Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D4

Nikon D3

87

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
88 ms shutter lag
Battery life
Great battery life
4300 shots
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Nikon D2Xs

47

Runner-up

Nikon D2Xs

Reasons to buy the Nikon D2Xs

Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Viewfinder coverage
Great viewfinder coverage
100%

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D2Xs

Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Size Smaller 158x150x86 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
Around 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 1,200 g vs 1,300 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Thickness Thinner 3.4" vs 3.5"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D2Xs Learn more about
the Nikon D2Xs

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 489 ISO
Help
The D3 has excellent image quality 2.2 f-stops higher ISO than the D2Xs
Overall image quality Much better image quality 81.0 vs 59.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 20% larger screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.9 EV
Help
1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 922k dots vs 235k dots
Help
Around 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.7x15.7mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.57x
Help
More than 50% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
80% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D3's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D2Xs Nikon D2Xs
47 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3 Nikon D3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

advice

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0
votes
by Saeddo-Fodi last week
Nikon D2Xs vs Nikon D300S

dear sir /madam i want to buy a second body with my nikon d80 but i want it to be better i wa...

1
votes
by motoservo last month
Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."

1
votes
by Michele-McCormick last month
Nikon D800 vs Nikon D3

I'm intermediate, aspiring to do editorial photography. I shoot travel, portraits, dogs in competi...

2 people recommend the Nikon D800:

"Image quality, low light... definitely go D800. You know I've shot Canon for years but a few of yo..."

"The D800 is better is almost every regard (notably, better low light performance and less shutter ..."

0
votes
by Jos-Ab-lio-Perez this month
Nikon D3 vs Nikon D3S

I´m looking for some combination of body/lenses with the following characteristics: - not ver...

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Weight Heavy Help
D2Xs:1,200 g
D3:1,300 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
D2Xs:3.4"
D3:3.5"
Size Large Help
D2Xs:158x150x86 mm
D3:160x157x88 mm
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D2Xs:12.2 MP
D3:12.1 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D2Xs:800 ISO
D3:6,400 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D2Xs:3,200 ISO
D3:25,600 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
D2Xs:2.5"
D3:3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Is significantly smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records lower quality movies
Size Is much smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Nikon D2Xs Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,300 body only

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Viewfinder coverage Much less viewfinder coverage

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag

appearance

Nikon D2Xs Nikon D3
Nikon D2Xs Nikon D3
Nikon D2Xs Nikon D3

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