Successor to the Nikon D1X....12.4 megapixels, has some interesting features. I'm assuming you're looking at close to or over $4K for the body....but it's a nice toy for us Nikon users to think about.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0409/04091605nikond2x.asp

 

I should also throw the question out - is this too little too late? As this is Nikon's top of the line, pro DSLR - one can only assume that Canon has a 15-20 megapixel beast around the corner. Of course, you can also ask yourself if you really need more than 8 megapixels, period.

 

And do you really need more than 8 frames a second RAW @ 6+ MP or 5 frames a second RAW @ 12 MP?

I'm happy to see the D2X, but as you point out Canon no doubt has something else with more MP and faster frame rate up its sleave. Nikon has been one step behind. In the case of the D70, IMO it was worth the wait, but I don't know how much longer Nikon can expect to hold marketshare while always being behind like this.

 

I think Nikon needed to make a decisive blow - 15 megapixels & a full frame sensor. Nikon appears to have lost the edge in some cases....especially in the professional arena. With their F series 35mm cameras, they ruled the world back in the day. But once Canon introduced the EOS line and those ultrasonic lenses, that was the downfall. I think the D1X brought some people back...but when Canon came out with the EOS1DS...forget it. Obviously - a good photographer, professional or not can make use of almost any tool he is given....it's just that some tools make the work flow smoother and faster. At this level of camera, a shooter using a Canon or a Nikon system with similar lenses should be able to get incredible results.

 

Canon responded today, Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Key camera specifications include:

• 16.7 MP full frame 36 x 24mm CMOS sensor
• 0.3 second start up and 4fps performance
• ISO 100-1600, expandable to L:50 and H:3200
• Digital Photo Professional v1.5 RAW processing s/ware with support for sRGB, Adobe RGB and wide gamut RGB colour spaces plus various European, North American and Japanese standard CMYK separation simulations
• Hi-Speed FireWire, & Video out i/face for complete connectivity
• Dual high performance SD and CF/CF-II card slots (supports cards greater than 2GB)
• Complete compatibility to all EF lenses & EX-series Speedlites
• 2.0” LCD screen with 230,000 pixels, 1.5-10x playback zoom
• Optional IEEE802.11g wireless/100 Megabitwired adapter

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos1dsmkii/

 

12 MP cameras are so 5 days ago.

16 MP with a full frame sensor Pro cameras really make me wonder where consumer level cameras will D-SLRs will be in 2-3 years time.

11 MB jpeg nightscene from the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II . Grab a Snickers. It's going to be a while.

 

So why all the MPs?
Sounds like enough to print a billboard!

 

My guess is that one would get a finer print. 8x10's and/or 11x14's wouldn't show as much "grain." (Is that still the term for digital prints?)

 

film = grain

digital = noise

 

Ah, yes. I remember reading that one.
Thanks.

 

Upon further reflection I'd like to change my answer.

film = grain
digital = pixelization

 

I suppose the semantics don't matter in the end.
The look of the final print does.

 

I agree more with the original response of noise. Shooting ISO 100 with film or digital you'll have a very crisp image. As your ISO increases to say 1600, with film you'll notice more grain and with digital you'll notice more noise, while the pixelation stays constant because it is an effect of the sensor, not the ISO value. Yes?

 

To splice this down a little finer:


In terms of exposure and iso I'd agree "grain" becomes equivalent to "noise."
In terms of resolution of a print "grain" becomes "pixelization."