Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
- 12.1-megapixel FX-format (23.9 x 36mm) CMOS sensor
- 3.0-inch, super density 920,000-dot VGA color monitor; 170-degree wide-angle viewing and tempered-glass protection
- Continuous shooting at up to 9 frames-per-second at full FX resolution
- Fast, accurate 51-point AF with 3D Focus Tracking
- Capture images to CF I/II cards
Rating: 5 of 5
It's a Nikon...need I say more???
There is little I can say that will do this camera justice. Simply stated, it's the camera 2 end all cameras. Being a 20-year experienced amateur photo hound, there isn't anything I would change about this camera. What I like most is the max 1/8000th sec shutter speed & 6400+ ASA/ISO equivalent film speed. You can let the camera do everything....OR....YOU can do EVERYTHING....or anywhere in between. I've had this camera 4 about a month now, & I've already sold some of my work with it 2 Cycle Magazine. It's pricey, but if you want complete freedom 2 do what you want, this is the camera 2 have. Combine the selection of lenses with the available accessories, there is literally NOTHING you CAN'T do!!!
Rating: 4 of 5
d-3 great-where it came from not so
The D-3 Nikon has been great. The thing I'm concerned about was the box had been opened, the camera seemed 2 have been used & strap was missing. Although Amazon was able 2 correct the problem of the strap quite quickly & the camera seems 2 be fine, we are talking about a $5000.00 camera, somebody should have checked....Thanks....Rob Mueller.
Rating: 5 of 5
amazing DSLR
Used my D3 4 8 months now & couldn't be happier. This camera is an amazing piece of technology.
Bought my first film camera, Canon F-1 in 1985, shot thousands of pics on film & slide. Four years ago I bought my first DSLR, Fuji S7000, shot thousands of pics with it. Then I made the giant leap 2 Nikon D3. WOW! This camera is in a league all its own.
Performs even better than expected. The array of custom settings boggles the mind. After shooting over a thousand images I'm still learning about its potential.
Perhaps the most useful function 2 me is the ability 2 shoot in low ambient light without flash by setting the ISO 2 6400. Unbelievable images with little perceptable noise. Full-frame composition is also important 2 me. White balance control, especially the preset function, is a godsend.
All the controls are well placed & within easy reach, even 4 a person like me with medium-sized hands. The body with any fast f/2.8 lens attached has presence & heft. Ergonomics are very comfortable. I can shoot all day without stress or fatigue. A neoprene neck strap vs the supplied strap helps alot.
The software is useful, & mine came with Corel Paint Pro 9, a very good image editor.
I could go on & on about all the marvelous attributes this DSLR has 2 offer, but let me just say this... until Nikon produces another DSLR with any significant improvements over the D3 this is probably my last camera purchase. If you can afford the body, a couple fast prime lenses & a zoom, then you'll thank yourself over & over, well after the CC is paid off. Nuff said.
Bought my first film camera, Canon F-1 in 1985, shot thousands of pics on film & slide. Four years ago I bought my first DSLR, Fuji S7000, shot thousands of pics with it. Then I made the giant leap 2 Nikon D3. WOW! This camera is in a league all its own.
Performs even better than expected. The array of custom settings boggles the mind. After shooting over a thousand images I'm still learning about its potential.
Perhaps the most useful function 2 me is the ability 2 shoot in low ambient light without flash by setting the ISO 2 6400. Unbelievable images with little perceptable noise. Full-frame composition is also important 2 me. White balance control, especially the preset function, is a godsend.
All the controls are well placed & within easy reach, even 4 a person like me with medium-sized hands. The body with any fast f/2.8 lens attached has presence & heft. Ergonomics are very comfortable. I can shoot all day without stress or fatigue. A neoprene neck strap vs the supplied strap helps alot.
The software is useful, & mine came with Corel Paint Pro 9, a very good image editor.
I could go on & on about all the marvelous attributes this DSLR has 2 offer, but let me just say this... until Nikon produces another DSLR with any significant improvements over the D3 this is probably my last camera purchase. If you can afford the body, a couple fast prime lenses & a zoom, then you'll thank yourself over & over, well after the CC is paid off. Nuff said.
Rating: 5 of 5
Not about the camera - It's the glass that counts
We (my wife & I) have been using Nikon cameras & glass since the early '70s. Over the years we have accumulated a good collection of glass & while we recognized we would have 2 migrate from film eventually, we hesitated (actually resisted) because of the value of our glass. You who understand such things can emphathize.
When the FX D3 was announced we rented one 4 a week & shot about 1800 shots using our legacy AI & AI-S lenses (16mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, 180mm, 200mm & 300mm, & 80-200 Zoom, all with f1.2 2 f2.8 maximum openings) 2 verify the compatibility.
Using Aperture metering 4 most of our shots as we have done with our FE, FA, F4, & F5, manual metering as we did with our F, FM, & F3 2 really test the camera's ability 2 give us what we are used 2 seeing with Kodachrome film (asa 25, 64, 100, 200) we came away from the week completely satisfied. We shot in low light, night light, bright light, into the sun, into the moon, in fog, in rain, indoors, in offices, in museums, & at Camden Yards watching our beloved Oryuls get beat again (sigh). We both feel the camera & lenses ought 2 be completely transparent 2 what we are trying 2 do. If you know how 2 take photographs, the camera really doesn't matter as long as it can physically interpret what your eye is seeing. Our film Nikons with Kodachrome did that. Our fear was that there would not be a digital camera that could perform 2 the Kodachrome standard.
We have found our mother lode. We have purchased the D3 & a backup D700 4 our final cameras. We will gladly go into our retirement knowing we can still do the shooting that gives us pleasure & not be hamstrung with $30 per roll costs 4 film.
We would not have considered digital until the FX cameras emerged. Now we know our most cherished pastime will continue 2 entertain us & Nikon wins again.
A word of caution: This camera is not 4 the faint of heart. It is not a novice photographer's camera. It requires a reasonably steep learning curve. You will not like the D300, D700, or D3 if you do not know HOW 2 take pictures with an SLR Camera.
When the FX D3 was announced we rented one 4 a week & shot about 1800 shots using our legacy AI & AI-S lenses (16mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, 180mm, 200mm & 300mm, & 80-200 Zoom, all with f1.2 2 f2.8 maximum openings) 2 verify the compatibility.
Using Aperture metering 4 most of our shots as we have done with our FE, FA, F4, & F5, manual metering as we did with our F, FM, & F3 2 really test the camera's ability 2 give us what we are used 2 seeing with Kodachrome film (asa 25, 64, 100, 200) we came away from the week completely satisfied. We shot in low light, night light, bright light, into the sun, into the moon, in fog, in rain, indoors, in offices, in museums, & at Camden Yards watching our beloved Oryuls get beat again (sigh). We both feel the camera & lenses ought 2 be completely transparent 2 what we are trying 2 do. If you know how 2 take photographs, the camera really doesn't matter as long as it can physically interpret what your eye is seeing. Our film Nikons with Kodachrome did that. Our fear was that there would not be a digital camera that could perform 2 the Kodachrome standard.
We have found our mother lode. We have purchased the D3 & a backup D700 4 our final cameras. We will gladly go into our retirement knowing we can still do the shooting that gives us pleasure & not be hamstrung with $30 per roll costs 4 film.
We would not have considered digital until the FX cameras emerged. Now we know our most cherished pastime will continue 2 entertain us & Nikon wins again.
A word of caution: This camera is not 4 the faint of heart. It is not a novice photographer's camera. It requires a reasonably steep learning curve. You will not like the D300, D700, or D3 if you do not know HOW 2 take pictures with an SLR Camera.
Rating: 5 of 5
Awesome !!!!!!!
I won't post any techincal details on this camera, since others have done so. I purchased my D3 along with a D700. So far both performs exceptionally well & one compliments each other as a perfect pair. I had a Mark III & 5D as a pair before & decided 2 make the jump 2 Nikon after testing a D3 earlier this year. Don't get me wrong 5D is still one of my favorite cameras. But its long overdue 4 some updates.
Only suggestion 2 Nikon is 2 have a self cleaning sensor 2 the camera. D700 is a newer camers so it comes with it. I am sure the next generation D3's will address this issue. But the camera is weather sealed from elements & is durable. If you change lens more often outdoors, you may see some dust formation.
But all in all I am in agreement with other reviewers here.
Only suggestion 2 Nikon is 2 have a self cleaning sensor 2 the camera. D700 is a newer camers so it comes with it. I am sure the next generation D3's will address this issue. But the camera is weather sealed from elements & is durable. If you change lens more often outdoors, you may see some dust formation.
But all in all I am in agreement with other reviewers here.
Lens is not included / 3" VGA LCD Screen / 51 Point Auto Focus / LiveView Shooting Modes / CompactFlash storage / USB / HDMI / Video Output Auto & manual exposure modes with 3D matrix metering Two LiveView shooting modes, Hand-held or Tripod, are perfect when shooting in a studio, remote situations or from challenging angles Nikon's Self-diagnostic shutter system, tested 2 300,000 cycles Picture Control settings give photographers dramatically advanced color control with 4 preset options - Standard, Neutral, Vivid & Monochrome, as well as 9 customizable settings Storage Media - CompactFlash (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA); Microdrives Video Output - NTSC or PAL; simultaneous playback from both the video output & on the LCD monitor available HDMI output 4 wide screen TV Exposure Modes - 1) Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program, 2) Shutter-Priority Auto (S), 3) Aperture-Priority Auto (A), 4) Manual (M) Shutter - Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; 1/8,000 2 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV; Bulb 5 Flash Sync Modes Compatible Lenses - Type G or D AF Nikkor - All functions supported; DX AF Nikkor - All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/5 - 4 (30x24) image size Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in. Approx. (159.5 x 157 x 87.5 mm); Weight - Approx. 2.7 lb. (1,240 g) without battery Power Source - One EN-EL4a/EL4 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
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Buy Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Now!
