Six months ago I decided to upgrade from my D60 and have been thrilled with my D300s. I have taken many thousands of pictures with it. But I have had this nagging feeling that there was somehow something better, and there was. About a week ago I received the D3s and in spite of all the reviews saying how great it is in low light (and it is) it is much more and is just a better camera in every way. I admit that I am now pairing it with some better glass, like the 2.8 24-70 and 70-200 but even with the same 50mm 1.4 it is just better, clearer, more accurate in color. It always seems to lock and focus perfectly. Yes, it is big, heavy (especially with the zoom lenses) does not have a zillion pixels, and the charts, the descriptions comparing cameras simply do not do it justice. And it has only been a week. Has anyone else had a similar experience? What am I going to do with my almost new D300s? It looks like it is about the same, but it just isn't.
Why I love my D3s
(53 posts) (26 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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I'd keep the D300s as a backup/lighter vacation body.
I would love to handle a D3s one day. I suspect it will be high ISO king for quite a while, especially if Nikon goes for higher than 12 MP with the D4 (which they had better, for marketing reasons if nothing else).
Posted 2 years ago # -
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I'd buy your d300s, i have one already and love it. Shame i cant afford it, just bought 24-70, 70-200 and a 50mm f1.4
Posted 2 years ago # -
Same thing with my D40. Yes, it is at the bottom of the pack for Nikon DSLRs, but the little scrappy thing has always been there for me when I needed that shot. The only thing that really let me down is the 3 point autofocus, but I usually get around that anyway.
To think that I went from a shitty little 5 year old point and shoot (at that time) to a DSLR is just mind blowing, for me at least.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Actually, I am really happy to keep my D300s for travel, and will probably do more video with it. There is a nice article on fstoppers on using the Tamron lens (17-50 VR 2.8) which they say is the best for video since it is the only lens that stops vibration which is 2.8.
One thing that I really like is that the controls of the D300s and the D3s are almost exactly the same, so it is very easy to go between them.
With more use, what is really nice on the D3s is that when the light drops on Aperture priority that the ISO can climb to 2000 and it has no effect at all on the quality of the pictures. With the D300s I cannot go above 800 without seeing grain.
Posted 2 years ago # -
visumax said:
One thing that I really like is that the controls of the D300s and the D3s are almost exactly the same, so it is very easy to go between them.
I liked that they fixed that from the D3/D300 era. Although people usually like the D3/D300 vs D700/D90 combo I found some of the body layout on the D300 to be annoying and they fixed it in the D300s. Still I am more of a D700 D90 guy myself although Id take a D3 or D3s in a heartbeat...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Love mine too. It's very heavy with a 70-200 lens,..but the pics are unbelievable.
People do "stare" at you with this camera. Purchased a "R Strap" to replace the cheap Nikon strap. Have fun,..I am.Posted 2 years ago # -
I figured as much, the D3s must be really something. The weight must be a killer though. Have you taken it out for any landscape work or travel? I never use my battery pack on my D700 anymore due to the weight and I'm careful about selecting which lenses to bring. The images on the D3s are extremly sharp I hear. Can you post one right in this thread by any chance?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I love my D3. I rented a D700 last month and loved the weight. It was weird shooting Vertically without the grip but i got over it. Iknow for one thing it can get heavy, Esp when you carry a d700 w/ a 24-70 and a sb-600 and a D3 w/ 70-200 2.8 with a Sb-900 for 7 Hours. You get surprised how much it wears you out at the end of the day
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have purchased the Photo Tank backpack and have carried the D3s to many cities. With the laptop, D3S, 24-70, 70-200, SL and other "stuff",...it's heavy! Also, expect a travel delay in the airport, there is alway a bag inspection. I'm also afraid that the inspector will let a lens roll out of the bag.
I really do enjoy this camera. Nikko said that its not the camera,..its the photographer. He is right,...but I am sure getting darn lucky with a better camera.
ps. how do I post a pic?
Posted 2 years ago # -
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Yes its time for a pic!^^
Posted 2 years ago # -
Easier would be to just upload to flickr, and copy the html code from there, it's automatically generated.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Honestly I would keep it as well. I was in a similar boat a year ago. I had the D200 and upgraded to the D700.
When our family went on vacation to the beach last month, I dreaded taking my D700 for fear of travel damage or getting sand inside it on a windy beach day. I opted for my handy old D200 with my stand-by 18-35. It was a great move on my part. the D200 was never dropped, but I suspect a grain of sand got into the 18-35 and there is a very faint sound of gringing. Even though the camera was unharmed, I thought about this happening to my D700 and was very pleased with my decision not to bring it along.
Long story short, keep the D300s as a backup for a situation where the D3s might be in too much jeopardy.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I am going to sell my weights and use the money to buy heavier lenses! Seriously, with the D300s it is great in optimal light, or with modeling lights, but even so the colors are not always exactly correct, especially skin tones. I think D700 users have appreciated this for awhile. I am so impressed not with taking pictures in the dark, but that in aperture priority at 3.2 (or 2.8) I can keep the shutter speed at 1/250 and let the ISO climb to 1600 or so without even a hint of grain. I think that the D300s is great for travel, and I am thinking of a 2 camera video shoot with the D3s fixed on a tripod, and the D300s mobile both shooting the same scene. I will post the video when complete.
I have learned a lot reading this forum!Posted 2 years ago # -
ISO 60,000 1/25 sec 400mm f5.6 hand held This is one reason I love my D3s.Posted 2 years ago # -
been using the D90 as a vacation body. . .funny, people still gawk at it as a pro body, and I feel like saying, "Have you driven a D3 lately?"
Honestly, the D3 isn't that heavy, it's the size and obviousness of it that makes me less likely to travel with it. . ..independent of risk of getting mugged (and I'm in Lausanne right now, you'd think I wouldn't envisage that being an issue as I walked by a Ferrari dealership!)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh! how I would love to own a D3...But for the time being my D300 is still great, I would not find a use for video on a DSLR personally.
Posted 2 years ago # -
There we go! Atta way Treckie excellent!
Posted 2 years ago # -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48405141@N08/4828920857/
The sky looked almost black when this business jet flew overhead and it was the only visible light in the sky at 9 PM. I was amazed not only in the night performance, but that I could capture such a clear shot at 1/20 second exposure at ISO 51,200 using 70-200 VRII at 200.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was a late come'er to digital. I waited till the D2hs. When I push a button it better go click. Previous and at the same time kept and used my F4 for wide angle and general use. The D2hs was when I needed proformance and need it now images. The D3s put the F4 on the shelve. Why the D3s?
You only get a blink on an eye to get a great image or it's gone. What value you place on the opportunity for that once in a lifetime image. I know people who spend more than that on a watch or a ring. I can tell time with a Timex for ten dollars. I'm not really trying to stay ahead of the curve but felt time was right to step up. I expect to use it for the next ten years.
How much would the money I spent on F2 with motor drive in the early 70's be worth today. I'd bet close to what I paid for the D3s. Candybar 5 cents today $1.00, Gas .25 today 2.79, same house then $20,000 sold last year $300,000.
The D3s is a worth every penny.
Best camera I've ever held in my hands.
My2cents
framerPosted 2 years ago # -
Framer, I agree; this camera offers oppertunities for capturing images that none of my previous cameras could. I have a low light venue that I shoot at ISO 9000 without a second thought or concern for too much noise.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm late to this topic, but I too have a D3S and love it. I had the same experience. Photos in all conditions are clearer, the autofocus is faultless in even the most tricky conditions, and of course, the ISO performance is incredible.
I use ISO10000 with no problems at all, I get clean images that are very easy to work with. Just remarkable. It captures images that were difficult with the D700 or D3, and impossible with a D2 series body.
a.net is picky with noise, so the fact that ISO10,000 is useful is good:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Emirates/Airbus-A380-861/1810589/L/Well, I guess I just gave away my identity. :) I have had so many people ask about this camera - and I tell them the same thing - it is unreal just how good it is, and yes, I highly recommend it. Undoubtedly the best camera I have ever used.
It's even not too heavy - compared with a D700+MB-D10+EN-EL4a.
Posted 2 years ago # -
avro said:
I'm late to this topic, but I too have a D3S and love it. I had the same experience. Photos in all conditions are clearer, the autofocus is faultless in even the most tricky conditions, and of course, the ISO performance is incredible.I use ISO10000 with no problems at all, I get clean images that are very easy to work with. Just remarkable. It captures images that were difficult with the D700 or D3, and impossible with a D2 series body.
a.net is picky with noise, so the fact that ISO10,000 is useful is good:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Emirates/Airbus-A380-861/1810589/L/Well, I guess I just gave away my identity. :) I have had so many people ask about this camera - and I tell them the same thing - it is unreal just how good it is, and yes, I highly recommend it. Undoubtedly the best camera I have ever used.
It's even not too heavy - compared with a D700+MB-D10+EN-EL4a.
You're late? I'm even later! I had never even looked at your photo (not that you've even been back to NR since posting that link), since I never thought I'd ever own a D3s. What a beautiful photo! I just picked up a D3s refurb this afternoon, and I just got home from work and opened the box. I just shot some tests with it at ISO 6400, and they don't look as clean as that runway shot! I haven't gone through the menus at all yet. If anyone still here who owns a D3s could volunteer how they've dialed in their noise reduction settings to get the kind of results avro did, I'm all ears . . .
Posted 2 years ago #
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