Nikon
D300S
 vs
Nikon
D3S

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

Nikon D3S

100
Winner

Nikon D3S
"The camera has locked immediately to my target, and as you can see, it has stuck with him even when a second player enters the frame."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's auto-focus
"Buttons and other controls are positioned to be used easily."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
82.0
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
Nikon D300S

74
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

External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Size
 Really small
Professional size 147x114x74 mm
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.9" vs 3.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $1,699.99 vs $5,196.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,497 cheaper (3.1x less)
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
Weight Significantly lighter 938 g vs 1,240 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Nikon D300S Learn more about
the Nikon D300S

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 787 ISO
Help
 The D3S has excellent image quality 2 f-stops higher ISO than the D300S
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 70.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 950 shots
Help
 More than 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm 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
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.62x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3S's boost ISO is 4 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 7 fps
Help
 Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 197 ms vs 225 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D300S Nikon D300S
74 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD300S
 Nikon D300S vs Nikon D3S
NikonD3S
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
7
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
1
5
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
3
4
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
1
7
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
4
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
2
4
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
1
6
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
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
D300S:920k dots
D3S:921k 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
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
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
D300S:938 g
D3S:1,240 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
D300S:12.2 MP
D3S:12.1 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.
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D300S:225 ms
D3S:197 ms
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
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 slightly more shutter lag
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
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 D300S
Compare the D700 vs the D3S
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
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D300S
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D3S
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 D300S
Compare the D90 vs the D3S
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D800 vs the D300S
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
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 D300S
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3S
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 D300S
Compare the D5100 vs the D3S

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$6,000 body only
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Size Slightly larger
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$8,000 body only
Overall image quality Better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S

appearance

Nikon D300S Nikon D3S
Nikon D300S Nikon D3S
Nikon D300S Nikon D3S

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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