Nikon D800 Review

This is an in-depth review of the new Nikon D800 camera, one of the most anticipated DSLRs from Nikon that the photography community has been impatiently waiting for more than a year now. The camera was supposed to be released in the summer of 2011, but due to several natural disasters that heavily impacted Nikon’s capability to produce cameras both in Japan and in its Thailand factories, its launch was delayed until February of 2012. There has been a lot of hype about the D800 and while our team has been posting quite a few articles about this camera, there are still many questions pouring in on a daily basis from our readers about its features, capabilities, limitations and performance, especially when compared to the older cameras like Nikon D700, D3, D3s and the new Nikon D4. In this review, I will not only provide detailed information about the Nikon D800, but will also try to answer the many questions that we have gotten so far on the camera, along with comparisons to other DSLRs. Specifically, the comparison includes sensor ISO performance with the following DSLRs: Nikon D700/D3, D3s, Canon 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III and Fuji X-Pro 1 mirrorless camera.

Was it worth the wait? There has been a lot of buzz about the D800 before and after the camera was announced. One of the main reasons is the popularity of the existing Nikon D700 camera and the sheer number of people, especially part-time and full-time pros, who were dying to upgrade their aging cameras. In addition, the production delay further fueled the heat and spiked up the interest from the photography community that was getting rather impatient, wondering what Nikon would bring to the table for the next several years in the full-frame arena.

As you will see further down in this review, I consider the Nikon D800 to be a breakthrough camera, something we have not seen since Nikon introduced its first full-frame D3. While we have seen some amazing products from Nikon, they were all evolutionary, with minor upgrades, tweaks and changes here and there. The D800, on the other hand, is a revolutionary product that once again raises the bar on image quality, dynamic range, autofocus and even noise performance – all without the high price tag of a pro camera attached to it. Sure it has its share of problems with its rather slow speed (FPS) and average battery life, but these problems are rather insignificant, given what we are getting as a total package. Think of the D800 as a beefed up D3X, just in a smaller body, at 40% of the cost. How is that not revolutionary? And the D800 just happens to set a new world record in full-frame resolution.

But wait, what about all those photographers that anticipated a camera with the same sensor as on the Nikon D4, the ones that do not particularly care for high resolution? Did Nikon leave them all out with the D800, forcing them to jump to the expensive D4? Before I answer this question, let me first give a brief history of the D800, along with my analysis on why Nikon decided to take a different route with its full-frame line this time.

1) A Brief History and Analysis

I remember the day when I first read the rumor about the D800 and its 36 MP sensor. I quickly dismissed it, because it sounded completely unrealistic to me. With Nikon putting so much focus on image quality in its full-frame line with the D700, D3 and later D3s, and keeping the megapixel count low at just 12 MP (while the competition had been only increasing the number of megapixels in their new cameras), I only pictured the D700 replacement to be a very modest update in terms of resolution. Maybe something similar to the D7000, with a 16-18 MP sensor. Plus, a 36 MP full-frame sensor just did not fit in with the existing super expensive D3X that was specifically targeted for high-resolution applications.

As you may already know, the Nikon D700 was announced about a year after the D3 came out in 2007. Nikon did not have the time and resources to create a separate product line like Canon did with its original 5D, so it decided to borrow the sensor along with most features from the D3. Aside from the slower fps speed (that you could increase with a grip), smaller body & battery and 97% viewfinder coverage, the Nikon D700 was almost the same as the Nikon D3 – some even dubbed it “the D3 brother”. Needless to say, the Nikon D700 was an instant success.

100% crop from the center of the frame:

On the grand scale, however, the D700 became a problem for Nikon – it heavily cannibalized the D3 sales. Why spend $5K on the D3, if you could get a smaller and lighter camera with almost the same features for $2,000 less? And if you really wanted, you could push the D700 to be almost like the D3 by adding a grip and D3 batteries. Consumers were quick to react to this opportunity and Nikon soon realized that it made a mistake by letting one product line compete head to head with another. But it was too late – the D700 was already too popular. Nikon released the 24 MP D3x shortly thereafter, which proved to be a marketing failure due to its inflated price (despite being a superb camera for high-resolution work). Nikon’s professional line suffered all the way until the Nikon D3s was released in October of 2009, which finally created more demand for the top-of-the-line professional cameras once again. With the highly successful D700, well-performing D3s and failed D3x lines, it was clear that Nikon had to come up with a better strategy for positioning and pricing its full-frame cameras.

In January of 2012, the Nikon D4 was announced with a 16 MP sensor, which seemed in line with what I was expecting in terms of resolution. A very modest update in megapixels, different ergonomics and plenty of new features including a revamped autofocus system that works at f/8. We all knew the D800 was around the corner, but still, the biggest question remained – would it have D4’s 16 MP sensor or the rumored super high-resolution 36 MP sensor? Within a month from the D4 announcement, Nikon finally announced the Nikon D800 with a 36.3 MP sensor. Why did this happen and what caused Nikon to change its direction in this full-frame line?

As I have already explained in my “benefits of a high-resolution sensor” article before, I believe Nikon made a smart move in positioning its current and future full-frame (FX) lines. Rather than offering three or more product lines with different performance characteristics and features, it makes a whole lot more sense to have just two distinct cameras – one general-purpose, high-resolution camera (D800) and one advanced high-performance camera specifically targeted for sports, news and wildlife photography (D4). This move obviously eliminates the D3x line and sends a message that we might never see another high-end, high-resolution full-frame camera from Nikon. But in fact, I believe this could actually lead to an introduction of a medium format camera from Nikon in the future… But that’s a whole different topic of discussion.

Traditionally, DSLR cameras with very high resolution have been categorized as specialized tools for landscape, macro and studio photography. With the introduction of the D800, many photographers thought that Nikon is specifically targeting one group of photographers, while completely ignoring others. In fact, as you will see later on in this review, it is actually not the case. There is a reason why I called the Nikon D800 a “general-purpose, high-resolution” camera – because it can be effectively used for any sort of photography. There is a common misconception among the photography community about the size of pixels and their impact on image quality and noise, especially when comparing one sensor to another. If a sensor packs a lot of pixels, it is often assumed that it will perform much worse in low light at high ISO when compared to a sensor with less and bigger pixels.

In fact, it all depends on how you perform this comparison. When a high-resolution image is down-sampled to a lower resolution, its noise characteristics can actually improve dramatically (see my articles on down-sampling). So when comparing a 36 MP image to a 12 MP image, why would you look at both at 100%? Clearly, the 36 MP image would print much larger in size, so it is only fare to compare sensors at the same print size. See this example of just how much bigger the 36.3 MP image is from the D800 in comparison to the 12.1 MP image from the D700:

By down-sampling 36 MP to 12 MP, you would not only reduce the amount of noise, but you could also make the image appear sharper. As I reveal in the following pages of this review, the down-sampled Nikon D800 images look exceptionally good, even when compared to the high-end Nikon D4. There is a reason why the new sensor is rated as #1 by DXOMark among all sensors produced to date. In addition, a high-resolution image has a lot more room to work with for cropping and can produce exceptionally good-looking images at low ISO levels, perfectly suitable for huge prints. Hence, when looking at the Nikon D800, one has to be fully aware of the many advantages of a high resolution sensor and the benefits of the down-sampling process.

Let’s move on to the camera details!

2) Nikon D800 Specifications

Main Features and Specifications:

1. Sensor: 36.3 MP FX, 4.8µ pixel size
2. Sensor Size: 35.9 x 24mm
3. Resolution: 7360 x 4912
4. DX Mode: 15.3 MP
5. DX Mode Resolution: 4800 x 3200
6. Native ISO Sensitivity: 100-6,400
7. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 50
8. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 12,800-25,600
9. Processor: EXPEED 3
10. Metering System: 3D Color Matrix Meter III with face recognition and a database of 30,000 images
11. Dust Reduction: Yes
12. Weather Sealing/Protection: Yes
13. Body Build: Full Magnesium Alloy
14. White Balance: New White Balance System
15. Shutter: Up to 1/8000 and 30 sec exposure
16. Shutter Durability: 200,000 cycles, self-diagnostic shutter
17. Camera Lag: 0.012 seconds
18. Storage: 1x CF slot and 1x SD slot
19. Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
20. Speed: 4 FPS, 6 FPS in DX mode with optional MB-D12 battery pack
21. Exposure Meter: 91,000 pixel RGB sensor
22. Built-in Flash: Yes, with Commander Mode, full CLS compatibility
23. Autofocus System: Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX with 51 focus points and 15 cross-type sensors
24. AF Detection: Up to f/8 with 9 focus points (5 in the center, 2 on the left and right)
25. LCD Screen: 3.2 inch diagonal with 921,000 dots
26. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 30 fps max
27. Movie Exposure Control: Full
28. Movie Recording Limit: 30 minutes @ 30p, 20 minutes @ 24p
29. Movie Output: MOV, Compressed and Uncompressed
30. In-Camera HDR Capability: Yes
31. Two Live View Modes: One for photography and one for videography
32. GPS: Not built-in, requires GP-1 GPS unit
33. Battery Type: EN-EL15
34. Battery Life: 900 shots
35. USB Standard: 3.0
36. Weight: 900g
37. Price: $2,999 MSRP

A detailed list of camera specifications is available at NikonUSA.com.

source:photographylife

Nikon D4s Review

Exactly after two years since the Nikon D4 announcement, Nikon made the D4s public at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on January 6, 2014. Although the camera was not ready for a full announcement, Nikon wanted to have something to show at the CES, so it only hinted about the development of the camera and its intentions to preview it. The camera was officially announced at the end of February and the first units started to ship shortly after in March. The Nikon D4s is a modest upgrade over the D4, with very slight ergonomic changes, expanded ISO range, faster image processor, faster wired / Ethernet speed, improved battery capacity and a bunch of new firmware options. As an incremental update, the Nikon D4s basically solidified the already superb D4 and made it even better.

Although I had plans to review the D4s earlier this year, my hectic summer schedule and work commitments kept me too busy and I was not able to get it published. I wrote some notes from using the camera when I had it for a few months, then went back and added more again after getting my hands on the camera again later. Since my time with the camera was rather limited, I requested our wildlife gurus Thomas Redd and John Lawson to use the camera and provide their feedback on what they liked and did not about the camera. Thus, this review is yet another collective effort from our team, which hopefully makes it more balanced and objective than if I were to solely do it by myself.

NIKON D4S @ ISO 1600, 1/250, f/11.0

Without a doubt, the top-of-the-line Nikon DSLR line is the most feature-rich, responsive and most capable cameras, and the D4s is not an exception. While the exterior of the D4s is practically identical to the D4 (more on ergonomic changes on the next page), the inner core is where the camera got the most upgrades. The 16.2 MP sensor got a boost in native sensitivity range, going from ISO 100 to 25,600, which is a stop higher than what the D4 had. The camera’s metering and white balance systems got tweaked with more features. The autofocus system was improved with more features and faster shooting rate of 11 fps with full time autofocus (versus 10 fps on the D4). While these might look like very small incremental changes that are not worth upgrading for, even slight improvements in autofocus performance might pay the price of the camera for a working professional. And that’s where the Nikon D4s delivers. Thanks to the new EXPEED 4 processor that is 30% faster than its predecessor, the camera can handle data much faster, giving a significant boost in overall performance. And this is not coming from Nikon’s specifications or data sheets – our team immediately noticed the camera to be faster and more responsive in autofocus operation, particularly in continuously tracking fast-moving subjects. The faster processor also allowed Nikon to push more data for capturing high definition video and the D4s is now capable of recording HD videos at up to 60 frames per second. Along with the ability to pick different crop modes, full exposure control, uncompressed HDMI output and the ability to record videos to both internal memory and external recorders, the Nikon D4s is also a very capable camera for videography needs. Sadly, despite the industry’s push to ultra high resolution 4K video, the D4s still lags behind when compared to other manufacturers like Sony and Panasonic.

NIKON D4S @ ISO 800, 1/250, f/11.0

However, all these nice changes come at a cost – at $6,500, the D4s is not a cheap camera. It is the second most expensive DSLR in Nikon’s history after the ridiculously expensive D3x (which was priced at $7,999 MSRP when it was announced and still currently sells for $6,999). If we roll the date back to 2007, we can see that the original D3 was priced at $5K. When the D3s came out in 2009, Nikon raised the camera’s price by $200 to $5,199. Three years down the road, the new and shiny D4 comes out with a $6K price tag attached to it – an $800 increase. And finally, the D4s gets another $500 increase on top. Compared to the original D3, that’s a $1500 price difference! If we adjust prices for inflation since 2007 (without taking into account currency conversions), the D4s should have been around $5,700 – $800 lower than what Nikon wants for the camera. Nikon knows that those who own their top-of-the-line cameras will want to continue upgrading when new models come out. Plus, by intentionally crippling lower-end FX camera bodies and holding off on high-end DX line, Nikon has been trying to get as many people as possible to move up to the D4 line. I also suspect that the Nikon D4s pricing was increased in response to Canon’s $6800 price on its 1D X camera, since they are the same class cameras.

NIKON D4S @ ISO 12800, 1/1600, f/6.3

1) Nikon D4s Specifications

Main Features:

1. Sensor: 16.2 MP FX, 7.3µ pixel size
2. Native ISO Sensitivity: 100-25,600
3. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 50
4. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 51,200-409,600
5. Processor: EXPEED 4
6. Dust Reduction: Yes
7. Shutter: Up to 1/8000 and 30 sec exposure, self-diagnostic shutter monitor
8. Shutter Durability: 400,000 cycles
9. Camera Lag: 0.012 seconds
10. Storage: 1x Compact Flash slot and 1x XQD slot
11. Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
12. Speed: 11 FPS
13. Exposure Meter: 91,000 pixel RGB sensor
14. Autofocus System: Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX with 51 focus points and 15 cross-type sensors
15. AF Detection: Up to f/8 with 11 focus points (5 in the center, 3 on the left and right)
16. LCD Screen: 3.2 inch diagonal with 921,000 dots
17. LCD Screen Calibration: Yes
18. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 60 fps max
19. Movie Exposure Control: Full
20. Movie Output: MOV, Compressed and Uncompressed
21. Wired LAN: Built-in Gigabit RJ-45 LAN port
22. WiFi: Not built-in, requires WT-5a and older wireless transmitters
23. GPS: Not built-in, requires GP-1 GPS unit
24. Battery Type: EN-EL18a
25. Battery Life: 3,020 shots
26. Weight: 1,180g
27. Price: $6,499.95 MSRP

source:photographylife

Nikon D810 Review

After more than two years since the successful launch of the Nikon D800 and D800E cameras, which shook up the photography industry with the high resolution 36.3 MP full-frame sensor, Nikon finally introduced an update to the cameras and combined the two into a single camera body. Although the new Nikon D810 has the same 36.3 MP resolution as its predecessors, it features a new sensor with an expanded native ISO range and comes with significant improvements to camera features, performance and ergonomics. In this review, we will take a closer look at these improvements and compare the performance of the D810 to other Nikon cameras.

So far our team at Photography Life has been shooting with the Nikon D810 for over a month (since the day it became officially available) and we have tested three samples of the camera to evaluate its performance for different types of photography including portraiture, wedding, landscape, astrophotography and wildlife. Hence, the review is a collective effort and will be presented from different perspectives of our contributors.

Before I delve into the review, let’s first go over the camera’s technical specifications and compare them side by side with the predecessors, the Nikon D800 and the D800E.

1) Nikon D810 Specifications

Main Features and Specifications:

1. Sensor: 36.3 MP FX, 4.8µ pixel size
2. Sensor Size: 35.9 x 24mm
3. Resolution: 7360 x 4912
4. DX Mode: 15.3 MP
5. DX Mode Resolution: 4800 x 3200
6. Native ISO Sensitivity: 64-12,800
7. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 32
8. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 25,600-51,200
9. sRAW File Support: 12-bit uncompressed
10. Processor: EXPEED 4
11. Metering System: 3D Color Matrix Meter III with highlight weighted metering
12. Dust Reduction: Yes
13. Weather Sealing/Protection: Yes
14. Body Build: Full Magnesium Alloy
15. White Balance: New White Balance System with up to 6 presets
16. Shutter: Up to 1/8000 and 30 sec exposure
17. Shutter Durability: 200,000 cycles, self-diagnostic shutter
18. Camera Lag: 0.012 seconds
19. Storage: 1x CF slot and 1x SD slot
20. Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
21. Speed: 5 FPS, 6 FPS in DX / 1.2X mode, 7 FPS in DX Crop Mode with optional MB-D12 battery pack
22. Exposure Meter: 91,000 pixel RGB sensor
23. Built-in Flash: Yes, with Commander Mode, full CLS compatibility
24. Autofocus System: Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX with Group Area AF
25. AF Detection: Up to f/8 with 9 focus points (5 in the center, 2 on the left and right)
26. LCD Screen: 3.2 inch diagonal with 1,229K dots
27. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 60 fps max
28. Movie Exposure Control: Full

Nikon D3300 Review

When it hit the market last year, the Nikon D3200 shook things up with the introduction of a 24-megapixel sensor at a previously unheard-of price point. Barely missing out on the title belt for entry-level cameras, the D3200 earned a respect among shooters as a solid camera regardless of its price.

Hoping to build on that success, Nikon released a successor: theD3300 (MSRP $649.95). A lighter chassis, 24.2-megapixel sensor with no AA-filter, and the new Expeed 4 processor make the D3300 a new contender for a new year.

This is very much an entry-level camera, but the numbers out of our labs tell the tale of a solid piece of equipment that holds its own in a sea of high-performance shooters. It doesn't hurt that the D3300 has guide modes to walk you through learning all about how to use your new SLR in addition to all the traditional shooting modes, truly making this a camera for just about anybody.

Design & Handling

You could be forgiven for mistaking the D3300 for the D3200 when you first see it, because it's a virtual clone of the older camera. Same controls, same shape, same aesthetics—if you've ever seen the Nikon D3200, you've seen the D3300. Because the older camera set a high-water mark for the entry level when it was released, that's hardly a criticism. However, there are a few hardware tweaks under the hood that do make a substantial difference.

Even an iterative upgrade is still an upgrade.

Nikon CoolPix S6900 Review

Nikon has unveiled the Nikon Coolpix S6900, a compact point-and-shoot camera for selfie-fans.

Many manufacturers have been capitalising on the craze for smartphone selfies of late, attempting to lift those dark, blurry self-shots to another level with dedicated camera hardware.

Nikon is the latest to have a crack with the Coolpix S6900. Its most notable feature is a 3-inch 460k dot display that can be flipped around 180 degrees to the side of the camera, making it perfect for lining up those selfies.

Of course, cameras have had flippable screens for years, but the Nikon Coolpix S6900 goes further in service of the selfie.

It's got a built-in stand that lets you support it on a table or flat surface while you position yourself in a group or scenery shot, for example.

When you are taking one of those more ambitious selfies, you can  initiate the shot through gestural commands.

Meanwhile sharing is a cinch with the unusual inclusion of NFC. Tap the Coolpix S6900 to your NFC-equipped smartphone (well timed with the iPhone 6 launch, Nikon) and you'll be able to quickly pair up and share your snaps over Wi-Fi.

There are also a bunch of beauty filters that can make your ugly mug look a little more presentable for those self-absorbed social network posts. You'll want to look your best when you're telling everyone what a wonderful time you're having, after all.

Elsewhere, the Nikon Coolpix S6900 has a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, an Expeed C2 processor, and a fixed 12x optical zoom (25-300mm equivalent) lens.

Pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed, but we'll let you know as soon as we do.

Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 Review

This is an in-depth, long overdue review of the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens that was released back in August of 2007 together with the 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens. I have owned the Nikon 24-70mm ever since it came out and I have written a lot about it in my articles, but never got the chance to sit down and provide some detailed feedback about what I like or don’t like about this lens. After I got my hands on other FX wide-angle lenses such as Nikon 16-35mm f/4 VR, Nikon 24mm f/1.4G and Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G, I knew it was time to put them all up to a real test and compare each one with the 24-70mm.

1) Lens Overview

The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens is a truly versatile lens that can be used for many different kinds of photography needs – from wide-angle landscapes and panoramas, to portraits and events. With its constant aperture of f/2.8 (meaning the aperture does not change while zooming) and state of the art optics, the lens is targeted towards enthusiasts and professionals, who work in various lighting and weather conditions and need exceptional sharpness, color and contrast in their images – something the Nikon 24-70mm was designed to deliver. It replaced the older Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8D lens and its optics were completely redesigned for superior performance and extra coverage on the wide-end. Featuring 15 lens elements in 11 groups, 3 out of which are ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements that reduce chromatic aberration and increase sharpness, the lens is a heavyweight monster weighing a whopping 31.7 oz. (900 grams), which is heavier than the Nikon D300 DSLR! In addition to the Silent Wave Motor (SWM/AF-S) that provides fast and quiet auto focus, the Nikon 24-70mm also features the Nano Crystal Coating technology, which reduces ghosting and flare. When it comes to weather sealing, the Nikon 24-70mm is designed to be well-protected against dust, moisture and tough weather conditions (read more under Lens Handling below).

Along with the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G, the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G was specifically made for FX (full-frame) DSLR camera bodies like Nikon D700/D3/D3s/D3x, and is a part of the Nikon professional lens “Trinity” – Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II. Just like any other full-frame lens, the 24-70mm works well on any Nikon DX camera, but due to the 1.5x crop factor (equivalent to 36-105mm), it might feel a little “too long”.

During the last three years, the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G has been my #1 workhorse lens for my photography. Out of 32,500 images that I shot in 2009, over 15,000 (almost half) were taken with the 24-70mm lens. I have a wide array of lenses and no other lens was used as heavily as this one – my Nikon 50mm f/1.4 captured a little over 4,000 images and it is the second most used lens in 2009. The primary reason, is that I traveled a lot in 2009 and the 24-70mm was an essential part of every trip. Besides being my top travel and landscape photography lens, the Nikon 24-70mm has also served me well during various local photo sessions both in studio and outdoors environments. So, as you can see, it has seen a lot of abuse from me and knowing it inside out, I can speak of it with confidence.

In terms of optical performance, the Nikon 24-70mm delivers outstanding performance from center to corner above 28mm, especially between 35mm and 70mm. At its widest focal length of 24mm, the lens suffers from vignetting, corner softness and slightly decreased performance when shot at maximum aperture, but most of these problems are gone by f/5.6 and above (more on sharpness on the second page). You also have to be careful with filters, since this lens does not like stacked filters at 24mm – you will see heavy vignetting if more than one regular filter is used.

2) Lens Specifications

Main Features:

• Fast, wide-angle to medium Telephoto AF-S zoom lens optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness on both the Nikon FX (23.9 x 36mm) and DX format image sensors.
• Two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) elements and PGM aspherical lenses control chromatic aberrations while enhancing sharpness and contrast, even at the widest aperture settings.
• Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables ultra high-speed auto focusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful, super-quiet operation.
• Focus as close as 14.9 inches.
• M/A focus mode switch enables quick response to changing situations between manual and auto focus operation.
• Enhanced optical formulas engineered to produce exceptional sharpness, contrast and color, rendering outstanding image integrity.
• Exclusive Nano Crystal Coat further reduces ghosting and flare for even greater image clarity.
• Internal Focus (IF) provides fast and quiet auto focusing without changing the length of the lens, retaining subject-working distance through the focus range.
• Rugged construction with professional-grade dust and moisture resistance.

Technical Specifications:

1. Mount Type: Nikon F-Bayonet
2. Focal Length Range: 24-70mm
3. Zoom Ratio: 2.9x
4. Maximum Aperture: 2.8
5. Minimum Aperture: 22
6. Maximum Angle of View (DX-format): 61°
7. Minimum Angle of View (DX-format): 22° 50′
8. Maximum Angle of View (FX-format): 84°
9. Minimum Angle of View (FX-format): 34° 20′
10. Maximum Reproduction Ratio: 0.27x
11. Lens (Elements): 15
12. Lens (Groups): 11
13. Compatible Format(s): FX, DX, FX in DX Crop Mode, 35mm Film
14. Diaphragm Blades: 9
15. Distance Information: Yes
16. Nano Crystal Coat: Yes
17. ED Glass (Elements): 3
18. Aspherical (Elements): 3
19. Super Integrated Coating: Yes
20. Autofocus: Yes
21. AF-S (Silent Wave Motor): Yes
22. Internal Focusing: Yes
23. Minimum Focus Distance: 1.2ft.(0.38m)
24. Focus Mode: Auto, Manual, Manual/Auto
25. Filter Size: 77mm
26. Accepts Filter Type: Screw-on
27. Dimensions (Approx.): 3.3×5.2 in. (Diameter x Length), 83x133mm (Diameter x Length)
28. Weight (Approx.): 31.7 oz. (900g)
29. Lens Case: CL-M3
30. Lens Hood: HB-40
31. Supplied Accessories: LC-77 77m snap-on front lens cap, LF-1 rear lens cap, HB-40 Bayonet Hood, CL-M3 Semi-soft Case

source:photographylife

Nikon D3s Review

Like the Nikon D3X, the Nikon D3S strongly resembles Nikon's first full-frame DSLR, the original D3, which first launched in 2007. While the D3X was built for photographers in the market for a 24 megapixel camera, the D3S is equipped with a more reasonable 12 megapixel sensor. Of course that may disappoint some photographers, but for me, 12 megapixels is more than adequate for most jobs.

Additionally, the benefits of the newly designed sensor outweigh any perceived drawbacks from a lower pixel count. Continuous shooting up to 9 frames per second and extraordinary low-light performance (with an expandable ISO up to 102,400) along with the addition of 720p HD video are only a few highlights of the D3S and its re-engineered sensor.

Outside of specs, maybe the biggest problem with the D3S is supply and demand. At least at the time of this review, if you didn't pre-order the camera when it was first announced, you may have to wait a while to get your hands on it.

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BUILD AND DESIGN

Physically, the D3S is almost a clone of the D3. Its rugged magnesium alloy body is hefty, measuring 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 inches and weighing 43.7 ounces. But the camera is well-designed, and offers a comfortable and solid handhold.

Nikon D800 Review

In the spring of 2012, Nikon rocked the camera world with its D800. The prospect of the camera’s class-leading 36.3-million-pixel full frame CMOS sensor had landscape and studio photographers in particular licking their lips. With an RRP of £2,600 and a street price now under £2,000, the D800 is good value for professionals and attainable for enthusiasts with a bit of cash. It’s a camera that appeals to many image makers.

At launch, the D800 was only the company’s second ‘enthusiast-level’ full-frame (FX) DSLR, some three and a half years after the D700. In many respects the cameras are worlds apart, given the long gap between them and how technology has moved forward in this time. The D800 sits above the more recently announced Nikon D600 and below the Nikon D3X and Nikon D4 in the company’s full-frame DSLR product range. Surely the days of the professional-level D3X are limited, given the higher resolution of the D800 which is half the price.

Nikon D750 Review: Nikon You Created a Monster

Right before the big Photokina show in Germany, Nikon introduced another full frame DSLR in 2014, the Nikon D750. Packing the newest and the most advanced 51-point Multi-CAM 3500 FX II autofocus system, a 24 MP sensor, 6.5 frames per second continuous shooting speed, built-in WiFi and a very lightweight and weather-sealed construction, the Nikon D750 sits between the entry-level D610 and the high-megapixel D810 lines. And with its price point of $2,299 MSRP, the D750 is an attractive choice not only for hobbyists and enthusiasts who want to move up from a DX or an older FX camera, but also for working professionals, who have been leaning away from higher resolution or more expensive cameras like D810 or D4S. Although the Nikon D750 did not replace the older D700 in terms of body build, ergonomics and features, it has a lot more resolution, much faster processor, significantly faster and superior autofocus system, a tilting LCD screen and impressive video capabilities. Thanks to these changes and improvements, the D750 hits the sweet spot in a number of areas and has the potential of becoming the most popular full-frame camera in Nikon’s current DSLR line-up.