Nikon D3S Review

Overall Score

66

Main Features

  • 12 MP Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • 200 - 12800 ISO
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
  • 11 fps continuous shooting
  • 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • Built-In Wireless
  • 160 x 157 x 88 mm, 1240g.
  • Price Category:
  • Replaced: D3
  • Replaced by: D4

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Nikon D3S Overview


First introduced in February, 2010, Nikon D3S is a 12 MP DSLR with a Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sized CMOS sensor. Nikon replaced the older Nikon D3 with D3S. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Nikon D3S with Nikon D3

Nikon replaced D3S with Nikon D4. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Nikon D3S with Nikon D4


Nikon D3S comes with a Full Frame sensor - 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor, which has a diagonal of 43.21 mm

- Full Frame, approximate the actual size shown above

Sensor resolution of Nikon D3S ~ 4256 x 2819 pixels.

Nikon D3S has Crop Factor: 1.0

The sensor has a surface area of 860.4 mm².

There are approximate 11,997,664 photosites (pixels) on this area.

Nikon D3S Series History
Model Year $ Sensor ISO Weight Dimensions
Nikon D4s Nikon D4s 2014 16MP 100 - 25600 1350g 160 x 157 x 91mm
Nikon D4 Nikon D4 2012 16MP 100 - 12800 1340g 160 x 157 x 91mm
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S 2010 12MP 200 - 12800 1240g 160 x 157 x 88mm
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X 2009 25MP 100 - 1600 1260g 160 x 157 x 88mm
Nikon D3 2008 12MP 200 - 6400 1300g 160 x 157 x 88mm

Proc and Cons of Nikon D3S


Get to know this camera closer. Let's look at the features and characteristics of this model. Compare Nikon D3S with competitors in pro dslr cameras.

Pros
Built-in Wireless
Optical Viewfinder
12800 Max Native ISO
11.0 fps Continuous Shooting
Long Battery Life: 4200 shots
Manual Exposure Mode
Timelapse Recording
2 Storage Slots
Flash Sync Port
Focus Bracketing
External Flash
RAW Support
921k dots Screen Resolution
1/8000s Max Shutter Speed
Manual Focus
Environmental Sealing
51 Focus Points
5 AE Bracketing Range
300000 cycles Shutter Life Expectancy
Cons
No Bluetooth
No Touch Screen
No Image Stabilization
Weight: 1240g
No Articulating Screen
No Full HD Video
No AF Face Detection
Type Scores

Nikon D3S has an Overall Score of 66/100 and ranked #85 out of 206 in DSLR cameras, and ranked #236 out of 1222 in all cameras.

Nikon D3S Scores
Imaging score
71
Features score
58
Value for money score
66
Portability score
48
Overall score
66
Average Scores in Pro DSLR
Imaging Score
57
Features Score
49
Value For Money Score
61
Portability Score
49
Overall score
55

Physical Dimensions of Nikon D3S


Nikon D3S weighs 1240g and has external dimensions of 160 x 157 x 88mm (6.3 x 6.18 x 3.46"). Considering that the average weight of Pro DSLR cameras is 1280g, Nikon D3S is 40 grams less than the average weight of cameras in this category.

Weight Comparison
Pro DSLR Cameras


Nikon D3S
1240g
Average weight
1280g
Min weight
735g
Max weight
1585g

Thickness Comparison
Pro DSLR Cameras


Nikon D3S
88mm
Average Thickness
85mm
Min Thickness
74mm
Max Thickness
123mm

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon D3S with the dimensions:

Nikon D3S

Size Compared to Major Competitors


Model Weight D3S Dimensions D3S
Nikon D750 Nikon D750 840 g 1240 g 141 x 113 x 78 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D3 1300 g 1240 g 160 x 157 x 88 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D4 Nikon D4 1340 g 1240 g 160 x 157 x 91 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D4s Nikon D4s 1350 g 1240 g 160 x 157 x 91 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D810 Nikon D810 980 g 1240 g 146 x 123 x 82 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X 1260 g 1240 g 160 x 157 x 88 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D700 Nikon D700 1074 g 1240 g 147 x 123 x 77 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Nikon D500 Nikon D500 860 g 1240 g 147 x 115 x 81 mm 160 x 157 x 88 mm

Specifications of Nikon D3S


General
Brand Nikon
Model D3S
Announced February, 2010
Body Type Large SLR
Lens
Lens Mount Nikon F
Manual Focus
Focal Lens Multiplier 1
Number of Lenses 305
Macro Focus Range n/a
Screen
Screen Size 3"
Screen Type Fixed
Screen Resolution 921k pixels
Touch Screen
Live View
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 51
Number of Cross Focus Points 0
Photography Features
RAW Support
Min Shutter Speed 1/30 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec
Continuous Shooting 11.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash
Flash Modes Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV
WB Bracketing
Sensor
Sensor Size Full frame
Sensor Type CMOS
Sensor Dimensions 36 x 23.9 mm
Sensor Area 860.4 mm²
Sensor Resolution 12 MP
Max Image Resolution 4256 x 2832
Max Native ISO 12800
Min Native ISO 200
Max Boosted ISO 102400
Min Boosted ISO 100
Video Features
4K
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
Video Formats Motion JPEG
Timelapse Recording
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
Connectivity
GPS Optional
Wireless Connectivity Built-In
Bluetooth
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Battery
Battery Life 4200 shots
Battery Type Battery Pack
Battery Model EN-EL4a
Physical
Weight 1240 g
Physical Dimensions 160 x 157 x 88 mm
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Shock Proof
Storage
Storage Type Compact Flash (Type I or II) x 2, UDMA
Storage Slots 2
Other Features
Self Timer
Selfie Friendly

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