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Author Topic: Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview  (Read 13059 times)

Jonathan Wienke

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« on: June 02, 2005, 01:50:32 am »

I'd characterize it as fair and well-written; Phil's usual thorough job. For me, it wouldn't be worth switching from Canon, but for someone with a lot of Nikon glass, it's a digital upgrade that makes a lot of sense.
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drew

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2005, 06:32:42 am »

I changed from a Nikon to a Canon setup two years ago (well actually a Fuji S2 Pro) and I have no regrets, having had the benefit of first the 1Ds and then the 1DS MKII. However, if I had the same decision to make now, then it really would be a no-brainer. I would buy a D2X.
I agree with Jonathan that it is not worth switching back, but I cannot help but make the following observations:
1/ If you are starting out afresh, the D2X offers equivalent performance to the 1DS MKII, but costs and weighs less.
2/ Nikon's strategy of sticking with the APS-C sensor size may well prove to be the correct one.
I think it is going to be very interesting to see how Canon are going to respond to this as I cannot see how they can be price competitive with Nikon while they continue to use a 24x36mm sensor in their top end camera and that is before we consider the problems of lens design for this format.
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Andrew Richards [url=http://www.andrewri

DiaAzul

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2005, 07:56:40 am »

Quote
1/ If you are starting out afresh, the D2X offers equivalent performance to the 1DS MKII, but costs and weighs less.
Forget megapixels for the moment - this is the big issue: Who wants to carry a brick and truck load of equipment, when you can have something small, light and manageable? I do like my Canon equipment, but am I jealous that the D2X is so much lighter!
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David Plummer    http://photo.tanzo.org/

rokkitan

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2005, 09:03:54 am »

I've seen some predictions that Canon will release a Pro 1.6x body along with EF-S L lenses. After seeing the D2x this doesn't seem unlikely.

A future 1Dn/v/mkIII will probably replace both the Ds and D, by having both full format, high resolution and high speed (and high price). This leaves plenty of space for the pro 1.6x body.

--
Rolf Kristian

Edit: Better reflect my thoughts. An from a 20D owner: Nice post below Lisa.
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jock4

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2005, 12:32:37 pm »

Nice one Lisa
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BernardLanguillier

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2005, 02:06:41 am »

Yes,

I guess that a person looking to buy into a new high end DSLR without previous investement in Canon or Nikon reading this article would also find there useful information.

Unless you shoot a significant fraction of your work above 400 ISO, and can afford to spend 3000 US$ more (exactly the price of a 17-55 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 VR), the D2X appears to be the better option.

Regards,
Bernard

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #7 on: June 02, 2005, 06:59:30 am »

Quote
I think it is going to be very interesting to see how Canon are going to respond to this...

Yup it sure will.  ::

Michael
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Ray

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2005, 08:37:35 am »

The dpreview review confirms what was apparent to me several months ago. For someone who is not tied to a lot of another comapany's glass, the D2X is the way to go. Nikon has stolen a march on Canon. No doubt about it.

I'm a Canon supporter and of course I hope Canon will respond with a vengeance  :D .
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Lisa Nikodym

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2005, 12:14:14 pm »

I feel the need to remind those here who not so long ago were deriding Nikon for being a has-been washed-up walking-dead company, utterly unable to compete with Canon ever again:

I guess you were wrong.  

(Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Lisa
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BJL

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2005, 12:32:07 pm »

Canon improving their 24x36mm models (more pixels? more dynamic range?) could consolidate their take-over of much of the former medium format sector, but will not help them to compete in the higher volume professional level markets like sports and journalism against the best that the new digital formats can offer, as shown by the D2X.


They also need something of full professional quality matching the high resolution (lp/mm) and thus the shorter usable telephoto lens needs of the smaller D2X pixels, and at high frame rates, which the 1Ds models have never offered.

The only way I can see to do this is to also roughly match the smaller formats used by Nikon, including the 12x18mm (2x) of its high speed crop mode. Copying the high speed crop mode idea with a full 24x36mm sensor is probaly too much of a size gap; it would need about 30MP to match the D2X resolution.

So I would bet on an "EF-S" format EOS-1D "sports/PJ model".


P. S. I find it ironic that Nikon's new high speed, sports oriented photography mode uses a cropped frame format of 12x18mm, just slightly smaller than Four Thirds format. After all, it been "explained" so many times in online forums that smaller formats are inherently inferior for high speed applications like sports!

I also note that the D2X sensor ISO speed disadvantage relative to the 1DsMkII seems distinctly less than one stop, so in many cases is more than outweighed by a roughly one-stop advantage in f-stop with shorter telephoto focal lengths. Of course it is Canon's move next to respond to Sony's new CMOS sensor by reducing noise even more.
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BJL

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Nikon D2X Review @ DPreview
« Reply #11 on: June 02, 2005, 12:41:36 pm »

Lisa,
   what I really see here is in large part that Sony has started to compete with Canon in the realm of CMOS sensors for SLRs. And it seems that other big electronics and sensor makers like Matsushita are also now working hard on CMOS technology and planning to make SLR sensors.

So perhaps the next phase for SLR's is a great increase in the total industry wide effort on such sensors from multiple makers, including ones happy to sell their sensors to multiple SLR makers. Good news for quality, price and choice in the SLR market!
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