The missing D3 variants
I’m a huge fan of the low-light capabilities of the Nikon D3 (see the entry below). Which makes me wonder whether “progress” in the DSLR market could mean much more than ever-higher megapixels counts. Here are the cameras I’d like to see in Nikon’s lineup (all full-frame):
D3LL — The “low light” model with a 6-megapixel full-frame sensor, good to ISO 64,000, along with a true 16-bit sensor. Why not? Six megapixels can make a gorgeous 24X16 print when each of those pixels is of first-rate quality.
D3Z — The 36MP model (skip the 24MP step entirely—go for detail at 2 frames/sec). Not so good in low light and with extreme demands on optics, but great for landscape, and voyeuristic photography. Besides, Canon needs a spanking.
D3M — A 16MP 16-bit monochrome model, offering low-light performance comparable to the D3 LL, and spectral sensitivity from 300nm - 1100nm for ultraviolet, visible and infrared photography.
I’m not holding my breath on these models, but the future of digital photography is about addressing different shooting requirements, about making it easier to create images that could not have been created before. For example, the whole HDR thing (high dynamic range) is a bit silly today; that should just be done in-camera for as many stops as desired. That’s what engineers are for!
