8 February 2008 - There�s no denying that the Nikon D3 is a lot of camera, sporting a host of advanced features befitting a camera pitched at the top level of professional shooting - it even comes equipped with Live View. And before you ask, yes, it can auto-focus using all of the 51-AF zones available in Live View too.
The new CMOS sensor provides a seemingly modest 12.1-megapixel resolution looking a little out of sorts particularly when compared to, say, Canon�s 21-megapixel EOS 1Ds Mk III, with which the D3 will undoubtedly compete, although, it must be remembered the Canon is almost double the price! On the upside it means the pixel pitch will be better than the Canon (that�s bigger pixels to you and me) and means an excellent signal to noise ratio, so noise is all but non-existent.
Image processing is controlled by Nikon�s EXPEED image engine and as with the recently tested D300, it works very well indeed, allowing the camera�s amazing ISO range of 100 to 25,600 to become a realistic but crucially, a usable, proposition.
True, to get the ISO 100 and to ISOs above 6400, you have to use the camera�s boosted settings but even so, noise is so well controlled that routine shooting above ISO 1000 is not a problem. Noise is only apparent (but very subtly) at ISO 6400 and above, noise in shadows reveals blotches of blockiness and areas of smooth featureless colour, such as skies, start to pick up artifacts.
The camera�s heavyweight build (the body weighs 1.24-kilos) means it is heavy but proofed against dirt and water ingress. However, despite the weight handling is excellent thanks to ergonomic control layout and easy to use buttons. The integrated vertical grip helps balance the camera too and houses a large lithium-ion battery pack on which, at the time of writing I�d shot over 400-images on the first charge and it is still at 68%.
Doug Harman
more : pocket-lint
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