Digital Camera News

Nikon Introduces Professional D2X

September 16, 2004 � Nikon announced its latest professional digital SLR, revealing the 12.4 megapixel Nikon D2X. The newly released camera strives to blend rapid shooting speeds and high resolution into a single package. The Nikon D2X can shoot 5 frames per second and contains a unique 6.8 megapixel �High Speed Cropped Image� Mode that increases the frame rate to 8 exposures per second by cropping the number of pixels used on the sensor.

A new algorithm used on the D2X allows the camera to process and transfer image information from the sensor to the memory card faster than previous models. Nikon also introduced a new wireless remote system with the D2X. The system calculates flash and distance ratios in real time, so the camera can produce an even flash exposure.

Since the Nikon D2H�s Wireless Transmitter WT-1A was so popular, an updated version is included with the Nikon D2X: the WT-2A. The first version allowed photographers to upload images directly from the camera to a wireless LAN. The new WT-2A will do that and also allow wireless remote control of the D2X over a Wi-Fi network from a computer running Nikon�s Capture 4.2 software. This means that a photographer can position the camera, release the shutter with the remote control and view pictures on a computer instantly through the wireless LAN.

With a 2.5-inch 235,000 pixel LCD screen, the Nikon D2X will vividly display customizable shooting settings, playback images and set-up menus. This is a vast improvement from the Nikon D2H, which has the same size screen but only 211,000 pixels of resolution.

The Nikon D2X has four shooting modes: Programmed Auto, Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority and Manual mode. It has a wide shutter speed range of 30 to 1/8,000^th of a second, the same as the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and Nikon D2H. The D2X has an ISO sensitivity range from 100-800, as compared with the D-100 and D2H�s 200-1600. While the D2X may lack in ISO sensitivity options, white balance settings are in abundance, including a 31 step color temperature control (measured in degrees Kelvin), a manual setting, automatic and five preset options. The D2X can shoot in RAW, JPEG, NEF and TIFF file formats.

The 2.4-pound D2X was created for the world traveling photographer, with global time and date settings available as well as an optional GPS hookup to record information such as latitude, longitude and altitude. Another function new to Nikon is the Multiple Exposure function, which allows the photographer to take 10 pictures to form one image.

The D2X will be available for purchase in January 2005.