Regardless of the current gloomy financial climate, £6,000 is a substantial amount of money to invest in a camera. Even as a professional, it is difficult for me to justify spending such a large sum. However, if your budget can stretch to it – or you’ve recently had a windfall – you will struggle to buy a camera with a higher specification than Nikon’s D3x. Boasting an FX-format CMOS image sensor with twice as many photosites as the widely acclaimed D3, the 24.5-megapixel D3x was designed very much with the high-end professional in mind. However, costing over £3,000 more than the 21.1-megapixel Canon EOS 5D MkII and the 24.6-megapixel Sony Alpha 900, can it justify its hefty price-tag? As an existing Nikon user – and owner of D700 and D300 bodies – I couldn’t wait to get my grubby paws on the D3x in order to find out...
When Nikon announced the D3x last December, it came as no great surprise. Its launch had been widely anticipated, as had its huge resolution. Of great surprise, though, was its price tag. At a time when the cost of high quality DSLRs is tumbling, £6,000 doesn’t appear to be good value. However, this is undeniably a high specification camera that is a genuine alternative to medium-format, and will, no doubt, appeal to studio photographers looking for something more portable. At first glance, it looks identical to the D3. The design and ergonomics, which date back to 2007, are unchanged. Whilst it might be unusual for Nikon not to tweak design, this is not necessarily a criticism. The D3 handles superbly – so the D3x is equally enjoyable to use. Weighing 1220g (without battery), this is a heavy camera. Its magnesium alloy body is sealed for moisture and dust resistance. It is robust and solid with chunky, comfortable grips that are secure to hold – something that is welcome when, what you are holding, is equal in value to a small car! Admittedly, its weight and size might not appeal to consumers, but they suit the rigours of professional use.    
Whilst its high resolution image sensor, with 12-channel readout, gapless micro lens array and on-chip noise reduction will make all the headlines, the D3x offers much more aside. It supports an ISO range from ISO 100-1600, extendable down to the equivalent of ISO 50 and up to 6400. The D3 is renowned for its impressive low-noise performance at high sensitivities, and the D3x also boasts fantastic image quality throughout its ISO range. This will prove particularly appealing to nature and sports photographers who need to capture fast action in low-light. However, it is worth noting that the D3x’s sensitivity range is a couple of stops smaller than the D3, which boasts an extended range of ISO 100-25,600. Due to the larger pixel count, frame rate is also reduced. The D3 boasts a maximum burst of 9fps – at full FX resolution – whilst the D3x is capable of a more modest 5fps, which drops to just 1.8fps if capturing images in 14-bits. Whilst this is still fast, and more than sufficient for the majority of photographers, it may prove a stumbling block for action photographers who are required to shoot large, continuous bursts day-to-day.

Like the D3, the D3x has a DX-format mode, reducing the sensing area to a cropped-type size of 24x16mm. Images are captured in this mode at 10.5-megapixels and the frame rate increases to 7fps. However, if you are investing so much cash, I doubt you would want to limit its capabilities, or attach a DX-format lens (which automatically activates the DX crop mode). The aspect ratio can also be switched to 5:4.
Whilst the increase in resolution might be a major jump, aside from this, so little has changed that you could obtain all the information you need to know about the D3x by simply reading a detailed review of the D3. It shares the same high-resolution 3in LCD monitor (with 920,000 dots) , which in my view is the best you will find on any DSLR, allowing you to view and accurately assess replayed images. Its 170º viewing angle makes it easy to check composition if using LiveView – although this isn’t a function I can imagine many photographers using on this particular model. Having been incorporated in the D3, the performance of its Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor system is already proven. All 51 focus points, including 15 cross-type sensors located at the centre, are effective if using an AF Nikkor lens with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or larger.
This is a camera bursting with features – too many to write about in detail in a review of this length. However, despite its complexity and sophistication, it is so well designed that this isn’t an intimidating camera to use. Admittedly, as an existing Nikon user, I have an advantage when field testing other models – already being familiar with the general Nikon layout and design. However, the menu system – though large and in-depth, is clear and logical to navigate, regardless of whether you’ve used a Nikon DSLR before or not. Each of the key controls is thoughtfully placed and before long, your fingers intuitively find the right buttons. I found the camera a joy to use. As a professional outdoor photographer, the large, bright viewfinder proved a great compositional aid, helping me to ensure accurate framing. Metering is superb too, thanks to its 3D Colour Matrix metering II system, and in the short time I had the camera on loan, I wasn’t able to catch it out. In terms of image quality, the results are better than any camera I have previously used, producing wonderfully crisp, smooth images. File size is large, though – the D3x captures an image size of 6048 x 4032pixels. This translates to a 14-bit NEF (Raw) file being around 50MB in size, while a converted 16-bit TIFF is a whopping, memory intensive 140MB. Whilst the D3x certainly meets the demands of modern stock photography, owners will require a suitably powerful system in order to archive and work with such large files.

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES
Rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL4a battery, MH-22 quick charger, UC-E4 USB cable, EG-D2 AV cable, AN-D3X camera strap, BF-1A body cap, BS-2 shoe cover, DK-17 eyepiece, BL-4 battery chamber cover, Quick Guide, instructions and software CD.

CMOS SENSOR
The FX-format sensor measures 35.9x24mm and was designed exclusively for Nikon's newest flagship camera, the D3x.

LCD MONITOR
The clarity of the 3in screen, which uses 920,000 dots, must be seen to be appreciated. It provides 100% coverage and a 170º viewing angle.

WEATHER PROOFING
Lightweight, yet tough and durable magnesium-alloy is used for the body, exterior cover, chassis, and mirror box of the D3x. A comprehensive series of O-rings and other specialized seals protect against invasive moisture and dust, and help to prevent electromagnetic interference.
VERDICT
So the question remains – can the D3x justify its substantial price tag? In one word – no. This might seem illogical, considering the D3x is the best camera I have ever used and an industry leader. It boasts wonderful image quality, performs superbly and build quality, ergonomics and handling are simply excellent. In fact, there is little to criticise other than the drop in frame rate and smaller ISO range, when compared to the D3, and possibly the lack of a sensor cleaning unit. However, at around £2,500 more than the street price for a D3, you are simply paying for pixels. The extra resolution isn’t as significant a jump as it might sound. Picture quality is already so good from 12-megapixel DSLRs that few will be able to justify the added cost – unless you are a professional with the type of clients that demand the extra resolution, and are prepared to pay for it. While I cannot question the quality of the D3x, it seems like poor value for money when compared to, say, the Sony Alpha 900. It might not be able to match the Nikon for build quality and performance, but if its pixels you want, it is its equal – and offers a saving large enough to buy a system of high quality lenses. After all, there is little point having a camera of this quality unless you are using optics capable of realising the sensor’s full potential. If the cost of the D3x was a little closer to the original RRP of the D3 (which was £3,400), it would not only tempt existing Nikon professionals and enthusiasts, but also users of other brands. However, on the flip side of the coin, the recent price rises by Canon means that the D3x's guide price is around £2,500 less than its main rival, the EOS-1Ds MkIII, which is now listed at close to £9,000! 
Handling & Ease of use: 23/25
Features: 24/25
Performance: 24/25
Value for money: 20/25
Overall: 91/100

Model: NIKON D3x
contact: 0800 230220, www.nikon.co.Uk
Guide Price (RRP): £6,000 (body only)
 Sensor type: CMOS (FX-Format)
Resolution (effective pixels): 24.5
Max. image resolution (pixels): 6048x3032
Number of AF points: 51
Multi-zone metering zones: 1005 pixels
ISO rating: 10-1600 (lo:50;hi:6400)
Card format: CF (2x slots
Raw + JPEG: Yes
Shutter speedS: 1/8000sec-30sec+Bulb
built-in flash: NO
Flash sync: 1/320
Shake reduction: VR lenses only
Dust reduction: Yes (using capture nx2)
Continuous frame rate: 5fps
LCD monitor: 3in
LIVE view: yes
POWER SOURCE: Lithium-ion
Size (MM): 159.5x157x87.5
Weight (grams): 1220