Nikon
D3S
 vs
Nikon
D700

Updated (December, 2011): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D800

Nikon D3S

91

  
Nikon D700

84

  
Winner

Nikon D3S

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
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
102,400 ISO
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
 
Runner-up

Nikon D700

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Thickness
 Thin
3"
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Low light performance 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
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 Much smaller 147x123x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
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
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 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
91 vs 84
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S.

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
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points Many 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
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D3S:300 ms
D700:400 ms
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/8000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D3S:1,240 g
D700:1,074 g
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
D3S:4 shots
D700:1 shots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.1 MP
Size Large Help
D3S:160x157x88 mm
D700:147x123x77 mm
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
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

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
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 D600

Nikon D600

Pro DSLR

$1,997 body only

$2,397 with 24-85mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D600 vs the D3S
Compare the D600 vs the D700
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 - $2,997 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
Compare the D800 vs the D700
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3S
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7100 vs the D3S
Compare the D7100 vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 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
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D3S
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Has significantly less shutter lag
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3 vs the D3S
Compare the D3 vs the D700
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 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
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Compare the D4 vs the D700

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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