Nikon
D3S
 vs
Pentax
Q

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

Nikon D3S

67
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

Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Pentax Q

29
Runner-up

Pentax Q

Reasons to buy the Pentax Q

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Size
 Really small
Compact 98x57x31 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 19x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Much better image quality 82.0 vs 47.0
Help
 More than 70% better image quality
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 189 ISO
Help
 The D3S has excellent image quality 4.1 f-stops higher ISO than the Q
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 30.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 360k dots
Help
 More than 2.5x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 20.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.3 more bits of color
Lens availability Much more lenses available 121 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 Around 30.5x more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 25
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.1 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentaprism vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 80% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S

Advantages of the Pentax Q
Size Much smaller 98x57x31 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 12.8x smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Weight Much lighter 200 g vs 1,240 g
Help
 6.2x lighter
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Thickness Much thinner 1.2" vs 3.5"
Help
 2.8x thinner
Lowest price Much cheaper $403.08 vs $5,196.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $4,794 cheaper (12.9x 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
Pentax Q Learn more about
the Pentax Q
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
67 vs 29
Explain scores
Pentax Q Pentax Q
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
30 seconds
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the D3S
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Q
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$888 - $1,129 body only

$1,033 - $1,283 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly lower boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the K-5 vs the D3S
Compare the K-5 vs the Q

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Significantly smaller
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Light sensitivity (boost) Worse boost ISO
Compare the D800 vs the D3S
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only
Movie format Higher resolution movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the D4 vs the D3S
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only
Size Much smaller
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Movie format Does not take movies
Compare the D700 vs the D3S
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Compare the D3X vs the D3S
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Compare the D3 vs the D3S

Pentax Q Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the 1 V1 vs the Q
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Image stabilization No image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Q
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Focus points More focus points
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Q
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Supports 24p Supports 24p
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Focus points Fewer focus points
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Q
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the Q

appearance

Nikon D3S Pentax Q
Nikon D3S Pentax Q
Nikon D3S

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