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Cyberwlf
10-13-2009, 05:04 PM
It's a few hours before it's meant to be announced but all but word from Nikon is left to be had..

Few bits of news from the last day..

British Journal of Photography:

"Nikon has taken low light shooting to a whole new level with its latest pro digital SLR camera, the D3s.

The successor to the two-year-old D3 has a seven-stop IOS range of 200 to 12,800, plus three further boost settings that allow photographers to capture images up to an unprecedented ISO equivalent of 102,400. Even at this extreme setting, judging from images BJP saw from pre-production samples at an exclusive European press preview at St Andrews last week, noise takes on a relatively natural, filmic look that would be usable for some applications, and results shot at ISO12,800 were particularly impressive.

The focus on ISO performance confirms that Nikon is sticking with its strategy of recent years, concentrating on more functional features such as low light shooting with its all-purpose, action-oriented cameras, and reserving higher pixel counts for its studio cameras, such as its current flagship, the D3x.

The company has also taken a different approach to its archrival, Canon, with regards to integrating video capture, sticking with Motion-JPEG, which has been 'newly refined' for the D3s. Movies are captured in HD quality 1280x720 pixel resolution at 24fps that can be trim edited in-camera, but most significantly, most of the camera's still shooting functions - including ultra-high ISO settings - are available in the video mode, and single frames can be saved on the fly as JPEGs. Although these frames are of low resolution, they are sufficient for multimedia presentations, says Nikon, and could be used for newspaper print...

...Using a redesigned sensor, which maintains its predecessor's full frame 12 million pixel resolution and large pixel pitch but has a 'completely modified inner structure', the extended standard ISO range of the D3s gives photographers 'an incredible advantage when shooting indoor sports, stadium events at night, dimly-lit spot news or any other shooting application where light is limited and Speedlights are not applicable', claims Nikon. 'Shooting at ISOs as high as 12,800, the D3s can take commercial quality, tack-sharp images in low light at action-freezing shutter speeds - a capability that will open a new world of photographic possibilities.'

Nikon has also introduced a new vibrating image sensor cleaner, plus further improvements on correcting lateral chromatic aberrations. It uses 14-bit A/D conversion and then a 16-bit image-processing pipeline to handle difficult tonal gradations, plus automatic regulation of the dynamic range of high contrast scenes. Custom profiles are available, as is 9fps continuous shooting (or 11fps in cropped DX format), and the camera maintains the D3's 51-point autofocus, 3D II colour matrix metering and twin CF slots, plus an improved viewfinder.

The D3s is expected to be supplied to UK stores in early December, priced around £4200 for the body only. For further information visit www.nikon.co.uk."

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=870000

Another link from their site...

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=870011

French magazine “Responses photo” published these specs:
* Anti-dust system.
* The max ISO is at 12 800 + an extra Hi3 mode (102 400 ISO)
* 9 fps (FX), 11 fps (DX)
* Video @ 720p 24 fps.
* Quiet mode.

http://nikonrumors.com/2009/10/13/nikon-d3s-specs-according-to-reponse-photo-magazine.aspx

Plus there has been sightings of the D3s signs above Nikon's booth at the Paris Expo due to happen this week and also potential sighting of the camera itself at a shoot in Barcelona.

TheObiJuan
10-13-2009, 07:19 PM
Wow.... D700s will hopefully inherit this sensor.
Ouch, the price is killer.

Elisha
10-13-2009, 07:23 PM
Sick specs.
I know they don't want to up the resolution....but a slight bump to even 15MP may help if cropping is ever needed!

jcon
10-13-2009, 07:56 PM
Its cheaper than I thought it would be. I was guessing around 8 grand(us).

Im glad I have been delaying the D700 purchase, hopefully the D700s will be close in specs but much lower in price!

oh and I got a laugh after reading those comments in the nikonrumors link!

TNB
10-13-2009, 09:02 PM
Its cheaper than I thought it would be. I was guessing around 8 grand(us).

I figured it would be around USD $1.5K more if it had the optional buffer upgrade which is around USD $500 for the D3. Consequently, USD $6,642.64 is in the ball park. I'm guessing you thought it would be around the price of a D3x. ;)

But guess what, it's already on Nikon USA at $5,199.95. :)
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25466/D3S.html

jcon
10-13-2009, 09:38 PM
But guess what, it's already on Nikon USA at $5,199.95. :)
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25466/D3S.html

Sweet! Hopefully my business loan will go through soon!!

dr4gon
10-13-2009, 09:55 PM
Seriously, this thing has night vision! I can't wait for samples lol.

TNB
10-13-2009, 10:56 PM
I took some photos in a very, very dark venue at ISO 6400 the other night and they came out with some added help from noise ninja. Everyone else around me just put their cameras away. Basically, if the D3s has double the ISO capabilities of the D3, i.e. 12,800 without going into the extended mode, it should be quite a capable camera in very, very low light.

Personally, I don't care for the video mode since I have a video camera that has sat in a drawer for a long time--I just don't want to take the time to edit anything; however, the low light capability and already installed "optional" buffer is appealing.

The thing is I guess is how low of light does one want to shoot if they don't need to shoot in that dark of conditions and how fast one wants to fill up a card in RAW. Of course, someone into survellience would probably love the D3s.

Rooz
10-13-2009, 10:58 PM
I Basically, if the D3s has double the ISO capabilities of the D3, i.e. 12,800 without going into the extended mode, it should be quite a capable camera in very, very low light.

i'd be surprised if it was more than 1/2 a stop better. anymore than a 1 stop improvement would shock the crap out of me.

Gopher
10-13-2009, 11:07 PM
....
...Using a redesigned sensor, which maintains its predecessor's full frame 12 million pixel resolution and large pixel pitch
....
Right there! That's my only real problem with the new Canons!

See Luminus Landscapes IQ note on the new Canon 7D here (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/7D-hands-on.shtml).

This includes overall image softness and some digital artifacting.
His sample does show artifacts. He's quick to point out it's a pre-production copy but; why 18MP? Why 21MP on their new FF? Isn't that just begging for trouble? 12MP seems to be a sweet spot. Maybe 18 on a FF.

</Rant> :D

TNB
10-13-2009, 11:15 PM
Right there! That's my only real problem with the new Canons!
Canon did lower the MP on the G11 down to 10MP compared to the G10's 14.7MP. :p


i'd be surprised if it was more than 1/2 a stop better. anymore than a 1 stop improvement would shock the crap out of me.
Here's a link to some sample photos taken at ISO 12,800.
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/slr/d3s/sample.htm

Elisha
10-14-2009, 10:30 AM
Pre-order at Henry's for 20k: http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplay?storeId=10001&mrktInitiativeId=3812&dest=dslrcentre/nikon/d3s/nikon-d3s.jsp&mrktInitName=Nikon_D3s_preorder_091014&ddkey=DisplayInitiative

TNB
10-14-2009, 10:42 AM
Pre-order at Henry's for 20k: http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplay?storeId=10001&mrktInitiativeId=3812&dest=dslrcentre/nikon/d3s/nikon-d3s.jsp&mrktInitName=Nikon_D3s_preorder_091014&ddkey=DisplayInitiative

Is the exchange rate that bad now? One place I checked had 20,000 Canadian Dollar = 19,360.0 US Dollar

The camera body lists from USD $5,199.95.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25466/D3S.html

Aldor88
10-14-2009, 10:46 AM
Hmm the high ISO samples will be interesting to see.

TNB
10-14-2009, 10:49 AM
Hmm the high ISO samples will be interesting to see.
I added a link to sample photos to one of these mutliple threads discussing the D3s. :rolleyes:

Aldor88
10-14-2009, 10:59 AM
I added a link to sample photos to one of these mutliple threads discussing the D3s. :rolleyes: Hehe I noticed, the high ISO shots look pretty damn good.

Elisha
10-14-2009, 11:00 AM
Is the exchange rate that bad now? One place I checked had 20,000 Canadian Dollar = 19,360.0 US Dollar

The camera body lists from USD $5,199.95.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Digital-SLR/25466/D3S.html

LOL we're almost at parity now.
I think that is just a typo since the news is so new and they wanted to get it up on their sites asap!

Aldor88
10-14-2009, 11:06 AM
I found another link trough a topic on another forum. Theres also a few High iso samples.

http://www.studioimpressionsphotography.com/blog/


After two days I’m just astounded at the quality. Shooting at ISO 12800 the quality really was a noticeable improvement. In comparison, I believe the D3S at ISO 12800 is equivalent to ISO 3200 on the D3 and D700.

Elisha
10-14-2009, 11:20 AM
12,800 isn't too bad at all. But I wouldn't go as far as saying it equivalent to D700/D3 at 3200. More like ISO 5000 on D3/D700.