Nikon D3

Nikon is really taking the challenge to Canon with its first professional DSLR to have a full framed sensor. Although it only has 12 mega pixels sensor, it does make it up with high sensitivity and speed. With boost, it can go as high as ISO 25,600!

Here are the specifications:

Type of Camera - Single-lens reflex digital camera

Effective Pixels - 12.1 million

Image Sensor - CMOS sensor, 36.0 x 23.9 mm; total pixels: 12.87 million; Nikon FX format

Image Size (pixels) - Image area L M S

- FX format (36 x 24) 4,256 x 2,832 3,184 x 2,120 2,128 x 1,416
- 5:4 (30 x 24) 3,552 x 2,832 2,656 x 2,120 1,776 x 1,416
- DX format (24 x 16) 2,784 x 1,848 2,080 x 1,384 1,392 x 920

Sensitivity - ISO 200 to 6,400 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV; sensitivity decreases approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) EV below ISO 200, and increases approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1 (ISO 12,800 equivalent), or 2 (ISO 25,600 equivalent) EV over ISO 6,400

File System - Compliant with DCF 2.0, DPOF and Exif 2.21

Storage System

- Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80%
- Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60%
- PEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality

Storage Media - CompactFlash (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA); Microdrives

Release Modes 1) Single-frame [S] mode, 2) Continuous low-speed [CL] mode: 1-9 frames per second*, 3) Continuous high-speed [CH] mode: 9 fps (9-11 fps with DX format)*, 4) Liveview [LV] mode, 5) Self-timer [ ] mode, 6) Mirror-up [Mup] mode

*With Continuous-servo AF, S or M exposure mode, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster; other settings are set at "Default".

White Balance

- Auto (TTL white balance with main image sensor and 1,005-pixel RGB sensor);
- Seven manual modes can be preset with fine-tuning; color temperature setting; white balance bracketing: 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3

Liveview Handheld mode:

- TLL phase-difference AF with 51 focus areas (15 cross-type sensors)
- Tripod mode: focal-plane contrast AF on a desired point within a specific area

LCD Monitor

- 3 inch with approximately 920,000 pixels (VGA), 170-degree wide-viewing-angle, 100% frame coverage, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment

Playback Function

1) Full frame, 2) Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments), 3) Zoom, 4) Slideshow, 5) Histogram indication, 6) Shooting data, 7) Highlight point display, 8) Auto image rotation

Video Output

NTSC or PAL; simultaneous playback from both the video output and on the LCD monitor available
HDMI Output Supports HDMI version 1.3a; Type A connector is provided as HDMI output terminal; simultaneous playback from both the HDMI output terminal and on the LCD monitor not available

Interface - Hi-speed USB

Lens Mount - Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts

Compatible Lenses*1

1) Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
2) DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/5:4 (30x24) image size
3) AF NIKKOR other than type G or D*2: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II
4) AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
5) Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data
*1. IX NIKKOR lenses cannot be used
*2. Excluding lenses for F3AF

Picture Angle - Equivalent to angle produced by lens focal length (1.5 times when DX format is selected)

Viewfinder - SLR-type with fixed eye-level pentaprism; built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1 m-1)

Eyepoint - 18 mm (-1.0 m-1)

Focusing Screen Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen

Viewfinder Frame Coverage Approx. 100% (vertical/horizontal)

Viewfinder Magnification - Approx. 0.7x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)

Reflex Mirror - Quick-return type

Lens Aperture - Instant-return type, with depth-of-field preview button

Autofocus

- TTL phase detection, 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors) by Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus module; Detection: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F); AF fine adjustment possible
- Focal-plane contrast [in Liveview (Tripod) mode]

Lens Servo

1) Autofocus: Single-servo AF (S); Continuous-servo AF (C); Focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status,
2) Manual focus (M) with electronic rangefinder

Focus Point - Single AF point can be selected from 51 or 11 focus points

AF-Area Mode

1) Single-point AF
2) Dynamic AF [number of AF areas: 9, 21, 51, 51 (3D-tracking)]
3) Automatic-area AF

Focus Lock - Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button or by pressing shutter-release button half-way (single-point AF in AF-S)

Exposure Metering System

- TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); Color Matrix Metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data)
2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-, 15- or 20-mm circle in center of frame, or weighting based on average of entire frame
3) Spot: Meters 4-mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus area (on center focus area when non-CPU lens is used)

Metering Range

1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering)
2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20°C/68°F)

Exposure Meter Coupling - Combined CPU and AI

Exposure Modes

1) Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program,
2) Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
3) Aperture-Priority Auto (A), 4) Manual (M)

Exposure Compensation

±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV

Exposure Lock - Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button

Exposure Bracketing - Exposure and/or flash bracketing (2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV)

Picture Control System

- Four setting options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome; each option can be adjusted

Shutter

- Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; 1/8,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV; Bulb

Sync Contact - X = 1/250 s; flash synchronization at up to 1/250 s

Flash Control

1) TTL flash control with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash available with SB-800, 600 or 400
2) Auto aperture (AA): Available with SB-800 and CPU lens
3) Non-TTL auto (A): Available with SB-800, 28, 27 or 22s
4) Range-priority manual (GN): Available with SB-800

Flash Sync Modes

1) Front-curtain sync (normal), 2) Slow sync, 3) Rear-curtain sync, 4) Red-eye reduction, 5) Red-eye reduction with slow sync

Accessory Shoe - Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock

Sync Terminal - ISO 519 standard terminal

Creative Lighting System

- With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock

Self-timer - Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 3, 10 or 20 s

Depth-of-field - When CPU lens is attached, lens aperture can be stopped down to value selected by user

Preview Button (A and M modes) or value selected by camera (P and S modes)

10-pin Terminal

1) GPS: NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)
2) Remote control: via 10-pin terminal

Supported Languages

Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish

Power Source

One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a/EL4, Quick Charger MH-22, AC Adapter EH-6 (optional)

Tripod Socket 1/4 in. (ISO 1222)

Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 159.5 x 157 x 87.5 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in.)

Weight Approx. 1,240 g (2.7 lb.) without battery, memory card, body cap or accessory shoe cover

Operating Environment Temperature: 0-40°C/32-104°F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation)

Supplied Accessories* Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-22, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-D3, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-2, Eyepiece DK-17, Battery Chamber Cover BL-4, USB Cable Clip, Software Suite CD-ROM

*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area

Main Optional Accessories Wireless Transmitter WT-4, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-17M, AC Adapter EH-6, Capture NX Software, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software

Click here for the D3 pdf file