[Updated: Added release date]

Nikon D3x Officially Announced - Product shot

She’s here! There’s an official shot from the product images site in the US.

From the press release:

• 24.5MP
• 6048 x 4032 native
• 5:4 crop mode with 20.4-megapixel resolution
• 5.49 micron pixel size
• 14-bit files (NOT 16 bit as was rumored)
• Processed files are approximately 138 MB (? In what format- uncompressed TIFF?)
• 5 FPS native
• ISO range of 100 to 1600, expandable to 50 (Lo-1) and 6400 (Hi-2)
• NO sensor-cleaner

Release Date /  In Stores:

December 19th

Supposedly. Don’t hold your breath, but get your name on the list.

Prototype Bodies

I don’t like surprises, never have– you can’t plan for them, so I’m happy to report no surprises here.

Nikon does however throw us a bone- check out this shot of the prototype bodies for the D3x, cleverly masked with “D2H” logos:

Nikon D3x Prototype Bodies

Sample Images:

Nikon D3x Sample Images

Wow, notice the small black makeup spot above the model’s eyebrow on the RHS of the image, and we need a little more tweezering… boy.

Price

$7,999.00. What was my guessed price range? $7K – $7,500- So I’m not too far off. Certainly not the $9,500 equivalent that the Japanese home market will be paying!

Lenses

No lenses? No lenses.

We’re seeing more and more rumors flying about a high-res d3x or d4 or whatever other name. Here’s one from some guy who seems particularly sure:

D3x will be launched officially on the local market on december 1st, this year. 24mp, FX (of course). I just had the chance to see and play a bit with it and the camera is awesome ! The detail rendition is incredible.

Hold your breath, it will have a very interesting spec which – now – makes it clear to me why they put on hold the D3 production. I cannot say more, I just promised to the guy (see this thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=29934712) to keep my mouth shut (I managed to keep it half shut), but you will REALLY love it !

Just wait. This will be a delightful Christmas for us, Nikonians.

I don’t tend to trust random guys on the internet though

I’m still really happy with my outrageous high ISO capabilities and the FX format, so anything else we get is just gravy. A modular, or upgradeable sensor body is the only thing I’m really hoping for at this point other than new primes.