Nikon D3

The Nikon D3


Features
The nikon D3 (RM16,288 body only) comes with a full-frame 12.9Mp CMOS sensor. It is capable of live-view, which means that you can take pictures through the camera's screen instead of the viewfinder. The D3 is capable of delivering 9fps at full resolution or 11fps in DX crop mode (5.1Mp) with the focus locked on the first frame. It also comes with a 51-point autofocus system and dual UMDA capable CF card slots. The write speed is very fast- a full buffer of 12.9Mp RAW files takes 14s to write, working out to 18Mb per second write speed. It's incredible. Disabling options such as D-lighting and noise reduction will increase buffer size significantly.


Build and Handling
The D3's body is made of magnesium, fully gasket and weather sealed, covered in soft rubber, and ergonomically excellent. The LCD is now protected by a tempered and scratch-resistant glass cover.


Lens System
Nikon has long touted the DX advantage in lens design, especially for wide-angles. However, the AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G IF-ED and AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G IF-ED introduced with the D3 say that this is now a non-issue. I have tested both of them a couple of weeks ago and they are flawless. To me, these lenses are better than almost all primes in this range. Full frame sensors are actually more forgiving to lens resolution that DX, due to the lower pixel density.


Retouch Menu
The D3 allows basic in-camera editing of images-color balancing, redeye removal, cropping, monochrome conversion, digital filters and D-lighting.


Viewfinder
A full frame viewfinder is always a delight to use. The D3 is no exception. It offers 100% frame coverage, with 0.7x magnification. The 1.2x DK-17M eyecup for the D2 series is compatible with the D3, but it really isn't needed. When and of the crop modes (5.4 ratio or DX) are activated, the unused portion of the finder masks off and becomes both dark and blurred, thanks to an LCD overlay.

LCD and Image Review
The D3 has a 3", 307,000 pixels with full VGA resolution, bright enough for outdoor viewing, and color accurate. Individual pixels are simply not visible.


Metering
The excellent auto-ISO implementation has been retained in the D3, allowing the user to set minimum shutter speed and maximum ISO. Flash performance was consistent and excellent as usual with Nikon bodies; an SB800 is recommended to get maximum functionality and the ability to control remote flashes. Impressively, the long multiple pre-flash lag when using wireless flash on previous bodies has been decreased to the point that it is not noticeable.


Image Quality
Colors are rich and accurate; image acuity is on a level higher than any other camera out there, even in high ISO and difficult lighting situations. No doubt that 14-bit RAW files and the huge pixel pitch helps a lot here. It is safe to say that there is enough resolution in this sensor to create prints of any size- even detailed subjects are rendered well enough that an image upsized to 25Mp or more still looks excellent, and comparable to samples from the Canon 1Ds mark III.


Noise
The D3 has an ISO range of 200 to 6,400, and an expanded ISO range from 100 to 25,600. The camera exhibits no noise up to 3,200, minimal noise at 6,400, and the two boost settings of 12,800 and 25,600 are certainly useable with noise reduction enabled-and no worse than using 3,200 on a D200. The detail, color and acuity remain completely intact at 6,400 and well preserved at 12,800.


Conclusion
The D3 is the best all-around camera available today. To me, it delivers stunning image quality even at high sensitivity; shooting speed in bucket loads, and an autofocus system that is impossible to confuse, all in a package that is perfectly sorted ergonomically, and built to last forever.


By, Z