Nikon D3
Template:Infobox Digicam The Nikon D3 is a 12.1-megapixel professional full frame (35mm) digital single-lens-reflex (dSLR) camera that Nikon Corporation announced on 23 August, 2007 along with the Nikon D300 DX format camera. As announced, the D3 will be the top model in Nikon's line of DSLRs, superseding the D2Hs and D2Xs.
Technology
The D3 features a full-frame 35mm equivalent CMOS image sensor measuring 23.9 x 36.0 mm[1]. This sensor is larger than the DX format sensors of all previous Nikon dSLRs, and Nikon has coined the term "FX format" to describe it. The D3's sensor has larger pixels and greater light sensitivity than previous DX sensors. This allows the camera to reach higher equivalent film speeds and produce images with less noise in low-light situations. Low-light situations include times when the camera is operated at high shutter speed or high f-number, where the lens' aperture is reduced to improve depth of field and sharpness. The sensor captures image data at 14 bits per color channel, which is higher than the bit-depth of previous 12-bit sensors.
The camera grip and body style were designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign. The camera body retains the long-standing Nikon F-mount, making it compatible with older Nikon lenses. Other features include the ability to take many shots in rapid succession (up to 9 frames-per-second (fps) in FX format and 11 fps in DX format [without autofocus]), and a high-resolution LCD view screen regarded as superior to other camera's view screens at the time[2][3].
Audience
The D3 advertised features are suitable for professional photographers and the commercial photography industry. The FX sensor has a theoretical advantage due to geometry, of providing greater sensitivity to light than the DX sensor, which translates at a given number of photosites (aka pixels) into a theoretical capacity for less noise at equivalent ISO numbers and a corresponding capacity for higher usable ISO numbers.
This theoretical low light capacity has been confirmed in tests by various independent persons and institutions since the camera's announcement and subsequent release.
This improves the camera's chance to take pictures with superior technical image quality, both at high shutter speeds, allowing photographers to capture fast moving subjects with less blur and better color, and in low light conditions, or usually some combination of the two.
The camera's vertical grip, in addition to the standard horizontal grip, is useful for fashion, sports, and wedding photographers, and anyone else who likes to turn the camera around a lot to alternate between shooting portrait and landscape orientation images.
At the time of announcement, the D3 was priced at $4999.
The Nikon D3 is an upgrade from previous Nikon DSLRs and is not a substitute or minor upgrade of an existing model. Nikon's previous offerings include the professional high-resolution D2Xs and the high-speed D2Hs.
Competition
The principal competitive cameras for the D3 are the full-frame, 21.1 megapixels Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, and Canon EOS-1D Mark III with APS-H sized sensor and 10.1 megapixels. The full-frame Canon EOS 5D has the same optical advantage as the D3 over cameras with smaller sensors, but the 5D lacks other professional features that would put it in the same class as the D3.
The effective film speed of the D3 is superior to all current 35 mm film camera systems. This is not a function of the 35mm film camera bodies and lens optics, but is a consequence of the inferior light sensitivity of current 35mm color film compared to the D3's sensor.
Camera Review
Popular Photography magazine tested the camera.[4] The website, dated January, details the results of the tests, noting that the camera has excellent control of noise, and can shoot in very low light at high ISO speeds and produce very usable results.[4]
References
- D3, Nikon global site
- D3 minisite
- Nikon D3 Preview, preview at Digital Photography Review
- Nikon D3 Review, review from Nature photographer Bjørn Rørslett
