Reviewing the Nikon D3x is a difficult task, as the camera is designed with a very specific type of user in mind. With a body that costs $8000 paired with a $2000 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, this camera is a substantial investment, a business expense rather than a personal purchase. In terms of image quality performance, the D3x did well, but scored slightly lower overall than the far less expensive Nikon D700. Where the D3x shines is in the breadth and depth of its control and customization options.
If you're working in a studio, with a consistent, known setup, this amount of customization is invaluable. The ability to tailor the camera to ideally fit your situation means less time is spent tweaking controls on the fly, and more time spent getting the shot you need, knowing that it'll turn out properly. Over the course of a days shooting, let alone weeks or months, this turns into a serious saving in time and energy. Keep in mind though, if you don't need all 24-megapixels, you can pick up the D3 for $5000 which has an identical body, faster continuous shutter speed of 9 frames per second, a higher maximum ISO, and offers similar levels of control.
Performance:
Overall, the D3x performed well in all our lab tests, though white balance and dynamic range were slightly lower than expected. It excelled on the resolution test, especially in terms of image sharpness. Apart from this last test, it consistently scored slightly lower than the Nikon D700, probably due to additional pixels packed into the same-sized sensor, or possibly that the D3x processes the data less as Nikon expects professional users to do more tweaking themselves. If all you're worried about is pure performance, the price excess on the D3x doesn't seem worth it, as you can getter similar or better results with a much less expensive camera.
Components:
The D3x hardware is top notch universally. The color LCD is crystal clear and sharp with 920,000-dots, and the two monochrome displays do an excellent job providing ready access to pertinent information. The viewfinder is a little uncomfortable with the default eyecup, but offers 100% field of view, and has a built in shutter to prevent light leaks. The D3x can take two CF cards at a time, and has very lengthy battery life. All the buttons, ports and padding feel exceedingly tough, like they will take years of heavy use.
Handling:
As much as one can use the term "ergonomics" for a camera that weighs 43 oz without lens or battery, the D3x is nicely balanced and reasonably easy to handle. The buttons are well placed, large, and clearly labeled. Dials and switches are all easy to reach and robust. However, given the high weight of the camera, we're much happier having it on a tripod than strapped around our necks for any length of time.
Controls:
The level of control the camera gives you is what separates the D3x from the other cameras we compared it to. Functions include changing the size of the center-weighted metering zone; in-depth battery status information; seven different fluorescent white balance presets; multiple self-timers; four stored sets of shooting settings; and a high degree of customization of button functionality. The D3x allows you to set your camera up just the way you like it to fit your particular needs and preferences.
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