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Every one waited for Nikon to move up to the next level of digital sensor size, the “full-sized” FX or 35mm-like solution. Years went by and seemingly nothing happened. We admired Nikon’s clever ergonomic solutions and at least some of us ogled the high-ISO performance of the competition with a little envy. Then, Nikon struck back with a camera advertised to “defy the limitations” no less.

The D3 is not only a 35mm-frame camera, it is so much more and with high-ISO performance unheard and undreamt of as well. With a blazing firing rate up to 9 fps(FX)/11 fps(DX), this is a sports and action shooter’s dream camera come true. But what can it achieve for other fields of photography? In this review, I shall try to elaborate these aspects of this new Nikon DSLR. Consider this more akin to a personal travelogue written as I made myself familiar with the D3 rather than a compilation of features.

The D3 is Nikon’s flagship FX digital camera, if only because it’s Nikon’s sole FX digital camera. But the D3 justifies its standing in the Nikon ranks on much more than mere exclusivity. Unparalleled ISO performance, a 9 fps full resolution shooting rate, exceptional color and image quality, a superb monitor, robust construction, outstanding build quality and a full frame sensor offering wide angle and depth of field lens performance like a 35mm film camera are some of the attributes that makes Nikon’s latest pro model a must-have for serious Nikon shooters.

Features
# First ever Nikon DSLR with a Full-Frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor (dubbed the ‘FX’ format)
# 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch)
# ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600)
# Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens)
# 5:4 ratio crop mode (10 megapixels, up to 9 fps, viewfinder masked)
# 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
# Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
# Super fast operation (power-up 12 ms, shutter lag 41 ms, black-out 74 ms)
# New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 300,000 exposure durability
# New Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
# Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
# Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
# Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
# Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III)

Nikon D3 Reviews From dphotojournal

he noise of the D3 at high iso is about 2 to 3 stops better than the previous D2x. Not like the Canon 1Ds2 where it’s somewhat noise free but softer. It seems the Nikon looks a little sharper, but when noise does show (and it takes about ISO 2,000 before it really appears) it is more film-like that most digital files I have shot.”

Nikon D3 Reviews From digitalcamerareview

Pros:
* Breathtaking high ISO performance
* Breathtaking image and color quality
* Breathtaking continuous shooting rates
* Breathtakingly good monitor

Cons:
* Breathtaking price

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