Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S is Nikon's Pro DSLR digital camera first introduced on February of 2010. It houses a 12 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame size sensor with a max resolution of 4256 x 2832.

Nikon launched this model in order to update the older Nikon D3 (Read Full Comparison) and then introduced the newer Nikon D4 (Read Full Comparison) in order to replace this model.

The D3S stands at #14 out of 35 in Pro DSLR cameras and over all #330 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should use our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your personal factors.

The following is a graph of various factors used in the rating system.

The Nikon D3S is part of a family of digital cameras. You can see the complete list underneath.

You can view the D3S from different angles in the gallery here.

Here is a checklist of pros and cons of the Nikon D3S based on aspects which are normally considered crucial in a digital camera.

The Nikon D3S features the Expeed processor. The sensor measurement in the Nikon D3S is 36mm x 23.9mm (Full frame). The 860 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4256 x 2832 pixels with aspect ratios of 5:4 and 3:2.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The CMOS sensor boasts 12 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 200 - 12800. The ISO can also be extended electronically to 100 - 102400. RAW photos are supported therefore you have more room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath illustrates the D3S's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The D3S sensor comes with a crop factor of 1 and is shown in green.

Photography Glossary

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Nikon D3S has a weight of 2.73 lbs (1,240g or 43.74 ounces) and features external size of 160mm x 157mm x 88mm (6.3" x 6.2" x 3.5"). The weight of typical Pro DSLR camera is 1,280g so the Nikon D3S is very much the same when compared to other rivals.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Down below is a shot of the Nikon D3S next to a soft drink to help you have a feel for its size.

The top view just below will show you the button layout on the D3S.

The D3S works with the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses available to buy. Here is some of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the D3S.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight

Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T 25050mmf/2.0 530g

Rokinon T-S 24mm f3.5 ED AS UMC24mmf/3.5 680g

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC HSM30mmf/1.4 435g

Tamron 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD18-270mmf/3.5-6.3 450g

Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG Macro HSM II70-200mmf/2.8 1390g

Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f2.8 DX11-16mmf/2.8 560g

Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Sigma 300mm F2.8 APO EX DG HSM300mmf/2.8 2400g

The D3S has the following connectivity:

• USB Yes
• HDMI Yes
• GPS Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to transfer images and at times adjust settings without connecting directly with the camera.

A few apps also provide a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external display. A good number of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

The max video resolution in the Nikon D3S is 1280 x 720 and it can save in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is terrible by today's requirements. You should really strive for a minimum 1080p resolution for decent video. The body does not have a mic and headphone socket which means that you get zero control over your audio. It is probably best to consider an alternative model in case you need better audio in your videos.

Nikon D3S features weather proofing making it a very good option to use in tricky climates. This is particularly valuable if you are not sure about the elements you might encounter in outdoor photography.

The Nikon D3S is equipped with a 3" fixed screen with a resolution of 921k dots.

Please note that the screen offers no touch support. The D3S also comes with a Top LCD screen so its possible to instantly view camera settings.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

The View Finder details regarding Nikon D3S are the following:

• ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
• ViewFinder Coverage 100 percent
• ViewFinder Magnification 0.7x

Viewfinders can be very beneficial in sunny outdoor situations which might make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to view.

Nikon D3S has the ability to shoot continuously at 11.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/8000 seconds.

Nikon D3S has got external flash support but with no built-in flash. The maximum flash sync is 1/250 seconds.

Nikon D3S has got both Phase Detect Autofocus and Contrast Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more quicker and exact than Contrast Detect autofocusing.

It supports 51 focus points to select from. It also boasts Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Nikon D3S has got manual focus when needed in low light conditions or you want to have more precise focus control.

The battery pack (EN-EL4a) in the Nikon D3S is fashioned to last for 4200 images based on the CIPA benchmarks making it higher than standard in comparison to its class. The usual Pro DSLR camera battery life is 2438. Nikon D3X comes with the maximum (4400) battery life in this group of cameras.

Underneath is a collection of Pro DSLR cameras which have the highest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth

Nikon D3X
D3S vs D3X4400 yesnono

Nikon D3
D3S vs D34300 yesnono

Photography Glossary

Nikon D3S4200 yesnono

Nikon D5
D3S vs D53780 yesnono

Nikon D6
D3S vs D63580 yesnoyes

The following bar chart gives a summary of the Nikon D3S for various kinds of photography. To see more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

The Nikon D3S receives a points total of 64 which is very good, and means the camera is a very decent pick to use for portrait images. Photographing portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support & potential to work with off-camera flash.

Coming in at a moderate points total of 55, the Nikon D3S is somewhat suitable for street photography. A good street photography camera gives a good balance of image quality plus portability.

A above average sports photography rating of 66 means the Nikon D3S is a good fit for photographing sports. A camera needs to have excellent autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

Portability is really critical in picking a travel camera. All things considered, the Nikon D3S gets a moderate 51 for a travelling camera which makes it fairly suitable to buy for your journeys.

If you find yourself looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the most significant factor is going to be image quality. The Nikon D3S and it's nice rating of 67 for a landscape camera is a respectable choice within the current marketplace.

A camera for vlogging preferably should offer a articulating display, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Considering all things, the Nikon D3S is not suitable for vlogging as it gets a lousy score of 15.

If you are interested in alternatives to the D3S, below is a range of the top placed cameras that fall in to the category of Pro DSLR.

The diagram listed below shows you an overview of the D3S vs it's highest scored competitors shown above.

These are some more cameras you may take into account as alternatives. To review a complete comparison, visit the "compare" link.