from bestbuy wants you to believe higher resolution does not automatically mean higher quality. i get much nicer pics out of my 6Mp nikon D70 then from 8.3Mp casio ultra-compact.
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|You definitely can have too many pixels. More pixels without increasing the size of the sensor will increase noise.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm
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|I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a D3x with 20+mp to compete with Canon's 1DsIII in the studio professional's line of work, maybe released just prior to Photokina next year (as Nikon is known for). Really though, MP doesn't matter as much for a studio pro since they really need a bigger sensor for enlargements anyway, and they'd be more likely to shoot medium format like a Mamiya ZD 22MP.
If you think about it, the D300 pretty much has the highest pixel density out there for a digital SLR (maybe also the Canon 40D?). If you shoot wildlife or sports and want to really bring your subject in, the 1.5x DX factor is pretty big (a 400mm lens becomes a 600mm with no cropping after the fact). On a full size sensor, you wind up paying for more expensive glass (which is always better of course) or cropping those extra pixels out and losing density. If you use Nikon's 18-200mm DX lens, the D300 is really the camera for you since the D3 will drop to 5MP with a DX lens. Maybe Nikon will release an FX version of this beautiful lens to coincide with a future D3x? Then again, most pros that would purchase a D3 would have no use for anything but fast glass anyway (fixed apertures and prime lenses for the most part). The D300 has struck a really good balance for pros and prosumers alike.
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