Nikon
D3
 vs
Nikon
D300S

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D300S

Nikon D3

100
Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Nikon D300S

82
Runner-up

Nikon D300S
"It is significantly improved over existing Nikon DSLRs. The biggest difference it that the camera can now use its contrast-detection autofocus system while shooting movies."
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's video-quality
"Although the fine detail of ergonomics can come down to personal preference and hand shape/size, the basics are universal"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
 The D3 has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the D300S
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 81.0 vs 70.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 950 shots
Help
 More than 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 225 ms
Help
 2.6x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Size Much smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Lowest price Much cheaper $1,699.99 vs $6,682.39
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,982 cheaper (3.9x less)
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 938 g vs 1,300 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
100 vs 82
Explain scores
Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD3
 Nikon D3 vs Nikon D300S
NikonD300S
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
1
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
1
1
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
1
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
1
1
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
1
1
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.2 EV
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
D3:922k dots
D300S:920k dots
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Cross type focus points Many cross-type focus points Help
15
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D3:1,300 g
D300S:938 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3:12.1 MP
D300S:12.2 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
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

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D3:25,600 ISO
D300S:6,400 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3:6,400 ISO
D300S:3,200 ISO
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D3:None
D300S:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the D3
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,750 body only
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D700 vs the D3
Compare the D700 vs the D300S
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,329 - $1,821 body only

$1,498 - $1,800 with 28-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$869 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D90 vs the D3
Compare the D90 vs the D300S
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D3
Compare the D5100 vs the D300S
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,673 - $1,816 body only

$2,639 with 16-85mm lens
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D300 vs the D3
Compare the D300 vs the D300S
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,400 body only

$2,799 - $2,839 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D300S

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D4 vs the D3

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D300S.

appearance

Nikon D3 Nikon D300S
Nikon D3 Nikon D300S
Nikon D3 Nikon D300S

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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