henrik_holben

Well, I never used a D3, so I can't directly compare. I can say that I find the color saturation from the D3X to be excellent indeed. Like other cameras, color saturation tends to take a hit at very high ISOs, but at 100, 200, 400, 800, I find the colors very good.

 

Thanks Daniel! Have a nice day! :)

I have used both the D3 and D700 extensively, and I am not even sure that the D700 has superior color saturation. Electronically the D3 and D700 are pretty much identical as the D700 essentially took over everything from the D3, but the D3 has much better construction, a built-in grip, two CF card slots and a larger battery.

 

I'm referencing several excellent YouTube videos from Ken on this D700 vs D3 Color Saturation difference:

 

:)

 

Plus: Nikon D700 Review - Exposure o_O

OK, a longtime D3X user here. I won't weigh in on the choice of D3X vs D8xx, because I've never used the D8xx series so I can't personally compare. But I will share my experiences with the D3X.

 

I've been shooting with it since 2009, and it often sees weekly and sometimes daily use. I find it to be an outstanding machine--for what I photograph and my workflow. Others may not have the same needs, depending on their goals and how they work. I find that shooting a flagship-style camera is a real delight. The viewfinder is large and bright, the robust size and handling are nice, and the camera shows very little wear even though it has been used a lot (my now-retired D200, on the other hand, is only slightly older and has many worn parts!).

 

I use the D3X a lot in the studio with strobes, but also with natural window light and reflectors. At ISO 100 with the strobes, I find the image quality excellent. I've never had a complaint there. With window light, I might go up to ISO 800 or 1000. You start to see some noise at 800, but not too bad. Beyond ISO 1000 things start to deteriorate, although still be usable :) I also shoot extensively outdoors with this camera, sometimes in harsh-ish weather conditions: rain, wind, heavy snow, -20 degrees F. I've shot through a few blizzards with it. The camera has always performed perfectly. Obviously, folks use other cameras in those conditions as well. But I do know that I'm confident when shooting this camera in bad weather

 

The clients I photograph for specifically require +22 megapixel files. I've thought about moving to a D8xx series camera, but I like how the D3X delivers me the quality and resolution I need in robust package. Again, other users with different needs may have different opinions.

 

Thank you very Daniel!! Appreciate very much your excellent input from your experiences with so many years using the D3X. Awesome information!! Just curious (if you can answer this?) how do you find the D3X Color Saturation compared to a D3?

I'm just curious! What exactly is it that makes the Color Saturation just so Superior on the D700 compared to the D3? What is it in the firmware, filter, or? on the D3 that "kills" the Color Saturation from the D700? What precisely is it that changes the D700 Color Saturation profile on the D3? Among many Professional Portraiture photographers, the D700 is known to have much more Rich, Vivid, Intense, Tones ,even Surreal Color Saturation profile. What is it on D3 than "tones down" this Color Saturation output?

I own the same camera and wonder about digital backs too. I use a D750 for color, and the Mamiya for B&W which I process, and print in my darkroom. There's a photographer on youtube that has some good videos. He uses digital backs on his RZ. He's worth checking out. 龍﨑フリオ Ryuuzaki Julio (@ryuuzakijulio) | Twitter

 

Yes I agree with you! He's experimented with Aptus II/7 setup. Julio is awesome indeed!! :p

I use the D3X for my studio portrait photography because at ISO 100 the image quality is perfectly adequate for that purpose and its body is very comfortable to use in the portrait (vertical) orientation for hours. The D3X has the anti-alias filter which is in my book a good thing in such a low resolution camera; the 36 MP D810 have occasionally produced quite bad moire but the 45MP D850 hasn't (I assume it has high enough resolution for the lens to act as anti-alias filter). I have the D3X set up for studio so I don't have to change settings before I start the session, I put on a lens, turn on the lights and start shooting. If you are buying a camera now for studio work then I would buy the D850 rather than the D810. The D850 is less prone to moire in my experience and has far better AF using the topmost point rows in vertical orientation, which is what I need to use for whole body verticals (or even 2/3).

 

Thank you very much your response very much appreciate it!! Wonderful to hear from someone with has experience directly with the DX3 in a Studio setup! Just curious: How far can you go up in ISO like 800 ISO before you notice any big Noise/Moire differences compared to your 100 ISO? I'm shooting mainly in highest range of 800-1600 ISO. You notice any D3X differences comparing to D810/D850 in overall Image Quality and Resolution when you Print Out from 8X10 to a Max of 16X20 at 300 DPI? or usual Web Display Screen Resolution Format? You have insights or experiments into this with your D3X setup? Thanks!! :)

Come on, all responses already answered that question by now. The D810.

 

I'm waiting for someone to come here to defend the D3X!! :D

Just a Real Life Practical Question for you!! I'm comparing the two Nikon cameras D3X vs D810 with regard to Image Resolution Quality per Pixel Pitch vs Pixel Density.

 

D3X 24,5 MP = 5,92 PP and 2,85 PD

D810 36,3 MP = 4,87 PP and 4,22 PD.

 

Which Nikon camera used only for Portraiture Studio work will produce the best Quality Prints at 300 DPI in 8X10 to a Maximum of 16X20 Framed Gallery Exhibition? Nikon D3X vs Nikon D810 Superior Image Quality?

Then the D3 would have even larger pixel pitch and is cheaper.

 

You make an excellent point indeed! Nikon D3 is at 8,42 µm ;)

I'm just curious! Comparing Image Resolution in Pixel Pitch µm = D3X with 5,92 µm vs D810 with 4,87 µm

 

Wouldn't the D3X then give a much more Superior Image Resolution Quality = Much Higher µm? :)

Henrik, you should be in the Large Format Forum.....;)

 

XL Forum!! :p

I'm not sure I've ever seen 'Intimidating Factor' on the list of plus-points in a camera.

 

Intimidation needed as a portrait studio photographer, really? Who are you shooting Death Metal bands?

 

The assumption a pro (photographer) has to be intimidating is, in itself, a bit much. I own a D3S and a 600mm f4, which, when together, do indeed make a good battering ram, but I'm never trying to scare people...:)

 

 

Pro Intimidator Factor = Size and Look Does Matter! ;) How Big is your Gun?! :p

I'm just curious if anyone have tried a Sinarback 54M on a Mamiya RZ Pro II and what is your experience and opinion about this Digital Back solution in 2018? Did you use it with the required Adapter Kit 552.45.041 for Sinarback 54M on Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, with specific Adapter Plate 552.45.241, or did you use a Mamiya HX-701 instead? How did it work? What about CaptureShop any issues running tethered into Mac? What was the Tonal/Colors Qualities and Dynamic Range of the Sinarback 54M? Its own Pros and Cons, what's Good and Bad of this setup? I'm comparing it against a Mamiya Leaf Aptus II/ Mamiya DM 22MP/33MP. What's your take with the Sinarback 54M comparing it to what's available today in 2018? Still a viable solution for a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II?

Unless you have a D850 available to you, the D810 should be better in every useful way. Except perhaps the integrated grip, but you could always get an accessory one if you like shooting portrait orientation not on a tripod and you want extra battery life. I've seen new D3x bodies on shelves in the recent past (probably around a year ago) in camera stores, still priced at D4s levels, and generally thought "good luck with that" to them. You'd really have to be in love with the handling (e.g. your other body is a D3s) to even remotely justify the D3x over the D8x0 range.

 

Thanks Andrew. Yes, I'll definitely get the extra Grip on the D810. What I really love about the D3X is it's built like a tank it's rock-solid like my RZ67 Pro II (weight is not an issue for me with 2.5+ kilos carry around used to it) and it has this Intimidation Factor which is important issue to me too with D3X... it's big, noisy, wonderful, heavy, intimidating, like a pro...

Thanks for your opinion. Another thing I didn't mention is Work Flow! This is huge issue for me, as I've been scanning everything digitally with my Epson v700, it's a great scanner love it, but it's all about the Work Flow!! That's a main crucial issue for me now in my Nikon D810 vs D3X decision eliminating a Mamiya Leaf Aptus 22/33 or Sinarback 54M Digital Back RZ67 Pro II solution...

I'm considering picking up either an excellent used condition Nikon D810 or D3X since used prices have come down significantly lately, it's now an excellent opportunity to pick up a good deal on a Portrait, Fashion, mainly as new Studio setup with some light Photojournalism Street work outside. My main concern is absolute only the very best Image Quality, Color Rendition, Headroom, Dynamic Range. Then FPS , how fast, and how many MP doesn't concern me so much, anything around 24-36 MP range is just fine enough for the Portraiture stuff I do. My Main Prime lens is a Nikon 85mm 1.4 G. What would you recommend? What's the Pro and Cons with each Camera setup? Is the D3X still relevant in 2018 for Portrait and Studio work or has it been surpassed by D810? If I had the money and it wasn't an issue to spend freely on new equipment, I would go with either a Nikon D850 or Fujifilm GFX50S Medium Format, as I've been a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II and 110/150mm lens Kodak Portra 160/800 film user for years. I would appreciate all of your comments and good suggestions from your own experiences with your Nikon D810 or D3X setup. What's your advice on this?