Active quality | FOCUS Enhancements D2Xs guide

Active quality —

Instant response, pinpoint precision and optimum exposure

Capturing the moment with exceptional image quality demands instant response, high-speed operation, precise focus and accurate exposure. Ground-up development aimed at satisfying these professional needs continues to evolve in the further reﬁned 11-area AF system, advanced exposure metering and optimized subsystems of the Nikon D2Xs.

Instant response

Instant response & ultra-short shutter lag

The D2Xs is designed with instant start-up and optimized systems that maximize all-round performance for immediate response. As a result, the D2Xs is ready to shoot whenever a decisive moment may arise.

This performance combines with the industry’s shortest shutter release time lag of a mere 37 milliseconds to realize high-resolution photography without compromise.

Fast shutter speeds

Shutter speeds from 30 seconds to 1/8,000 second can be selected in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps, with Bulb exposure also available. Flash synchronization is possible using speeds up to 1/250 second, or up to 1/8,000 second

when using AUTO FP High-Speed Sync with an SB-800, SB-600 or SB-R200 Speedlight.

High-speed continuous shooting

The D2Xs offers versatility in its selection of continuous shooting speed modes. In addition to taking a total number of 60 consecutive shots, capture 12.4 megapixel files at 5 frames per second for 17 consecutive RAW (NEF) or 22 JPEG shots. Or, use the exclusive High-speed Crop mode to shoot at 8 frames per second for 29 consecutive RAW (NEF) or 38 JPEG shots. High-speed Crop mode uses data from the central area of the sensor that results in a picture angle comparable to that of a 35mm lens with double the focal length. This provides a useful option when shooting sports, animals or other fast-moving objects from a distance.

Accurate exposure metering

3D-Color Matrix Metering II

To achieve optimum exposure for each shot, Nikon’s acclaimed 1,005-pixel RGB Exposure/Color Matrix Metering Sensor and advanced algorithms determine the brightness and size of highlight areas, while at the same time evaluating all brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area and subject-to-camera distance information. The results are then referenced against a comprehensive onboard database of scenes acquired from actual photographs before high-speed processing calculates the final value to deliver consistent and dependable automatic exposure.

Refinements to the D2Xs add the availability of 3D-Color Matrix Metering II in High-speed Crop mode, while also optimizing the areas calculated for using Center-weighted metering, Spot metering and i-TTL Flash Control.

1,005-pixel	Exposure	Final
RGB	quantization	exposure
Sensor	algorithm	value

Exposure	Correction
evaluation	Correction
algorithm	Value
algorithm
Estimates
overexposed areas

1,005-pixel RGB Sensor

Modes and controls for optimizing exposure

Modes include [P] Programmed Auto with Flexible Program, [S] Shutter-priority Auto, [A] Aperture-priority Auto, and [M] Manual. Manual exposure compensation is available from -5 to +5 EV in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps.

Manual and Automatic ISO sensitivity control New

Sensitivity can be manually set between ISO-equivalent 100 and 800 in increments of 1/3 EV, or boosted using the HI-0.3, HI-0.5, HI-0.7, HI-1 or HI-2 settings when high sensitivity is a priority. The 3 settings between 800 and HI-1 are newly added to give the D2Xs finer control over sensitivity.

Automatic sensitivity adjustment helps achieve optimum exposure while freeing the photographer to concentrate on composition. Offering greater control over the range within which AUTO ISO operates, the D2Xs provides settings to specify the maximum value to which the function can increase sensitivity and the minimum shutter speed at which AUTO ISO will operate.

High-speed focusing

11-area AF system with 9 cross-type AF sensors

Vic Huber

“The combination of race cars, helicopters, radio communications and weather conditions makes an assignment like this most difficult. Despite such complexity, the advanced technology of the D2Xs gives me the confidence to focus on composition while it handles the rest – instantly, reliably and precisely.”

Updated to perform even faster and with greater precision in the D2Xs, the 11-area AF system employs Nikon’s advanced Multi-CAM 2000 AF Sensor Module. Of these 11 widely spread AF sensors, 9 are cross-type sensors positioned in the logical rule-of-thirds array. All 9 cross-type sensors remain active when using High-speed Crop mode.

The following selection of operating modes is designed to ensure maximum flexibility and optimum performance in different shooting situations.

•Single-area AF allows the photographer to lock the focus using any one of the 11 AF spot sensors. Single-area AF has been tuned for the D2Xs to reduce AF hunting for low-contrast subjects.

•Dynamic AF with Focus Tracking and

Lock-on™follows the subject if it moves from its original position once a priority focus area is selected, and ensures accurate focusing by shifting instantly and automatically to the focus area into which the subject has moved. Subject

acquisition and tracking capability are improved for the D2Xs, while new options for controlling the timing of the focus tracking lock-on make it easier to adjust for shooting different types of scenes and action.

•Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF automatically identifies one or more focus areas as needed, to capture the subject the AF system determines to be closest to the camera.

•Group Dynamic AF combines groups of AF sensor activity into logical patterns. Both Dynamic AF and Closest Subject options are available and are useful when shooting moving subjects that remain in a specific area of a framed scene in which a lot of peripheral action might also be taking place.

Multi-CAM 2000 AF Sensor Module

Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) • Lens: AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF • Exposure mode: [A] 1/40 second, f/3.5 • White balance: Direct sunlight • Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 100

Viewﬁnder image in High-speed Crop mode