Nikon D3X

Easily the market’s most compelling professional digital SLR for studio and landscape shoots. But that price tag is scary! Nikon’s D3X is a stunner. But not because of its whopping 24.5-meg image resolution (yes it is double of what most DSLRs offer but pixels aren’t everything, are they?) and not because of the blazing speed (5 frames per sec) at which it captures precise action shots, say a hooper slamming a dunk.

No sir, the D3X is a winner simply for its superb image quality, and the consistency it delivers even in tough conditions. We tested it with hundreds of shots in broad daylight and low light with an array of lenses from super-telephoto to super-wide ...

The results were outstanding. We zoomed in and zoomed in to intricate details... And there were no distortions! Its large, advanced full-frame image sensor captures more photons (light particles) in less time, throwing up sharper, cleaner images with less digital noise. It is perfect for mural-sized gallery prints. But it comes at a cost that is tough to justify. If Nikon can lower the price tag, it can save this camera from becoming a mere showpiece. Nikon DX3 is priced at a whopping Rs 5,24,950.