Comments on: Nikon D3 vs D3s

By: Cang Nguyen

Cang Nguyen — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:04:19 +0000

Good day, I am an amateur photographer and have been shooting event photography for awhile now and learned that not all camera’s perform the same in indoor/low-light settings. I would like to branch out to wedding photography as well and I know that I will be shooting indoors.

By understanding how ISO works and how the Nikon D3+D3s can perform at high ISO with minimal noise(depending on level of course) I think that they are the most optimal camera for me. No more blurry pictures of dramatic shots. With that said, on the wedding portrait side will the D3s perform as well as the D700 or Cannon 5D MKII? I just want to make sure that the photo’s have good color and just look good when I snap them. I know it is about lenses but…if i can shoot flashless that’d be great!

Thanks!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:46:59 +0000

Hi Nasim,

Great article! I’ve been doing a lot of research on these two Nikon bodies lately (D3s & D3x). As a professional photographer I am really trying to get my equipment up to date and up to professional standards. As much as this is my career, photography is also my passion. I work in the lifestyle and baby aspect of the portrait industry. Just recently I ran into a situation of low ugly light…”shooting in the shadows” if you will, and I was very disappointed in the way my Nikon D300 handled it. At an ISO of only 400 I got the same grain seen in images taken by the Canon 5D Mark II at 1000 ISO. I hate being forced into shooting at 2.8 and not getting enough depth of field. I feel trapped due to the D300′s short comings. Especially when I have a 24-700 pro lens on there, I know the lens has great possibilities.

As much as portraits are my work, I love shooting landscapes and studio work as well.

I guess what I’m asking is firstly as it’s September 2011 should I be waiting on the D4? Or should I bite the bullet and just take a leap forward in quality now?

Also, what is the Nikon comparative to the Canon 5D Mark II ? Do you know?

It’s tough trying to stay at the top of your game when things keep evolving. With my career driving me into huge investments I want to make sure I am making an educated and wise decision with my next purchase!

Thanks!

By: Steve Hamilton

Steve Hamilton — Tue, 17 May 2011 05:58:35 +0000

Thanks Nasim, any information to help me get back into photography is much appreciated

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Tue, 17 May 2011 04:13:54 +0000

Steve, the equipment you have is more than adequate for wedding and portrait photography :) Nikon D3 is a superb camera!

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 16 May 2011 10:52:00 +0000

I was given a Nikon D3 and a ED lens and flash… being a Canon User and only an amateur photog im looking forwards to seeing what the D3 is capable of for a Wedding and Portrait Camera… im sure the D3s and D3X are better upgrades but for me im thinking the D3 will do just fine…. i also use a Canon 5D Mk1 for portraits and a Canon 40D for sports photos and general use… as im only just getting back into photography after 25 years i think the Equipment i have is adequate for my needs

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:51:08 +0000

Grant, that’s just brutal, LOL :)

By: Grant

Grant — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:30:25 +0000

Best comments so far are from Andi and Shin, I’m too gonna wait on “50mp for close up face shots”

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:28:34 +0000

Shin, where did you read that Nikon D3s is a high-priced D300s here? It is not and never will be. You are comparing apples to oranges here – cropped-sensor vs full-frame.

I personally use a D3s and a D700 and I ended up selling my D300 and my DX lenses.

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:24:38 +0000

Andi, are you serious about getting the Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8? Instead of wasting so much money, why don’t you start off with a simpler camera and lens and see how you like it? What is your budget and have you ever used a Nikon DSLR?

By: Shin

Shin — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:29:12 +0000

So what you fellows are saying here is the D3s is a high priced D300s, with a full frame that is a copy of the D700 only not as good. Now given a D3s and sent to Norway while being paid I would brag up this camera as well. I even brag up my D300 and love it as this is what I can afford now. Me thinks the price of these machines is way over what they are worth like most of the stocks now days. And After charging the same $5000 + – for the D3. My reality is confusion here. After selling all those inferior cameras for the big bucks they get told now what a fine company they are for yet another inferior product just because it will take a few short video shots. So when are they going to hand out the camera that has full frame 50MP that can take two hour videos and shoot stills? Is this as confusing to others as it is to me? Other camera companies are putting out 18MP cameras for 1/4 the cost. Obviously it is about MP because the D3X has 24MP and claims it’ superior status because of this. I am hooked on Nikon but come on, What is up with this situation. If it is about MP then Why for the extreme high cost are they being so skimpy? So far from when i learned Photography from my step father in the 50s, and he had a 35mm with his own dark room, the cameras are still not as good other than you do not need film and can get a video that you can get with a $200 camera that only does video. Thats right i am jealous and do not have one but that does not make it a better camera, my old D300 could have gotten the stills with the same lens. Also if the D300s is actually worth all the hype it gets, Seems it is just as good as the D3s. Most of the proclaimed professionals I am reading about on these forms, claim to be still using their D2X cameras. So i guess the real question is which is the better camera that can take pictures that people will actually buy? Now for weddings i figure the D700, For close up face shots something with a 50MP sensor would work. Then for the out in the field Photographer that takes pictures at the race track, landscapes, wildlife and an occasional portrait shot. Now what is the best camera for this PRO in some real professional’s opinion?