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Image source: www.bryntassell.ca

Ever since the simultaneous statement of the Nikon D1X and D1H back in 2001 Nikon’s pro D ‘single digit’ series has been split into 2 – the X series designed for high resolution applications like fashion or landscape photography and the H series for high speed sports type photography.

When the Nikon D3 was released in Aug 2007 it didn’t carry an ‘H’ in its name but was obviously designed for speed.

So that the query wasn’t if, but when, Nikon would launch a high-resolution counterpart. It arrived, after more than a year of hot expectation  in the form of the Nikon D3X in December 2008.

Superficially, the new flagship is the D3′s matching twin. The body, controls, user interface and also a big proportion of the camera’s electronic and mechanical innards have been carried over immediately from the D3. The camera’s core element is new.

Whilst the sole other piece of stories – the ‘Extra High’ setting for Active D-Lighting – will not make much difference for most users, the premium that Nikon is charging for the additional resolution most definitely will. For $8000 retail price you can bag yourself just about two D3s. The D3X is also approximately $1500 more costly than its only real rival re specification and features, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III.