Nikon D3S User manual

The D3S: on assignment
Printed in Holland Code No. 6CE90080 (0910/A)K
Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. October 2009 2009 Nikon Corporation
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From the bustling metropolis of Sydney to aboriginal villages in
the Outback, from a cold and dusty Aussie rules football pitch
in Tasmania to the sun-baked desert in Nambung National
Park, Sports Illustrated staff photographer and award-winning
photojournalist, Bill Frakes roamed Australia for three weeks,
testing the D3S relentlessly to serve his seemingly limitless
photographic imagination.
As an artist with an immense respect for nature, award-winning
wildlife photographer, Vincent Munier waits patiently in severe
weather until his animal subjects grow to accept his presence.
Only then will he begin photographing them. Vincent recently took
the D3S on assignment with him to Norway and Finland. There, he
and the D3S sat quietly in the wind and rain while getting to know
the creatures of the Nordic forest.
Bill Frakes
Sports/Photojournalism (U.S.A.)
Vincent Munier
Nature/Wildlife (France)
Every time I put the D3S to my eye, it's like opening a surprise
present. It makes the child in me come out and play. Everything I see
can be captured accurately and fluidly, and by combining still capture
and D-Movie, I can meld motion and emotion into multidimensional
expressions of visual and audio exploration.
I make career-defining decisions in milliseconds, and I want the best
possible image quality every time I push the button. No matter who you are, or how you work,
you never know when the cosmos will align in such a way that the perfect image is available.
When it happens, I have to be ready in every conceivable way. This is why the D3S excites and
motivates me. I need a camera that responds precisely, quickly and consistently. The D3S does
that and more, and this kind of power gives me enormous freedom.
Animal photography is a passion more than a profession. Sometimes
I sit in the rain and snow for weeks just to experience a single brief
moment with an animal. I need the best and most reliable equipment
available so that I can take full advantage of the rare opportunities
inherent in my work.
Many of my subjects are active only after the sun goes down. Yet
with the D3S, I managed to photograph things that my eyes were practically unable to see. For
example, I remember a brown bear that was just meters from my cabin in the Finnish taiga. It was
the middle of the night, but just a short glimpse of his wet nose permitted me to focus, resulting
in a surprisingly sharp picture. Capturing images like this is what makes the D3S invaluable.

What would you do if the laws of photography changed? With the introduction of the new Nikon D3S,
professional photographers around the world will reconsider this question entirely, and re-examine the
power, potential and reach that photography can now achieve. The D3S's abilities are so revolutionary
that photographers will experience an entirely new level of performance and creativity, pushing them
further into the uncharted waters of possibility. Standing on the shoulders of the incredibly fast and
versatile D3, the new D3S makes spectacular improvements that will enable you to think and shoot in
ways you never thought possible: commercial-quality low-noise images as high as ISO 12800, the ability to Redraw Your Boundaries shoot HD movies at high ISOs with stereo sound*, saving a selected frame from D-Movie as a JPEG for immediate
print and web publication, light sensitivity beyond what your own eyes can see clearly, and the consistent
accuracy and reliability that Nikon is known for. All of these things are now at your command. The new Nikon
flagship will quite literally make you see things differently, and help you approach your next assignment with a new
sense of excitement. It's time to redefine the true power of photography and the future of imaging. What could you
accomplish if you could redraw the boundaries of photography? Find out, with the D3S.
* When using an op tional external stereo microphone.

• Sensitivity: ISO 12800 • L ens: AF-S NIK KOR 600mm f/4G ED VR • Image qualit y: 14-bit RAW (NEF) • Exposure: [M] mode, 1/1,00 0 second, f /4 • White bal ance: Cloudy • Picture Cont rol: Standard ©Bill Frake s • Sensitivity: ISO 12800 • L ens: AF-S NIKKOR 400 mm f/2.8 G ED VR • Image quality: 14-bit RAW (NEF) • Expos ure: [A] mode, 1/50 0 second, f/2.8 • White ba lance: Cloudy • Picture Con trol: Vivid ©Vin cent Munie r

ISO performance: ISO 12800 as standard,
expandable to 102400 equivalent (Hi 3)
Whether shooting indoor sports, stadium events at
night, theatrical and concert performances, weddings,
dimly-lit spot news or in any condition where light is
limited and Speedlights are not an option, the D3S will
change how you are able to approach assignments,
even more dramatically than its predecessor, the
legendary D3. Photographers can now depend on
ISO 200 to ISO 12800 as the professional standard.
Imagine: tack-sharp action images in low light at
action-freezing shutter speeds without worrying about
excessive, image-degrading noise – even at ISO 12800.
When needed, the D3S expands into uncharted
territory, reaching the amazing ISO equivalent of
102400. At this setting, the D3S lets you still reveal
color and detail, even in extremely low-lit places. The
D3S's exceptional low-noise performance also applies
to D-Movie capture. What can you accomplish with
still or movie images in extremely low-light situations?
Consider the new possibilities.
Large pixel pitch: the 12.1-megapixel
FX-format advantage
Dedicated to raising the bar of the legendary D3
performance, Nikon engineers completely redesigned
the image sensor of the D3S, further optimizing the
inner structure while maintaining the pixel count and
the large pixel pitch for even greater latitude in high
ISO performance. As a result, the D3S captures and
renders light in ways that no other camera has yet
achieved*. This in turn contributes to a significantly
higher signal-to-noise ratio and a wide dynamic
range, which translates into unmatched image quality
throughout the broadened ISO sensitivity range
for both still images and movies.
Combined with the unmatched
accuracy of NIKKOR lenses, the D3S
and its FX-format sensor deliver a
quality all their own.
D-Movie: new dimensions to your creativity
From well-lit scenes to
extremely low-lit situations,
Nikon's D-Movie mode
delivers unique versatility.
Its Motion-JPEG gives you
HD quality (1,280 x 720
pixels) movies at 24 fps.
By controlling the aperture
from the widest f-stop,
the large FX-format sensor
renders low-noise images with beautiful bokeh effects
from a large selection of NIKKOR lenses. Use High-
Sensitivity Movie mode to shoot at up to ISO 102400
in places too dark to see clearly with your own eyes.
Movie footage is easy to trim in-camera by choosing
the starting or ending points for easy transfer. You
can even save selected movie frames as JPEGs for
immediate print and web publishing needs. The D3S
has both an internal monaural microphone and an
external stereo microphone input, enabling higher
fidelity audio recording.
Image Sensor Cleaning: assured protection
After relentless testing, Nikon engineers successfully
developed the Integrated Dust Reduction System that
will satisfy high expectations. The
D3S's Image Sensor Cleaning
function generates vibrations
at four specific frequencies to
optimize dust removal. This function
can be set to operate automatically
when the camera is turned on and off,
or manually.
Evolution of the D3: Standard ISO 12800
ISO 3200 ISO 1280 0
ISO 20 0
ISO 640 0
ISO 40 0 ISO 80 0 ISO 160 0
• Sensit ivity: 3 EV above ISO 12800
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 40 0mm f/2.8 G
ED VR • Im age quality: 14-bit R AW
(NEF) • Exposure: [A] mode, 1/500
second, f/2.8 • White balance: Auto
• Picture Control: Sta ndard
• Sensit ivity: 3 EV above ISO 12800
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 40 0mm f/2.8 G
ED VR • Im age quality: 14-bit R AW
(NEF) • Exposure: [A] mode, 1/50
second, f/2.8 • White balance: Cloudy
• Picture Control: Vivid
Images taken at Hi 3 (ISO 102400 equivalent)
Still image saved from D-Movie
7
* Amon g digital SLRs , as of Septem ber 2009.
©Bill Fra kes
©Vince nt Munier
©Vince nt Munier
• Sensitivity: ISO 12800 • L ens: AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED • Im age qualit y: 14-bit RAW (NEF) • Exposure: [M] mode, 1/20 second, f/6. 3 • White balan ce: Auto • Pictu re Control: Standard ©Bi ll Frakes

EXPEED: Nikon's comprehensive
approach to quality digital images
Nikon understands that image quality, accuracy
and speed are equally critical to professional
photographers. Further refining these essential
performance requirements is what brought about
EXPEED, Nikon's fast, comprehensive, and energy-
efficient approach to in-camera image processing.
The rich initial data maintains its integrity through
14-bit A/D conversion and a 16-bit image-processing
pipeline, which shows the enormous creative potential
inherent in the NEF (Nikon Electronic Image Format).
Combined with Nikon's FX-format sensor, the D3S
produces an exceptional tonal range, and minimized
tone jumps. Expect finer tonal gradation in highlights
even with extremely bright subject matter – as well
as colors that were once considered altogether
impossible, such as skin tones and strong reds in the
same frame without over-saturation.
Lateral chromatic aberration reduction:
edge-to-edge sharpness
The D3S corrects color fringes caused by chromatic
aberrations that, in some instances, can appear at the edges
between differing subject elements, thereby improving
image quality throughout the entire frame. Because lateral
chromatic aberrations are corrected regardless of lens
type – whether telephoto, wide-angle, non-CPU and other
types of NIKKOR lenses – this important aspect of the
D3S contributes substantially to the highly refined image
integrity that professionals demand.
Active D-Lighting: rescuing tone in highlights
and shadows
The days of choosing between shadow or highlight
detail are over. Nikon's Active D-Lighting automatically
regulates the dynamic range of high-contrast scenes to
pull out shadow details and preserve highlights. Simply
choose the appropriate setting – Auto, Extra high, High,
Normal, Low or Off – prior to shooting. Auto setting
controls the regulation value appropriately. You can
also bracket Active D-Lighting strength levels up to five
frames and select the best rendition afterwards.
Picture Control: custom-tailored tone and color
Nikon's powerful and intuitive image adjustment tool
helps you define the look and feel of your images
by custom-tailoring sharpness, saturation and other
parameters to match your creative intentions. Think of it
like selecting certain types of film for specific shooting
situations. The D3S comes with four pre-installed
Picture Control profiles, which can be fine-tuned and
saved as new custom Picture Control profiles that
match your personal preferences and shooting style or
particular shooting conditions. Fast, easy and powerful,
custom profiles are easily copied to additional cameras.
Image Quality Further Refined: EXPEED
Without
With
Lateral chromatic aberration
reduction
Landscape*
Monochrome
Portrait*
Vivid
Active D-Lighting [Off] Active D-Lighting [High] 9
Neutral
Standard
* Can be downloaded from the Nikon website.
• Lens: A F-S NIKKOR 70 -200m m f/2.8G E D VR II • Image qu ality: 14-bi t RAW (NEF) • Expos ure: [M] mode,
1/2,50 0 second, f/18 • White balance: Auto • Sensit ivity: ISO 20 0 • Picture Control: Standard ©Bill Frakes
©Vince nt Munier
©Bill Fra kes
©Bill Fra kes
©Bill Fra kes ©Bill Fra kes
©Bill Fra kes ©Bill Fra kes
©Vince nt Munier
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 24 -70mm f/2. 8G ED • Image qu ality: 14-bi t RAW (NEF) • Expos ure: [M] mode, 1/320 seco nd, f/10 • White b alance: Cloudy • Sensit ivity: ISO 64 0 • Picture Con trol: Stand ard ©Bill Fra kes

Speed and readiness throughout the workflow
The D3S optimizes workflow speed and fluidity
throughout the entire process: from setup to shooting to
data recording and transfer. Start-up time is approx. 0.12
seconds* and release time lag is minimized to approx.
0.04 seconds.* Autofocusing, image processing, buffer
memory, memory card access and recording, USB
interface and the optional wireless transmitter work
together to keep you focused and moving forward. And
for sport and spot news photographers, many of the
D3S's JPEG files are print-ready with little or no post-
production: an extra edge when time is short.
9-frames-per-second* shooting rate in FX format,
11 fps* in DX crop
The D3S's continuous shooting rates are quite
impressive, but what makes them truly unique is that
the camera's powerful stepping motor allows for a
steady delivery of fast continuous shooting speeds at
a wider range of aperture settings than conventional
digital SLRs. Professionals will now have greater control
and fewer limitations when making the images they
desire, and with DX crop mode, photographers can
also add a 1.5x picture angle and a faster frame rate to
their arsenal. Furthermore, the factory-installed buffer
memory is twice the capacity of the D3, dramatically
increasing the power of continuous shooting.
Scene Recognition System: enlightened accuracy
and intelligence
Nikon's exclusive 1,005-pixel RGB sensor precisely
reads brightness and color information to raise the
overall accuracy of AF, AE, i-TTL flash control and
auto white balance to new heights via the Scene
Recognition System. The D3S's AF delivers superb
subject tracking and subject identification performance.
Highlight analysis used for AE reproduces brightness
faithful to what your eyes see, and light source
identification makes auto white balance uniquely
precise and reliable.
51-point AF: fast and accurate subject acquisition
This dense net of 51 AF points delivers faster focus,
even with quick and/or erratic subject movement.
The 15 cross-type sensors in the center of the
frame maintain the same outstanding performance
with any AF NIKKOR lens f/5.6 or faster. There are
four Dynamic-area AF options including 51 points
(3D-tracking), which accurately pursue your subject
by shifting focus points using color and brightness
information from the Scene Recognition System.
This is useful when composition is important, but your
subject's movement is extremely erratic. Single-point
and Auto-area AF modes are also available.
Sophisticated AE with highlight analysis
Nikon's exclusive 3D color matrix
metering II is highly praised for
its outstanding performance and
faithful exposure results – even
in complex, unforgiving lighting
conditions. Using highlight analysis
from the Scene Recognition System
and then carefully selecting from a
database containing information from
over 30,000 actual shooting situations,
the D3S now takes accurate exposure
further.
Informed auto white balance
Leading professionals often note that
Nikon's auto white balance exhibits
remarkable results, even in challenging
mixed lighting conditions. With the D3S,
auto white balance makes even further
progress. Professionals can expect
white as truly white in a wider variety of
settings.
Lightning Speed and Razor-Sharp Accuracy
Dynamic-area AF using 9 pointsSingle-point AF mode Dynamic-area AF using 21 points Dynamic-area AF using 51 points Dynamic-area AF using 51 points (3D-tracking)
* Based on C IPA Guidelines.
* Based on C IPA Guidelines.
©Bill Fra kes ©Bill Fra kes ©Bill Fra kes ©Vince nt Munier ©Bill Fra kes
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 40 0mm f/2.8 G ED VR • Image quality: 14-bit RAW (NEF) • Expos ure: [A] mode, 1/6 ,400 second, f/2.8 • White balance: Cloudy • Sensitivity: ISO 80 0 • Picture Control: S tandard ©Vi ncent Munier

NIKKOR lenses: the heart of
the Total Imaging System
The conditions of photographic assignments are
fluid, while the requirement for professionals to
deliver stunning images remains constant – and
stunning images begin with world-famous NIKKOR
interchangeable lenses. NIKKOR lenses represent
decades of optical engineering experience and the
benefits of exclusive Nikon technologies such as Super
Integrated Coating to reduce ghost and flare. Nikon's
Nano Crystal Coat further minimizes ghost and flare
caused by internal reflections, even when the light
source is in the frame. These, and a myriad of additional
design considerations, are brought together in a skillful
blend of both art and science to create the optical quality
on which so many professionals rely. Creative Lighting System: the light of inspiration
The D3S's Scene Recognition System delivers refined
i-TTL flash control from your SB-900, SB- 600 and SB-
400 Speedlights. You can achieve accurate exposure
results, even with small subjects and highly reflective
objects. The Creative Lighting System offers various
flash techniques, including Advanced Wireless
Lighting, which gives you immediate and total control,
making commanding multiple
remote Speedlights as easy
as controlling one Speedlight
mounted on your
camera.
Wireless Transmitter WT-4A/B/C/D/E*
Photographers working in large venues will appreciate the
WT-4A/B/C/D/E, which supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g. The
Thumbnail Selector quickens workflow by first sending
thumbnails to a remote computer. Editors can select
images before their full data is sent, saving precious
time.
GPS Unit: GP-1
With the GPS Unit GP-1, latitude, longitude, altitude
and time are automatically recorded to each image's
EXIF data, making it easy to exchange data, create
original maps or display image location on Google
MapsTM using ViewNX software (provided). GP-1 is
also useful for travel records, news reporting and
academic research. Time Adjustment lets you adjust
your camera's time zone, which is useful for group
assignments that require several D3S cameras to be
synchronized.
Nikon's exclusive software
Nikon offers powerful software to give professionals
extra reach and definition for their images. Camera
Control Pro 2 (optional) for remote camera operation,
ViewNX (provided) for browsing, and Capture NX 2
(optional) for developing the greatest potential of NEF
(RAW) postproduction processing and photographic
editing.
True Versatility: Total Imaging System
• Lens: A F-S NIKKOR 24 -70mm f/2. 8G ED • Image qua lity: 14-bit R AW (NEF)
• Expos ure: [M] mode, 1/250 se cond, f/7.1 • Whi te balanc e: Auto • Sensit ivity: ISO 640
• Picture Control: Sta ndard ©Bil l Frakes
13
*
Product name va ries accor ding to region, d epending on lo cal frequency channels available .
AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
NIKKOR is a r egistere d trademar k of Nikon Cor poration in Japan and the USA.
• Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 70 -200m m f/2.8G E D VR II • Image qu ality: 14-bit R AW (NEF) • Expo sure: [M] mode, 1/125 second , f/20 • White balance: Auto • Sensitivity: ISO 64 0 • Picture Con trol: Stand ard ©Bill Frakes

nNikon Digital SLR Camera D3S Specifications n
Type
Type Single- lens reflex dig ital camer a
Lens Mo unt Nikon F mo unt (with AF c oupling and AF c ontacts)
Picture Angle Equivale nt to angle pr oduced b y lens focal length (1.5 times when DX
form at is select ed)
Effective Pixels
Effe ctive Pix els 12.1 million
Image Sensor
Image S ensor CMOS se nsor, 36.0 x 23. 9 mm; Nikon FX fo rmat
Total Pix els 12.87 millio n
Dust-reduction System I mage Sens or Cleaning, Image Dust O ff refe rence data (option al Captur e
NX 2 sof tware re quired)
Storage
Image Si ze (pixels)
File For mat 1) NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bi t, lossles s compres sed, compr essed, or u ncompre ssed,
2) TIFF (R GB), 3) JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fin e (approx. 1:4),
normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (app rox. 1:16) compr ession (Siz e priorit y);
Optim al quality c ompression available, 4) NEF (RAW) + JP EG: Single
phot ograph rec orded in bot h NEF (RAW) and J PEG format s
Picture ControlSystem Four setting options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome; each option
can be a djusted
Stor age Media Comp actFlash (Ty pe I, complian t with UDMA)
Double S lot Slo t 2 can be used fo r overflow o r backup sto rage or for se parate st orage of
NEF (RAW ) and JPEG image s; picture s can be copie d between c ards
File Sys tem Compli ant with DCF 2 .0, DPOF, Exif 2. 21, and Pic tBridge
Viewfinder
View finder Eye-l evel penta prism single -lens reflex vi ewfinder
Frame Cover age FX (36x24): Approx. 100% (ver tical/ horizon tal), 1.2x (30x20): Ap prox. 97%
(ver tical/ho rizont al), DX (24x16): Appr ox. 97% (ver tical/h orizont al), 5:4
(30x 24): Approx. 10 0% (vertic al) and approx . 97% (horizon tal)
Magnifi cation Approx . 0.7x (50mm f/1.4 len s at infinity; -1.0 m -1)
Eyep oint 18 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Diopt er Adjustme nt -3 to +1 m-1
Focu sing Screen Type B B riteView Cle ar Matte VI s creen wit h AF area brac kets
Reflex M irror Quick r eturn
Depth-of-field Preview When Pv (dep th-of-fiel d preview ) button i s presse d, lens aper ture can b e
stop ped down t o value selected by user (A and M mode s) or value selected
by cam era (P and S mode s)
Lens A perture Instant re turn, elec tronically c ontrolle d
Lens
Compatible Lenses 1) Type G or D AF NIKKOR*1: All functions supported (P C Micro-N IKKOR
does no t suppor t some fun ctions), 2) DX NIKKOR: All fun ctions su pport ed
excep t FX-form at (36x24)/1.2x (30x20)/5:4 (30x24) image size, 3) Other AF
NIKKOR*2: All funct ions suppor ted exce pt 3D color ma trix meter ing II,
4) AI-P N IKKOR: All functions su pported except autofocus and 3D color
matr ix meteri ng II, 5) Non- CPU: Can be u sed in exposure mod es A and M;
color matri x metering and apertu re value display supporte d if user provides
lens da ta (AI lense s only)
Elect ronic rang efinder can be u sed if maxim um apertu re is f/5.6 or fa ster
*1. IX- NIKKOR le nses canno t be used *2. Ex cluding AF- NI KKOR lenses f or F3AF
Shutter
Type Elect ronically -contro lled vertic al-travel f ocal-plane s hutter
Spee d 1/8,00 0 to 30 s in step s of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb, X2 50
Flash Sy nc Speed X = 1/250 s; flas h synchro nization at u p to 1/250 s
Release
Relea se Modes 1) Sin gle-frame [S] m ode, 2) Contin uous Low-s peed [CL] mod e, 3) Continuo us
High-speed [CH] mode, 4) Quiet Shutter-release mo de [Q],5) Self-timer [ ]
mode, 6) M irror-up [Mup] m ode
Frame A dvance Ra te • DX (24x 16): Up to appro x. 9 fps (CL) or ap prox. 9 to 11 fps (CH )
(CIPA Guid elines) • Oth er image area s: Up to approx . 9 fps
Self-tim er Elect ronically c ontrolled t imer with dur ation of 2, 5, 10 or 2 0 s
Exposure
Mete ring T TL full-aper ture exp osure mete ring using 1,00 5-pixel R GB sensor
Meterin g System 1) Matrix: 3D color matrix m etering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix
meter ing II (othe r CPU lense s); color mat rix metering (non- CPU lenses if
user pr ovides len s data)
2) Center-Weighted: Weight of 75% giv en to 12-mm circle in center of
frame, diameter o f circle can b e changed to 8, 15 or 2 0 mm, or weighting
can be b ased on ave rage of ent ire frame (non-CPU lenses use 12-mm
circle o r average of e ntire fram e)
3) Spot : Meters 4 -mm circle (a bout 1.5% of fr ame) centered on sele cted
focus p oint (on cent er focus poin t when non- CPU lens is use d)
Metering Range 1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or cent er-weighted meterin g), 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spo t
meter ing) (ISO 100 eq uivalent, f/1.4 le ns, at 20°C/6 8°F)
Exposure MeterCoupling C ombined CPU a nd AI
Exp osure Mode s 1) Pr ogrammed A uto (P) with fl exible prog ram, 2) Shutt er-Priorit y Auto (S),
3) Aper ture-P riority A uto (A), 4) Manua l (M)
Exposure Compensation ±5 E V in incremen ts of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Exp osure Brac keting 2 to 9 frames in s teps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 o r 1 EV
Exp osure Lock Exp osure locke d at detect ed value wit h AE-L/AF- L button
ISO Sensi tivity ISO 200 to 1280 0 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV; can also b e set to appr ox. 0.3,
0.5, 0.7 o r 1 EV (ISO 100 equ ivalent) be low ISO 200 or t o approx. 0. 3, 0.5, 0.7,
1, 2 or 3 EV (ISO 1024 00 equivalent) above ISO 12800; auto ISO sen sitivit y
cont rol available
Acti ve D-Ligh ting Can be s elected f rom [Auto], [E xtra high], [ High], [Norm al], [Low] or [Of f]
ADL Bracketing 2 f rames using select ed value for o ne frame or 3 to 5 frames using pres et
values f or all frames
Focus
Autofocus Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX autof ocus sensor module with TTL pha se
detection; 51 foc us points (in cluding 15 cro ss-typ e sensor s); AF fine tunin g
possible
Dete ction Range -1 to +19 EV (ISO 10 0 at 20°C/6 8°F)
Lens Servo 1) Autofocus: Single-servo AF (S); Continuous-servo AF (C); predictive focus
tracking autom atically a ctivat ed accor ding to subje ct stat us, 2) Manual
focus ( M) with elec tronic ran gefinder
Focu s Point Ca n be selecte d from 51 or 11 focus poi nts
AF-area Mode 1) Single-poin t AF, 2) Dynamic-area AF [number of AF po ints: 9, 21, 51, 51
(3D-t racking)], 3) A uto-are a AF
Focus Lock Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L but ton or by pr essing shu tter-
relea se button h alfway (Sin gle-serv o AF)
Flash
Flash Co ntrol 1) TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-fla sh and standard i-TTL flas h for digital SL R using
1,005 -pixel RGB s ensor are av ailable with SB -900, 8 00, 600 or 4 00
2) Auto aper ture (AA): Available w ith SB-900, 8 00 and CPU lens
3) Non-TTL au to (A): Available with SB -900, 800, 28 , 27 or 22S
4) Range-pr iority manual (GN): Availa ble with SB-90 0 and 800
FlashModes 1) Front curt ain sync, 2) Slow sync, 3) Rear-curt ain sync, 4) R ed-eye
reduc tion, 5) Red- eye reduc tion with slo w sync
Flash B racketing 2 to 9 fra mes in steps o f 1/3, 1/2, 2/ 3 or 1 EV
Flash-ready Indicator Li ghts when Speedligh t such as SB- 900, SB -800, SB-60 0, SB-4 00, SB-
80DX, SB-28DX or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks after flash is fired at full
output
Acce ssory Sho e ISO 518 hot-sh oe with syn c and data co ntacts, an d safety lo ck
Nikon Cr eative Lig hting Ad vanced W ireless Ligh ting suppo rted wit h SB-90 0, SB-80 0 or SU-8 00 as
System (CLS) commander an d SB-90 0, SB-8 00, SB- 600 or SB -R200 as remotes ; Auto
FP High-Speed Sy nc and modeling illuminat ion suppor ted wit h all CLS-
comp atible flash un its excep t SB-40 0; Flash Color I nformat ion Communi cation
and FV l ock suppor ted with a ll CLS-comp atible flash u nits
Sync Ter minal ISO 519 syn c terminal wit h locking th read
White Balance
Whi te Balan ce Auto (TTL whit e balance w ith main image sensor and 1,005- pixel RGB sensor),
Incan descent, Fluores cent (7 op tions), Dire ct Sunlight , Flash, Cloudy, Shade,
pres et manual (up to 5 values can b e stored), and color te mperat ure setting
(2,50 0 K to 10,000 K ), all with fine t uning
White B alance Bra cketing
2 to 9 fra mes in step s of 1, 2 or 3
Live View
Mode s Tripod, H and-held
Auto focus • Trip od: Cont rast-det ect AF anywh ere in frame • Hand-h eld: TTL phase-
dete ction AF wit h 51f ocus point s (including 15 cro ss-typ e sensors)
Flicke r Reduction 50 Hz and 6 0 Hz
Movie
Frame S ize (pixels) 1,280 x 72 0/24 fps, 640 x 424/24 f ps, 320 x216/24 fp s
File For mat AVI
Compression Format Motion-JPEG
Audio Micro phone sensi tivity c an be adjuste d
ISO Sen sitivity ISO 20 0 to 12800 (ISO 64 00 to Hi 3 in high- sensitiv ity movie mo de)
Monitor
LCD Monit or 3-in., a pprox. 921k-dot (VGA), 170 -degree w ide-viewin g-angle, 100% frame
cove rage, low-te mperatur e polysilico n TFT LCD wit h brightne ss adjustme nt
Playback
Playb ack Functio n Full-frame and t humbnail (4, 9 o r 72 images) pla yback wi th playb ack zoom,
movie p layback, s lide show, histo gram displa y, highligh t display, auto im age
rota tion, imag e comment (up t o 36 chara cters), an d voice mem o input and
playback
Interface
USB Hi-Spe ed USB
Video Ou tput NTSC or PAL; simultaneous playback f rom both the video out put and on the
LCD moni tor availabl e
HDMI Output Ty pe C HDMI connector ; camera monitor tur ns off wh en HDMI cable is
connected
Audio In put Ster eo mini-pin jack (3 .5-mm diam eter)
10-pin RemoteTerminal Can b e used to con nect opt ional remo te contr ol, GPS Unit GP -1 or GPS
devic e complian t with NME A 0183 versio n 2.01 and 3.01 (requires op tional
GPS Cab le MC-35 and c able with D- sub 9-pin con nector)
Supported Languages
Suppo rted Langu ages Chines e (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, E nglish, Finnish,
Frenc h, German, Indonesian, Italian, Jap anese, Kor ean, Nor wegian, Polish,
Port uguese, Rus sian, Spanish , Swedish, Turkis h
Power Source
Bat tery One Rec hargeable L i-ion Bat tery EN- EL4a/EL4
AC Adap ter AC Adapt er EH-6 (op tional)
Tripod Socket
Tripod So cket 1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions/Weight
Dimens ions (W x H x D) Appro x. 159.5 x 157 x 87.5 mm/6 .3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in.
Weight Ap prox. 1,240 g /2 lb. 12 oz. wit hout bat tery, mem ory car d, body cap or
acce ssory sho e cover
Operating Environment
Temperature 0-40°C/32-104°F
Humidi ty Under 8 5% (no condens ation)
Accessories
Supplied Accessories* Re chargea ble Li-ion Ba ttery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-22, USB C able
UC-E4, Audio Video C able EG-D2, Camera St rap AN-D C5, Body C ap BF-1B,
Acce ssory Shoe Cover BS-2, Eyepiece DK-17, Batt ery Cham ber Cover B L-4,
USB Cab le Clip, Soft ware Suite CD -ROM
* Supplie d accesso ries may dif fer dependin g on countr y or area
Main Op tional Wirele ss Transmit ter WT-4A /B/C/D/E*, GPS Uni t GP-1,M agnifyi ng Eyepiec e
Accessories DK-17M, AC Adapter E H-6, Cap ture NX 2 So ftwar e, Camera C ontrol Pro 2
Soft ware, Ima ge Authent ication Sof tware
* Produ ct name vari es accordi ng to region, d epending on lo cal frequ ency chann els available
Image area Large Medium Small
FX format (36 x 24) 4,256 x 2,832 3,184 x 2,120 2,128 x 1,416
1.2x (30 x 20) 3,552 x 2,368 2,656 x 1,776 1,776 x 1,184
DX format (24 x 16) 2,784 x 1,848 2,080 x 1,384 1,392 x 920
5:4 (30 x 24) 3,552 x 2,832 2,656 x 2,120 1,776 x 1,416
Flagship Reliability and Improved Operation
n Approx. 100 % frame coverage
The D3S's large prism gives you the F X-
format visual advantage when you shoot.
The viewfinder image is not only large
and bright, but the focusing screen is
also carefully designed to help you to
intuitively sense sharp focus, be it manual
or autofocus.
n Magnesium alloy: rugged
dependability
The body, exterior cover, chassis and
mirror box are comprised of strong-yet-
lightweight magnesium alloy to per form
in demanding real-world conditions and
assure superb, reliable performance and
longer life.
n Comprehensive sealing
agains t dust, moisture and
electromagnetic waves
Assured protection against invasive
moisture, dust and even electromagnetic
interference. A comprehensive series
of O-rings and other specialized seals,
combined with additional Nikon
engineering, keeps you shooting when
lesser cameras would fail.
n Shut ter durability
For the reliability professionals demand,
the shutter of the D3S has been tested for
300,000 cycles. And to ensure rigorous
real-world conditions, the testing is
always performed on fully assembled
cameras.
n Self-diagnostic shutter
Shutter speeds range from 1/8,000 s
to 30 s with an internal mechanism
that automatically monitors and
corrects possible variances between
the designated shutter speed and the
actual shutter timing over the shutter
mechanism's life span.
n Mirror balancer
Minimizes mirror bounce and extends
viewing time, which allows more time for
AF operation – one reason why the D3S
can offer autofocus and Focus Tracking
even at high-speed continuous shooting.
n Quiet Shutter-release mode
Imagine a scene where silence is
essential. Simply select “Q” on the
release mode dial and reduce the sound of
the camera's mirror-down during shooting.
n Live View button
The dedicated Live View button gives
you instant access, offering two Live
View modes: Tripod mode for accurate AF
operation and Hand-held mode for more
versatile shooting angles. The speed
for Contrast-detect AF in Tripod mode
has also been improved for enhanced
practicality.
n Electronic Virtual Horizon
Instant, accurate confirmation of your
“horizontal level.” In Live View shooting,
display the Electronic Virtual Horizon on
the LCD, above the monitor image, for
landscape and architectural photography.
n Twin CF card slots
Record two full CF cards of data, record
the same data onto two cards (backup),
record RAW and JPEG simultaneously
onto separate cards, and transfer data
from one card to another. You can also
designate the slot for data-heavy D-Movie
recording.
n Long-life battery
The D3S uses EN-EL4a rechargeable
batteries. Power consumption and
power management systems have
been engineered for greater operating
efficiency, so you can expect long battery
life. You can shoot up to 4,20 0 images*
per charge.
* Base d on CIPA Standa rds.
n Extended menu banks
Store up to four combinations of exposure
mode, shutter speed and aper ture value.
A timesaver for photographers who must
regularly switch quickly between fixed
camera settings according to different
shooting situations.
n Multiple exposure
You can also designate this function to the
bracketing button for repeated multiple
exposure operation. That way you can
continue multiple exposures without
coming back to the menu each time.
nEnhanced playback function
Review images in a variety of useful
ways. The thumbnail display shows up to
72 frames at a time for quicker search and
select. The D3S can also check histograms
of a selected and magnified portion of an
image.
n1.2x crop mode
When you need both the telephoto effect
and a large enough file size, use 1.2x (30 x
20) format with approx. 8.4 megapixels.
n In-camera edit function
The D3S offers various retouch menus such
as NEF (RAW) Processing for on-the-spot
alterations, without the need of a computer.
Resize function and D-Movie editing
convert image data or movie clips to smaller
sizes while maintaining the original – useful
when transmitting speed is important.
n 3-in., approx. 921k-dot color, 170°
viewing angle LCD monitor
The large, high-resolution LCD monitor
delivers bright, crisp image playback with
up to 27x enlargement for immediate and
precise image confirmation. Each LCD is
covered with scratch resistant tempered
glass and individually calibrated and fine-
tuned at the factory to deliver consistent
performance.
n Info button
Makes it easy to view and change
settings. Push once to see the settings.
Push again for a direct shortcut to the
menu page of the camera setting you
want to alter.
• PictBridg e is a trademar k. • C ompactFl ash is a registe red trademark of SanDisk Corporat ion.
• HD MI, the HDMI lo go and High-Deni tion Mult imedia In terface are tr ademarks or registered
trad emarks of HDMI Licen sing, LLC. • G oogle Maps™ i s a tradem ark of Goog le, Inc. • Pr oducts an d
brand names are tr ademarks or reg istered trademar ks of their re spectiv e compa nies. • Images in
view finders, on LCD s and monitor s shown in thi s brochure ar e simulated.
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