Nikon D3S 12.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 24fps 720p HD Video Capability (Body Only)
by Nikon
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: NikonModel: 25466
Product features:
- 12.1-megapixel, FX-format CMOS sensor; 720p HD video capture
- Body only; lenses sold separately
- Low-noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 12,800; continuous shooting up to 9fps
- Fast, accurate 51-point AF system; Nikon EXPEED image processing
- 3-inch super-density 921,000-dot VGA LCD; one-button Live View with two shooting modes
- Dual CF card slots with overflow, backup and copy options (CF card not included); up to 4,300 images per battery charge
- Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade [Old Version]
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 [OLD VERSION]
- Serif PhotoPlus X3
- Aperture 3
- LensPen LENPPK2 Propack 2 Kit with Lenspen, Digiklear, Minimpro II, Cellklear, Laptoppro
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Nikon D3S 12.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 24fps 720p HD Video Capability (Body Only)
Customer Review: Very responsive. Great PQ even at very high ISO.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've waited many years for a camera with the features offered in the Nikon D3s.
My problem with cameras has been the limitation of only shutter speed and aperture to choose from. It was like living in a 2 dimensional world. Many of my photographs were blurred because I didn't have enough available light. Cranking up the ISO on digital cameras produced horrific electronic noise. In the film world, I could push Tri-X to 800 ASA or beyond when I needed speed and, quite frankly I happen to like the grainy quality of real film -- not Photoshop faux grain.
I can now shoot pictures with the D3s that were previously impossible to obtain. I can safely crank the ISO up to 6400 and beyond. With the auto-ISO, I now live in a 3 dimensional world -- I have 3 variables to achieve blur-free photographs.
[Side note: My only complaint with the auto-ISO feature is that it doesn't take the lens focal length into consideration. It would be a significant improvement if the camera could set the minimum shutter speed based upon the focal length. On the 70-200mm zoom lens I can shoot at slower speeds at 70mm then at 200mm. Also, I have to manually change the minimum shutter speed each time I change lenses. However, this criticism is not isolated to the D3s but all the Nikon models with this feature.]
While my ideal camera would have had many more pixels like the D3x so that I could crop without losing significant quality, as well as high ISO quality, these features are not yet available. I chose the D3s because of the higher ISO. I don't shoot in studios.
Why the D3s, as opposed to the D700 (I have that camera too)?
The 90% viewfinder on the D700 drives me nuts. I have to guess how much of the image is actually going to be captured. If the cropped viewfinder doesn't bother you, then the D700 may be a considerably less expensive alternative. In addition, without the battery pack attached, the D700 weighs less. The D700 produces great images at high ISO, the D3s is a stop or two better. And the D700 without the battery pack is less conspicuous as well.
I've added a number of images to the picture gallery. I've included test photos at high to very high ISO speeds -- photographs that previously would have been impossible to shoot.
Rather than add another list of all the reasons why I think the D3s is a fantastic camera that have been endlessly described in so many other reviews, I would like to comment on just some of the moronic negative criticisms that I've read in supposedly professional reviews.
1) Common complaint: The virtual horizon is a gimmick since good tripods have built in levels.
Yes, I have one of those tripods and each time I reposition the legs on uneven surfaces or move the ball head, I have to eyeball the level which is a hassle. I use the virtual horizon within the viewfinder, not the live view mode, and I find the feature very helpful. Don't like the virtual horizon, don't use it.
2) Common complaint: The super high ISO is a gimmick.
Let's think about that for a moment. You see something in low light that you might never see again (e.g. a rare or thought to be extinct animal or a UFO), would you rather have a grainy picture or nothing at all? Don't like the high ISO, don't use it.
3) Common complaint: The movie mode is a gimmick or the quality isn't on par with a dedicated camcorder.
I read a review that tore the movie quality feature to shreds and suggested buying a dedicated camcorder instead. I did a a quick check of professional camcorders and the prices seem to range from about $1,500 to over $30,000. So now I have to buy and shlepp two cameras around? I suspect most people don't buy the D3s for the movie feature. They buy it for the FX, high ISO and build quality. I've tried the movie feature, and while I'm disappointed that it doesn't auto-focus or use the VR in my lens, I'm not going to throw the camera away.
This move quality complaint is like stating that since the trunk of your car can't carry everything you want to transport, you should exchange your car for a moving van. Nothing does everything perfectly. You "professional reviewers" are idiots. The movie feature is simplistic but it's there if I want it.
Don't want or like the movie feature, ignore it.
4) Common complaint: The camera is heavy and/or conspicuous.
The reviewers expect high quality images, long battery life and a durable body and they think that they're going to get those features into the size of a point-and-shoot? Camera too heavy for you? Buy a lesser camera. Camera too conspicuous? First get rid of that ridiculously uncomfortable and blazing yellow neck strap and get a good plain black strap. Second, use electrical tape and cover the 'Nikon' on the viewfinder. I'm not a free walking billboard for Nikon. Camera too heavy? Wait a few years until battery technology improves then buy that camera.
5) Common complaint: The camera is expensive.
So is a Lexus [or insert your favorite high-end vehicle here]. If the camera/car/other-entity was over-priced then no one would buy them and they'd stop making them. Camera too expensive for you? Buy a lesser camera.
6) Common complaint: Canon has some better features.
Yup, that's true. If you make your living with photography, then buy both cameras and use the tool that's most appropriate for the job.
I'll stop my rant here. I think I made my point. Many reviewers are total idiots and write to fill space.
It amazes me how many people don't understand the concept of the Quiet shutter mode. People think that by itself the shutter becomes magically quieter. No it doesn't. What the Quiet mode does is allow you to take a picture and continue to hold DOWN the shutter button and take a picture with extremely little noise. When it's more convenient, you let go of the shutter button. Then the mirror bounces back making a loud sound. This allows you take surreptitiously take a photograph since most people aren't going to recognize the first sound of the mirror going up but the click-CLUNK! sound is very noticeable.
So far, my only real negative criticism of the camera is the memory card doors. For a camera that is supposed to be so rugged (some described it as military-grade quality), those two (2) doors seem awfully flimsy to me. People have criticized the D700 for the door design but the D3s has two doors, and they're just a fragile as all of the other Nikon doors. I Googled the phrase "Nikon broken doors" and found a ton of hits. I don't open the door when there's a possibility that someone might bump into me and I close the door as quickly as possible.
Joy:
The ultra-high ISO with low noise (depending upon how high you set the ISO) can be very handy for utility photographs. Yesterday I had to crawl under the deck to document some defects in the construction. A flash was out of the question (not enough room) and I wasn't about to drag artificial lighting down there. I needed some quick & dirty shots so I could send them to the builder. I jacked up the ISO to 12K and over and uploaded directly to an email. Do you need a $5K camera for this? No, but hey, I already own the camera and I was able to take these quick shots that were utterly impossible before this camera.
Sorrow:
The viewfinder grid display option has been removed. It's available on my D300 and on the D3x but not on the D3s. The virtual horizon is good for outdoors but there are times when I want to align an item (e.g. a picture on a wall that's on a angle) and not have to use a photo editing program to make the corrections. Why, oh why, has this option been removed? At least I can use the D300 for those types of situations when I want the grid and don't need the D3s features.
It's annoyingly conspicuous. (Yes, I know I'm contradicting myself here from a remark I made about the size, but it's getting annoying). I try to take a picture and people will stop and ask me if I'm a professional photographer. If I had a little camera no one would notice or bother me. If you're the type of person where equipment defines you, then you'll be happy with this type of attention. Me? I want to blend into the background. I've put electrical tape over the 'Nikon' on the viewfinder and on the 'D3s' but there's no going around the fact that it's huge. I think I got less attention when I used a 4x5 camera.
In summary:
This is a fantastic, highly responsive camera which yields tremendous PQ images even at incredibly high ISO speeds. Will the D4, D5, D6 be better? Of course. But there's a point of diminishing returns. My vehicle gets over 42MPG on the open road. I'm not going to buy a new car because it gets incrementally better gas mileage.
More Nikon D3S 12.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 24fps 720p HD Video Capability (Body Only) reviews:
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Description of Nikon D3S 12.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 24fps 720p HD Video Capability (Body Only)
The D3S is uniquely qualified to meet the changing needs of photographers whose assignments demand 100% from them and their equipment. Leading with uncompromising FX-format multimedia versatility and engineered for demanding professional use at up to 9 fps, the D3S rugged magnesium alloy construction, comprehensively sealed against dust and moisture, delivers on its promises of superiority. Exacting moments in time are captured to an expanded buffer, allowing continuous capture of up to 82 JPEG (fine) or 36 14-bit NEF (RAW) images.Digital SLRs
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