Nikon
D300S
 vs
Nikon
D3S

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

Nikon D3S

95
Winner

Nikon D3S
"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
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
Battery life
 Great battery life
4400 shots
Nikon D300S

71
Runner-up

Nikon D300S
"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
"Sophisticated AF system with effective subject tracking"
dpreview.com | talking about the D300S's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D300S

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
Thickness
 Thin
2.9"

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D300S
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Size Much smaller 147x114x74 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Thickness Much 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
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 Lighter 938 g vs 1,240 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $1,690.00 vs $5,196.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $3,507 cheaper (3.1x less)
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
71 vs 95
Explain scores
Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

advice

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by John-Dettinger last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I began photography around 11 months ago. I currently have the entry level Nikon D3100. It has d...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" I've got the d7000 and im really happy with it. 39 focuspoints are more than enough! The low lig..."

" I don't have experience with either camera... but the stats show that the D7000 is better in eve..."
0
votes
by Katie-Renee-Roloson last week
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I am looking to upgrade to start a wedding photography business ...

2 people recommend the Nikon D7000:

" surely the D7000 is more up to date and seems to be at least as relyable as the d300s (both shut..."

"I shoot weddings with the D7000 and love it.. use the money saved and put it toward a great lens. ..."
0
votes
by Marcos-Panayiotou last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D7000

I would like a camera that shoots sharp both during day and night(both raw and bright light) A c...

One person recommends the Nikon D7000:

" noise reduction at high iso. more true resolution .bigger sensor than other semipro camera"
0
votes
by Sherry-McCollum last month
Nikon D300S vs Nikon D700

I'm an advanced amateur and the most important features in the camera are ease of use and very sha...

One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

"Go for the D300s and spend some extra money on lenses. To get great wildlife shots you'll need a l..."
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...

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
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
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
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
D300S:12.2 MP
D3S: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 Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 24fps

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
15
Shutter lag Significant shutter lag Help
D300S:225 ms
D3S:197 ms
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D300S:3,200 ISO
D3S:12,800 ISO
Screen size Very small screens Help
3.0"

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D300S
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm 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 D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D800 vs the D300S
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D700 vs the D300S
Compare the D700 vs the D3S
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D90 vs the D300S
Compare the D90 vs the D3S
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D4 vs the D300S
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D300S
Compare the D5100 vs the D3S

Nikon D300S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,000 body only
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Movie format Does not take movies
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the D300 vs the D300S
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Focus points Many fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D300S

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3X vs the D3S
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
Screen size Significantly larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3S

appearance

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

discussion

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