Customer Reviews

Nikon D2Xs Digital SLR Camera

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nikon D2Xs 12.4 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera

The Nikon D2Xs is truly the professional (or very serious amateur) photographer's dream machine. My previous and current equipment includes Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Zenza Bonica ETRSII, Canon EOS 850 film (retired), Konica film (retired), Olympus C3030 (point and shoot donated) and various other equipment over the years. I still own and use my Nikon D70s and find it to be a wonderful tool, but the D2Xs is the ulitmate machine at this time, in my opinion.

I read many articles and reviews about professional level digital SLR cameras, and I was a little aprehensive about the D2Xs because I wasn't sure I could justify it. I find this camera is actually easier to use than other equipment I've owned. If you're an amateur stepping up to a pro body, remember there are no pre-programmed (i.e., landscape, portrait, night landscape, etc.) settings like on the D70s or the Canon. That forces you to use the M, P (most automatic settings) or aperture/shutter preferred options. I find it pretty straight forward, since the pre-programmed settings can be a little confusing in their own right.

This camera is big but feels very steady to use. Ergonomics are supreme, and the menus (not used that often since every key setting is selectable with a button) are easy to read in bright sunlight.

This is a very well done product that takes pictures capable of being blown up to poster size without a problem or loss of quality. This is a beautiful piece of gear if you can afford it. I chose it between the Canon Mark's and other options in the 12+MP range because I liked it best of all.

An amazing construction - the D2Xs is a paradox in itself. Strong as an ox and yet as delicate as a butterfly - this camera is control and power in one rock hard package. Simply the finest Pro camera you can buy without needing a 2nd mortgage. In the words of a Mr F. Bueller "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

Every feature you can think of in a camera is present - and many you can't think of. Many a night I'd reading the manual - commenting to myself 'I wonder....oh - they already did'

I would write a longer review - but the beast is calling me again...quietly ...from its bag... I must obey! I must heed that slumbering monster's will. I must go out and capture the world in digital form.

I'll finish off with another Ferris quote. "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it".

Well - he obviously DIDN'T know about the D2Xs speed-framing mode...

I know how to get good deals on the D2x and D2xs. I will not sell it. This will soon be my back up camera when I get a D3 or D3x.

I had a D60 then D80 and then D2x and now for a year now, the D2xs. D2x and D2xs are about 90% the same. It is a top of the line camera and also the last of the professional DX cameras (maybe for now).

You can not go wrong with this investment. You can get a D3 for 4 or 5k so if you are buy a D2x or D2xs above 3k, you are crazy.

I replaced a Fuji S2 Pro with a Nikon D2Xs in 2006. The D2Xs is in an entirely different league. Mostly, one has a lot of superlatives and a few quibbles to say about the D2Xs. The one drawback to the D2Xs is that as a Nikon professional product, pretty much everything that is an accessory specific to the D2** line is priced professionally, too.

The Nikon D2Xs uses a 12MP Sony imager. The color performance of the imager is neutral and has good color accuracy. If you like eye-popping color, be prepared to do a fair amount of post-processing. The dynamic range is good, being slightly wider than one may be used to from shooting slide film. Even Fine JPEG output results in files that withstand fair amounts of digital editing without horrid artifacts. The custom color balance facility is excellent, and should be used for any situation that does not fit one of the preset color balance options. The automatic white balance works for some mixed lighting conditions, but not others. Checking a test shot is prudent for any critical work.

The D2Xs has reasonable noise characteristics, though outdone by the D3 line. I commonly use up to ISO 800 for shooting action without qualms. If shooting for enlargements over 8x10", though, you will likely want to use lower ISO settings. The ISO range above 800 produces prominent noise, requires careful attention to exposure, and noticeably reduces resolution of images.

The D2Xs has a "crop mode" that yields about half the currently-set megapixels per image. I have found this useful for dog sport action photography, as the maximum frame rate increases from 5 fps to 8 fps when in crop mode. When one does not intend maximum-size enlargements, crop mode becomes a handy tool. The reduced taking area is masked in the viewfinder with selection of crop mode. Essentially, Nikon obviated most needs for the D2Hs camera by providing crop mode on the D2Xs. It provides a frame rate on a par with the D2Hs in this mode, though it reduces the view angle of whatever lens is attached. The D2Xs can thus perform almost all the functions of the D2Hs as well as its own.

The D2Xs has typical Nikon pro build quality. This means environmental seals to help deal with inclement weather and bad locations, a strong metal frame, and heavy-duty user control interfaces. It also means it is a heavy camera. I'm 6'3" and about 200#, and this camera is a bit taxing to carry around for me. Especially when paired with a killer lens like the Nikkor 70-200mm VR, one is talking about serious weight. I commonly use at least a monopod if I will be taking photos for any extended length of time.

What Nikon has provided over the years are ergonomics suited to the professional photographer. Most of the things that are needed for shot-to-shot adjustment on the D2Xs have operable controls or at least dedicated menus, as in the ISO, quality, and color balance controls on the rear of the camera. The menu system allows a plethora of tuning adjustments to the behavior of the camera and how the images are produced and processed. Despite the ultimate complexity, I was able to get acquainted with my D2Xs within a couple of days and successfully shot a day-long event with it. Thus the four stars on "ease of use" reflects the steep initial learning curve and the ready-to-hand character of daily operation.

One of the deciding factors for me on going to the D2Xs back in 2006 was the presence of a voice memo function. There is a dedicated button on the rear of the camera and a microphone there as well. One can choose whether the camera automatically starts a voice memo with every picture or whether a memo will be taken only when manually requested. The recording shares the name of the image it is associated with and the "WAV" extension. For anyone who is taking a day's worth of event photos, this is a godsend, and was only available at the time on the Nikon pro "Dn" line, not any of their pro-sumer and consumer DSLRs. Nor had Fuji carried over voice memo from the S2 to the S3 or S5. If I take photos at, say, a Vizsla dog show, where every dog looks more or less like every other dog there, the voice memo can let me say the name of the current dog or capture an announcer doing that. The audio quality of the monoaural recordings made by the voice memo function is surprisingly good, and the microphone is pretty sensitive, allowing one to capture background sound easily.

While an inspired photographer can make art with a Holga point-and-shoot, the inspired photographer will find in the Nikon D2Xs a complement to achieve images with the highest technical perfection as well. What it takes away are excuses for sub-par performance.

I've owned the D2x for several years. It is still a great performer, albeit more limited now since the advent of the D300, D700, and D3s (all of which I own also). I will never get rid of my D2x as it is, as I said, a great performer...workhorse build, excellent low iso performance, overall still produces outstanding images. What confuses me though is that Amazon is still selling it new for @$5,800. What's up with that. You can find a pristine copy on ebay for probably under $1,500. That, in my opinion, would be the best bet for anyone interested in this Nikon gem.

I jumped in the ocean with the Nikon D2X---got the camera in late February 2005, on the first day they were available in Scotland. I also bought the underwater housing for it almost emmediately. The Austrian housing manufacturer, Subal, had used the nearly identical body and controls of Nikon's D2H to develop a housing for the D2X before it had even shipped.
The results of those initial dives made me very happy. I was impressed first with the D2X's image quality, a massive jump, over the previous digital SLR, a Nikon D100. The D2X is better pixel-to-pixel than the D100 by a clear margin, and it's got twice as many of those pixels.
Another thing that I think is a massive advantage to the D2X is the large viewing screen. Even inside the housing, it's easy to see in good detail, which allows me to make faster and more definitive judgments about my images. On dives, where time is the rarest commodity, any feature that improves efficiency takes on much greater importance than it might on land.

I have been a professional photographer for more than 42 years and a photography teacher for 38 years. This is simply, the best camera I have ever owned. This is the first audio focus camera that focuses faster than me, its a bit heavy, but I'm a bit older. Couple this camera with a fast lens, (f1.4D, f1.8D, f2.0D, f2.8D), and if the pictures are not good, then its you. With the new Nikon D3 coming out in November 2007, this camera will be available used as well as new, get one you will not be disappointed. :-)

This camera is just Amazing. I have sold my Canon 5d and decided to stick with the Nikon Side. I love Nikons Image Quality!!!! Blows the others out of the water. The D2X's is just an amazing camera. It has so many features, and all the buttons are perfectly placed for the quick shot. The camera is near instantly on when you need it. It shoots amazingly fast and it can even crop pictures in the camera. The only thing that must be said about this camera is that you need to be pretty confident in knowing Camera settings. I cannot quit taking pictures with this camera.... I love it

I will never buy anything else but Nikon!!! They are the Top!!
I currently have a Nikon D200, D2X's, D2X,D2H

I'm not going to go over the technical aspects of this camera. There are lots of other places that do that. Anyhow, I shoot professionally on the side, and this camera does just about everything well, except for sports photography. The autofocus and noise level is not nearly as good as its chief competitor. The high speed crop (8fps) reduces the quality of the image, and I'm not talking about megapixels. By the way, all you Nikon shooters (including myself) waiting for the D3H with 10 megapixel, 10 fps, and a 3-inch LCD screen, the wait is over... it's called the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. Because of the type of assignments I cover, I'm going to try out the new Canon EOS-1D Mark III when it releases this summer. I'll continue to shoot with the D2Xs for non-sporting events because it's still a very capable camera and the fact that I've already invested a lot of money on Nikon lenses.

8/23/07 - No! I probably made the jump over to Canon a little too soon now that the D3 is coming out in November.

I bought this one in gray market. the picture quality is not good as D300. review screen is small.