On the subject of tripods, the suggestions here are for still-camera tripods, not video tripods.

Video tripods have fluid heads and various other features. A ball head is not going to be very useful for shooting video with the D3s. Eventually you will need both. And, in general, video tripods are heavy compared to still-camera tripods because the idea is to make all the movements slowly or controlled.

nico - as for tripods it all depends on the amount of money You can spend, if You need the best performance go for Gitzo, if You want to save a buck or two go for manfrotto - their carbon fiber tripods are really good (anyway a good tripod will cost You around $500). As for head - go for anything with arca swiss clamp (if You are really into photography), look for companies like Really Right Stuff, Gitzo, Arca Swiss, Kirk Photo - good head will also cost You around $400 + additional clamps (around $50-$200);
when You shooting in-field, and You want to save some weight You can go for sleeping bag pillow by therm-a-rest (but that's useful when You use long/big glass).

You can also check this article by Thom Hogan - LINK

Here's another short sequence - same setup.

Cheers!

http://www.vimeo.com/7942137

Hi adamz - thanks for your reply. I have just put my gear on my backpack on the ground and I had to hold the camera with my hands, so no tripod here. I have uploaded another one on vimeo and there will be more soon. If anyone has advice re- tripods (manfrotto?) and tripod heads, I'd love to hear from him/her.

Thanks!

nico, if You shot this on a tripod than this should be Your first replacement - haven't seen such a shake for a long period of time; apart from that thanks for sharing the video with us

Hi guys,

Here's another one I have made this afternoon, I am looking forward to buying a good tripod soon.

Cheers!

http://www.vimeo.com/7941082

You can manually select the aperture & ISO, and there is a "high iso" option as well that can be switched on for low-light footage.

Hi JSturr,
Can you manually select the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in the video mode? I've been dying to find out!

Thanks!

A side note on the video -- I just received my body yesterday and although I haven't shot any video I read in the manual you can shoot in either Handheld or Tripod mode -- Handheld will adjust the Aperature automaticaly but no AF and in Tripod the aperature and exposure is Locked and you can AF on the fly --- in Handheld you can't AF on the fly only Manual Focus -- that's today's fun fact :)

JSturr
http://www.jsturr.com

Hi !
Thanks for your comments... I will upload more videos and try to test that option to avoid the automatic ISO adjustments.
Cheers!

Welcome to the forum, Nico. I like the video—that's a cute little girl.

I have a recommendation for you. During the video the camera will automatically adjust the ISO to get the exposure 'right' unless you tell it not to. You may have noticed that if you turn the camera from a bright light to a darker area, the brightness will go up in steps. It's almost not noticeable on your video, but on the D90 I've found I have to set the AE-L button to "AE lock (hold)" because the auto brightness adjustment is obvious and distracting. Maybe they improved things on the D3s because it seems more gradual but I can still see it because I know what to look for.

Welcome Nico! That's a great video—thanks :^)

Cute little girl.

hi there,
just made a few ultra-short sequences today with the D3s and a 50mm 1.4 AF-D handheld, see http://www.vimeo.com/7881363
will make more under low-light conditions + a tripod... so far the rendering is excellent IMHO
cheers!

thanks for your posts.. appreciate you sharing your thoughts...

Sorry Tai, I am running several businesses and this is what I do for fun. Don't have time for ISO tests and there are already serveral available and probably dozens within a week or so. I am just giving my lazy from-the-hip take on the D3s, which is that it seems to be more than an upgrade to me, a remarkable camera and a pacesetter. MOre than pros and semi-pros will want this camera and deserve to have it.

I remember when you posted about getting the D3x. My D700 and I are very jealous of your Nikon bifecta (if trifecta is a word, bifecta should be, too). Anyway, as I asked last time: samples? Side-by-side with the D700 at high ISOs would make me happy.

Well, I have a D3x and there is a lot to be said for MP for certain work. I have not sold my D3x. I am going to sell my D700 right away though. MP and low-light don’t mix well so far. This is a better sensor than is in my D700 or D3x as far as I can tell from one day’s use. In fact, it is a huge forward step for my work, because much of the work I want to do involves low-light music events and getting great shots has been tough from any distance.

Thanks for posting this, merlewine. I have to add that I'm hoping the D700 replacement has this sensor in it. I say bravo, Nikon, for keeping their priorities right on their low-light cameras: sensitivity, not MP.

video features on DSLR is the way to go these days (unless you get huge budget for a red setup or something) The ability to shoot video with a full frame sensor and the nikkor glasses simply makes the combo unbeatable by those prosumer mini dv toys. Also, I find that a DSLR is much more easy to manipulate..

Just a further note on video. I shot some. I did not shoot skiers, motorcyclists, or people bungee-jumping, but just indoor reasonable-paced scenes, conversations, etc., which is what I need this camera for anyway, interviews and studio work. Here is what I have learned so far:

I have a full audio studio and a lot of video equipment, a couple of prosumer Sony Mini-DV cameras, but also HD. I just sold my Panasonic HD HVX-200 camera on the HOPE that the Nikon D3s would be more useful to me. IMO, the HVX-200 had terrible ergonomics, for example. That, and the lack of changeable lenses, led to my just not liking the camera and not using it.

So far my hopes for the D3s have been fulfilled. I was right in that having changeable lenses, particularly my collection of Nikon great legendary lenses, is what I needed. I shot some footage with the 24-70 2.8 and it was crystal clear, 720p, and all that I need for my projects.

I am sure in this next week, as the first wave of D3s cameras flow in, there will be all kinds of opinions, and plenty of nit-picking.

But for myself, I am breathing a sigh of relief for kicking out the bucks on this camera and taking a chance. I believe this will be another much-loved camera, as is the D700, meaning: more than you bargained for, a great deal.

Knock on the door. I just received my copy of the new 70-200—2.8 VRII lens, so excuse me while I check that out. I probably will not post shots or video… just too busy, but I am sure there will tons of both soon. I am just writing this for those like me who are betting on this camera kicking some butt. No doubt!

Congratulations. I'm envious, but my D90 is still working, so...

Well Moose is testing out the D3s at the moment, so there is no wonder in that =).
I am debating with my self to get it, but that would mean getting rid of my d3x.

It seems like an awesome camera.

TYPO above.

SHOULD READ:

"It is so much better than my D700 or D3x as..."

Just a quick note to say my Nikon D3s arrived this morning, and my 70-200 VRII lens is due also.

The first thing I did was to take a photo of my partially darkened office and was amazed at the totally useful photo that resulted. Seeing is believing. The D3s is at least as remarkable as the reviews state. No wonder all the new Moose Peterson shots are with the D3s. It is so much better than my D700 or D3x as for light, and IMHO this is not just for journalists or sports photographers. I am a semi-professional, meaning I do some professional work. This opens up doors for me, and I don’t shoot sports. I do shoot concerts and this will be the camera for that!

The video mode I am just trying out and so far, it looks very workable for me, but I only need it for interviews and tripod work.