Nikon D3 - Digital SLR Camera
A Brief Description
Announced in September 2007 this is the first Nikon digital SLR camera to feature a sensor that covers the full size of the 35mm film frame. Prior to this model all Nikon DSLR's were fitted with a sensor that covered only 50% of the frame that most Nikon lenses were designed for (known as the DX format). As indicated by its model number, this 12 mega-pixel camera is the third generation of professional specification Nikon DSLR's and it brings with it a completely revolutionised specification over its predecessors, particularly in the autofocus department where the new Multi-CAM3500FX 51 point AF system offers users 51 individually selectable focus points that can be grouped in 9 or 21 point groups.
The Nikon D3 was designed with high speed applications in mind and offers the same DX crop functionality that made the D2X popular with shooters looking for high speed options. Aside from the DX crop the D3 also offers a 5:4 crop. When in DX mode the Nikon D3 will fire at speeds of up to 11 frames per second, or 9 fps in FX mode. The frame is automatically masked to the DX format when any of the Nikkor DX lenses are mounted.
Also new is an offering of dual Compact Flash card slots. With two cards loaded in the camera the photographer is able to write to both cards simultaneously, thus protecting against memory malfunction. Alternatively it is possible to write to the cards in series so that once one is filled the next becomes available. With the advent of high speed 8GB CF cards this means that you can store up to 16 GB's of images without having to change cards! That's a LOT of images!
The D3 uses a CMOS type sensor that is capable of producing high quality images throughout the ISO 200 - 6400 standard range, as well as extended ranges of ISO 12,800 and 25,600. A slower ISO sensitivity allowing ISO 100 is also possible.
Another feature included for the first time in a Nikon DSLR is the "Live Preview" mode which will allow the photographer to use the 3 inch LCD monitor on the rear of the camera to preview the scene instead of the usual pentaprism finder. When in use the D3 will flip up the mirror allowing for auto-focus using TTL phase-difference on the 51 focus areas.
Editor's Comment
At first they said it was impossible to make a Nikon with a full-frame sensor because the angle of incidence for photons striking the film plane was too oblique for a photo-site to capture exposure properly. Therefore Nikon heavily promoted the DX format sensor which has been in every Nikon DSLR since the D1 was brought to market in 1999. The trouble with the DX approach has always been that photographers accustomed to the framing of certain wide angle lenses from the days of film lost a considerable amount of the field of view that those lenses provided. For instance, a 20mm lens became a 30mm lens on a DX sensor. The only feasible solution for those photographer's wanting to shoot at wider angles was to look at the DX range of lenses or jump ship to Canon, who have offered a full frame DSLR in both 1Ds and 5D guises for some time already.
Those days appear to be numbered as the D3 now offers just about everything that any discerning photographer could possibly want. Including the deified full frame sensor for wider angles. Curiously Nikon didn't elect to increase the resolution of the D-series to match the 21 mega-pixel levels offered by the new Canon 1DsMkIII. What this means is that the individual photosites on the CMOS sensor are larger, which in turn translates to better high ISO performance. Considerably better high ISO performance. Indications received from persons attending the official launch imply that the noise (or lack thereof) when shooting at ISO 6400 is equivalent to the noise levels seen at 800 ISO on the D2 series. That means that low light photography is entering a completely new realm, which is a very exciting prospect for those of us who prefer to use available light in our photography.
But getting back to the camera itself, I am happy to see that Nikon have kept the same ergonomic layout that makes the D2-series such wonderful tools to use. This has actually been carried over from the F100 and was also seen in the D100, D200 and happily also in the new D300. Another positive note is that the D3 uses the same batteries as the D2-series. Once thing I don't like, but its probably just me, is the new-look rubber covers for the 10-pin terminal and flash synch terminals. They tend to ruin the lines of the camera with their odd shape.
A new wireless transmitter in the form of the WT-3 now exists for both the D3 and the D300. Unlike its predecessors this transmitter doesn't attach to the tripod mount of the camera, rather it is connected via a cable. The photographer has to carry the unit in a pouch that can be clipped to your belt or to the camera strap. I'm not entirely sure that this is an improvement, but since the D3 offers so many other useful features I'll forgive this minor lapse in design judgement!
The Nikon D3 will initially cost around $5,000 which puts it beyond the price range of most amateur enthusiasts. However, professional users will, I think, be getting very good value for their money. As soon as I am able to afford one I will make the investment as I have several old manual focus wide angle lenses that I would like to put to good use again.
Support this site by ordering your D3 here or here.
 
Tell us what you think of the Nikon D3:
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 Re: Official Nikon D3 topic
2: September 21, 2007, 12:18:47 PM by papa-gThe d3 is wonderful, d300 is terrific
held and shot both
Eish ... a one liner aint going to do it for me...! Marc, please give us some more detail about your experience with these camera's...  Geoff
Re: Official Nikon D3 topic
3: September 21, 2007, 04:20:35 PM by narenDoes anyone know if I would be able to use a PB-6 Bellows with the D3? I believe there's a double cable release you need to use with it and I'm not sure if the pro digis have old style cable release threads. I there any way to make it work? Thanks.
 Re: Official Nikon D3 topic
5: September 24, 2007, 06:34:47 PM by cybereanThe shots look astounding!
so do the shots using his other, now antiquated, cameras (such as the d2x/s). 
Re: Official Nikon D3 topic
6: September 24, 2007, 08:35:34 PM by MarcoI read his small review of the day he had with the D3, looks very promising coming straight out of the cam jpg auto WB.
Curious to see what he will write later on..
--------Dreaming of a D3 sticking with my D200----------
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