- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Nikon D3
- 12.1 MP
- Full frame CMOS
- 3" LCD
Released August, 2007
by DPReview (Apr, 2008)And so, whether used in DX crop mode or full frame (for cropping later) the D3 makes a fantastic upgrade to the D2H (or D2Hs if you prefer).
Conclusion Check out the Nikon D3
First reviewed December, 2011
Features Key features of the Nikon D3
12.1 MP
Full frame
by DPReview (Apr, 2008)From startup to shutter lag to focus acquisition to the headline continuous shooting capabilities and file writing, the D3 feels very, very fast indeed.
megapixels
| 0 MP | 36.2 MP    | 40 MP |
D3 by c|net (Jul, 2008)If you're willing to step down to 5 megapixels, Nikon says that the D3 can achieve 11fps in DX crop mode (we only test at full resolution).
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)With twelve (ish) megapixels apiece and a feature set so similar it's possible to switch bodies all day long without barely skipping a beat, the D3 and D300 offer Nikon shooters an interesting choice.
sensor size
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)But of course you get a lot more than that too; this is a full frame camera that offers D2X resolution with a larger, far better sensor.
D3 by Edgar-H.-Tan--MD--The-Healer (May, 2008)This camera is simply the best Full Frame DSLR in the market.
viewfinder size
D3 by LKN4WAR--CRUCE-SIGNATI (Feb, 2012)The large viewfinder and 5:4 professional crop is especially nice.
D3 by San-Diego-Photo-Enthusiast--Steve (Aug, 2008)One thing I miss is the built-in architectural viewfinder gridlines that were standard with several of my previous Nikons.
body size
160 x 157 x 88 mm
132 x 105 x 77 mm
148 x 111 x 74 mm
D3 by San-Diego-Photo-Enthusiast--Steve (Aug, 2008)It's anything but a lightweight, but I've been carrying large Nikons around for many years, so that is not a disincentive for me.
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)The air is very thin at the top of the SLR tree, and essentially the D3 has no directly comparable competitors.
focus points
| 0 | 51 | 60 |
D3 by c|net (Jul, 2008)The D3's 51-point autofocus with 15 cross-type sensors delivers a major upgrade over the D2Xs's 11-point AF system.
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)Important headline improvements include high sensitivity support by default, up to ISO 6400 with 25600 available as a boost option, 14-bit A/D conversion, a new standard image processor, a new shutter, new auto focus sensor, focus tracking by color, nine frames per second continuous, dual compact flash support, DX lens support (albeit at lower resolution) with automatic cropping and a 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (which it has to be said is lovely).
Performance Real world tests of Nikon D3
DxOMark image quality
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)At lower ISO settings the image quality isn't significantly different to most other 12 megapixel models, though Nikon's fairly conservative approach to image processing - not too much sharpening, not too much saturation, not too much contrast - means that JPEGs are a little flatter 'out of camera' than most.
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)Compared to previous Nikon digital SLRs the range of saturation adjustment on the D3 is considerably larger (Kudos for that) but I would perhaps have liked even less saturation at the -3 end of the scale.
DxOMark low light performance
D3 by S.-D.-Perry (Jan, 2008)I know everyone praises the low light abilities and they are outstanding.
D3 by FrontPage (May, 2009)The image quality isn't even in the ballpark with the D3, so I want the best images possible, especially in low light conditions.
shutter lag
| 0 ms | 238 ms | 90 ms |
D3 by G.-Patrick-Byers--Show-and-Tell (Jun, 2008)The shutter lag to me compared to my film camera is none existent, could'nt tell the difference.
D3 by c|net (Jul, 2008)Shutter lag measured a very impressive 0.3 second in our high-contrast test and 0.6 second in our low-contrast test, which mimic bright and dim shooting conditions, respectively.
continuous shooting
D3 by c|net (Jul, 2008)In continuous shooting mode, we were able to capture 37 frames in 3.3 seconds for an average of 8.6 frames per second at full resolution.
D3 by DPReview (Apr, 2008)With a fast card the only limit on the number of frames in burst is the D3's own 130 shot cut-off, though with some cards (the Sandisk Extreme IV in this test) you'll find you fill the buffer before this point is reached, at which point the frame rate slows considerably and becomes rather erratic (speeding up and slowing down randomly).
battery life
4,300 photos
800 photos
900 photos
D3 by G.-Patrick-Byers--Show-and-Tell (Jun, 2008)If you can charge a battery, and read the quick start section, this camera can take good pictures almost by itself.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
4,300 -
Intelligent ISO -
Full frame -
Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot -
88 ms -
92.93% -
Opaque -
51 -
300 ms -
1/8000 s
cons
-
Aug, 2007 -
81.0 -
3" -
922 k dots -
12.1 MP -
23.5 bits -
Dust may appear in your photos -
25,600 ISO -
No automatic HDR -
12.2 ev -
None -
The screen is fixed in place -
Taking quality photos in low-light will require external hardware -
No geotagging included -
No automatic stitching -
160 x 157 x 88 mm -
88 mm -
1,300 g
Reviews Word on the street
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|---|---|
 |  
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 | Rated by 39 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by FrontPage (May, 2009)  Rated 100% by by Cecil-Fox (Feb, 2008) Rated 100% by by Dom-Miliano |
Sensor
Nikon D3 | Rated 93% by by c|net (Jul, 2008)Noise remains well under control through ISO 1,600, and begins to creep up a bit at ISO 3,200 and ISO 6,400.
Nikon D3 | by DPReview (Apr, 2008)Below you can see a visual comparison of the difference between images, shot as RAW+JPEG, the RAW image converted using Adobe Camera RAW.
Nikon D3 | Rated 80% by by San-Diego-Photo-Enthusiast--Steve (Aug, 2008)I have one CF Card set to record NEF (raw), the other to record high-res JPG.
Lens
Nikon D3 | Rated 93% by by c|net (Jul, 2008)There are plenty of options to customize the controls to your needs, and you can even change the direction of the two main wheels that are used to change shutter speed and aperture, as well as the direction of the exposure compensation EV display.
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by Bobby-F.-Moulden (Feb, 2008)Great investment; it will use my FX lenses along with my DX lenses.
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by FrontPage (May, 2009)We have a mix now, of DX lenses (for those cameras with the smaller sensors) and FX lenses (and older film lenses, some of which I never let go of).
Iso
Nikon D3 | Rated 60% by by Myra-C.-Mayo--Business-girl (Sep, 2009)And if you want to see just how bad D3 is at high ISO, use 50mm/1.4, 24-70mm/2.8 or another high quality lens, and those lenses will expose weaknesses of the sensor in terms of image quality.
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by John-Kwok (Dec, 2007)This is a very rugged, quite dependable, camera that is capable of 9 frame-per-second bursts and an ISO range up to 25,000, coupled to an extremely sophisticated 51-zone AF system (There is also an impressive-looking 3-inch LCD monitor located on the camera back, that's capable of almost instantaneous live-view).
Nikon D3 | by DPReview (Apr, 2008)The good news is that the Normal setting offers a good balance between the desire to keep visible noise to a minimum without sacrificing fine detail, and the four settings provide a good range of options from very low to high enough to keep noise at bay right up into the highest reaches of the ISO range.
Focus
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by David-Saffir (Jan, 2009)Autofocus is greatly improved, as is the on-camera flash control system.
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by Richard-Howland-Bolton--RichadElGuru (May, 2008)Focusing it was even easier!
Nikon D3 | by DPReview (Apr, 2008)With the new firmware introduced earlier this week there is a new option to change the brightness of the illuminated AF points.
Photography
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by J.-MACLEANI notice this is now being sold by 17th Street Photo, who I've not done business with, but at least they are charging the *correct* price of $4999.
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by Dr.-Jeffrey-A.-Altman--serottajeff (Mar, 2008)I've been a "serious enthusiast" of photography for many years as well as a graduate of the NYU film school.
Nikon D3 | Rated 100% by by Paul-Huang (Jul, 2010)Coupled with your skill, you can have it work with expensive as well as legacy glasses and take equally great pictures or art work to your satisfaction.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 2 | Nikon D600 Newest D600 vs D3 |
 | 3 | Nikon D800 Best image quality as rated by DXOMark D800 vs D3 |
 | 4 | Nikon D7000 Smallest D7000 vs D3 |
 | 6 | Nikon D700 4-way tie: Largest sensor D700 vs D3 |
 | 7 | Canon EOS 7D Thinnest Canon EOS 7D vs Nikon D3 |
 | 8 | Canon EOS-1D C Most detailed video recording mode Canon EOS-1D C vs Nikon D3 |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.
Popular Questions
April 11, 2012
Action including golf and dog sports
I'm intermediate, aspiring to do editorial photography. I shoot travel, portraits, dogs in competitive action, golf, and am getting into other sports. Low light is a key issue.
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Answers April 25, 2012
Much better for hauling around the great outdoors
I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that the K-5 costs a quarter as much just makes the K-5 a no-brainer on this one.
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3
Answers May 26, 2012
Portrait, Wedding photographer
I just graduated from photo school and I'm starting to book jobs. I have a 5D with a 24-70mm f2.8 but I'm not happy with the autofocus. I used a 5DII in school and although the camera produced I...
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3
Answers 