I have read elsewhere that D2X will have a firmware upgrade released in the autumn. Nothing official but the source does claim Nikon Norway as its origin.

Yeah I saw that and a japanese one. It will allow MLU for sensor cleaning without power supply, B&W and there's talk about AF improvements via firmware... but the latter could be a translation problem and related to the focus lock time option or wishful thinking... the AF circuitry is slightly changed in the D2xs, so firmware won't help.

Always amazing reading people's wishes for firmware updates... many seem to think a firmware update can do miracles such a changing the lcd screen and suchlike. I think they watch too much star trek or red dwarf ;)

I must say Nikon have created some excitement among owners. I am sure will lead to improved D2X sales following D200 launch, how many D200 owners will upgrade to D2Xs?.

MLU for cleaning was a major disappointment on the X, I had to purchase a £70 power supply so I could clean the sensor and I have only cleaned it once!

Sadly Autumn is too late for my photography season but as I mentioned before nothing wrong with AF performance infact is blindingly fast with a good AF-S lens.