ISO performance: ISO 12800 as standard,
expandable to 102400 equivalent (Hi 3)
Whether shooting indoor sports, stadium events at
night, theatrical and concert performances, weddings,
dimly-lit spot news or in any condition where light is
limited and Speedlights are not an option, the D3S will
change how you are able to approach assignments,
even more dramatically than its predecessor, the
legendary D3. Photographers can now depend on
ISO 200 to ISO 12800 as the professional standard.
Imagine: tack-sharp action images in low light at
action-freezing shutter speeds without worrying about
excessive, image-degrading noise – even at ISO 12800.
When needed, the D3S expands into uncharted
territory, reaching the amazing ISO equivalent of
102400. At this setting, the D3S lets you still reveal
color and detail, even in extremely low-lit places. The
D3S's exceptional low-noise performance also applies
to D-Movie capture. What can you accomplish with
still or movie images in extremely low-light situations?
Consider the new possibilities.
Large pixel pitch: the 12.1-megapixel
FX-format advantage
Dedicated to raising the bar of the legendary D3
performance, Nikon engineers completely redesigned
the image sensor of the D3S, further optimizing the
inner structure while maintaining the pixel count and
the large pixel pitch for even greater latitude in high
ISO performance. As a result, the D3S captures and
renders light in ways that no other camera has yet
achieved*. This in turn contributes to a significantly
higher signal-to-noise ratio and a wide dynamic
range, which translates into unmatched image quality
throughout the broadened ISO sensitivity range
for both still images and movies.
Combined with the unmatched
accuracy of NIKKOR lenses, the D3S
and its FX-format sensor deliver a
quality all their own.
D-Movie: new dimensions to your creativity
From well-lit scenes to
extremely low-lit situations,
Nikon's D-Movie mode
delivers unique versatility.
Its Motion-JPEG gives you
HD quality (1,280 x 720
pixels) movies at 24 fps.
By controlling the aperture
from the widest f-stop,
the large FX-format sensor
renders low-noise images with beautiful bokeh effects
from a large selection of NIKKOR lenses. Use High-
Sensitivity Movie mode to shoot at up to ISO 102400
in places too dark to see clearly with your own eyes.
Movie footage is easy to trim in-camera by choosing
the starting or ending points for easy transfer. You
can even save selected movie frames as JPEGs for
immediate print and web publishing needs. The D3S
has both an internal monaural microphone and an
external stereo microphone input, enabling higher
fidelity audio recording.
Image Sensor Cleaning: assured protection
After relentless testing, Nikon engineers successfully
developed the Integrated Dust Reduction System that
will satisfy high expectations. The
D3S's Image Sensor Cleaning
function generates vibrations
at four specific frequencies to
optimize dust removal. This function
can be set to operate automatically
when the camera is turned on and off,
or manually.
Evolution of the D3: Standard ISO 12800
ISO 3200
ISO 12800
ISO 200
ISO 6400
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
• Sensitivity: 3 EV above ISO 12800
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G
ED VR • Image quality: 14-bit RAW
(NEF) • Exposure: [A] mode, 1/500
second, f/2.8 • White balance: Auto
• Picture Control: Standard
• Sensitivity: 3 EV above ISO 12800
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G
ED VR • Image quality: 14-bit RAW
(NEF) • Exposure: [A] mode, 1/50
second, f/2.8 • White balance: Cloudy
• Picture Control: Vivid
Images taken at Hi 3 (ISO 102400 equivalent)
Still image saved from D-Movie
7
* Among digital SLRs, as of September 2009.
©Bill Frakes
©Vincent Munier
©Vincent Munier
• Sensitivity: ISO 12800
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED • Image quality: 14-bit RAW (NEF) • Exposure: [M] mode, 1/20 second, f/6.3 • White balance: Auto • Picture Control: Standard ©Bill Frakes
