Nikon D3s is here

Nikon D3s

As you can see from the picture the design of the D3s is more or less identically to the D3. Their is to new buttons on the camera one dedicated to liveview and one for the info function. But of course it is not all about looks and new buttons, the really interesting thing about the new Nikon D3s is what has happened on the inside. The sensor has been completely redesigned to give a better image quality. Based on the info the engineers has worked primarily on the high iso preformance. The highest iso for the Nikon D3s hits 12.800 and their is three Hi modes topping out at a staggering iso 102.400

I have put down a little list of what has changed compared to the old D3.

Change list from the D3

• Sensor has self cleaning mechanism
• Video mode recording up to 1280x720px (720p) @ 24fps
• Larger buffer now with space for 36 raw images (some pages claim 36 others 48 time will tell)
• More possibilities when adjusting the auto focus
• Faster AF performance while in liveview mode
• Multiple exposure operation that can be repeated by designating the function to the bracketing button
• Dedicated button for info functions
• Dedicated button for liveview
• Extended menu banks that stores up to four combinations of exposure mode, shutter speed and aperture value
• New use of icons in the menues make for faster navigating
• New 1.2x crop mode using 30x20mm of the sensor
• Multiple exposure operation that can be repeated by designating the function to the bracketing button
• Versatile in-camera Retouch Menus, including RAW processing to enhance your images without using a computer
• Virtual horizon can now be blended in for use with liveview
• Quiet mode – holds the mirror up until shutter is released
• 72 thumbnails in one view

Stepping a little back the camera according to the specifications does now only support CF type-1 cards, their by eliminating the use of micro drives and the new high capacity 64gb CF cards from Sandisk.

I am having a hard time seeing why Nikon has went with only 720p video on this new camera. Canon is already offering 1080p and it seems an odd choice for Nikon to come out below with the new D3s. Also looking a bit on the video specifications the clip duration gets my attention. The max length of a clip at 720p is only 5 minutes.

All in all this looks like a nice little upgrade with video and the even better high iso preformance.

Nikon has also put up some samples of the video from the D3s but they are not available for download so we will have to make do with down sampled streaming content. Visit the D3s minisite in the link below to have a look at the video, their is a total of about 11 minutes of mixed still and video. One of the videos is also out on youtube and I included it right here 🙂

Links:

Nikon Product page on D3s
Nikon D3s Brochure (pdf)
Nikon D3s Minisite

Sample gallery (some files are available in full high ress download)

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D0wnload original

D3s Sample image by Nikon

Download original

D3s Sample image by Nikon

Download original

D3s Sample image by Nikon

Download original

D3s Sample image by Nikon

Download original

D3s Sample image by Nikon

Download original

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon

D3s Sample image by Nikon