Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D3X

Nikon D3

87

Tie

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

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
Storage slots
More storage slots
2
Nikon D3X

87

Tie

Nikon D3X

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Overall image quality
Great image quality
88.0
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
True resolution
High true resolution
24.4 MP
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Battery life
Great battery life
4400 shots
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 1,992 ISO
Help
The D3 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
80% faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 88 ms vs 161 ms
Help
Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D3X

True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 88.0 vs 81.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
1.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.2 more bits of color
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 4400 shots vs 4300 shots
Help
Almost the same
Weight Slightly lighter 1,260 g vs 1,300 g
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
87 vs 87
Explain scores
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

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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..."

0
votes
by Vgill25 this month
Nikon D3X vs Nikon D7000

I love taking photos, all kind of photos. I love it when it is sharp and stunning.

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
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D3:2,290 ISO
D3X:1,992 ISO
Battery life Very long battery life Help
D3:4300 shots
D3X:4400 shots
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3:81.0
D3X:88.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
D3X:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
D3:23.5 bits
D3X:24.7 bits
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
0.70x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
D3:88 ms
D3X:161 ms
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
Built-in flash No built-in flash Help
Professional
Sensor cleaning Neither has a self cleaning sensor Help
May require cleaning
Weight Heavy Help
D3:1,300 g
D3X:1,260 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
3.5"
Size Large Help
Large 160x157x88 mm
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3:6,400 ISO
D3X:1,600 ISO

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D3:25,600 ISO
D3X:None
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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 slightly better image quality
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
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 D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Is significantly smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Significantly less viewfinder coverage
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Viewfinder coverage Slightly less viewfinder coverage
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Battery life Has a much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3.

Nikon D3X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3X.

appearance

Nikon D3 Nikon D3X
Nikon D3 Nikon D3X
Nikon D3 Nikon D3X

discussion

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