I thought that the world could use another review on the Nikon D3s…lol! But seriously, I actually have a few reasons for this review; with the D4 now firmly in stores, there are more and more D3s bodies coming onto the second hand market and falling into the price range of the average shooter. I figured it was a good time to take a look at the D3s as a viable option to the D4. So this review is more of a guide to who should look at a D3s, what is good and bad about the D3s and what you should look for when buying a D3s.
Firstly, a good place to kick off this piece is probably with “Why did I buy a D3s?”:
I have been shooting with a D700 & D800 for the last year…Both excellent cameras, but I began to find the D700 was limiting me the more I became accustomed to using the D800, especially when it came to shooting above 3200 iso. It became apparent that I should sell the D700 and make the move to either a second D800 or to a D4; the issue then became which one to buy. Another D800 seemed like like a waste, why have 2 bodies that are the same, no versatility there. So, a D4 it is, but is it worthwhile spending nearly $6000 on a single body? Especially when the majority of my income comes from weddings and location shoots, where the speed of the D4 is redundant…hmmm maybe not…enter the used D3s.
For around the $3500 mark you can get a D3s in great condition, even cheaper if you shop around…I wouldn’t pay any more than $4000 for an immaculate one though. and for that price you can find yourself the owner of an extremely fast camera that shoots amazingly at high iso and has a buffer that just wont quit…trust me, the D3s will blow your shutter crazed mind!…but first let me break down what I found to be good and bad about this camera…
Firstly the good!
- 9 frames per second in 14bit RAW… yeah babeh!
- Pro body, weather sealed magnesium and rubber covered joy!
- dual CF card slots, not a mixed deal like the SD/CF (D800) XQD/CF (D4)
- Insane battery life 4400 shots vs 900(D800) 2600 (D4)
- Native iso of 12,800 vs 6400(D800) 12,800(D4)
- Built in vertical grip.
The not so good:
- The controls on the vertical grip don’t feel the same as the landscape controls, an odd feeling when switching between orientations on the fly.
- 12.1Mp sensor feels a little small in today’s buffed MP market.
- Changing focus points while in portrait mode is a stretch to get to the push pad.
The bad:
- The AF-ON button on the vertical controls finds its way under my palm while shooting.
- The forward control wheel on the vertical grip is quite hard to turn as it is sunken to avoid accidentally bumping I guess.
- 720p 24fps video as opposed to 1080p 60fps in the D800/D4.
So in closing, the D3s is an amazing camera, for stills it is basically on par with the D4, what it lacks in resolution it makes up with speed and lowlight performance over the D800. It’s only main weakness is the sub-par video mode.
If you are looking for a camera that can slam high iso situations and rapid fire through action scenes and aren’t really looking for video then I would say the D3s is the best bang for buck Pro DSLR on the market. I love it and have no buyers remorse.
Buyer tips:
- If you are looking for a D3s keep an eye out for a body with reasonable shutter count (under 100,000)
- Don’t stress a few scratches on the paint but rather keep an eye out for worn grips or faded paint on the controls that show signs of heavy use.
- Get a loupe and check the sensor for scratches…bad cleaning techniques.
- Make sure there is no fogging under the screens, this is a classic sign of being used in heavy rain and can often lead to sudden screen failure while shooting.
- Get your hands on a D3s and see how it feels in your hands, not too heavy etc.
Good luck and happy shooting
ADAM L
