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Nikon D3S · Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon D3S
Photo 1 of 40

Nikon D3S · Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon · Nikon DSLR

D3S

Released November 2009

A 12.1-megapixel full-frame professional DSLR with 9 fps shooting, an integrated vertical grip and 720p movie recording.

Type
DSLR
Sensor
Full frame
Megapixels
12.1
Lens
Nikon F mount
Video
1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Body weight
1240 g

What reviewers say

Both praise low-light photographs, responsive shooting and robust construction, but find default JPEGs softer than processed RAW files, artificial-light white balance unreliable and movie autofocus slow. Photography Blog praises handling and the viewfinder, while finding size, price and resolution limiting. Photo Review values the larger buffer but criticises awkward video controls and paid advanced RAW software.

From photographyblog.com and photoreview.com.au

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
DSLR
Sensor format
Full frame
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor dimensions
36 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution
12.1 MP
Largest image
4256 × 2832
RAW recording
Yes
Standard ISO range
200–12800
Sensor detail
12.87 million total pixels; FX, 1.2×, DX and 5:4 image areas. Maximum 1.2× image 3552 × 2368, DX image 2784 × 1848 and 5:4 image 3552 × 2832; sensor-cleaning system
Image formats
12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detail
Expanded equivalents ISO 100–102400; Auto ISO; high-sensitivity movie mode extends to equivalent ISO 102400
Image processor
EXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
9 fps
Lens detail
AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses; DX lenses supported with automatic crop. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Multi-CAM 3500FX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning
Shutter
1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 300000 cycles; Quiet release mode
Burst detail
Approximately 9 fps at full FX resolution and in 1.2× or 5:4 crops; up to 11 fps in lower-resolution DX. At 10/11 fps focus locks to the first frame, and exposure also locks in poor light; VR and Auto ISO can reduce the rate. Both 12-bit and 14-bit RAW supported
Stabilisation detail
Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
No built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal; compatible external Speedlights provide i-TTL and Creative Lighting System functions
Exposure controls
P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting

Video

Highest video resolution
1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Video detail
Motion-JPEG AVI at 1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216, all 24 fps; maximum five minutes at 720p or 20 minutes at lower resolutions. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF with mirror interruption; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF, including initiated movie autofocus
Audio
Built-in mono microphone and stereo microphone input; voice memo recording and playback for still photographs

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Optical
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
921,000
Tilting screen
No
Display detail
Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle and tempered-glass cover; dots count subpixels. Original US announcement and brochure specify approximately 921000 dots; Japan rounds to approximately 920000. Separate top and rear status panels
Viewfinder detail
Pentaprism; approximately 100% FX coverage, 97% in 1.2× and DX, and 100% vertical/97% horizontal in 5:4; 0.7× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; replaceable focusing screen and eyepiece shutter

Connections and design

Wi-Fi
No
Battery life (maker's claim)
4200 photographs
Body weight
1240 g
Release detail
Nikon's original US announcement specifies late November 2009 availability; Japan records 27 November. Main retains the month
Recording media
Two CompactFlash Type I slots, including UDMA; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG recording and card-to-card copying. Type II and Microdrive unsupported
Ports
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini-HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone input, ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional GP-1 or MC-35 connects external GPS equipment
Wireless connections
Optional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body
Battery life detail
EN-EL4a; approximately 4200 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8G ED and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 4700 with AF-S VR 70–200mm f/2.8 ED; EN-EL4 also supported
Charging
External MH-22 charger; optional EH-6 AC adapter
Dimensions
Approximately 159.5 × 157 × 87.5 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 1240 g excluding battery, card, body cap and accessory-shoe cover
Materials
Magnesium-alloy construction with dust and moisture seals; integrated vertical grip; not a waterproof rating

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Full-resolution 9 fps shooting and native sensitivity up to ISO 12800
  • Two CompactFlash slots with backup and separate RAW/JPEG recording
  • 100% FX optical viewfinder and integrated portrait controls

Cons

  • Large 1240 g body before battery and lens
  • Fixed rear screen and movies limited to 720p
  • No built-in flash

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
SonyAlpha DSLR-A850
DSLRFull frame24.6Sony A–850 gSept 2009
SonyAlpha DSLR-A900
DSLRFull frame24.6Sony A-mount–850 gSept 2008
NikonD3X
DSLRFull frame24.5Nikon F mount–1220 gDec 2008

Sources

  1. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d3s/spec.html
  2. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d3s
  3. cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/kie88335f7869dfuejdl=-cww2/D3S_EN.pdf
  4. cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/systemacc/D3S_brochure.pdf
  5. nikonusa.com/p/d3s/25466/overview
  6. nikonusa.com/press-room/the-imaging-evolution-continue
  7. photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_d3s_review
  8. photoreview.com.au/reviews/dslr-cameras/pro/nikon-d3s

Photo: Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

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