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Nikon D3s

Based on 28 reviews

Excellent:

26
Good:

1
Average:

0
Bad:

1

Pros

Great speed performance, Exceptional low light/high ISO performance, Excellent image quality, Sophisticated feature set.
A solid workhorse that really delivers the results. High ISO is stunning, as is the focus system, and everything else is a bonus
High quality photos, Incredible lowlight capability for video or stills, Excellent build quality
Unmatched image quality at high ISO settings. Incredibly efficient sensor. A new benchmark, Excellent AF and metering performance, Compatible with virtually all Nikon AF lenses, and most MF lenses (up to 9 AI spec or later manual focus lenses can be prog.
Incredible high ISO performance; improves upon an already excellent DSLR; loads of features.
Image quality, Low light performance, Inspirational to use, Handling

Cons

"Only" 12 megapixels (may or may not matter to some photographers), HD video is "only" 720p, Learning curve and somewhat confusing Custom Setting menu system.
Movie mode could do more, price is limiting
Video autofocus is loud and slow, HD video in 720p 24fps only, Low video resolutions
White balance isn't brilliant in artificial lighting (but few cameras shine in this respect), AF array is smaller (as a proportion of viewfinder area) than D300S, which makes swapping between cameras awkward in some shooting situations, Vertical AF-ON
No 1080p video recording.
Price, Not much else

By EISA on January 01, 2011

The Nikon D3S is so sensitive it can focus and shoot in conditions in which even the human eye cannot see. Although high ISO settings are a feature of most modern DSLR bodies, the quality of the Nikon D3S high ISO settings is unsurpassed for low noise...

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By Engadget on June 21, 2010

Nikon's D3S didn't exactly emerge out of nowhere, but the DSLR's boosted ISO ceiling of over 100,000 (102,400, if we're being precise) has certainly shaken up the industry. Nikon claims that it's set a new bar for low-light...

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By Shutterbug on May 01, 2010

If you want to test the mettle of a camera intended to satisfy a craven need for speed, take that camera to a hockey game, one of the world’s fastest sports. That’s one of the tests to which I put the Nikon D3S, a brute of a camera that...

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By 5FWD on April 26, 2010

The Nikon D3S is a superbly engineered camera that looks the business and also does the business when it comes to ultra-high-quality still images. Find the cash for this beauty and youre unlikely to be disappointed though you may have to...

100
By DigitalCameraReview on April 23, 2010

The Nikon D3S is probably among the most capable pro DSLRs on the market today. It has the feature set, speed, flexibility and image quality that professionals need with only a 12 megapixel sensor. You may not agree, but I would rather trade off some...

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By The Imaging Resource on April 17, 2010

So the Nikon D3S is an amazingly capable professional digital SLR, retaining most of what was great about the Nikon D3, and adding astonishing improvements in low-light capability and a larger image buffer size. Enough stayed the same, though, that...

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By RegHardware on March 12, 2010

So is the D3s the best full-frame DSLR currently on the market? Well, some photographers may hesitate here. Its not only the price tag, but its size and weight and unless you make full use of the increased low-light sensitivity and speed...

90
By What Digital Camera on March 11, 2010

With the number of cameras launched every year it's easy for some to get forgotten. Some, however, stand out because of a unique feature. The D3s will be difficult to forget as the first to offer an ISO range that makes almost any lighting condition...

95
By Digital Camera Buyer on March 04, 2010

The D3S is an incredibly sophisticated camera and a very tempting prospect for full-frame upgraders. It might even tempt some system...

100
By Photo Review Australia on March 01, 2010

The D3s is the latest professional FX model in Nikon's DSLR line-up. A small step forward, rather than a major upgrade to the previous D3 series models, the D3s introduces a new sensor and adds a couple of new features but is otherwise almost...

90