Nikon D2Xs vs D2H

The Nikon D2Xs and the Nikon D2H are two professional cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in June 2006 and July 2003. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The D2Xs has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the D2H provides 4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon D2Xs		Nikon D2H
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
12.2 MP – APS-C sensor		4 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video		no Video
ISO 100-800 (800 - 3,200)		ISO 200-1,600 (200 - 6,400)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		2.5" LCD – 211k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		8 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
3800 shots per battery charge		2900 shots per battery charge
158 x 150 x 86 mm, 1252 g		158 x 150 x 86 mm, 1070 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D2Xs and the Nikon D2H? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D2Xs and the Nikon D2H are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

In this particular case, the Nikon D2Xs and the Nikon D2H have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the D2H is markedly lighter (15 percent) than the D2Xs. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

As can be seen in the images above, both cameras have a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon D2Xs	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1252 g	3800	Y	Jun 2006	US$ 4 699	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D2H	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1070 g	2900	Y	Jul 2003	US$ 3 499	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	US$ 4 499	ebay.com
4.		Nikon D1	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	..	Y	Jun 1999	US$ 5 499	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D1H	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	1200	Y	Feb 2001	US$ 4 499	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D2X	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1252 g	3800	Y	Sep 2004	US$ 4 999	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D3	160 mm	157 mm	88 mm	1300 g	4300	Y	Aug 2007	US$ 4 999	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D40X	124 mm	94 mm	64 mm	522 g	520	n	Mar 2007	US$ 729	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D80	132 mm	103 mm	77 mm	668 g	600	n	Aug 2006	US$ 999	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D200	147 mm	113 mm	74 mm	920 g	400	Y	Nov 2005	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D300	147 mm	114 mm	74 mm	925 g	1000	Y	Aug 2007	US$ 1 799	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D300S	147 mm	115 mm	81 mm	938 g	950	Y	Jul 2009	US$ 1 799	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D700	147 mm	123 mm	77 mm	1074 g	1000	Y	Jul 2008	US$ 2 999	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The D2H was launched at a markedly lower price (by 26 percent) than the D2Xs, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D2H is 3 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 12.2MP, the D2Xs offers a higher resolution than the D2H (4MP), but the D2Xs has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.52μm versus 9.50μm for the D2H). However, the D2Xs is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 10 months) than the D2H, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D2Xs implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D2Xs for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.5 x 36.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 17.2 x 11.4 inches or 43.6 x 28.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 14.3 x 9.5 inches or 36.3 x 24.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D2H are 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.3 x 20.7 cm for good quality, 9.9 x 6.5 inches or 25 x 16.6 cm for very good quality, and 8.2 x 5.4 inches or 20.9 x 13.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D2Xs has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 800, which can be extended to ISO 800-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D2H are ISO 200 to ISO 1600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 200-6400.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under review, the D2Xs provides substantially higher image quality than the D2H, with an overall score that is 19 points higher. This advantage is based on 3.3 bits higher color depth, 0.9 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.5 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D2Xs	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.2	10.9	489	59
2.		Nikon D2H	APS-C	4.0	2464	1632	none	18.9	10.0	352	40
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078	71
4.		Nikon D1	APS-C	2.6	2000	1312	none	..	..	..	..
5.		Nikon D1H	APS-C	2.6	2000	1312	none	..	..	..	..
6.		Nikon D2X	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	10.9	476	59
7.		Nikon D3	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2290	81
8.		Nikon D40X	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.4	11.4	516	63
9.		Nikon D80	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.1	11.2	524	61
10.		Nikon D200	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.3	11.5	583	64
11.		Nikon D300	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	12.0	679	67
12.		Nikon D300S	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.5	12.2	787	70
13.		Nikon D700	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2303	80

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D2Xs and the D2H are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), as well as the same magnification (0.57x). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D2Xs and Nikon D2H in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon D2Xs	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
2.		Nikon D2H	optical	Y	2.5 / 211	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
4.		Nikon D1	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	4.5/s	n	n
5.		Nikon D1H	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	5.0/s	n	n
6.		Nikon D2X	optical	Y	2.5 / 235	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
7.		Nikon D3	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
8.		Nikon D40X	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
9.		Nikon D80	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
10.		Nikon D200	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	Y	n
11.		Nikon D300	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	Y	n
12.		Nikon D300S	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	7.0/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon D700	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D2Xs and the D2H write their files to Compact Flash cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D2Xs and Nikon D2H and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon D2Xs	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D2H	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Nikon D1	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
5.		Nikon D1H	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
6.		Nikon D2X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Nikon D3	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Nikon D40X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Nikon D80	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon D200	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Nikon D300	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Nikon D300S	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D700	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Both the D2Xs and the D2H have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D2H was replaced by the Nikon D2Hs, while the D2Xs was followed by the Nikon D3X. Further information on the features and operation of the D2Xs and D2H can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D2Xs Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D2H Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D2Xs and the Nikon D2H? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Nikon D2Xs:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (12.2 vs 4MP) with a 74% higher linear resolution.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (19 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• Richer colors: Generates images with noticeably better colors (3.3 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.9 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.5 stops ISO advantage).
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (3800 versus 2900) on a single battery charge.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 10 months of technical progress since the D2H launch.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D2H:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 182g or 15 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (26 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in July 2003).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the D2Xs emerges as the winner of the contest (7 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D2Xs and the Nikon D2H place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D2Xs and the D2H in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon D2Xs	..	..	..	..	..	..	Jun 2006	US$ 4 699	ebay.com
2.		Nikon D2H	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jul 2003	US$ 3 499	ebay.com
3.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	US$ 4 499	ebay.com
4.		Nikon D1	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jun 1999	US$ 5 499	ebay.com
5.		Nikon D1H	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2001	US$ 4 499	ebay.com
6.		Nikon D2X	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	US$ 4 999	ebay.com
7.		Nikon D3	..	..	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	US$ 4 999	ebay.com
8.		Nikon D40X	..	79/100	..	+ +	4/5	4/5	Mar 2007	US$ 729	ebay.com
9.		Nikon D80	..	+	..	+ +	o	4.5/5	Aug 2006	US$ 999	ebay.com
10.		Nikon D200	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	..	Nov 2005	US$ 1 699	ebay.com
11.		Nikon D300	..	+ +	..	+ +	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2007	US$ 1 799	ebay.com
12.		Nikon D300S	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	US$ 1 799	ebay.com
13.		Nikon D700	..	89/100	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2008	US$ 2 999	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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