Within the last few days, photography forum was packed with rumors about the expected newcomers into Nikon DSLR lineup. Unlike many other rumors which melted away as time goes by, this one sounds real. Hard evidences came from the copy of marketing to promote it.

The newcomers will be put on track on August 2008 and expectedly to hit the market on December 2008. Just like any other new Nikons, this one willbe smokin’ hot. To get it at its first scheduled shipment you will have to make a pre-order online the first day pre-order becomes available. As always, it most likely to be started from North America, so Indonesian enthusiast should allow a few more month to be able to get it from the black-market, and even more before official release from the local distributor.

What is hot is really its FX sensor as D3 instead of DX as D300. In short, it will be like a D300 with full-frame sensor. The only reason to get FX of D3 over the DX sensor of D300 is for by far cleaner image at high ISO and distortion-free ultra-wide shot. Estimate street price is $3,299.00. Are you chocked? Well, you don’t think that Nikon will give the full-frame sensor for free at the price of D300, do you? Plus, to take the advantage of full-frame sensor on ultra-wide shoots you will also have to get a 12-24mm F2.8 AF-S, 14mm F2.8 AF-D, or 15mm F3.5, none of which are sold far beyond $1,000 each.

Remain excited?
Here is the full spec:

Sensor:

• 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor
• FX format
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter
• 12.9 million total pixels
• 12.1 million effective pixels
• 3:2 aspect ratio

Image processor:

• Nikon EXPEED

A/D conversion:

• 14 bit

Image sizes:

(FX format)

• 4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP]
• 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP]
• 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP]

(DX format)

• 2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP]
• 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP]
• 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]]

File formats:

• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)
• NEF + JPEG
• TIFF
• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)

Lens mount:

• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts
• No field of view crop (full-frame)
• When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop

Usable lenses:

• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36×24)/5:4 (30×24) image size
• AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data

Auto Focus:

• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)
• Multi-CAM 3500FX
• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV
• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode

Exposure modes:

• Program Auto [P] with flexible program
• Shutter-Priority Auto [S]
• Aperture-Priority Auto [A]

Metering:

• 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed)
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame
• Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)

White balance:

• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)
• Presets (seven) with fine tuning
• Manual presets (four)
• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 – 10000 K, 31 steps)
• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)

Sensitivity:

• Auto (200 – 6400)
• Up to ISO 25600(expanded range)

Flash Sync Mode:

• Front-curtain Sync (normal)
• Red-Eye Reduction
• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync
• Slow Sync
• Rear-curtain Sync

Storage:

• Compact Flash Type I or II
• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported

Power:

• Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh)
• Included battery charger MH-18a
• Optional AC adapter EH-5a
• Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip

Vertical grip:

• Optional MB-D10 battery pack / vertical grip
• One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, EN-EL4 or EN-EL3e or eight R6/AA-size alkaline (LR6), Ni-MH (HR6), lithium (FR6) batteries, or nickel-manganese ZR6 batteries

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