The Nikon D2x is much like the D2h. Both are a complete redesign from the D1 series cameras. While the family heritage is obvious, virtually every significant aspect of the D2 series cameras has been rethought from the D1 series. The D2x is not a “some new features in a D1 package” type of design. As I said in my D2h review, I was impressed that Nikon took the time to try to improve, refine, and innovate in as many places as it has. Every control, every body curve, and even every part deep in the body (frame, shutter, etc.) seems to have been touched from the D1 designs. Even more impressive is that they didn’t rest with the D2h UI and specifications; the D2x has additions and refinements over the D2h all over the place. Thus, we have our work cut out just running down the feature set and changes to it.
One thing that’s had the Nikon throng puzzled is why the D1h and D1x appeared together, but the D2h and D2x were separated by over a year. Interviews in Japanese periodicals with some of the Nikon executives all point to the sensor decision. While we’ve come to expect sensor developments on a continuous basis, we’re still very early in the digital sensor era, and sometimes you get caught in the cracks. The sensor used in the D2x had its design origins in 1996 (the D2h’s sensor goes back further), but the actual decision to go forward with it came pretty much coincident with the D1x’s release. These two sensors share almost nothing in design or even design teams, unlike the D1h and D1x sensors. Once you start making commitments to specific and divergent designs, even minor changes in development schedules can have ripple effects. In short, I don’t think Nikon wanted the D2h and D2x intros to be separated by as much time as they were, but with the cameras now in hand, I believe they probably made the right decision.