Jonathan Haynes’s Blog

Nikon D3

By Jon • May 11th, 2008 • Category: Cameras, Photography

The Nikon D3 is the first camera from Nikon to feature a full frame senor, and is Nikon’s current top model. While most DSLRs have a crop factor of about 1.5 because of their smaller senor size, the full frame sensor has no crop factor because it is about the same size as 35mm film (36 x 23.9mm); by comparison the sensor size of the Nikon D80 for example is only 23.6 x 15.8mm. As an added advantage the D3 can still be used with the Nikon DX lens designed for the smaller sensor size as well as the FX lens especially designed for the full frame sensor, although that would negate the advantage of the full frame sensor, you would gain a little speed about 11 frames per second as opposed to the 9 fps in FX mode. This is based on the fact that camera lens were original designed for 35mm film cameras. So a full frame digital sensor is the same size as a 35mm negative on an traditional film camera. The smaller sensor size on other non full frame DSLRs makes 300mm for example equivalent to 450mm which is actually a nice benefit on the telephoto side. However, this is also a drawback on the wide angle side where 18mm becomes 26mm. The larger sensor size will also allow for better use the large amount of pixels in modern DSLRs, because the sensor will spread out the pixels more and should increase the dynamic range while reducing noise. Thus allowing you to take better advantage of larger megapixels counts (12.1 on the D3), and allowing virtually noiseless shots at up to ISO because there is more room on the sensor to spread out the pixels. This move by Nikon into the full frame market has greatly increased their competitiveness against Cannon;expect to see more DSLR makers like Sony moving in the full frame market before the year is out end. It seems with Nikon’s move to full frame sensor others such as Sony, who has already announced their 24.81 megapixels flagship model, getting into the full frame market. 24.81 megapixels is of course enough pixels to easily blow an image up to poster size with out any loss in quality at 300dpi and billboard size and beyond if you go with a much lower dots per inch.

Nikon EXPEED

As with the D300 the Camera also includes Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera’s features; such as the 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature, and two LiveView shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor. The ability to frame a photograph with the LCD screen is something that has been barely seen in digital SLRs until now. Now many other camera makers are also beginning to offer the If you are upgrading from a point and shoot style digital non SLR then the live view mode is something that you will not be able to fully appreciate, but if you are upgrading from an SLR it is certainly nice to have the LCD framing option previously offered only on the Olympus E-330, but now common place on the latest digital SLRs

The D3 was first announced in August of 2007 and became available just around the end of 2007 and became widely available during the first quarter of 2008. It is priced at $4.999.95+ shipping from B & H photo. If the D3 is a little more than you think you need the D300 priced at $1,799.95 + shipping or about $50 less on amazon and offers many of the same features, though it does not have the full frame sensor and a few other features.

D3 from B & H

You might also try Ritz, Amazon, ADORAMA:
Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera from Amazon