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The Nikon D3s is a reflex camera with FF (1.0x) sensor and 12.1 megapixels manufactured from 2009 to 2012 (discontinued). The range of sensitivities, including ISO extension, is 100 - 102400 ISO and it has a continuous shooting (burst mode) of 9 FPS x 34 RAW / 130 JPEG. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 4200 €;
71 users have given it an average vote of 9.6 out of 10
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user238344
sent on January 28, 2023
Pros: High ISO capabilities; especially low noise and high dynamic range; built extremly robust, in case of danger wildlife photographers can knock down even lions with the camera body; reliable AF;
Cons: low resolution (for me no problem), relative bad dynamic range at low ISO, but still enough to get good photos
Opinion: Working horse for reportage, wildlife, sport. War correspondents can take photos while toyota pick-ups with taliban are driving around them - the camera will be reliable under pressure. Every button is at the right place, no malfunction will happen at the wrong moment. You will get all pictures which are possible, at acceptable quality. Nowadays the camera is outdated due to its low resolution - but still in use, even with the one or the other professional.
Pros: Ergonomics, High ISO, Durability, Integrated vertical grip, Single digit Nikon's top quality flagship
Cons: Limited cropping due to "low" resolution nowadays.
Opinion: Coming from top Nikon DX camera at the time, the D7100, Nikon D3s felt so good in my, not big hands, right from the start. I regret I eventually sold it and went to D4, every day. Don't get me wrong, the D4 is absolutely fantastic, but the D3s, as my first Nikon single digit pro body, it is greatly missed. Sure it's heavy but I always loved heavy cameras, it felt sturdier and more stable in my hands. Especcialy paired with my favorite AF Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 D ED. This combination gave me superb results, even at 200mm and f/2.8. I would get it again in a second if I could only afford another body.
Pros: Build quality, fast AF, low noise performance, ergonomic, button lay-out.
Cons: None
Opinion: One of the most reliable camera's I have owned. Currently working with a Nikon D4 but I decided to once more buy a D3s as a backup camera. I have worked extensively with the D3S in the past so for me it is the best option when it comes to owning a second camera that I can fully trust in the field.
Balances well with longer and heavier lenses and can take a beating due to its sturdiness and weather sealing.
The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.
Pros:Lightweight, workable and high-quality files, high ISO maintenance, focusing, balance with any lens.
Cons:Nobody
Opinion:I come from a D610 and before that from film, but the comparison is not possible as there is an abyss between the two cameras, the weight, the size, I consider them positive of the camera, for the number of pixels it depends on the type of photography that one takes but for 40x50 cm prints no problem. I recommend it to those who want to understand what photography is and above all to photograph him without electronic shortcuts that replace you. So my vote is 10 full.
Pros:The high ISO sealing, the sensor, the files produced, the autofocus.
Cons:Nobody.
Opinion:It might seem strange to talk about a 2009 camera in 2025, given that technology has changed a lot in that time, but the Nikon D3s is an exceptional camera in every way and still holds its own against all the other flagships of the parent company. I would like to make a premise first. Nikon's premium models were not created for amateur photographers (of course, no one prevents them from buying them), but they have been studied and designed for the professional, the one who uses them for work, finds himself in situations where he is authorized to photograph (competitions, shows, fashion shows, etc.), and who then sells the photos to newspapers or various customers. So he needs a reliable machine to help him bring home the best result. And the D3s does all that. The 12mpx of the full-frame sensor are more than enough and produce files that are very rich in information, so very workable. I have tried it with various lenses, both Afd and Afs, and personally I prefer the rendering of the former. Wanting to talk about weight, I should reiterate the lens for which it was created: the professional photographer who follows races, events, fashion shows, etc., so he is not the camera to take for a walk on Sundays or on vacation. And for those who see this aspect as a defect, I make the comparison with the latest flagship of the Nikon house, the Z9, which together with a 70/200 S weighs more than the D3s and 80/200 combo. I recommend it even today, but only to those who are professional photographers and who are not afraid of a few grams more weight, both as a main body and as a second or third camera body.
The sample photos are selected automatically between all photos posted by JuzaPhoto members, using the camera and the lens selected in the techs. If you find evident errors (e.g. photos taken with cameras and lenses that are not available yet), you can contribute to improve the page by sending a private message to the user that has entered incorrect values in the photo caption.
The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.
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