Comments on: Nikon D3s vs D3x

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:35:37 +0000

Robert, the Nikon D3x is now dead, don't buy it - get the Nikon D800 instead! Pre-order now and you should be able to get it within the next 1-2 months.

By: Robert Metheney

Robert Metheney — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:46:13 +0000

Greetings Nasim,

I own the D3s; as you stated, a great camera. I am planning a year of travel to Europe, South Africa, Tanzania, Paris in April and three months in Croatia. I want to photograph cultural events, people, sporting events, and an occasional landscape, although landscape photography is not my passion. I enjoy garden photography as well. If you look at my web page slideshow you will see what I like to photograph.

The idea of making large prints is very appealing, although I have yet to make a large print, I want to have this capability.

I am considering the new D800, but also the D3x. Which one do you suggest?

By: sam

sam — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:11:18 +0000

Hi, its great for me to read these comments and understand how to improve my knowledge of NIKON D3.

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:16:25 +0000

Jack, as Dan stated below, you can print pretty large if you use lower DPI and some good plugins to increase the resolution of the image. For landscape work, the D3x is a better camera due to better dynamic range at base ISO and higher resolution, however, its steep price is not attractive and it is a camera that will be updated with a new version very soon. If you want large 150-300 DPI prints, the D3x is the best camera from Nikon. As Dan suggested, I would wait till a new camera comes out either later this year or Q1 of 2012.

By: Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:11:20 +0000

Cecil, sorry for a late response – somehow missed your comment. Of course you can make marketable prints. You can stretch 12 MP over very large prints, as long as you decrease DPI and perhaps even enlarge the resolution through Photoshop and other third party plugins. I have 20×30 prints at home and people print billboard-sized promotion material shot with 10 MP cameras. If you want to print 150-300 DPI, then I suggest using a print size calculator (use Google to find it) to find out the exact size of the print.

By: Daniel Stainer

Daniel Stainer — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:26:39 +0000

Hi Jack,

I just purchased the D3s, moving from a D300. I do mainly landscape work and environmental portraits. My worked has been published widely. Even with the D300, I was able to produce stunning prints at 20×30 or larger (similar MP on a DX body). Like you, I do a lot of work at ISO 100 and 200 with a tripod and remote. Of course, I purchased the D3s for nocturnal photography and environmental portraiture. But I also purchased it knowing the the base ISO quality would be excellent.

While the camera can play a big role in sharpness, the right lens and the right technique can be equally if not more important (along with good print output and proper post processing to include sharpening, etc.).

I have many pro colleagues who shoot landscapes with the D3s and find the quality to be superior. Unless you plan on blowing your prints up to billboard size or do extreme post process crops, I just can’t see any justification for putting down another $8K. You’re better off waiting for the D800 to come out in a few months, which will supposedly have 36MP. I think too many people only focus on the high ISO qualities of the D3s. But if you look at the entire package, it’s pretty darn impressive. In most cases, any limitations are within ourselves. Just my .02 ~Dan

By: Jack Mitchell

Jack Mitchell — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:45:45 +0000

I currently own the Nikon d3s which obviously is a great camera with fast shutter speed and a great ISO range but now I have second thoughts and was wondering if I should have bought the d3x. The reason for my change of heart is that I almost always shoot landscapes and always use a tripod and a remote for my shutter.

I like to blow these up quite large and have had the opportunity to sell some of my work. I realize this is a hard question to answer and has many variables, but how big a print can I get from my d3s without loosing quality. Most of the time my ISO is at 100 or 200 to keep the noise down and always on a tripod. Would I be better off buying the d3x to get maximum usage of the 24mp or just try and work with the d3s.

I sure would value your opinion in this matter. Thank you in advance

jack mitchell

By: Cecil Gray

Cecil Gray — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:25:36 +0000

If landscapes and wildlife are the primary targets can the D3s produce marketable prints and what limit would you suggest for print size?

By: aaron

aaron — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:20:24 +0000

Also I should have added I’m leaning towards the d3x also because the I can get the D3x for $400 more than the d3s which I’m finding hard to say no to. I also understand I’m wanting to do everything with this camera and maybe thats just asking too much

By: aaron

aaron — Sat, 14 May 2011 09:31:17 +0000

Hello,

I’m looking at both the D3X and D3S but I’m not exactly sure which way to go…… I’m leaning towards the D3X as I want to use it for landscapes which I would like to blow up into large panoramas, but saying that I would also like to use it for weddings, portraits and studio work. Can you please give me some advice?

Regards,
Aaron