
Review Summary
2015-04-29T21:00:00
I use this body with Nikon 300 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 pro lens for sporting events as well as concert and wildlifes. This body is fast and is amazing in low light. You will not be disappointed with this product. There is no down side.
DEWEY H.
2015-04-26T21:00:00
Arrived very quickly, was in excellent shape exactly as described
THERESA G.
2014-04-07T21:00:00
I use the D3s primarily for sports and fast moving action, but also use it during events for the low-light performance and take it as a second body for portrait sessions. So far it has not disappointed. There is only one thing I can say that I don't like about it - there's no selector pad when shooting with the grip so it's a bit of a personal learning curve if I need to change my focus point when shooting with the grip.
TAE D.
2013-09-30T21:00:00
Everything I ever wanted or needed in a camera. The high ISO performance is just astonishing; pair it with fast glass and it just SINGS after dark.
Linda J.
2013-08-19T21:00:00
I needed a better low light camera than my D700 for weddings and outdoor portraits. I looked all over before Adorama finally got a used one in. The listing said it was used and listed the condition as shows signs of wear etc. I received it and the body was so clean I wondered if the ad was wrong. I played around the first night and shot some tests in my kitchen at 10,000 ISO and had images that could go straight to print right out of camera. I have gotten a little more used to it and shot some R/C cars at a race using 2500 ISO at 1/2500th of a sec and froze dirt off the tires as the race cars slid by. The camera was also listed as camera, battery, and charger only but came with a manula and a new strap. I have spent thousands with Adorama over the last five years and have never had a disappointment ever.
DOUG R.
2013-03-06T19:00:00
Great Nikon product. This camera is a significant step forward from the D3 and I'm pleased to have added it to my arsenal.
ALAN M.
2012-12-30T19:00:00
This camera is the best for sports and low light situations. The best I have used!
TJ-Mac
2012-07-08T21:00:00
I was so impressed by my first Nikon D3S that I wanted a second to serve as back-up on an upcoming trip to Arica.
Lynn S.
2012-05-13T21:00:00
This is hands down the best camera Nikon has made to date. In my opinion, out performing the D4. Fast accurate and extremely durarable. I've shot everything from major production images (alongside a MF body), to deep outdoor action shots and even spent a week in african desert and they continue to deliver outstanding and consistent quality. 12MP seems a bit dated although I've never had a client complain.
BRENT C.
2012-05-13T21:00:00
Awesome , High ISO achieved with no noise..excellent camera for sports photography...Fantastic camera from nikon
Shan
2012-04-02T21:00:00
This camera is way above my payscale but the results make the other parents at soccer and track meets think I know what I'm doing. I am looking forward to several years with this camera
SHAYNE C.
2012-03-01T19:00:00
I sold the D3, and ordered the D4. Well wouldn't you know Nikon missed the roll out date for the D4. Its now on forever backorder. I have several important shooting assignments and can't wait another two months for the D4. I hesitated and cancelled the D4. So many issues, backorder, untested XQD card, new reader, no RAW converter, costly add ons. So I order and received the D3s. I was AMAZED AT THE HIGH ISO PICTURE QUALITY. Just shooting in higher ISO without the flash is enough for me to say great great. I did practice shots in all high ISO's. Most are usable images. Since I shoot theatre work this will be an added plus. Yeah not sure about the video quality or the ease of use. But that would be okay if I ever needed video. The fact that the camera is versatile. It can used for any photography event without fail. The D4 will come with a battery that will need recharging sooner than the D3s. The D3s can shoot up to 4200 images on one battery charge. The D4 is only half that. New Japan law made Nikon change the battery power limits. Well too bad. Maybe they will change that later. Why not make that part in another country to avoid the law explanation? So am I happy that I cancelled the D4, yes so far so good. And some how the D3s is on back order as well at BHphoto. Adorama seems to have a larger inventory on the D3s. Maybe there is a back lash from Pro photographers. So in summary buy the D3s, use it, sell later when the D4, or the D4s arrives. That would have given Nikon time to tweak the D4 line.
AFPhotoDesign
2011-11-29T19:00:00
We do nature and sled dog race photography!
Phillip J.
2011-11-28T19:00:00
I bought this to replace/back up my D3. I am just blown away by the quality of images produced by this body, especially the ones that require very high (>1200) ISO. I was in a room in a zoo that was darkened to house nocturnal animals and was able to capture images of animals without flash that most could not see with the naked eye. I have about 15,000 frames in the 6 months I have had it and am VERY pleased with my shots. I upgraded my lenses when I got this body, and the combination is fantastic!
PAUL B.
2011-11-21T19:00:00
The pictures I can make with this camera are simply stunning. There is no other word for it. The performance is superb, the colors are spot on, exposure is consistent and the focus speed is fantastic. I would buy this camera again and again. For me the decision was between the D3X and the D3S, and I am glad I chose as I did. While, I am certain that the D3X is quite a camera, the speed and ISO capabilities of the D3S are worth sacrificing the pixels. It is a great buy.
Martini
2011-11-16T19:00:00
Simply...this is a magnificent camera. Worth every penny.
KennyE
2011-11-15T19:00:00
This camera is perfect. A real investment piece, but you get your money's worth. I can't think of a single thing I dislike about this camera. I print pictures in magazines all around the world, and only use this camera. The ONLY thing I would change about it is the fact that it's only 12 mpxls. I will definitely invest in the next version, simply for that Still deserves 5 stars though for it's speed and crisp pictures it takes
Fern
2011-11-06T19:00:00
I use the Nikon d3s for a wide variety of shooting from weddings to studio portraits to fast action sports. The high ISO capabilities of this camera are amazing when paired with a good f2.8 or faster lens. Autofocus is as fast as anything I've seen making it great for fast action sports photos. The dual CF card slots mean that you can shoot all day without changing cards. It will literally take years to fully understand and practice all the features this camera has to offer, yet I was up and shooting the day it arrived. I wasn't a Nikon user prior to this camera but the setup and placement of commonly used controls is intuitive and ergonomic. I couldn't be happier with this purchase.
ROBERT M.
2011-10-18T20:00:00
As a professional shooting almost all sports, low noise, 11 fps speed, high ISO it's perfect for sports. I used to buy cars for this kind of money but if you do lots of low light photography at high speeds, it's worth the cost.
Scooter
2011-10-16T21:00:00
The focus selector is oddly placed, compared to other Nikon bodies. Also seems to have a hard time focusing with Macro lens. The dual CF slots are nice.
A R.
2011-10-02T21:00:00
great camera, i would like to see more mp
RAY J.
2011-10-01T20:00:00
I use this camera at work for taking pictures of university events (sports, social outings, etc) and I must say it does it all very well. I can easily pop the iso up to 2000-3200 and still get great pictures. The continuous raw count is very high, great for sports. Focusing is really good. Only has 12 mp, which after you crop down some can get kind of low. Still decent though. When we first got the D3s (after having a D2Xs), it did have some problems with overexposure and memory card writing, but after a few trips to Nikon it works like a charm now.
EZ
2011-09-28T20:00:00
this is my second D3s and its amazing tool for photography , where all performance can be showed. Nikon again show quality for the price but whats its missing its to get a new firmware for some changes .
clastroligo
2011-09-25T21:00:00
The Nikon D3s is heads and tails above anything else. The D700 isn't near as good in low light nor battery capacity. The D3s is the only camera I use as a full time wedding photographer. I have 3 and wouldn't dream of using anything less.
Jonathan
2011-09-25T20:00:00
Have been a user of Nikon back to the F3HP days. Own a D3X and two D3s's. I wish I had three of these. Fast while still shooting RAW + JPEG mode. Typically shoot around 8K images per wedding between all three camera's. Never had an issue with any of them. True workhorse!!! Amazing under low lighting situations. Nothing compares.
IanBPhotography
2011-09-19T20:00:00
Nikon knocked it out of the park with this amazing digital creation! I've owned the D3 and this camera trounces everything about the previous version. The camera is at least a full stop better than the D3 when it comes to ISO performance. The HD video is also a nice touch, though I probably won't use it. Highly recommend if you can afford it.
FXUser
2011-09-15T21:00:00
I've owned this camera for almost 18 months and i'm still amazed at it's capabilities. From it's ability to deliver in extremely low light shooting to quick responsiveness during continuous action photography, i'm yet to be unearth a lag,drawback or overwhelming flaw. Combined with a selection of hi-quality Nikkor lenses and a D700 for backup, I am never at a want or a loss. This camera delivers as promised.
Demandat
2011-09-04T21:00:00
It is very well built, it's faster than fast I'm excited to use it this winter photographing sled dog races.
Phillip J.
2011-09-03T21:00:00
Professional use, only
JerryTV
2011-08-24T20:00:00
The best camera i ever had, thinks i wish to have in the next version. More resolution with the incredible noise of my D3s. Intergrated wlan, and an automatic trigger to shoot with live-view on moving objects.
uhellinger
FX
CMOS
36.0 x 23.9mm
12.87 million
12.1 million
FX-format:(L) 4,256 x 2,832 (M) 3,184 x 2,120 (S) 2,128 x 1,416
1:2 format (30 x 20) :(L) 3,552 x 2,368 (M) 2,656 x 1,776 (S) 1,776 x 1,184
5:4 format (30 x 24): (L) 3,552 x 2,832 (M) 2,656 x 2,120 (S) 1,776 x 1,416
DX-format:(L) 2,784 x 1,848(M) 2,080 x 1,384 (S) 1,392 x 920
9 frames per second at full resolution
FX-format: CH: Up to 9 frames per second, CL: Up to 8 frames per second
5:4 format: CH: Up to 9 frames per second, CL: Up to 8 frames per second
DX-format: CH: Up to 11 frames per second, CL: Up to 10 frames per secondSingle
3 in. diagonal
VGA TFT
Super Density
921,000 Dots
170-degree wide-viewing angle
Brightness,7 levels
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
30 sec. in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV
1/8000 sec. in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV
Yes
Yes
200 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV
12800 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV
Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent, in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV)
Hi-3 (ISO 102,400 equivalent)
Hi-1, (ISO-25,600 equivalent), in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
Hi-2, (ISO-51,200 equivalent), 1 EV step
Hi-3, (ISO-102,400 equivalent), 1 EV step
CompactFlash (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA)
MicroDrive
2 CompactFlash card Slots
Uncompressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW)
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80 percent
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60 percent
JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal Quality
TIFF (RGB)
WAV
Compliant with DCF 2.0
DPOF
EXIF 2.21
Programmed Auto (P) with Flexible Program
Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
Aperture-Priority Auto (A)
Manual (M)
1,005-pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II
Variable Center-weighted
Spot AF
Spot meter centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering); 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20 degrees C/68 degrees F)
CPU
AI
+/-5EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 1
Yes
Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
Yes
From 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
Single-frame [S] mode
Continuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-9 frames-per-second
Continuous high-speed [CH] mode; 9 frames-per-second
Live View [LV] mode
Self-timer mode
Mirror-up [Mup] mode
Sun
Shade
Fluorescent
Incandescent
Flash
Preset
Fine Tune by Kelvin color temperature setting
Auto
Yes, 2 to 9 exposures, in increments of 1, 2 or 3
Handheld mode
Tripod mode
Full frame
Thumbnail (4, 9 or 16 segments)
Zoom
Slideshow
Histogram
Shooting data
Highlight point display
Auto image rotation
Voice Memo
Hi-speed USB
NTSC
PAL
HDMI
10-pin Terminal
Nikon F bayonet mount
1) Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
2) DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/1:2 (30x20) image size /5:4 930x24)
3) AF NIKKOR other than type G or D*2: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II
4) AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
5) Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster
Equivalent to angle produced by lens focal length (1.5 times when DX format is selected)
SLR-type with fixed eye-level pentaprism
Approx. 100%
18 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Quick-return type
BriteView Clear Matte VI - Type B
Yes
BriteView Clear Matte VI - Type B Clear Matte VI - Type E
Approx. 0.7x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0m)
Instant-return type with depth-of-field preview button
Yes
Autofocus TTL phase detection, 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors) by Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus module; Detection: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F); AF fine adjustment possible. Focal-plane contrast [in LiveView (Tripod) mode]
51
Yes
Single-servo AF (S)
Continuous-servo (C)
Manual
Yes
Yes
Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
Yes
AE-L/AF-L button
Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)
Standard
Neutral
Vivid
Monochrome
Nine User-customizable settings
Trim
D-Lighting
Color Balance
Image Overlay
Side-by-Side Comparison
Filter Effects
Monochrome
NEF (RAW) Processing
Red-eye Correction
Resize
Edit Movie with Save Selected Frame
No
Yes
Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock
Yes
Yes
Yes
Compatibility: Yes
Up to 1/250
Up to 1/250
Up to 1/8000
Front-curtain sync (normal)
Slow sync
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
1) TTL flash control with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash available with SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-400
2) Auto aperture (AA): Available with SB-900, SB-800 and CPU lens
3) Non-TTL auto (A): Available with SB-900, SB-800, 28, 27 or 22s
4) Range-priority manual (GN): Available with SB-900, SB-800
Yes
Yes
Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 5, 10 or 20 sec.
Yes
Yes
Rechargeable
EN-EL4a Lithium-ion Battery
EN-EL4 Lithium-ion Battery
EH-6 AC Adapter
MH-21 Quick Charger
MH-22 Quick Charger
Yes
Up to 36 characters
Yes
Approx. 4,200 shots (CIPA)
4,700 shots (Nikon Standard)
1/4-20
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Software Suite CD-ROM
Width 6.3 in. (159.5mm)
Height 6.2 in. (157mm)
Depth 3.4 in. (87.5mm)
43.7 oz. (1,220g)
Nikon 1 year limited warranty
018208254668
Get the D3s, not D3x...my expensive misconceptions
By KJDoyle
OK, a little public service for the other working pros out there...I own a D3 and a D3x, and just got my D3s. I shoot live theatre for promotions, programs, playbills, billboards, etc. Probably 80% is shot in available theater light, sometimes I stage the setup, sometimes not. The other 20% of work is studio strobes and/or a bunch of speedlights, under my control. First, I bought the D3 at release for its low light capability...excellent, very satisfied. When Nikon announced the D3s, I could...
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Built like a tank, features like a Rolex watch
By Scubacharlie
I got my first DSR as a engagement gift from my wife 35 years ago - a manual Nikkormat. All I can say is "You've come a long way, baby!" When you first pick it up the D3s, you know you have a high quality machine in your hands. I already had a D700 (which is now my "bang-around" camera), so the controls were familiar. I still bought a guide book to fully appreciate what I had purchased and I'm on Chapter 8 now. The manual probably says the same things, but an after-market guide will speed up...
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Nikon is proud to announce the new FX-format D3S digital SLR camera! Like the D3 before it, the D3S brings a new level of uncompromising versatility and an HD D-Movie Mode to Nikon professional D-SLRs. The D3S was meticulously engineered for professional photographers whose assignments demand nothing less than the ability to capture extreme image fidelity and stunning detail, while preserving the low-noise performance that vaulted the D3 to the market-leading status
Nikon Extreme Digital SLR Image Quality and Features
The D3S' barrier-breaking engineering, including the newly designed Nikon-original 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS imaging sensor, teamed with the exclusive ExPEED image processing and an accelerated Scene Recognition System, enables breathtakingly rich image quality and handling speed. In addition, the D3S provides still-image shooting from ISO 200 to an incredible ISO 12,800 at up to 9 frames-per-second all with incredible AF accuracy, to meet the ever-increasing demands of fast-action photography. And, taking versatility to new heights, The D3S offers expanded ISO settings up to an astonishing 102,400.
D-Movie Mode with Stereo Sound
The D3S' D-Movie mode offers an advanced level of video capture, featuring contrast-detect AF and extraordinary 24 fps, 720p HD image quality. High fidelity audio recording is achieved through an external stereo microphone input. HD movie clips are captured in Motion JPEG format, enhanced by legendary NIKKOR interchangeable lens quality to satisfy professional multi-media needs and further fuel photographer creativity
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