• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.5 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • 23.00mm - 900.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Nikon D3X
  • Nikon Coolpix B500
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Nikon D2Xs
D2Xs vs D3X
Nikon L840
L840 vs B500
Successor:   Nikon B600
B500 vs B600
General
Model Number: D3X B500
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Pro SLR Mid-Sized
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $7999.95 $299.95
Street Price: $2,499.99 $321.95
Date Available: 2008-12-15 2016-04-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 49.1 oz (1,392 g)
includes batteries
19.1 oz (541 g)
includes batteries
Size: 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in.
(160 x 157 x 88 mm)
4.5 x 3.1 x 3.8 in.
(114 x 78 x 96 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Sony  
Effective Megapixels: 24.5 16.1
Sensor Format: 35mm 1/2.3 inch
Sensor size: 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm) 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.94 microns 1.34 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x n/a
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG  
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed None
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 88  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 24.7  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 13.7  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 1,992  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 6048 x 4032 (24.4 MP, 3:2),
4544 x 3024 (13.7 MP, 3:2),
3024 x 2016 (6.1 MP, 3:2),
5056 x 4032 (20.4 MP, 5:4),
3792 x 3024 (11.5 MP, 5:4),
2528 x 2016 (5.1 MP, 5:4),
3968 x 2640 (10.5 MP, 3:2),
2976 x 1976 (5.9 MP, Other),
1984 x 1320 (2.6 MP, 3:2)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2272 x 1704 (3.9 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
4608 x 2592 (11.9 MP, 16:9),
3456 x 3456 (11.9 MP, 1:1)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), TIFF; RAW (NEF), 12- or 14-bit JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 5.0 7.4
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p)
1280x720 (30p/​25p)
640x480 (30p/​25p)
1920x1080 (15p/​12.5p)
640x480 (120p/​100p)
Movie File Format:   MP4 (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: Yes
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Nikon F n/a
Lens: n/a Zoom-Nikkor ED VR; 12 elements in 9 groups including 3 ED elements
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):   23 - 900mm
Focal Length (actual):   4 - 160mm
Zoom Ratio:   40.00x
Aperture Range:   f/3.0 or f/6.0 (wide) / f/6.5 or f/13 (tele), via electronically controlled ND filter (-2.0 AV)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:   30 cm to Infinity
11.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:   1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: No Yes
Digital Zoom Values: n/a Up to 4x; 2x Dynamic Fine Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 51-point TTL phase detection via Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX with 15 cross-type and 36 line-type sensors Contrast Detection: Center, Face priority, Manual with 99 focus areas, Subject tracking, Target Finding AF
Auto Focus Assist Light? No Yes
Manual Focus: Yes No
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, interchangeable screen, 100%, 0.7x, 18mm eyepoint, -3.0 to +1.0  
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.70x  
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.70x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 922,000 dots 921,000 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 27.0x  
Top Deck Display: Yes No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 1600 6400
Minimum ISO (native): 100 125
ISO Settings: 100 - 1600, plus down to 50 in Lo-1, up to 6,400 in Hi-2 Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200*, 6400*; *Available when using Auto mode
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, seven manual modes can be preset with fine-tuning; color temperature setting, custom Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Preset Manual
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/1500 - 1 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted, Spot (1.5%) centered on selected focus area Matrix, Center-weighted (digital zoom less than 2x), Spot (digital zoom 2X or more)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes No
Shutter Priority: Yes No
Full Manual Exposure: Yes No
Creative Exposure Modes: None Smart Portrait, Backlighting, Beach, Bird-watching, Close-up, Dusk/Dawn, Easy Panorama, Fireworks Show, Food, Landscape, Moon, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Scene Auto Selector, Short Movie Show, Snow, Sports, Sunset, Special Effects
Self Timer: 2/5/10/20 seconds 10 or 2 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: No Yes
Flash Modes: n/a Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off, Flash On, w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; Slow Syncro
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: n/a Auto ISO: [W]: 0.5 to 6.9m [T]: 1.5 to 3.5m
Max Flash Sync: 1/250  
Flash Exposure Compensation:    
External Flash Connection: ISO-type hot-shoe contact; safety lock provided; PC Sync terminal n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 / CF2 / Microdrive SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes No
RAW Capture Support: Yes No
Uncompressed Format: TIFF; RAW (NEF), 12- or 14-bit  
Movie File Format:   MP4 (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
Included Memory: No memory included 20.0 MB
Included Memory Type:   Internal
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Wired, 10-pin terminal or USB Via Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): HDMI Out (Type-A), DC Input, 10-pin Expansion Terminal Micro (Type-D) HDMI
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): <0.3  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): <0.3  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 31  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 5.0 7.4
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 31 7
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.16 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.050 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.045 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes): Live View Mode Full AF, Single-Area, Hand-Held Mode = 0.426s Full AF, Auto-Area, Hand-Held Mode = 0.606s Prefocused, Hand-Held Mode = 0.045s Prefocused, Tripod Mode = 0.418s  
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 4400 shots  
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary EN-EL4a 4 x AA
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable Alkaline, Lithium disposables; NiMH rechargeables
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary EN-EL4a Lithium Ion rechargeable 4 x Alkaline AAs
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes No
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes No
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: Software Suite CD-ROM  
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: 24.5MP version of the D3. 5fps full resolution burst speed, 7fps in DX crop mode at 10.5 megapixels. Available in black and red.