Lens: AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8 G ED • Image - Nikon

D3X: On AssignmentFour of the world's top professional photographers worked with the D3X on a variety of assignments.For studio shooting, the D3X'sresolution is amazing, rivalingdigital medium–format cameraofferings. Tonal gradation is verysmooth and even, andthe color rendering isperfect for fashion andbeauty. It is alwaysthrilling for me to seethe range of colors inmy mind realized in thefinal result, and theD3X did exactly that.This camera reallyimpressed me duringour beach shoot. Thebeautiful tonal gradationallowed me to experimentfreely in difficult lightwithout worrying aboutlosing detail in thebrightest and darkest areas. As Ishot that day, I realized that withthis D3X, the challenges of harshcontrast, backlighting and suddenlighting and weather changes thatonce made location shootingdifficult for fashion photographersare now diminished significantly.The fast autofocus and incredibleframe rate also gaveme the chance to catchthe perfect momentin ways that a mediumformatcamera couldnot.One of the biggestadvantages, however, isthe incredible versatilityin every kind of weather.Even when shooting inthe rain, the D3X'sbrilliant autofocus wasalways sharp and precise,and the camera's agilityand rugged build made itmuch easier to handlethan a medium-format camera.No matter what the conditionswere – hot sun, strong wind oreven hard rain – the Nikon D3Xperformed!Studio work is a game of millimeters:the slightest move candramatically change an image andruin what you have envisioned.The D3X gives me the mobility ofa 35mm D-SLR, which opens upcompletely new opportunitiesfor photographers in my line ofwork. Without being restrained bya camera stand, commercial andproduct photographers can nowhandhold the camera to freely seekan ideal perspective. This can savehours of setup time, as mediumformatstands and accessories arecumbersome and require numeroustedious adjustments.For me, however, the biggestsurprise of the D3X was theimage quality. As a studio still lifephotographer making my livingwith expensive medium-formatdigital equipment, I was skepticalabout what any D-SLR coulddeliver. At the beginning, I wascertain that the D3X images wouldbe vastly inferior to the mediumformat. The price difference alonebetween these two systems shouldbe enough to explain the qualitydifference, I thought.It did not take long to discoverthat my presumptions werecompletely wrong. The imagequality of the D3X is far betterthan I anticipated; it would not bean exaggeration to say it was fiftytimes better than my expectations.The resolution is impressive,and the bokeh reproduction isspectacular, especially when usingthe PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mmf/2.8D. Another benefit I see is theD3X's ability to focus sharply withwide-angle lenses in ways thatare simply impossible with themedium format. With all of thesebenefits, I am certain that the D3Xwill make a big splash in the studiophotography worldThe D3X's control layout is virtuallyidentical to my trusted Nikon D3,which means that I know exactlywhere everything is and how itworks so I can get on with the job.However, the huge increase inresolution and detail isimmediately apparentwhen reviewing theimage on the rear LCD. Itwas later, on a computermonitor, that I discoveredimage information that Isimply couldn't see withmy own eyes at the time.Looking at my files, Isuddenly realized that I'vegot the image quality of amedium-format camera inthe familiar and ergonomic form ofa 35mm D-SLR. I can use my hugerange of NIKKOR lenses – includingmany zooms and VR optics – atfocal lengths not available withmedium-format systems. I can alsouse all my Nikon Speedlights andother accessories.Working fast, as time was tight,I completed the static shots andswitched to 12-bit mode forthe action shots. I had to keepreminding myself that this was a24.5-megapixel camera and that Iwas able to shoot 5 framesper second, which wasessential to catch that“magic moment” in theTurin traffic. Later, I wasshooting action shotsat night, wide open atf/2.0 with the AF-S VRNikkor 200mm f/2G IF-EDat ISO 800 and ISO 1600.Despite the challengingconditions, the shotswere full of crisp detail,accurate color and incredible tonalgradation.The D3X is a camera I could walkaround with all day, tackling anysubject without worrying aboutbad weather or poor light. It makesa perfect companion to my D3.When Nikon asked me to take aD3X camera on my safari in Kenya,I was at first skeptical. But myreservations disappeared soon afterI handled this camera. The D3Xmaintains the incredible ergonomicdesign, ease of menuchoices and fantastichigh-resolution rear LCDas the D3, but the mostimportant addition is its24.5-megapixel FX-formatsensor. This translatesinto detail, detail andmore detail. An incredibleamount of informationlies in each full-frame image, but24.5 megapixels also mean thatphotographs can be cropped intopanoramic formats and still retainamazing detail.On this trip, I carried an assortmentof lenses, but relied heavily onmy two favorite safari lenses: theAF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VRand the AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor200-400mm f/4G IF-ED. The D3Xworked extremely well witheach lens despite all the difficultshooting scenarios that a safari canpresent. With the D3X, Iget Nikon's exceptionalhandling, fast autofocusand an increased dynamicrange, as well as 5 framesper second in FX formatand 7 frames per secondin 10-megapixel DX cropformat. Combine thesefeatures with extremeresolution and NIKKOR optics and Iknow I'll be able to get the picturesI want. I was greatly impressedwith the D3X. From landscapeto wildlife, the versatility of thecamera is truly amazing.Frank P. WartenbergFashion (Germany)Kenji AokiStill life (Japan)Tim AndrewCars (U.K.)John ShawNature and wildlife (U.S.A.)