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Nikon D3X Body review

Body and design

The D3X case is the twin of the D3 with the only visible difference - the new "X" in the marking. The design evolved from the D2 series, so photographers familiar with the previous Nikon series will be comfortable with the D3 / D3X right away. The layout of the buttons is nearly identical, and the control changes are sensible improvements, not a new idea.

The D3X's proportions make it almost square. And thanks to the magnesium coating, it is almost as hard as brick. A durable body, soft rubber on the grip, large buttons, control lock and add-on printing are the plusses of a camera designed to meet the demands of professional photographers in any situation.

In your hand

The D3X is comfortable and secure to hold in your hand, the handle is comfortable and easy to grip, just the size of your hand. The carefully shaped back and the use of soft rubber add to the compact feel. Buttons and other controls are laid out for easy use.

LCD monitor

The D3X has the same screen as all the latest Nikon DSLRs. It covers 100% of the frame, has a 170º viewing angle, and with its 921600 pixels (VGA resolution x 3 for each color channel), the display is very smooth and detailed. After enlarging the image in playback mode, you can easily see the clarity, focusing accuracy and even noise.

Top and side panels

Like the D2, the D3 / D3X series have two control panel displays. One is located on the top of the camera, the other is on the back. Both panels have a green backlight that illuminates when the power switch is turned to the light position (CSM c2). The backlight will turn off automatically. You can also select the backlighting by pressing any button (CSM d7). You can customize the rear information display and viewfinder display using the CSM d5.

Viewfinder

The D3 / D3X features the same circular eyepiece as the D2X. But that's where the coincidences end. Obviously, the view capture frame is now much larger, and indeed displays the entire area of ​​the field of view. The focusing screen is bright but matte enough for accurate manual focusing.

The focusing screen has an automatic masking function, if you select a DX format lens, part of the view will be grayed out to indicate the active area of ​​the sensor. Optionally, you can manually select the shooting format (FX: 36 x 24 mm, DX: 24 x 16 mm or 5: 4: 30 x 24 mm).

The D3X has a 51-point AF sensor. In the central zone there are 15 (3x5 grid), which are detected even with the F5.6 lens aperture.

There are two options for positioning the dots on the viewfinder. You can choose 51 points or 11 like on D2X. (Note that the larger sensor coverage on the D3X means that the focus points don't have as large a capture frame as the D300, and also that the 11 points are positioned slightly differently).

Obviously, if you switch to DX mode, the focus points cover almost the entire frame.

The figure below, which is not typical for viewing through a viewfinder, shows the position of all possible information, including 51 AF points. Nikon has made it clear that they do not use engraving to denote AF points, and all information is displayed using liquid crystal, so when AF point is not active, there is no harmful effect on the focusing screen. There is an option to change the brightness of the AF points. This option is very useful when shooting in bright light with a high sensitivity lens, or shooting flickering subjects, fast-paced sports events.

1. Circle of center focus points

2. The boundaries of the autofocus area

3. Focus points

4. Focus indicator

5. Measurement mode

6. Auto exposure locked

7. Exposure mode

8. Shutter speed locked

nine. Shutter speed

10. Aperture blocked

11. Aperture (aperture index / continuity)

12. ISO / Auto-ISO indicator

13.ISO sensitivity

14. Exposure duration / development count / stability

15. Index of exposure duration more than 1000

16. Flash-ready indicator

17. Flash disabled

18. Synchronization indicator

19. Stop aperture indicator

20. Battery indicator

21. Exposure / tilt indicator

22. Exposure compensation indicator

23. Frame indicator

Diagram reproduced according to Nikon D3X owner's manual.

Batteryand, compartment for batteries and charger

The D3X uses the same EN-EL4a battery as the D3. This is an updated version of the EN-EL4 used in the D2X. EN-EL4a - cells with a capacity of 2500 mAh (more than in EN-EL4 - 1900 mAh) at 11.1V, 27.8 W / h. Just like the EN-EL4, the battery contains a device that is used to secure the battery during assembly, charging and operation (see image below). As you can see in the pictures of the battery compartment, there is one battery installed, however it is convenient if you have several batteries at hand.

There is also a dual quick charger MH-22, which provides the ability to install 2 batteries for charging at once (although only one is charged at a time). A full charge takes about 2 hours 25 minutes, you can also run a full battery calibration which can take up to 6 hours.

The camera displays the following battery information:

There is an indicator on the top control panel with five segments of the battery charge level.

Camera menu item: Setup -> Battery information shows:

- battery percentage;

- number of shots (estimated by current charge);

- calibration (required / not required);

- charge level (from 0 to 4).

Memory card

The D3X has two memory card slots. Both support Type I or II cards as well as FAT32 (cards over 2GB) and UDMA (high bandwidth).

Recording to the second slot card can be set:

1) in case of overflow (if card 1 is full, go to card 2);

2) copies (everything that is written on card 1 is also recorded on card 2);

3) RAW to card 1 and JPEG to card 2.

Camera base. Tripod mount

The bottom of the D3X (and D3) is almost identical to the D2X, except that the D3 / D3X no longer has a connector for the WT-1/2 wireless transmitter, which has now been replaced by the WT-4. On the base of the camera there are soft rubber "legs" made of a material similar to the material on the holder. The metal tripod mounts at the intersection of the center of the lens and the focal plane.

Lenses

At the bottom, you can see the open D3X lens with a mirror at the bottom and a mirror at the top. The lenses are inserted and screwed in clockwise, then locked in place in a counterclockwise motion. This is the standard Nikon F mount, for which it can use virtually the entire range of Nikkor F lenses (although some features are only available with the newer G or D lenses). The D3X supports the aperture ring of older AI lenses. Despite full frame, it also supports 1.5x DX format lenses automatically and via viewfinder respectively (see above in this article).

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