NIKON® INTRODUCES THE D2xs™ PROFESSIONAL
DIGITAL SLR CAMERA, DELIVERING PERFORMANCE ADVANCEMENTS AND ENHANCED FEATURES
- 12.4-Megapixel D2XS Offers
Unique Combination of Extraordinary Image Quality, High-Speed and High-Resolution
in a Single Camera Body
- Internal and External Refinements Make D2XS a
Commendable Successor to Nikon’s Flagship D2x Digital
SLR Camera
MELVILLE, NY, JUNE 1, 2006 – Nikon® (www.nikondigital.com),
the world leader in photography, today introduced the new D2xs™ professional
digital SLR camera, incorporating an impressive range of refinements that
improve overall camera performance and enhance the user experience. The D2xsshares
many performance and design innovations with the current and highly successful
D2x camera, including the 12.4 million pixel DX format CMOS image sensor that
renders images with high resolution and sharp detail, necessary for demanding
professional assignments. The D2xs also hosts a range of upgraded features
that make operation sig0nificantly more responsive – including refined
viewfinder performance that makes for easier composition when shooting in
Nikon's exclusive High-Speed Crop mode, a new 2.5 inch LCD with a 170-degree
wide viewing angle, individually calibrated at the factory to ensure consistent
color fidelity, significantly increased battery life and a wide range of firmware
enhancements.
With its numerous refinements, the D2xs is truly equipped to meet the widely
varied demands of today’s professional photographers who strive to create
photographs that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Not only
does the camera successfully combine high resolution, speed and quality, but
it also incorporates exclusive technologies that enable unfettered creativity. Options
such as the WT-2A Wi-Fi transmitter achieves full wireless remote camera control
and transmission, while the revolutionary i-TTL Speedlight technology included
in the D2XS ensures radical new possibilities in creative lighting.
“Increasingly, professional photographers have chosen the D2x as their
primary workhorse camera due to its remarkable performance and versatility,
making it Nikon’s best selling professional digital SLR camera. With
the introduction of the D2xs, Nikon has built upon the proven performance
of its predecessor and added new technologies and refined features that will
offer professionals an enhanced overall experience,” said Edward Fasano,
general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, Nikon Inc. “The
D2xs is poised to become the next Nikon DSLR of choice among professional
photographers.”
Versatility Refined
Many of the capabilities that made the D2x such a success have been retained. The
D2xsis capable of capturing 12.4 megapixel JPEG or RAW (NEF) images at a rate
of up to 5 frames per second in continuous shooting mode, and maintains a
rapid start-up time, the world's shortest shutter release time lag of just
37ms, as well as a viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds. The
D2xs also inherits the popular High-Speed Crop mode that uses a specific central
area of the sensor to capture 6.8 megapixel resolution images at an incredible
rate of up to 8 frames per second. A newly developed viewfinder in the
D2xsautomatically superimposes a mask over the cropped area within the viewfinder
while in the High-Speed Crop mode, for easier and more confident composition.
The D2xs features Nikon's acclaimed Mutli-CAM2000 high-speed AF system, with
eleven autofocus sensors – nine of which are cross-type and placed in
the rule of thirds layout. The D2xs offers improved subject acquisition
and tracking capabilities as well as a new option for controlling the duration
of Lock-On™ focus tracking, making it easier to adjust for shooting
different types of scenes and action.
New Image Rendering and Menu Options
With a combination of powerful image-processing technologies and Nikon's
exclusive 1,005 pixel 3D-Color Matrix Metering II, the D2xs makes it possible
to capture beautiful 12.4-megapixel images that meet and exceed professional
photographers’ needs for larger files that are rich in detail, color
and smooth tonal range. The D2xs has also been refined so demanding photographers
can take advantage of Nikon's 3D-Color Matrix Metering II even in the High-speed
Crop mode. Professional photographers will appreciate the ability to
select Adobe RGB in any of the three color modes – making it possible
to work with a wider range of colors to match highly diverse assignments and
workflow environments, while ideally complementing the NEF file. In-camera
creative possibilities are extended even further through the addition of a
new Black & White (sRGB) color mode. Photographers shooting in RAW
(NEF) will have the ability to shoot in black and white and still retain the
color information in the RAW image data, allowing them to easily reverse a
black and white image to color using Nikon’s new Capture NX software.
RAW and JPEG images taken using the D2xs can be trimmed within the camera
to produce images of reduced display sizes ranging from 640 x 480 to 2,560
x 1,920 pixels. The resulting smaller files can help improve workflow efficiency
by eliminating the time required to download and perform software editing
within a computer.
New ISO sensitivity options offer greater convenience to photographers who
work under constantly changing lighting conditions such as weddings. A new
Auto ISO feature allows photographers to maintain a specific shutter speed
while letting the camera automatically select an appropriate ISO setting,
within a predefined range of sensitivities, based on the existing lighting
conditions. This feature helps achieve optimum exposure while freeing
the photographer to concentrate on composition. ISO sensitivity can
also be manually set between ISO-equivalent 100 and 800 in increments of 1/3
EV, or boosted using HI-0.3, HI-0.5, HI-0.7, HI-1 or HI-2 settings when high
sensitivity is a priority. The 3 settings between 800 and HI-1 are newly added
to give the D2xs finer control over sensitivity.
Refined Ergonomics and Design
The D2xs body is consistent with the exterior styling of the D2-series, adopted
from a design created by famed industrial designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro*. The
body is proportionate and well balanced, with a well designed interface that
is intuitive and seamless.
The D2xs improves upon its predecessor’s energy efficient design, and
when combined with the newly developed high-energy EN-EL4a rechargeable lithium-ion
battery, the camera boasts an unprecedented 3,800** shots per charge. Nikon's
highly sophisticated, real-time battery Fuel Gauge system in the D2xs allows
photographers to determine the precise level of remaining charge, number of
shots taken per charge and the overall life of the battery – all at
the touch of a button.
A new 2.5-inch, 235,000 dot LCD monitor in the D2xs allows a 170-degree wide
viewing angle, and is individually calibrated at the factory to ensure consistent
color fidelity. The D2xs also features a new color scheme for menu displays.
Expanded Software Options
The D2xs features a unique Image Authentication feature that, when used with
Nikon’s new Image Authentication Software, marks the authentication
of an image captured by the camera and can determine whether or not it has
been altered since capture. Image data is a critical link in the “chain
of evidence” for verifying image authenticity, and D2xs’s hardware
and software-based image authentication solution allows easy, secure authentication
of images for a wide range of requirements. The software enables verification
of JPEGS, TIFF and NEF (RAW) images taken with the Nikon D2xs.
A new remote control software called Camera Control Pro is also available
for the D2xs, enabling unprecedented remote control operation of many camera
functions from a personal computer. Camera Control Pro software is the next
generation of camera control software, previously bundled with Nikon’s
Capture 4 software, and features substantial advanced features that offer
limitless creativity to photographers who need to control their camera remotely.
Camera Control Pro can control the D2xs remotely tethering a high-speed USB
cable or optional
WT-2a wireless transmitter.
The D2xs is also compatible with Nikon’s soon-to-be-released Capture
NX™ software – a highly versatile yet elegantly simple photo editing
solution that provides easy, yet powerful and visually intuitive image-editing
and enhancement tools. With Capture NX, photographers will be able to tap
into the full potential of D2XS’s RAW (NEF) files, while also apply
powerful photo image processing and editing tools to JPEG and TIFF files.
The D2xswill be available from Nikon authorized retailers in late June for
an estimated street price of $4699.95***. For more information, please
visit www.nikondigital.com
D2xs™ DIGITAL SLR CAMERA: MAJOR FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS
Major features
Image sensor with 12.4 effective megapixels
The CMOS image sensor provides both high image quality and high-speed performance.
And despite the extremely high resolution achieved by 12.4 effective megapixels,
image data is recorded at exceptionally high speed through use of a 4-channel
output method.
Image-processing algorithm designed to produce high-quality images
The D2xs provides Nikon photographers with the advanced opportunity to produce
the significantly larger image files demanded by today's photographers. But
with Nikon, high image quality is so much more than a matter of megapixels.
In fact, a plethora of other high-level technologies are required to achieve
the outstandingly high level of performance that today’s photographer’s
need, and these are exactly what the D2xs provides.
Continuous shooting at 5fps at 12.4 megapixels, 8fps at 6.8 megapixels
With high resolution 12.4 megapixel performance, one might expect a slow
moving camera; not with D2xs. Within all of its high performance is picture
taking speed up to 5 frames per second at 12.4 megapixel resolution, and an
astounding 8 frames per second at 6.8 megapixels.
High-Speed Crop function
Continuous shooting rate up to 8 frames per second is possible when using
of Nikon's exclusive High-Speed Crop function that records the central portion
of the frame at 6.8 megapixel resolution. What’s more, the viewfinder
has been enhanced with an automatic viewfinder mask that activates when the
High-speed Crop mode is selected for much more accurate and confident composition.
Broad color modes
The Adobe RGB profile provides a broader range of colors than the sRGB profile,
making it a more suitable choice for professional photographers. The D2xs
has also been optimized for post-processing of images with the ability to
select Adobe RGB from either Mode I or Mode III in camera. There’s also
an additional new Black & White color mode available to further expand
the photographer’s creative possibilities.
11-area AF system with 9 cross-type AF sensors
Updated to perform even faster and with greater precision in the D2xs, the
11-area AF system employs Nikon's advanced Multi-CAM 2000 AF Sensor Module.
Of these 11 widely spread AF sensors, 9 are cross-type sensors positioned
in the logical rule-of-thirds array. All 9 cross-type sensors remain active
when using High-speed Crop mode.
Advanced 3D-Color Matrix Metering II
Nikon’s acclaimed 1,005-pixel RGB Exposure/Color Matrix Metering Sensor
instantly achieves optimum exposure, even in complex lighting situations.
Creative in-camera trimming, Image Overlay and Multiple Exposure
A newly added feature, in-camera trimming, allows RAW, TIFF and JPEG images
taken using the D2xs to be trimmed within the camera to produce images of
reduced display sizes ranging from 640 x 480 to 2,560 x 1,920 pixels. The
Multiple Exposure function creates a single image from up to 10 exposures.
The D2xs also offers an Image Overlay function that merges selected RAW (NEF)
files already stored on the CF card to create a new image file within the
camera.
2.5-inch LCD monitor with a wide-viewing angle; large enough to display
various settings and information for easy recognition
The D2xs incorporates a large 2.5-inch 230,000-pixel high-resolution LCD
monitor display with an ultra-wide 170-degree viewing angle for clearer viewing.
It also offers larger type fonts that improve access to color-coded menus.
Further evolution of the Recent Settings menus adds the ability to delete
current settings or lock them to prevent accidental changes. And the D2xs
also offers RGB Histogram display enabling images to be more accurately assessed
in the large LCD monitor. Furthermore, it is also possible to display channel-specific
([R] red, [G] green or [B] blue) histograms for immediate and more detailed
image verification.
Excellent response with the same quick power up and world's fastest 37ms
shutter release time lag as the D2x
Instant startup and a class-leading shutter release time lag of a mere 37
milliseconds combine with optimized systems throughout to maximize all-around
performance and deliver the response needed to handle even the most challenging
professional assignments.
A body designed to heighten ease of operation, moisture and dust resistance,
and overall durability
The size, layout and operation of the buttons, controls and functions have
all been assigned for optimal operation and feedback – minimizing the
need to remove the eye from the viewfinder. This combines with a lightweight,
yet highly durable precision magnesium alloy body to offer reliable performance
under tough professional working conditions.
The D2xs supports full integration into Nikon’s Creative Lighting
System
When used in combination with SB-800, SB-600 or Wireless Close-Up Speedlight
Systems, the D2xs supports the Nikon’s Creative Lighting System with
high-precision flash photography using i-TTL flash control, unlimited creativity
through Advanced Wireless Lighting, and functions such as FV Lock and Auto
FP High-Speed Sync. With Speedlights such as the SB-80DX and SB-50DX mounted,
the D2xs also supports D-TTL flash control.
Compatible with an extensive selection of Nikkor lenses
In addition to the expanding line of DX Nikkor lenses designed specifically
for Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras, photographers can choose from a comprehensive
selection of world-renowned AF Nikkor lenses designed for use with Nikon 35mm
and Nikon digital SLR cameras.
Fast read/write speed for the memory card and a USB 2.0 interface for
fast image transfer
The D2xs has fast read/write times and uses the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface
fast image transfer from the camera.
GPS support for the recording of location information with shooting data
With the optionally available GPS Adapter Cord MC-35, location information
such as latitude, longitude, altitude and heading (direction) can be transferred
from a GPS device and recorded with the shooting data for each image.
Wireless support with the Wireless Transmitter WT-2/2A for direct image
transfer to the D2xs via wireless LAN
The D2xs supports the new high-speed, IEEE802.11b/g compatible Wireless Transmitter
WT-2/2A with enhanced image transfer protocols and increased security. The
WT-2/2A additionally supports the new PTP/IP protocol. And when used with
Camera Control Pro software, wireless camera control from a computer is also
possible.
Increased digital image enjoyment with Nikon’s PictureProject software,
designed for use with the D2xs
PictureProject is an intuitive software application offering versatile functions
for image transfer, image organization, simple image editing (NEF plug-in
included), and print layout.
Support for Nikon Capture NX: A software application with an array of
tools to assist the photographer
Nikon Capture NX offers exciting potential for Nikon Electronic Format (NEF)
files, as well as JPEG and TIFF images. Refined through revolutionary U-Point
technology, it greatly simplifies the selection of objects, colors or areas – supporting
highly accurate alterations to myriad image elements, while preserving the
integrity of the original image data.
Image Authentication to protect the integrity of valuable data
Available separately, Nikon’s new Image Authentication function offers
image authentication for digital image files. Indication whether the actual
image has been tampered with is provided as well as if any changes have been
made to date and GPS information.
Nikon Digital SLR Camera D2xs Specifications
Type of camera
Single-lens reflex digital camera
Effective Pixels
12.4 million
Image Sensor
CMOS sensor, 23.7 x 15.7mm; total pixels: 12.84 million
Image Size (pixels)
Full image: 4,288 x 2,848(L), 3,216 x 2,136(M), 2,144 x 1,424(S) High-speed
Crop Image: 3,216 x 2,136(L), 2,400 x 1,600(M), 1,600 x 1,064(S)
Sensitivity
100 to 800 (ISO equivalent); HI-0.3, HI-0.5, HI-0.7, HI-1 and HI-2 available
Storage Media
CompactFlash™ (CF) Card (Type I/II) and Microdrive™
Storage System
NEF (12-bit uncompressed or compressed RAW),
EXIF 2.21, DCF 2.0 and DPOF compliant
(uncompressed TIFF-RGB or compressed JPEG)
Shooting Modes
1) Single frame shooting [S] mode: advances one frame for each shutter release
2) Continuous high shooting [CH] mode: Full Image; up to 5 frames per second
(fps)/High-speed Crop Image; up to 8 frames per second (fps)
3) Continuous low shooting [CL] mode: Full Image; 1 to 4 frames per second
(fps) (selectable in menu)/High-speed Crop Image; 1 to 7 frames per second
(fps) (selectable in menu)
4) Self-timer mode: time duration can be set
5) Mirror up mode: first press: mirror up, second press: release
White Balance
1) Auto (hybrid with 1,005-pixel RGB Sensor, CMOS image sensor and external
Ambient Light Sensor)
2) Manual (6 steps with fine tuning)
3) Preset (5 settings)
4) Color temperature setting in Kelvin (select from 31 steps)
5) White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames adjustable in 10, 20, 30 MIRED
steps)
LCD Monitor
2.5-in., approx. 230,000-pixel low temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with white LED
backlighting; Backlight/brightness adjustment available, allows up to 170-degree
viewing angle
Playback Function
1) Full frame, 2) Thumbnail (4/9 segments), 3) Zoom, 4) Slideshow, 5) RGB
Histogram indication, Shooting data and Highlight point display
Delete Function
1) Card format, 2) All frames delete, 3) Selected frames delete
Video Output
NTSC or PAL (selectable in menu)
Interface
USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) (Mini-B connector)
FTP file transfer and PTP/IP camera control/file transfer is available with
optional WT-2/2A (IEEE 802.11b/g) Wireless transmitter; FTP file transfer
compatibility with WT-1/1A (IEEE 802.11b)
CF Card Slot Type II: supports firmware updates via CF cards
Voice Memo
Record mode: Automatic or manual recording at shooting or playback,
Max. recording time: 60 seconds
Playback mode: Built-in speaker or Audio Video Cable
File format: Mono WAV file
Text Input
Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input is available with LCD monitor
and multi-selector; stored in EXIF header
Usable Lenses
1) AF Nikkor (including AF-S, DX, VR and D-/G-type): All functions possible
2) D-type Manual-Focus Nikkor: All functions except autofocus and some exposure
modes available
3) AF Nikkor other than D-/G-type: All functions except 3D-Color Matrix Metering
II and 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash possible
4) AI-P Nikkor: All functions except 3D-Color Matrix Metering II, 3D Multi-Sensor
Balanced Fill-Flash and AF possible
5) Non-CPU AI Nikkor*: Usable in [A] or [M] mode with Matrix Metering, Center-Weighted
and Spot Metering available
*Indication of aperture No., after user inputs the aperture f/No. and focal
length F=mm by multi-selector operation
Electronic rangefinder usable with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster
Picture Angle
Full Image: Approx. 1.5x focal length in 35mm [135] format equivalent
High-speed Crop Image: Approx. 2x focal length in 35mm [135] format equivalent
Viewfinder
Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism; Built-in diopter adjustment (-3
to +1m-1), Eyepiece shutter provided
Eyepoint
19.9mm (at -1.0m-1)
Focusing Screen
BriteView Clear Matte Screen III; supplied Type-B or optional Type-E with
grid
Viewfinder Frame Coverage
Approx. 100% (High-speed Crop mode: Approx. 97%)
Viewfinder Magnification
Approx. 0.86x with 50mm f/1.4 lens set to infinity and -1.0m-1
Reflex Mirror
Automatic, instant-return type
Lens Aperture
Instant-return type, with Depth-of-field Preview Button
Autofocus
TTL phase detection, Nikon Multi-CAM 2000 autofocus module;
Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (Right edge/Left edge AF range: EV 0 to +19)
(at normal temperature [20°C /68°F], ISO 100 equivalent)
Lens Servo
- Single servo AF [S], 2) Continuous servo AF [C], 3) Manual focus [M] Focus
Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in [S] or [C] AF
Focus Area
Selectable from 11 focus areas (High-speed Crop: 9 focus areas)
AF Area Modes
- Single Area AF 2) Dynamic-area AF 3) Group Dynamic AF 4) Dynamic-area
AF with closest subject priority
Focus Lock
Focus is locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button or lightly pressing shutter
release button in [S] AF
Exposure Metering System
TTL full-aperture exposure metering system;
1) D-/G-type Nikkor lenses support 3D-Color Matrix Metering II using the
1,005-pixel RGB Sensor while other AF Nikkor lenses with built-in CPUs support
Matrix Metering (Non-CPU lenses require manual input of lens data)
2) Center-Weighted Metering (75% of the meter's sensitivity concentrated
on the 8mm dia. circle) given to 6, 10 or 13mm dia. circle in center of frame,
or weighting based on average of entire frame
3) Spot Metering (3mm dia. circle, approx. 2% of entire frame); metering
position can be linked to the focus area when using Nikkor lenses with built-in
CPU
Exposure Metering Range
1) 3D-Color Matrix Metering II: EV 0 to 20
2) Center-Weighted Metering: EV
0 to 20
3) Spot Metering: EV 2 to 20
(at normal temperature [68°F /20°C], ISO
100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens)
Exposure Meter Coupling
CPU and AI (Automatic maximum aperture Indexing)
Exposure Modes
1) [P] Programmed Auto with flexible program
2) [S] Shutter-priority Auto
3) [A] Aperture-priority Auto
4) [M] Manual
Exposure Compensation
±5 EV increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Auto Exposure Lock
Detected exposure value locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Auto Exposure Bracketing
Number of shots: 2 to 9 frames
Compensation steps: 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 EV steps
Shutter
Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter, 30 to 1/8,000
sec. in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb
Sync Contact
X-contact only: flash synchronization at up to 1/250 sec.
Flash Control
1) Creative Lighting System: i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash controlled by TTL
Sensor with Nikon Speedlight SB-800/600: Advanced Wireless Lighting, FV (Flash
Value) Lock, Flash Color Information Communication for Auto White Balance,
Auto FP High-Speed Flash Sync, Modeling Flash
2) D-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash: When used with the Speedlight SB-80DX/50DX
and in accordance with the mounted lens, five-segment TTL Multi Sensor control
makes available 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash, Multi-Sensor Balanced
Fill-Flash, and Standard D-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash
3) AA (Auto Aperture-type) Flash available when used with SB-800/80DX and
lens with built-in CPU
4) Non-TTL Auto Flash (A-type Flash) with a Speedlight such as SB-800/30/27/22s
etc.
5) Range-priority manual available with SB-800
Flash Sync Modes
1) Front-curtain sync (normal sync), 2) Red-eye reduction, 3) Red-eye reduction
with slow sync, 4) Slow sync, 5) Rear-curtain sync
Ready-light
Lights up when flash fully charged with Speedlight SB-800/600/80DX/28DX/50DX;
blinks for full output warning
Accessory Shoe
Standard ISO hot-shoe contact with safely lock provided
Sync Terminal
ISO 519 standard terminal, lock screw provided
Self-timer
Electronically controlled timer with 2 to 20 seconds duration
Depth-of-field Preview Button
Stop-down lens aperture by pressing Depth-of-field Preview Button.
Remote Control
Via 10-pin remote terminal
GPS
NMEA 0183 (ver. 2.01) Interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable
(optional) and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)
Supported Languages
English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Simplified Chinese,
Korean, Japanese (selectable in menu)
Power Requirements
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a (11.1V DC), Quick Charger MH-21, AC Adapter
EH-6 (optional)
Battery Monitoring System
The LCD monitor on the camera back displays the following information about
the EN-EL4a battery: 1) Remaining charge (%); 2) No. of shots taken since
last charge; 3) Calibration status (Recommended/Not required); 4) Battery
life (5 stages)
Tripod Socket
1/4 in. (ISO1222)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
Approx. 157.5 x 149.5 x 85.5mm (6.2 x 5.9 x 3.4 in)
Weight (without battery)
Approx. 1,070g (2.4 lbs)
Supplied Accessories*
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-21, Body Cap, Camera
Strap AN-D2Xs, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, USB Cable UC-E4, LCD Monitor Cover
BM-3, Battery Chamber Cover BL-1, Type-B Focusing Screen, PictureProject software
CD-ROM
Optional Accessories
Wireless Transmitter WT-2/2A, Extended Range Antenna WA-E1, AC Adapter EH-6,
Type-E Focusing Screen, Magnifier DG-2, Antifog Finder Eyepiece DK-17A, Rubber
Eyepiece Cup DK-19, Eyepiece Correction Lens DK-17C series, Magnifying Eyepiece
DK-17M, Right-Angle Magnifying Viewing Attachment DR-5, Speedlight SB-800/SB-600/SB-R200,
Capture NX software, Camera Control Pro Software, Image Authentication Software
