Nikon D3x

	Resolution Summary
• Minimal chromatic aberration • Very good sharpness • Wide array of image sizes • Multiple levels of RAW compression and bit-level • Can shoot at 5:4 aspect ratio • Slightly below average dynamic range
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Resolution (11.95)

Our resolution test isn't a count of megapixels, but rather a lab tested result that determines the ability of the camera and lens to reproduce fine detail. To determine this, we find the sharpness of the images and the amount of chromatic aberration in them, both of which contribute to the performance of a camera. We also test distortion, but don't score on this, as it's too dependent on the individual lens. The D3x impressed us with its resolution performance, especially in terms of image sharpness. We coupled the camera with a Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S lens (which will set you back around $2000), and while this lens influences the results to a certain degree, the sharpness and chromatic aberration performance are also based on the sensor and image processing capabilities of the camera.

To test resolution we shoot a specially designed chart, which allows distortion, sharpness and chromatic aberration to be measured at 18 points on each photograph. We shoot this chart at three focal lengths: the longest for the lens, the widest-angle setting and one in the middle. At each of these focal lengths we also shoot three aperture settings: the largest, smallest, and one in the middle. Click here for more on how we test resolution.

Distortion
The distortion we measured was generally low, but definitely noticable at the closes focal length. At 24mm, there was approximately 2.5% barrel distortion, at 45mm there was pincushioning of around 2.05%, and at maximum zoom (70mm) the distortion shrunk to 0.9% pincushioning.

Chromatic Aberration (7.39)
The chromatic aberration is a little on the high side, given the otherwise excellent performance of the lens with this camera. The aberration was the worst half-way between the center and the outer edges, especially at 24mm. The sweet spot is dead center at 45mm, though it remains low in this section of the lens at all focal lengths.

Sharpness (13.91)
The D3x captures excellent levels of detail, hitting its peak at 24mm in the center of the lens, where it captures approximately 2400 line widths per picture height vertically, a measure of how many alternating black and white lines the camera can resolve. Its softest point is at 45mm, mid-way between the center and edge of the lens, where it only measured 775 line widths per pixel height horizontally.

	Image Sharpness and Chromatic Aberration
	f/2.8			f/8.0			f/22
24mm

At the 24mm focal length, you hit the sweet spot for image sharpness, dead center of the frame at f/2.8, which then drops off as you move away from the middle, before picking up again. At f/8.0 the sharpness is pretty high across the entire lens. At f/2.8 you'll also find the worst chromatic aberration in that dead zone mid-way between the center of the lens and the corners.

	Image Sharpness and Chromatic Aberration
	f/2.8			f/8.0			f/22
45mm

45mm is where we found the lowest chromatic aberration, at f/22 in the center of the lens. Unfortunately, you won't find extraordinary sharpness to accompany it. In fact the 45mm setting has the lowest sharpness result, at f/2.8, and you can see in the table above how blurry the edges of test boxes are.

	Image Sharpness and Chromatic Aberration
	f/2.8			f/8.0			f/22
70mm

At a focal length of 70mm, both the aberration and sharpness level out. The chromatic shifting is a bit higher in the center of the image than at other focal lengths, but is lower in other parts of the image, and the sharpness is good across the lens, especially at f/8.

Resolution Score Comparison

Overall, we found that this lens and camera together had the best sharpness at 24mm with an aperture of f/2.8, though the softest was at 45mm at the widest aperture. When compared with other cameras, you can see the D3x did very well capturing detail, putting it substantially above the competition. While its chromatic aberration performance was about average, the sharpness is extraordinary.

Picture Quality & Size Options (18.25)

The D3x can shoot in three image aspect ratios/crops. There's FX, for full frame lenses, DX for lenses designed for the smaller sensor, and 5:4, which crops the full-frame down to the image format traditionally associated with Medium Format cameras.

In all image formats, the camera can shoot in RAW, RAW+JPEG, JPEG or TIFF. If you want to shoot on RAW, you can set it to 12- or 14-bit, with three levels of compression (lossless, compressed or uncompressed). Lossless is reversable, and you will lose no image quality and shave 20-40% off the size of the image, and compressed will trim 40-55% off the file size, but with some loss of quality. JPEGs can be set to three levels of quality: fine, normal and basic. There are two types of JPEG compression as well: size priority compresses the files to try and provide a uniform file size; optimal quality creates images that may vary in size substantially.

Dynamic Range (7.07)

The D3x dynamic range, a measure of its ability to capture a wide range of lights and darks in a single shot, was slightly lower than expected. While by no means poor, it was a shade worse than the comparison cameras.

Dynamic Range

The chart above shows how the dynamic range creeps lower and lower at each ISO. We test the dynamic range using the Kodak Stepchart, which has 20 steps of gray, from white to black. At each ISO we photograph across a variety of exposure levels, and use Imatest to measure the dynamic range. Click here for more on how we test dynamic range. All testing for dynamic range is performed on highest quality JPEGs from the camera. A slightly better dynamic range result can be expected by manually tweaking RAW files.

Dynamic Range Comparison at ISO 200

The chart above shows the differences in dynamic range between cameras at ISO 200. The D3x is a bit below the others tested, so if you rely solely on the built-in JPEG processing, you may notice it is slightly worse than other cameras. This might be due to the camera doing less in the way of tweaking it JPEGs, instead expecting the user to spend more time in post-processing.

Dynamic Range Score Comparison

The D3x has an option for dynamic range optimization called Active D-Lighting. Like every other setting on this camera, there is an extraordinary level of precise control flexibility. Active D-Lighting. It can be set to auto, extra high, high, normal, low or off. If you want to apply this technology after you've already taken a picture, you can tweak the dynamic range of a stored image with the D-Lighting tool in both JPEG and RAW.

Image Stabilization (0.00)

As with all Nikon SLRs, image stabilization for the D3x is based around the lens. After discussion with Nikon, we decided to test the camera with their AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm 1:2.5G N lens, which doesn't have vibration reduction. This camera is designed for use in a studio setting, with a substantial tripod. While the D3x will undoubtedly benefit from vibration reduction lenses in some settings, we opted to test with a lens best suited for the studio nature of the camera, but without the benefits of vibration reduction.

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