Nikon updates D3 firmware, 24.4-megapixel D3X revealed?

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Those of you special enough to have a D3 may want to know that Nikon has released firmware version 1.10 for the behemoth of a DSLR. That’s fine and dandy but some chaps over at DPReview did a little digging into the firmware and found some lines of code that have led some to believe that the elusive D3X, a 24.4-megapixel, could be on its way. Keep reading for more details.

Here’s what the latest firmware will do for your D3. Be sure to upgrade both A and B.

A “Vignette Control” item has been added to the ” Shooting Menu”.

A focus point brightness item has been added to the “a6: Focus point illumination” setting in the “Autofocus” category in the ” Custom Settings”.

The ” Highlights” playback display option has been moved from “Display mode > Basic photo info > Highlights” in the playback menu to “Display Mode > Detailed photo info > Highlights”.

When shutter speed and/or aperture are locked when shooting in LiveView mode, using the “L” (command lock) button, an “L” icon is now displayed in the camera monitor.

The size and color of “Demo” displayed in the monitor with playback, when “No memory card?” in the “Custom Settings” is set to “Enable Release”, have been modified.

The range of settings available for “ISO sensitivity settings > ISO sensitivity auto control > Minimum shutter speed” in the Shooting Menu has been increased from 1/250th – 1s to 1/4000s – 1s.

When a compatible Speedlight or Wireless Speedlight Commander is used, the AF assist illuminator now lights regardless of focal length.

When shooting in hand-held LiveView mode and the frame is magnified prior to autofocusing, operation has been modified so that display returns to the magnified display rather than full-frame display.

In some rare cases, white balance was not accurately calculated for images captured at a shutter speed of around 1/4s in P and A exposure modes. This issue has been resolved.

When attempting to crop images at an aspect ratio of 4:3 using the “Trim” option in the “Retouch” menu, the cropped image did not have an accurate 4:3 aspect ratio. This issue has been resolved.

Windows update.
Mac update.

Now this is what AxelR found.

The following strings are in the D3’s B-firmware file v1.10, starting at offet 3’614’640:
6048×4032 24.4 M
4544×3024 13.7 M
3024×2016 6.1 M
5056×4032 20.4 M
3792×3024 11.5 M
2528×2016 5.1 M
3968×2640 10.5 M
2976×1976 5.9 M
1984×1320 2.6 M
D3X

Thoughts?