Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

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
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
Battery life
Great battery life
4400 shots
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
Nikon D700

88

Runner-up

Nikon D700

"Fast and accurate 51 point auto-focus even in low light"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's auto-focus
"Clean, artifact-free low ISO output with good resolution and detail"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
Many focus points
51
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 2,303 ISO
Help
The D3S has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 1000 shots
Help
Around 4.5x more shots per battery charge
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
80% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 82.0 vs 80.0
Help
Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 25,600 ISO
Help
The D3S's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S

Advantages of the Nikon D700

Size Significantly smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
Around 40% smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 12 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
Around 10% larger viewfinder
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
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
Lowest price Cheaper $2,649.00 vs $5,196.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $2,548 cheaper (around 50% less)
Weight Lighter 1,074 g vs 1,240 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
95 vs 88
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

advice

Need help deciding?

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0
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by Petter-Persson last month
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One person recommends the Nikon D300S:

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1
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by Nina-Murray last month
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I take pictures of my family and nature, and do 4-5 weddings per year as a part time photographe...

2 people recommend the Nikon D700:

" If you can afford it, you'll love the D700. I own one (along with a D70, and D200), and the high..."

" The D700 is a full-frame camera and has much better image quality in low light conditions (accor..."

0
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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
D3S:3,253 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
D3S:82.0
D700:80.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Color depth Good color depth Help
23.5 bits
Focus points Lots of focus points Help
51
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D3S:0.70x
D700:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D3S:1,240 g
D700:1,074 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
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 One shoots movies Help
D3S:720p @ 24fps
D700:None

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
197 ms shutter lag
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3S:12,800 ISO
D700:6,400 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
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
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
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Cross type focus points Has slightly fewer cross-type focus points
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 slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
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
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
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
Sensor size Has a much smaller sensor
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3S.

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D700.

appearance

Nikon D3S Nikon D700
Nikon D3S Nikon D700
Nikon D3S Nikon D700

discussion

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