Full D1X + D1H specs available

  • Thread starter Thread starter marc
  • Start date Start date
Reading the specs, a quick thought comes to mind. The D1X has a higher resolution but the continuous isn't ideal for the the pj's especially sports yet the D1H would appear to be an evolution of the original D1. Conclusion being that I can see no reason why the D1H shouldn't ship pretty much immediately which is what my man at Nikon told me back in December and the X which is aimed more at studio type work will not ship until August which was the date I was told for the next 'Pro' camera. All of this means that pj's will have to wait until probably 2002 for their hi-res version.
 
Me wonders if it is fully supported, thinking back to the problems when the D1 encounters a bad block.
 
http://www.maxwell.com.au/photo/cameras/Digital/D1x-major.html

Nikon D1x
Major Features

Total Image quality

23.7 x 15.6mm 5.47-megapixel CCD for 4,024 x 1,324-pixel images (output at 3,008 x 1,960 pixels and at 2,000 x 1,312 pixels)

Newly designed 3D Digital Matrix Image Control, (3D Colour Matrix Metering, TTL White Balance and Tone Compensation) featuring new algorithm, ensures:
  • Precise exposure control
  • Adaptive auto white balance control
  • Optimal colour accuracy
Picture noise is minimised even in high-sensitivity range
ISO-equivalent 125-800 sensitivity range
3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash controlled by newly developed algorithm

Two colour modes selectable for different workflow environments (optimised for sRGB colour space and Adobe RGB colour space)
Enhanced speed

Superhigh-speed image processing by newly developed system LSI

Continuous shooting mode: approx. 3 frames per second for up to 9 consecutive shots
Shutter release time lag as short as the D1 and quick startup
Top shutter speed of 1/16,000 sec. and flash sync speed up to 1/500 sec
IEEE1394 interface with enhanced transfer speed
Improved operability

Newly developed 130,000-dot TFT LCD colour monitor with white LED backlighting

Custom Setting menu (offering 35 different settings) is displayed on LCD colour monitor (in four languages: English, French, German, Japanese)
One-touch playback for rapid review and instant return to Shooting Mode
Enlarged playback and thumbnail playback (in either 9 or 4 segments)
100% area-accurate playback coverage on LCD colour monitor
Supports CompactFlash™ Card (Type I/II) and IBMMicrodrive™

Lossless-compression mode for RAW files to increase CF card capacity and image transfer speed without sacrificing image quality
RS-232C interface for connection to GPS position information unit
Enhanced system compatibility with Nikon Professional SLRs F5, F100 and D1
Lightweight, durable magnesium (Mg) body
There are some restrictions related to the earlier 340MB type.

Availability: Expected in Australia from April 2001.
 
Marc,

I was hoping that the effective resolution of the D1X would be combined with the pixel size of the D1 to produce a full size CCD. Now I see that's not true. You might as well have told me that there is no Santa Claus.

JC
 
Any idea what a 'SB-50DX' flash is :)

"3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash for D1-series when used with SB-28DX/SB-50DX and D-type Nikkor lens"

The SB-50DX is mentioned several times in the spec sheets, so it seems there will be a new flash comming with these cameras (unless this is some international version I don't know about).
 
I'm confused about the CCD. If it's the same physical size, the number of vertical pixels hasn't changed, and the horizontal number has doubled, doesn't this mean that vertical resolution hasn't changed, but horizontal resolution has doubled? Doesn't it also mean that the pixels are vertically rectangular?

Rather weird. I wonder what implications this has for picture quality.
 
I'm not sure how they intend to do it, I posted a theory in one of the other threads as to a possible explaination as to how they intend to do the interpolation, but it really is no more than a guess (possibly the rows of pixels are stagered slightly, but I really havn't sat down to do the math as to weather you could reconstruct such an image reliably).

As to why they did it, it is probably to make the camera itself more modular. CCDs cascade the information from one pixel to the next and dump data along the rows. If you don't change the number of rows, you can use a chip with exactly the same number of pins, so the two CCDs are fully interchangable. With the imager the same size, you also don't need to change the shutter mechanism, the socket size, etc. The only thing you'd have to do is give the camera different firmware (so it knows to wait for the additional columns of data). Configuring it this way would allow them to mass produce one body and only have to change a single chip and the firmware to make it into either type.

Similarly, this could potentially mean that D1s COULD** be upgradable to near D1X capibility (it obviously cannot be given the GPS port or the new LCD without a major overhaul, but the new imager would be technically interchangable. This doesn't mean that they will do this, as the infrastructure may not exist to upgrade this many cameras, and if it does it probably won't be too cheap. However, if they did do this it would go a long way to establishing brand loyalty and make customers less worried about the risks of obscelecence.

On the other hand, it is probably just a method to cut down production costs by sharing common parts and allow them to better control inventory (ie they have a pile of D1Xs lying around and a shortage of D1Hs, they could easilly change them). Even if it is this, it would bring costs of the cameras down, especially the D1Xs as they would share a camera body.

Just my thoughts :)
 

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