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Gadgets Nikon Unveils High-end D3S D-SLR
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - October 14, 2009 9:28 AM
Print 18 comment(s) - last by guiri.. on Oct 16 at 5:40 AM
New D-SLR is aimed at pro photographers with improved low light performance

Nikon unveiled its latest high-end professional level D-SLR camera today called the D3S. The camera has a 12.1-megapixel image sensor that allows the camera to capture photos in extremely low ambient light conditions that sports and news photographers deal with.

Nikon claims the D3S is the first camera to offer three additional boost levels up to Hi-3, an ISO equivalent of ISO 102,400. HD movie recording is integrated into the camera with the ability to capture video in 720p resolution at 24 fps in motion JPEG mode. Stereo sound is possible when using the input jack.

The video recording capability also has a "Save Selected" feature that lets the user save a still shot from any frame of the video. The camera has a 51-point autofocus system to allow for clear pictures of fast moving subjects. The camera also has three alternative crop modes that are all masked in the viewfinder. The modes include 5:4, 1.2x, and 24x16.

The camera also has a mode perfect for paparazzi called Quiet shutter that reduces the sound of the mirror return, wildlife photographers will also appreciate this mode. Burst shots can be taken at nine frames per second and the memory capacity is twice that of the D3 to allow longer bursts to be shot.

Nikon also equips the D3S with dual CF card slots for large amounts of storage. The images can be saved to both cards for a backup of images taken or one slot can be designated for movie recording only. The rear LCD is 3-inches and has 921k dots with Live View support. The camera will sell for $5,199.95 in the US for the body only.

DPReview spent some hands-on time with the camera and found that it feels like the D3/D3X in the hand. In fact, most of the difference between the new camera and the older D3 models is on the inside, the two cameras look virtually identical on the outside. The camera also has HDMI out for watching HD video on your big screen.

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High dollar but not high end...
By aguilpa1 on 10/14/2009 4:48:09 PM , Rating: 2
$5,000 plus dollars and only 12MP and 720P. Canon 5DMKII has 21MP full frame sensor and shoots 1080P and high ISO ranges for the same price with 24-70L IS lens.




RE: High dollar but not high end...
By Uncle on 10/14/2009 5:26:23 PM , Rating: 2
Ya but its a Canon, its the privilege of owning a name. Wouldn't the Canon lovers wish they had the money to buy a Nikon, deep down, somewhere, in the crevice of their heart they do. But then again the salesmen that sold me the Nikon uses the Canon for his main shooter.


RE: High dollar but not high end...
By dsumanik on 10/14/2009 9:00:13 PM , Rating: 2
To be honest man, i own a lot of high end Nikon gear and I keep up to date on most of the product releases in this field, for the past few years canon has had a very slight edge in most departments, and lens quality. I would rate nikon about 92% and Canon about 95%, as neither are perfect. Do I wish in hindsight i had gone canon before spending all the cash on lenses? NO, both companies offer better gear than I need for most situations.

Also, Camera bodies are inferior to lenses when it comes to overall image quality, you are always better off spending the money on quality glass for multiple reasons. Lenses follow you from camera to camera. Lenses have a high resale value. In low light situations, high noise boosted iso ranges suck compared to a fast f1.4 prime lens...and always will.

About the one true advantage Nikon still holds over canon is the VR in-lens image stabilization, which is superior in practice to sensor based I.S. .... but sensor based I.S. has the advantage of working with any lens, even 3rd party... so it is a lot more cheaper/versatile.

Canons high end telephotos are slightly better as well, by just a smidgen... go watch a pro sporting event, you will see a wall of white canon telephotos shooting it...


RE: High dollar but not high end...
By Uncle on 10/14/2009 9:57:14 PM , Rating: 2
Thanks for your reply, excellent thoughts. A friend of mine told me when I bought my Nikon,out of all the lenses I should have, the F1.4 is the one. After that its what you like to shoot.


RE: High dollar but not high end...
By SPOOFE on 10/15/2009 3:09:32 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
only 12MP

If it means that much to you, you can load the pictures up in any ol' image editor and just double the resolution, 'cuz more pixels magically give lenses more resolving power.


Low Light
By Spuke on 10/14/2009 12:48:38 PM , Rating: 2
It's a shame that it takes a huge price tag to get some good low light performance.




RE: Low Light
By Spinne on 10/14/2009 1:08:42 PM , Rating: 2
You're not paying for the low light performance. The improvements over the D3, D700, 1DsIII, 5D2 are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. You're paying for Pro support for the camera's lifetime. You're paying Nikon to look for potential bugs and fix them free of cost to you with minimal downtime and a loner body while yours is in the shop. If you're a pro photographer and your livelihood depends on your camera and you charge $2000 for a wedding, the extra $$ you pay are well worth it.


RE: Low Light
By Spuke on 10/14/2009 2:14:54 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
You're not paying for the low light performance.
That's not really what I meant BUT if you want great low light performance, it costs a lot. That's what I meant. Thanks for the info though. I didn't know you got all of that included too.


RE: Low Light
By SPOOFE on 10/15/2009 3:13:04 AM , Rating: 2
I can go buy a $300 used D50 and get better low-light performance than Ansel Adams ever did. I suppose that's my roundabout way of asking, "What do you consider great low light performance"? My ISO needs have certainly been satisfied with a D90... heck, they were only occasionally stressed when I was sporting a D70s.


Biggest change was in price
By Lord 666 on 10/14/09, Rating: 0
RE: Biggest change was in price
By deanx0r on 10/14/2009 10:22:20 AM , Rating: 2
Not really. This is an update for the D3 rather than the D3x which is a higher resolution camera. They both share the same body.


RE: Biggest change was in price
By Lord 666 on 10/14/2009 1:48:36 PM , Rating: 2
You are correct, my mistake.

So this should also mean a D300/D700 refresh as well is coming soon. My D300 is great, but looking back, wish I waited for the D700 for the improved low light performance.


RE: Biggest change was in price
By tdawg on 10/14/2009 1:50:04 PM , Rating: 2
For the record, the D300s is already available.


I think you meant 51...
By Pneumothorax on 10/14/2009 10:27:03 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The camera has a 15-point autofocus system

Last time I checked Nikon's high end models including the previous D3 had 51 point AF.




RE: I think you meant 51...
By fishman on 10/15/2009 6:32:50 AM , Rating: 2
But only 15 of the 51 AF points are cross type AF points (sensitive in both directions).


confusion
By Uncle on 10/14/2009 1:10:40 PM , Rating: 2
It walks like a duck, talks like a duck, doesn't look like a duck. I think they have crossed the line and made an expensive HD video camera. I own a Nikon and love the pictures it can take. I also have a cam that can take single shots plus video. The difference is one looks like a camera and takes video the other looks like a camcorder that takes pictures. The line between the two is slowly becoming blurry.




RE: confusion
By Johnmcl7 on 10/14/2009 3:29:56 PM , Rating: 2
Not really, it's just a DSLR with limited video capability - it doesn't look like it's going to match up to Canon's 5D Mk II's movie capabilities which has the same size of sensor but 1080p support and likely higher recording limit. Panasonic's GH1 blurs the line far more than this camera does offering 1080p24 support, support for both m-jpeg and avchd, full AF in movie mode, the option for an attachable microphone and no recording limit (can keep on recording until the card is full)


By guiri on 10/16/2009 5:40:31 AM , Rating: 2
It's low light (iso sensitivity and picture quality) is SUPERIOR to Canon and the D3s improves on that.

Right now, no normal camera can touch it. Maybe in the near future but NOT today. Also, megapixels ARE overrated but bottom line is, if you want the highest resolution, you don't buy the D3 D3s, it's primary goal is high ISO shooting and trust me, it's a spectacular camera and simply amazing at what it's intended to do.

George




"Nowadays, security guys break the Mac every single day. Every single day, they come out with a total exploit, your machine can be taken over totally. I dare anybody to do that once a month on the Windows machine." -- Bill Gates











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