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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800

Portability
51
Imaging
57
Features
63
Overall
59
Nikon D3S front
 
Nikon D800 front
Portability
54
Imaging
72
Features
80
Overall
75

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Key Specs

Nikon D3S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Push to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1240g - 160 x 157 x 88mm
  • Revealed February 2010
  • Replaced the Nikon D3
  • Successor is Nikon D4
Nikon D800
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 900g - 146 x 123 x 82mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Old Model is Nikon D700
  • Successor is Nikon D810
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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800, one is a Pro DSLR and the latter is a Advanced DSLR and they are both manufactured by Nikon. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the D3S (12MP) and D800 (36MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (Full frame).

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The D3S was launched 3 years before the D800 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D3S being a Large SLR camera and the Nikon D800 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a quick summation of how the D3S scores versus the D800 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3S over the Nikon D800

 D3S D800 

Reasons to pick Nikon D800 over the Nikon D3S

 D800 D3S 
ReleasedJune 2012February 2010More modern by 28 months
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon D3S and Nikon D800

 D3S D800 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution921k921kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon D3S comes with exterior dimensions of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 1240 grams (2.73 lbs) while the Nikon D800 has proportions of 146mm x 123mm x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2") and a weight of 900 grams (1.98 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the D3S against the D800.

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D3S and D800 is 51 and 54 respectively.

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes purely by checking specifications. The picture below will give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D3S and D800.

To sum up, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different MP. You should expect the Nikon D800 to resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged D3S is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3S Portrait photography info
Nikon D800 Portrait photography info
64
manual focus
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12 megapixels)
83
has manual focus
fantastic MP (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D3S
Street photography with Nikon D800
55
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
59
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3S Sports photography features
Nikon D800 Sports photography features
66
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
big sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery power (4,200 shots)
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
73
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon D3S
Travel photography with Nikon D800
51
good battery power (4,200 shots)
weather sealing
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
66
weather sealing
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D800 as a Landscape photography camera
67
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
good battery power (4,200 per charge)
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
78
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3.2 inch)
fantastic MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Vlogging camera
Nikon D800 as a Vlogging camera
15
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have microphone support
30
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone port
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D800 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3S and Nikon D800
 Nikon D3SNikon D800
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D3S Nikon D800
Type Pro DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2010-02-16 2012-06-11
Body design Large SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed Expeed 3
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Full frame
Sensor measurements 36 x 23.9mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 860.4mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 5:4 and 3:2
Full resolution 4256 x 2832 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 102400 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 51 51
Cross focus points 15 15
Lens
Lens mount Nikon F Nikon F
Available lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3.2 inch
Display resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD TFT Color LCD with 170 degrees wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain, High-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1240 grams (2.73 lb) 900 grams (1.98 lb)
Dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") 146 x 123 x 82mm (5.7" x 4.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 82 95
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 25.3
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 14.4
DXO Low light score 3253 2853
Other
Battery life 4200 shots 900 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL4a EN-EL15
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2 to 20 sec, 1 to 9 exposures at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) x 2, UDMA Compact Flash (Type I), SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I compliant
Storage slots Two Two
Cost at launch $5,200 $2,999