The Nikon D1x: An Exceptional Digital Camera for Pros
Improving the D1
Nikon’s D1 was the first professional digital camera available for around $5,000, undercutting the competition of the day (largely Eastman Kodak) by about $10,000. Its lightweight titanium body, ergonomically superior to anything on the market, handled like a familiar 35mm SLR. Finally, it accepted most Nikkor 35mm SLR lenses, which reduced the cost of converting to a digital workflow for longtime Nikon owners. Photojournalists also appreciated the D1 for Nikon’s thoughtful combination of image resolution, high-speed shooting, custom camera controls, wide ISO range (200-1600) and wide dynamic range (12-bits of data per pixel).
Since the top-of-the-line Nikon F5 film camera sells for about $2,300, the D1’s price prompted newspapers, wire services, and even some magazine companies to accelerate the transition to digital. Eastman Kodak lowered digital camera prices to add fuel to the transition.
However, the D1 was not perfect:
- The camera was released with a 2.7-megapixel CCD (not a significant advancement at the time), even as Nikon was set to deliver consumer cameras with 3.3-megapixel CCDs.
- The D1’s 23.7×15.6 mm CCD used comparatively large, square pixels designed to improve image quality, but the camera produced noticeable bands of high ISO pattern noise that required filtering with third-party software.
- At least some early D1s tended to record human skin tones with a noticeable magenta cast.
- True TTL exposure control with flash did not work well with the D1.
- Nikon’s imaging software, a bundled browser called Nikon View DX, and an optional and well-conceived studio control package called Nikon Capture, each lacked key features and suffered from slow operation. And Nikon View DX did not support one important file format — the company’s own proprietary .nef files containing 12-bit raw data.The D1 was grist for other improvements as well. Battery life was short: It degraded quickly when using the fluorescent backlighting on the main 114,000-dot LCD and long autofocus lenses. So users needed three $99 batteries and an automobile charger for heavy daily work. The display (for reviewing images and setting default menu options) cropped a small portion of the image captured, and it lacked a manual zoom control. Color management was missing. (Images could be saved only in the sRGB format with a smaller gamut more suitable for consumer cameras and Web publishing.) While much better than other SLR cameras of 1999, blooming and moiré effects occasionally were visible in images. However, these concerns did not derail D1 sales, which were driven by the camera’s design and aggressive pricing.To its credit, Nikon set out to improve a very good and popular product. The results: two new noteworthy cameras — the D1x and the D1h.Camera Design and Controls
Besides the D1x, the camera kit includes a neck strap (with an obnoxiously large Nikon logo), video cable, body cap, semi-transparent LCD monitor cover, EN-4 NiMH rechargeable battery (7.2V 2000mAh), an MH-battery charger, power cable, warranty card and manuals. It also includes Nikon View 4 browser/file transfer software and Canto Cumulus 5 for Macintosh and PC (one computer license per package). A studio camera control package, Nikon Capture 2, is optional.The 2.5-pound magnesium body is tough. A rubberized grip eases handling, and weatherproof rubber connectors protect most electronics (see figure 3). The exterior has some 50 dials, buttons, terminals and connectors along with three monitors (1 color TFT and 2 alphanumeric LCDs). Interfaces include IEEE 1394 (FireWire), RS-232C (for GPS units) and NTSC or PAL video. The main LCD resolution is now higher (130,000 dots) and uses white LED backlighting that consumes less power.
Figure 3: A top view of the Nikon D1x, sans an interchangeable lens. Top controls include On/Off switch, Trigger, Mode and Exposure Compensation buttons on the right. The ISO, Auto Bracketing and Flash Sync Mode buttons are on the left, along with a dial to select various camera Modes (Self-Timer, Single Frame, Continuous, Playback, and PC connections). An alpha-numeric LCD shows camera exposure value, shutter speed, ƒ/stop and other settings.
The camera provides three through-the-lens (TTL) metering options: Center-Weighted, Spot, and a 3D Color Matrix that’s reliable under the most difficult lighting, although it works only with newer Nikkor “D” lenses that have a built-in CPU to relay information about camera-to-subject distance. This system also simplifies balancing fill-flash with an ambient light exposure. The D1 does not produce accurate fill-flash; but the D1x incorporates better technology that allows the use of TTL rather than Automatic settings on Nikon’s companion SB-28DX Speedlight flash.
Like most digital cameras, the D1x has four Exposure Control modes: Programmed Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual.
There are too many D1x/D1h features to note here, but several viewing tools illustrate the extraordinary attention to detail Nikon has put into this camera series.
The optical viewfinder uses a fixed pentaprism to provide TTL viewing (96 percent coverage) and metering. An adjustable, built-in Viewfinder diopter compensates focus for photographers who normally wear glasses; an eyepiece shutter prevents stray light from striking the CCD during long exposures, and the focusing screens are interchangeable. Focus, shutter speed, aperture, exposure mode, metering system, frame counter, ready light are among the data displayed in the Viewfinder. Finally, five strategically positioned focusing brackets also are visible through the Viewfinder. A clever multi-selector on the camera back allows the primary autofocus area to be defined or changed while shooting.
All three Nikons accept Compact Flash cards (Type I/II) the removable media standard that offers the highest capacities and fastest processing. Nikon also sanctions use of the 512MB or 1GB IBM Microdrive for the D1x/ D1h.
This article was last modified on January 18, 2023
This article was first published on April 16, 2002
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