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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Bonney Lake, WA on 11/30/2008
The D3 makes it easy to capture quality images in difficult conditions. The dual CF card slots, long battery life, multiple fine tuning adjustments and compatabity with a wide range of Nikon lenses gives me a lot of options. I have fun testing the limits of the D3 and am continually surprised at what it can do. I can't complain about size or weight because I feel that comes with the territory at this level of DSLR. I was actually surprised how light it was when I picked it up. The ergonomics of the D3 work well for my hands and it's comfortable to hold. It's easy to haul around and it's performance is worth the extra ounces. I like everything about the D3.
Images shared by: RVMt Rainier at Sunset (Small / Basic JPEG Setting)
Tags: Made with Product
from Palo Alto, CA on 11/24/2008
I am: Lab technician, Darkroom owner, local newspaper sports photographer, film lover, extremely busy, and in love with my niece.
I have not had the time to print in the darkroom in over a year, and I miss the output quality of warm tone prints. After shooting tons of images with color accuracy intent, I started to play with the b&w mode with some toning options, and I can say that while my Fuji S3 still has higher dynamic range, the Nikon D3's in camera black and white warm tone is lovely. The sad thing about the D3 is I haven't the need nor the desire to pick up my N90 or F100 since I opened the box.
This is not just a sports camera, but fine art output is well within its grasps.
from Houston on 9/29/2008
If you are using Nikon (and I have for over 30 years) this camera will feel right the minute you pick it up. Everything works like it should. I use it predominately for nature shots and have published a few but it does everything well. The low light capability is phenomenal. The metering, autofocus, and ability to balance light beat anything else I have used. I have had it 6 months now and love it. However, it is heavy (and it would be nice to put an off-flash controller on it so you don't need an extra SB-800 or SU-800)
from Alabama on 7/26/2008
I use the D3 for taking portraits of my two young children in my 6 monolight studio as well as taking photos of the little boys baseball games. It is so fast. The photos, resolution, color and everything else is amazing. The low light photos of a beach at night with only the moon for illumination are awesome. Only thing that could be better is the good software or lack there of.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Pittsburgh, PA on 4/29/2008
Have been chugging through the digital world via the D100, D70, D200, and even the D300. None of them had the magic of the F4. Do yourself a favor, skip the intermediate steps. Get the D3. Full frame is photography. Fast AF, sharp images, ISO to burn, and SPEED.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Sterling, Virgina on 3/23/2008
A very comfortable camera for me since I've been a Nikon user for over 25 years. This D3 is so fast in focusing especially if your lenses are 2.8's ED,ED-IF, or G....results are so clear especially at low lite shooting at 6400. I just love this D3
Images shared by: Sal C.
[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]
from Oregon on 2/27/2008
I am a former illustrator and have been taking pictures for 60 years and have begun showing and selling my recent photos from travels around the world. My passion is photographing people, places and wildlife. We spend 2 weeks every year in Yellowstone photographing wildlife and until this camera came on the market, a problem I encountered was managing the noise in the darker areas of black wolves, elk and bison when shooting at high lens speeds and ISO settings?especially with the 500 mm lens and 1.4 tele-converter. On a typical day of shooting I take 1000-2000 shots easily and the dual flash cards solve the problem of changing cards, possible loss or just dropping one. It is heavy, and combined with a strong tripod is cumbersome, but at 74 I can still lug it all up a steep snow covered hill. I did not get the camera until after this year's photo safari, but there is no doubt that the results will far exceed my expectations based on early tests in strong light and snow locally.
[6 of 6 customers found this review helpful]
from Central California on 1/31/2008
I am a long time digital camera user, from the Kodak DCS camera until now. I been a long time Nikon user and do have most of their great lenses for my work. The Kodak DCS cameras used Nikon lenses on their DSLR. Kodak did bring out their 14n and their last camera SLRn, those cameras are their biggest joke, so I switch to Canon 1Ds. I do have the newest 1Ds MkIII, because of their 21 megpix. I wanted a digital camera around 10-12 megpix and I wanted to get the Nikon D3, because of all those Nikon lenses I have. It is a better choice between the Canon 1D MkIII and the Nikon D3, I just love the FX and the DX format, which can be switch and shot on the same card. I did do a test on the 12 bits and 14 bits on the camera and I really do not see any difference on the D3, I was hopping on more shadow details. My biggest con on this camera is the grid lines, it only show up on the live preview, I wish is could be turn on like the Fuji S5. This is my first Nikon digital camera.
[9 of 9 customers found this review helpful]
from Chantilly, VA; Dubai (presently), UAE on 1/28/2008
I have been using Nikon for quite some time and had quite good collection of full frame lenses, and every time I shot my DX format I missed my full frame lenses. I had almost decided to give up on Nikon because the the AF sucked and DX format was makin my frames smaller. Nikon announces the new D3 and it changed the world around me, I dropped the idea of change and was only worried about when I could get my hands on them, knowing Nikon was making this in Japan and I was told they spent a lot of time makin em. However, I got my D3 and I have not stopped shooting, I have already done 2000 takes, and I have not scratched the surface of what this camera can do. Guys, this has made a world of difference to shooting pictures, the high ISO opens a world lesser know to us who use Nikon. Man, this is a great camera you do not want to miss the 51AF and the speed. The focus is quick with all the lenses I used but, Scandisk Extreme III sucks you need to get the faster Extreme IV or better. The 2 Card slot is a boon as it helps me to give the customer a quick jpeg for review while I have my RAW for workin on. Guys! if you have not got it, get one now. Canon's are not bad but they are probably made for engineers, I am a photographer and not an engineer and this is the camera for me. All the best and get one fast.
Images shared by: KronerMy everyday watch
Tags: Using Product, Made with Product
[8 of 8 customers found this review helpful]
from New Orleans, LA on 1/19/2008
Since early December I have used my new D3 on several on location engagement & formal sessions and on 3 weddings at the time of this review. I just can't find any major flaws. The high iso was my biggest motivating factor for getting this camera and this feature is everything it suppose to be. Shooting b/w 2000 & 3200 is just as clean as 800 is on my D200. Even at 4000 to 5000 iso is very clean ... Shooting around 5000 to 6400 there may be some minor noise in the shadows, but I would not hesitate shooting at 6400 if I had to in low lit church.For a wedding photographer that wants to capture more available light shots without using a long shutter, then this camera is worth the investment. It is a bit heavy, especially w/ the 70-200 lens. (but if you are moving up from the D2x then there is not to much of a difference). The auto white balance is good, but for me I find that using Kelvin is more accurate. The battery life is excellent. I average approx. 800 shots at a wedding and I am usually left w/ 40 to 50% of battery life. The 3" screen is bright, accurate and the pics just look great on it.In summery ... if your a professional photographer and shoot on location then this camera is worth the [$] investment. The D3 performs as advertised.