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Nikon D3S vs Sony A68

Portability
51
Imaging
57
Features
63
Overall
59
Nikon D3S front
 
Sony SLT-A68 front
Portability
64
Imaging
67
Features
70
Overall
68

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Key Specs

Nikon D3S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Increase to 102400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 1240g - 160 x 157 x 88mm
  • Announced February 2010
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D3
  • Successor is Nikon D4
Sony A68
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 610g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2015
  • Replaced the Sony A65
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Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Overview

In this write-up, we are comparing the Nikon D3S versus Sony A68, former being a Pro DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the D3S (12MP) and A68 (24MP) and the D3S (Full frame) and A68 (APS-C) enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The D3S was manufactured 6 years earlier than the A68 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon D3S being a Large SLR camera and the Sony A68 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the D3S grades vs the A68 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D3S over the Sony A68

 D3S A68 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k461kClearer display (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A68 over the Nikon D3S

 A68 D3S 
IntroducedNovember 2015February 2010More recent by 69 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon D3S and Sony A68

 D3S A68 
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D3S enjoys outer measurements of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") and a weight of 1240 grams (2.73 lbs) and the Sony A68 has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 610 grams (1.34 lbs).

Check the Nikon D3S versus Sony A68 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the D3S versus the A68.

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D3S and A68 is 51 and 64 respectively.

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the D3S and A68.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The D3S featuring a larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF easier and the Sony A68 will offer greater detail due to its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older D3S is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 sensor size comparison

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D3S Portrait photography features
Sony A68 Portrait photography features
64
has manual focus
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
80
you can focus manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D3S
Street photography with Sony A68
55
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
no image stabilization
77
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D3S Sports photography highlights
Sony A68 Sports photography highlights
66
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery (4,200 shots)
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
75
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
bad battery power (510 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D3S Travel photography highlights
Sony A68 Travel photography highlights
51
better than average battery (4,200 shots)
weather proofing
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
55
good megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
bad battery power (510 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D3S Landscape photography features
Sony A68 Landscape photography features
67
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery (4,200 CIPA)
has double storage slots
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
screen is small (2.7 inch)
bad battery power (510 shots)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D3S as a Vlogging camera
Sony A68 as a Vlogging camera
15
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic port
display is not selfie friendly
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Nikon D3S vs Sony A68 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D3S and Sony A68
 Nikon D3SSony SLT-A68
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon D3S Sony SLT-A68
Type Pro DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2010-02-16 2015-11-06
Body design Large SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 23.9mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 860.4mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 5:4 and 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4256 x 2832 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Maximum boosted ISO 102400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 51 79
Cross type focus points 15 15
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon F Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 309 143
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.57x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Auto, Fill-flash, Slow sync, Red-eye reduction, Rear sync, Wireless, High Speed sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250 secs 1/160 secs
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 (60i, 30p, 24p), 1440 x 1080, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1240 gr (2.73 lb) 610 gr (1.34 lb)
Dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 82 79
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 13.5
DXO Low light rating 3253 701
Other
Battery life 4200 images 510 images
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL4a NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (Yes (2 or 12 sec))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II) x 2, UDMA SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 2 1
Retail price $5,200 $581