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Nikon D3S vs Nikon Z 9

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD3SNikonZ 9
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2009December 2021
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSStacked backside-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions36 × 23.9 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution12.1 MP45.7 MP
Largest image4256 × 28328256 × 5504
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–1280064–25600
Sensor detail12.87 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 system52.37 million total pixels; sensor cleaning, dust-off reference data, protective sensor shield and electro-conductive/fluorine coatings
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or high-efficiency compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–102400; Auto ISO; high-sensitivity movie mode extends to equivalent ISO 102400Expandable to equivalent ISO 32–102400; auto ISO available
Image processorEXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 7
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon Z mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst9 fps20 fps
Lens detailAF 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 unsupportedNIKKOR Z lenses; NIKKOR F lenses require a mount adapter and retain model-dependent restrictions
AutofocusMulti-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-tuningHybrid phase/contrast detection with 493 single-point FX still positions; 3D tracking and subject detection for people, animals and vehicles. Maker sensitivity −6.5 EV or −8.5 EV with Starlight View, measured in AF-S at ISO 100, 20°C and f/1.2.
Shutter1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/250 second; shutter tested to 300000 cycles; Quiet release modeElectronic shutter only, with selectable sound and protective sensor shield; 1/32000 to 30 seconds, Bulb/Time and manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 or 1/250 second with reduced guide number at higher speeds; compatible Auto FP up to 1/8000 may produce horizontal lines.
Burst detailApproximately 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 supportedContinuous high-speed RAW/JPEG up to 20 fps. High-speed C30 provides large full-resolution FX or DX JPEGs and C120 small FX JPEGs (4128 × 2752), with approximately four-second bursts in the linked manual. Firmware 3.00 adds C60 large DX JPEGs, also approximately four seconds; current Japan specs additionally list C15. Pre-release capture supported. These restricted high-speed modes are qualified separately from the main continuous-shooting figure.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationFive-axis sensor shift; Synchro VR up to 6 stops with supported VR lenses under Nikon CIPA conditions, including NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S with required lens firmware; electronic movie VR available
FlashNo built-in flash; hot shoe and PC sync terminal; compatible external Speedlights provide i-TTL and Creative Lighting System functionsNo built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe, ISO 519 threaded sync terminal and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-LightingP/S/A/M; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; matrix, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps8256 × 4644 at 59.94 fps
Video detailMotion-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 autofocusWith firmware 2.0 or later, internal N-RAW 12-bit 8256 × 4644 up to 59.94p, 5392 × 3032 up to 59.94p and 4128 × 2322 up to 119.88p. Conventional UHD 7680 × 4320 up to 29.97p; UHD 4K and Full HD up to 119.88p. ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ, H.265 8/10-bit and H.264 have format-dependent limits. N-Log/HLG, waveform, timecode and RAW proxies. Nikon's UHD 8K/30p recording-time claim is 125 minutes under specified conditions; launch firmware and the early reviews predate internal RAW video support.
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone and stereo microphone input; voice memo recording and playback for still photographsBuilt-in stereo microphones; 24-bit PCM recording, external microphone with attenuator and headphone monitoring; AAC used for MP4
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalElectronic
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,0002,100,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 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 panelsFour-axis horizontal/vertical tilt, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism; 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 shutter0.5-inch Quad-VGA OLED, approximately 3.69 million dots, 100% coverage, 0.8× magnification and 23 mm eyepoint; blackout-free display with high-frame-rate option
Connections and design
Wi-FiNoYes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)4200 photographs770 photographs
Body weight1240 g1160 g
Release detailNikon's original US announcement specifies late November 2009 availability; Japan records 27 November. Main retains the monthNikon Japan explicitly records first sale on 24 December 2021; US announcement on 28 October specified availability within 2021. TechRadar's later regional delivery-delay wording does not override the confirmed Japanese first sale.
Recording mediaTwo CompactFlash Type I slots, including UDMA; overflow, backup, separate RAW/JPEG recording and card-to-card copying. Type II and Microdrive unsupportedTwo CFexpress Type B/XQD slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation, duplicate JPEG recording and card copying
PortsUSB 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 equipmentUSB-C SuperSpeed USB, full-size HDMI Type A, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, ten-pin remote terminal and threaded flash-sync socket; RJ-45 Ethernet 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the bodyWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0; built-in GNSS supports GPS, GLONASS and QZSS with location/time recording and track logs
Battery life detailEN-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 supportedEN-EL18d; CIPA monitor approximately 770 shots with power saving or 740 without; EVF 740 with power saving or 700 without. Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test gives approximately 5310 shots; movie battery claim approximately 170 minutes. Earlier EN-EL18-series batteries give fewer shots.
ChargingExternal MH-22 charger; optional EH-6 AC adapterUSB charging/power delivery and MH-33 external charger; optional EH-7P charging supports EN-EL18d/18c/18b, while earlier battery revisions retain restrictions; optional EH-6d with EP-6a power connector
DimensionsApproximately 159.5 × 157 × 87.5 mmApproximately 149 × 149.5 × 90.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 1240 g excluding battery, card, body cap and accessory-shoe coverApproximately 1160 g body only or 1340 g with battery/card, excluding body cap and shoe cover
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy construction with dust and moisture seals; integrated vertical grip; not a waterproof ratingWeather-sealed magnesium-alloy body with integrated vertical grip; maker operating range −10°C to 40°C
In the box–EN-EL18d, MH-33 charger, AN-DC24 strap, UC-E24 USB cable, HDMI/USB cable clip, BS-1 shoe cover and BF-N1 body cap; current UK included-accessory tiles also list EH-7P UK adapter

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