Nikon D3 Preview

Nikon D3 Preview

The professional Nikon D 'single digit' series of digital SLR's started life back in June 1999 with the groundbreaking D1. Groundbreaking because it was the digital SLR which broke Kodak's stranglehold on the digital SLR market and fundamentally brought prices down to a level which most professionals could afford (around the US$5,500 mark). Since then we have seen a steady progression of this line of cameras, while the core values of a high quality full size body with integrated grip have remained the line split into two halves, one targeted at high resolution photography the other high speed sports type photography (lower resolution but faster continuous shooting); the X and H suffixes. It's been almost three years since Nikon introduced a completely new digital SLR with a new sensor (the D2X) and there has been much anticipation that Nikon's next move would be a full-frame chip.
This predictions have come true with the introduction of the 'FX format' (new moniker created by Nikon) D3 which features a 36 x 23.9 mm 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor as well as a vast array of new features which absolutely raise it another notch above previous single digit Nikon DSLRs. Important headline improvements include high sensitivity support by default, up to ISO 6400 with 25600 available as a boost option, 14-bit A/D conversion, a new standard image processor, a new shutter, new auto focus sensor, focus tracking by color, nine frames per second continuous, dual compact flash support, DX lens support (albeit at lower resolution) and a 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (which it has to be said is lovely).
Some will undoubtedly question Nikon for 'only' delivering twelve megapixels on their first full frame digital SLR, all we can presume by looking at past model line history is that this camera is designed for speed (both in sensitivity, auto-focus and continuous shooting).

Price (body only)
• US: $ 4999 • UK: £ 3399 • EU: € 5180

Body material
Magnesium alloy

Sensor
• 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor

• FX format

• RGB Color Filter Array

• Built-in fixed low-pass filter

• 12.9 million total pixels

• 12.1 million effective pixels

• 3:2 aspect ratio

Image processor
Nikon EXPEED

A/D conversion
14 bit

Image sizes(FX format)
• 4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP]

• 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP]

• 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP]

Image sizes(DX format)
• 2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP]

• 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP]

• 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]]

Image sizes(5:4 format)
• 3552 x 2832 [L; 10.0 MP]

• 2656 x 2120 [M; 5.6 MP]

• 1776 x 1416 [S; 2.5 MP]

File formats
• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)

• NEF + JPEG

• TIFF

• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)

NEF compression
• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80%

• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60%

Lens mount
• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts

• No field of view crop (full-frame)

• When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop

Usable lenses
• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported

• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/5:4 (30x24) image size

• AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II

• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II

• 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* IX NIKKOR lenses cannot be used* Excluding lenses for F3AF

Auto Focus
• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)

• Multi-CAM 3500FX

• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature)

• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode

Lens Servo
• Single Servo AF [S]

• Continuous Servo AF [C]

• Manual focus [M]

• Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in [S] or [C] AF

Focus Point
• Single point from 51 or 11 focus points

• Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame

AF Area Mode
• Single point AF• Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points, 51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)]

• Automatic-area AF

Focus Lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button

AF assist
External Speedlite only

Exposure modes
• Program Auto [P] with flexible program

• Shutter-Priority Auto [S]

• Aperture-Priority Auto [A]

• Manual [M]

Metering
TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor

• 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; metering performed)

• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame

• Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selectedfocus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)

Metering range
• 3D Color Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV

• Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV

• Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV

• At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens

Meter coupling
CPU and AI
Exposure lock
Locked using AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure bracketing
• 2 to 9 frames

• 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps

Exposure compen.
• +/-5.0 EV

• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps

Sensitivity
• Default: ISO 200 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps

• Boost: 100 - 12800 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps, HI2 = ISO 25600

Shutter
• Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter

• 30 to 1/8000 sec (1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps)

• Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec• Bulb

DOF Preview
• Stop-down lens aperture by pressing button

• Activates modelling flash

White balance
• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)

• Presets (seven) with fine tuning

• Manual presets (four)

• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps)

• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)

Picture Control
• Standard• Neutral

• Vivid

• Monochrome

Image parameters
• Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels

• Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve

• Brightness: 3 levels

• Saturation: Auto, 5 levels

• Hue: 5 levels

Color space
• sRGB (Standard and Vivid modes)

• Adobe RGB (Neutral mode)

Viewfinder
• Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism

• Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1m-1)

• Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0m-1)

• Focusing screen: Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen

• Frame coverage 100%

• Viewfinder magnification approx 0.7x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens

Focusing screen
• B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II

• Superimposed focus brackets

• On-demand grid lines

LCD monitor
• 3.0 " TFT LCD

• 922,000 pixels (VGA; 640 x 480 x 3 colors)

• 170° viewing angle

• Brightness adjustment

LCD 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

Shooting modes
• Single frame

• Continuous Low [CL]: 1 - 9 fps

• Continuous High [CH]: 9 fps (9 - 11 fps with DX format)

• Liveview [LV]

• Self-Timer (programmable)

• Mirror-up mode

Continuous buffer
• JPEG Large/Normal: 64 shots (at 9 fps)

• RAW: no data yet

Self-timer
• 2 to 20 sec custom

Flash control
•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

• AA (Auto Aperture-type) flash: Available with SB-800 used with CPU lens

• Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 28, 27, and 22S

Range-priority manual flash; available with SB-800

Flash Sync Mode
• Front-curtain Sync (normal)

• Red-Eye Reduction

• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync

• Slow Sync

• Rear-curtain Sync

Flash Accessory Shoe
ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided

Flash Sync Terminal
ISO 519 standard terminal, lock screw provided

Flash compensation
• -3 to +1 EV

• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps

Creative Lighting System
With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock

Orientation sensor
Tags images with camera orientation

Playback mode
• Full frame

• Thumbnail (4 or 9 images)

• One-touch zoom

• Slideshow

• RGB histogram

• Shooting data

• Highlight point

• Auto image rotation

Languages
• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)

• Dutch

• English

• Finnish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Japanese

• Korean

• Polish

• Portuguese

• Russian

• Spanish

• Swedish

Custom functions
48 custom functions

Connectivity
• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector

• HDMI video out (version 1.3a, Type A connector)

• Remote control 10-pin terminal

• PC Sync flash terminal

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

• Remote control: via 10-pin terminal

Communications
FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (IEEE 802.11 b/g)

Storage
• Compact Flash Type I or II

• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported

• 36 characters of text can be input and stored in EXIF header

Power
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a/EL4

• Included dual battery charger MH-22

• Optional AC adapter EH-6

Battery monitoring
The LCD monitor on the camera back displays the following informationabout the EN-EL3e battery:

• Remaining charge (%)

• No. of shots taken since last charge

• Battery life (5 stages)

Dimensions
160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in)
Weight (no batt)
1240 g (2.7 lb)
Operating environment
Temperature: 0 - 40 °C / 32 - 104 °F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation)

Box contents
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

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