Nikon D3 vs Nikon D3X

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D3 compared with D3X

	NikonD3	NikonD3X
Overview
Released
Released	November 2007	December 2008
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	Full frame	Full frame
Sensor type
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	36 × 23.9 mm	35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	12.1 MP	24.5 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4256 × 2832	6048 × 4032
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–6400	100–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	12.87 million total pixels; FX, DX and 5:4 image areas; maximum DX image 2784 × 1848 and 5:4 image 3552 × 2832	25.72 million total pixels; FX, DX and 5:4 image areas; maximum DX image 3968 × 2640 and 5:4 image 5056 × 4032. No automatic sensor-cleaning mechanism; Image Dust Off reference data can be used with optional Capture NX 2
Image formats
Image formats	12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG	12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detail
ISO detail	Expanded equivalents ISO 100–25600; Auto ISO	Expanded equivalents ISO 50–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor
Image processor	EXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System	EXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	9 fps	5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses; DX lenses supported with automatic crop. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported	AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses; DX lenses supported with automatic crop. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 3500FX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning	Multi-CAM 3500FX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning
Shutter
Shutter	1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 300000 cycles	1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 300000 cycles
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 9 fps at full FX resolution with AF/AE; up to 11 fps in the lower-resolution DX crop, with focus locked at the first frame at 11 fps. Maker rates require continuous-servo AF, shutter-priority or manual exposure, at least 1/250 second and other specified default settings	Approximately 5 fps at full FX resolution or in 5:4; up to 7 fps in the 10.5-megapixel DX crop. Recording 14-bit NEF RAW reduces the maximum to 1.8 fps in FX/5:4 or 2.6 fps in DX. Maker rates require continuous-servo AF, shutter-priority or manual exposure, at least 1/250 second and other specified default settings
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
Flash	No built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal; compatible external Speedlights provide i-TTL and Creative Lighting System functions	No built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal; compatible external Speedlights provide i-TTL and Creative Lighting System functions
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting	P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	3″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	920,000	920,000
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels; separate top and rear status panels	Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels; separate top and rear status panels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% DX coverage and 100% vertical/97% horizontal in 5:4; 0.7× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; replaceable focusing screen and eyepiece shutter	Pentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% DX coverage and 100% vertical/97% horizontal in 5:4; 0.7× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; replaceable focusing screen and eyepiece shutter
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	No
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	4300 photographs	4400 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	1240 g	1220 g (better)
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon's original US announcement specifies November 2007 availability; Japan records 30 November. Main retains the month	Nikon's original US announcement specifies December 2008 availability; Japan records 19 December. Main retains the month
Recording media
Recording media	Two CompactFlash Type I/II slots, including UDMA and Microdrive support; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG recording and card-to-card copying	Two CompactFlash Type I/II slots, including UDMA and Microdrive support; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG recording and card-to-card copying
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, full-size HDMI Type A, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional GP-1 or MC-35 connects external GPS equipment	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, full-size HDMI Type A, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional GP-1 or MC-35 connects external GPS equipment
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	Optional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body	Optional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL4a; approximately 4300 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8G ED and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 4700 with AF-S VR 70–200mm f/2.8 ED; EN-EL4 also supported	EN-EL4a; approximately 4400 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8G ED and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 5300 with AF-S VR 70–200mm f/2.8 ED; EN-EL4 also supported
Charging
Charging	External MH-22 charger; optional MH-21 charger and EH-6 AC adapter	External MH-22 charger; optional MH-21 charger and EH-6 AC adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 159.5 × 157 × 87.5 mm	Approximately 159.5 × 157 × 87.5 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 1240 g excluding battery, card, body cap and accessory-shoe cover	Approximately 1220 g excluding battery, card, body cap and accessory-shoe cover
Materials
Materials	Magnesium-alloy exterior with dust and moisture seals; integrated vertical grip; not a waterproof rating	Magnesium-alloy construction with dust and moisture seals; integrated vertical grip; not a waterproof rating
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF	No movie recording. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF
Audio
Audio	Voice memo recording and playback for still photographs; not movie audio	Voice memo recording and playback for still photographs; not movie audio