REVIEW: Nikon D2x-Image Quality
Posted under: Disclaimer: In no way, am I a professional or even semi professional equipment tester. I am just a fellow consumer who’s posting personal opinions on the equipment after using them under working conditions (no studio set up tests here).
[This is a multiple part review of my D2x. You can find the following sections here: Intro]
Nikon D2x -ISO
The D2x is a has a quite limited base iso range from 100-800 compared to other cameras on the market with native iso range at least one stop beyond what the D2x can offer. (D300: 200-3200) However, The D2x does have a couple tricks up its sleeve.
High ISO
Might as well put it straight, Nikon D2x is not the camera for high iso. The high iso RAWs have quite a bit of noise. The noise start to creep in at 400, 320 if you are picky. In the shadows, the noise seem to me to be more digital than grain. Compared to the RAW images from my 6 megapixel D50, I prefer the noise rendition on the small amateur body. (I shoot raw without noise reduction in camera.)
Here is a sample of the D2x at iso 1250:
Having said all that, before you run off to get your D300/700/90, two things save the D2x on the high iso front. First of all, unless you are going to do massive wall prints, noise is not really an issue on this camera (or with any other DSLR in my opinion). The images are perfectly usable for 6×9 prints or A4 prints. Secondly, once converted to monochrome, the images are quite pleasant to the eye. Here is a sample from this past shoot. Available light at iso 1250, 85mm at f1.8 (hence the blurriness).
Low ISO
Here is where the D2x shines. Unlike the D300 which has a native iso of 200. The D2x can drop it down to 100. I have heard many praises for the D2x at iso 320 and lower, but it was only when I actually used it that I felt the true cleanness of the images. When you have the strobes, simply crank them up and turn down the iso on the D2x and it looks magical. Here is a crop at iso 100.
ISO-Conclusion
So I think it’s pretty straight forward, if you need the high iso for colour event/wedding images for big print, then by all means, go for the D300 or D700/3 for that matter. But if high iso is not that high of a priority (you live mostly around low iso range) and you can live with a little noise in your life here and there. Then D2x is quite perfect.
Nikon D2x -Tonal Range
Well this is going to be quite a brief section as I do not think I am qualified enough to speak on this subject. Nevertheless, just wanted to voice my opinion. I love the way the D2x renders skin tones. Such soft subtle light fall off and gentleness. It’s something I was never able to achieve previously.
Here is a quick cropped image to illustrate what I mean, no processing, straight from the camera raw, converted in LR, using Adobe RGB.
Overall in terms of image quality, for my uses, I’m thoroughly impressed and satisfied. Although I can’t deny that I want a second body with higher/better iso performance.
[...] REVIEW Continued: Image Quality [...]
All of the great things you see in the other reviews are true. This is a fabulous camera with outstanding capabilities. It is also a very demanding camera. It is demanding of your shooting techniques. It is demanding of the lens you use with it. It is demanding of computer capabilities.