Users who had downloaded the latest firmware update for D3 have found some interesting information strings in the firmware file. The string about the file sizes: " 6048 x 4032; 24.4 M 4544 x 3024; 13.7 M 3024 x 2016; 6.1 M 5056 x 4032; 20.4 M 3792 x 3024; 11.5 M 2528 x 2016; 5.1 M 3968 x 2640; 10.5 M 2976 x 1976; 5.9 M 1984 x 1320; 2.6 M." includes highest resolution of 24.4 MP which is almost the same as Sony fullframe sensor which is expected to be used in Flagship Sony DSLR A900.

The other reduced resolutions on the string (13.7 megapixels at 4544 x 3024 and 6.1 megapixels at 3024 x 2016) may be indicating 1.4X and 2.0X teleconverter mode which looks similar to the 2.0X crop mode on the Nikon D2x. These teleconverter modes are also utilised on new Sony Alpha series DSLRs A300 and A350. This is where the high pixel resolution sensor shines, as an example it lets you use your 400mm f2.8 as 520mm f2.8 at 13.7 MP resolution and as a whopping 800mm f2.8 at 6.1 MP resolution.

Price and Availability:

The new sensor may very well be a modified version of the Sony sensor, with some features added by Nikon just like they did with the 10 MP Sony sensor in cameras like D80, D200 or 12 MP sensor used in D300. Some believe that D3x may be available before the 2008 Summer Olympics due to the importance of this event for the photographers or before Photokina 2008, and if this is the case there might be a prototype or early versions in testing stage and this firmware is probably being used both for D3 and so called D3x.

D3x will be in direct competition with the Canon 1Ds Mark III, so a competitive price range would be around $7000. Another point of interest is how the flagship Sony A900 will compare to these cameras both price and spec wise. If the A900 comes out around $3000-$40000 as expected, with the same or very similar sensor and lacking only some pro features like built-in vertical grip and high fps, adding the availability of new ultra sharp Sony Zeiss FF lenses (85mm f1.4, 135mm f1.8, 24-70mm f2.8 and more coming soon), significant amount of pro photoraphers may consider adding Sony flagship to their equipment list.

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