Nikon’s Enhanced DX2s DSLR Camera

Nikon's DX2 12.4 megapixel digital SLRs are already well-regarded (and priced to prove it); now Nikon's added high-end enhancements to sweeten the deal.

Camera maker Nikon is rolling out enhanced versions of its DX2 digital SLR cameras this July, adding features and capabilities to increase the camera’s appeal to high-end and professional photographers. The camera’s features (and $4,700 suggested price tag) put it out of consideration for the point-and-shoot crowd, but if you’re looking for a reliable, fully-featured DSLR the DX2s is a strong competitor.

The Nikon DX2s still offers a 12.4 megapixel CMOS DX sensor, but sports an improved 2.5-inch LCD display which is viewable through 170 degrees. Also on board: electronic masking of the focusing screen in a high-speed crop mode, a black-and-white mode, support for Adobe RGB across all three color modes, an in-camera trim function, and improved battery life. The DX2x also extends the camera’s continuous shooting mode, enabling it to capture up to five frames per second in JPEG or RAW mode at a full 12.4 megapixels (and eight frames per second at 6.8 megapixels).

In addition, Nikon has tweaked the autofocus performance, added 1/3-step ISO boost settings, simplified the camera’s interface and settings management, enables information about latitude, longitude, altitude, and heading to be transferred from a GPS device and stored with individual images (via an optional GPS Adapter Cord), and the capability to save and load settings between multiple DX2s cameras. And, of course, the camera sports oodles of other high-end features, including compatibility with Nikon’s wireless lighting system and Nikkor lenses, USB 2.0 data transfer, and wireless image transfer and control via 802.11b/g networking. The DX2s will be spendy, but an argument could be made that customers will get what they pay for.