LCD Size:
3 inches
Resolution:
12.1 MP
Has
Video Recording
Ease of use
1
Show what experts say (3 reviews)
"Successor to the popular Nikon D3, the Nikon D3S is a fully-fledged pro DSLR and the first Nikon FX body capable of high-definition video recording…. Most of the controls are in the same location [as the D3] too. And there are many of them - respecting the requirements of the working pro,
"The body of the D3S is the shining result of a slow evolution. When we showed the camera to a friend who owns a Nikon D2H (introduced in 2003), he jumped right in and got some great shots. Owners of pro-level Nikon bodies should similarly feel right at home with the D3S."
The list of pro-level features goes on.
Picture Quality
10
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
"The Nikon D3S is, without a doubt, the new low-light, high-ISO king of the camera world. As to other aspects of image quality, they are also top notch: colours are pleasing, tonality is superb, dynamic range is wide. Chromatic aberrations are quite well controlled in-camera.... The only thing I found sub par was the accuracy of auto white balance in artificial light..."
"It offers exceptionally good image quality across an extremely wide range of ISO settings…. For a 12 million pixel camera, it is hard to see how the Nikon D3S could deliver better image quality at its optimal output settings…"
"Stunning picture quality."
"The results of our battery of tests in the Pop Photo Lab earn the D3S an Extremely High rating for overall image quality from ISO 100 through ISO 800. Why not Excellent? Its resolution score of 2330 lines doesn’t quite make our new standard, 2500, for the top rating. But it still turned in a great result for a camera with a 12.1MP sensor."
"Amazing images? Check…. Top-notch ISO performance? Check. There are other prosumer cameras around that come close to the D3s – which is incredible, when you come to think about it – but none that match it."
Low light
10
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
"Images taken with the Nion D3S up to and including ISO 1,600 were astoundingly clean and hard to tell from each other, and even ISO 12,800 is completely usable for printed output. The Nikon D3S is, without a doubt, the new low-light, high-ISO king of the camera world."
"It was easy to scoff at marketing claims that the camera could "shoot in the dark", but a bit of experimentation reveals that at its highest ISO, the camera can amplify light much better than the human eye."
"There can be no doubt that the D3S sets new standards for image quality in extremely low light.... You will see images taken at ISO settings at and above ISO 12,800 (itself unthinkably high only a couple of years ago) which are not only usable, but detailed, free of banding, and impressively color-accurate…"
"Noise is only really apparent (but very subtly) at ISO 6400 and above, noise in shadows reveals blotches of blockiness at ISO 8000 and it becomes very noticeable at ISO 12,800 and above"
"The shots we took as dusk descended over the cityscape were simply unbelievable--this camera delivered results that could be mistaken for daytime shots. In conjunction with the 70-200mm VR II lens, the D3S is a formidable picture-taking machine, and most definitely makes photographing low-light situations incredibly easy."
Video Quality
6
Show what experts say (5 reviews)
Like the D300s, it lets you use autofocus while filming, by way of pressing the AF-ON button - but again, it's too slow and hunts way too much to be actually useful.
"We wish the D3s had a better movie mode – 5 minutes of filming at 720p isn't earth-shattering, and of equal concern is the lack of manual control. It's good enough for simple reportage footage, though, although well-heeled budding documentarians should consider a camera capable of 1080p or, better yet, a dedicated video camera."
"Video is a slightly different thing, as there are cameras out there that can record Full HD footage while allowing a greater degree of control - but you can definitely get high-quality results with the D3S too."
"The D3S can shoot at up to 1280x720 pixels at 24 frames per second, the same as all other Nikons that shoot video. By now, we’d have expected Nikon to go up to 1920x1080p and at least 30 fps, as Canon has in the EOS 7D and will in the 1D Mark IV."
"The new video mode is definitely an improvement over similar modes in previous Nikon DSLRs.... It must be said, however, that video does still feel like a 'bolted on' feature in a couple of ways, and the fact that the recording format is locked to the slightly less efficient (compared to MPEG) motion JPEG is a little disappointing."
Build Quality
10
Show what experts say (3 reviews)
"The build quality is excellent, and so is the handling. The camera is about as rugged as it gets, and the ergonomics is first class."
"Build quality also gets a mention – the D3s feels like it could survive a bomb blast…. It's made from tough-feeling magnesium alloy with chunky rubber grips at every point your hands come into contact with it, and is sealed against water and dust ingress by a series of rubber seals."
"It feels incredibly well-made, and, for the price, you would expect this camera to work like a tank."
Battery Life
10
Show what experts say (2 reviews)
"In the one-week period we had to test the Nikon D3S, we did not take anywhere near that many photos, but used the camera at sub-zero temperatures, did a lot of chimping and made good use of the camera's live view and video functions, yet we never had to recharge the battery before returning it to Nikon - that should say something in itself."
"Specified battery life according to Nikon is up to 4,200 images in normal conditions, and this is born out in our testing. Using Live View and (especially) shooting video does drain the battery though, so a spare is still a good idea if you're keen on using either feature."
Travel Capabilities show formula
We combine our Build Quality Score and Battery Life Score to find a camera great for travel.
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OK
Awesome
Size show formula
We just use a camera's volume (height x width x depth) to determine its size.
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Average
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