Gah! A Nikon Post!
Yes, it matters what they’re up to. I only post Nikon stuff close to an announcement.

October 14/15, 2009
Nikon will be announcing the successor to the highly successful D3 this week. I’ve received some CR3 info as has Nikon Rumors who has received a lot more :)

The D3s Specs (NR)

  • Better ISO-performance (ISO 200-12800 probably)
  • New 1.2 crop mode
  • Bigger buffer
  • Motion-Jpeg 720p (no 1080p!)
  • Improved AF-ON button
  • Improved multi-dial
  • No 14 fps, I repeat no 14 fps

The CR3 Specs I received (NR has all the juice):

  • Nikon D3s
  • Oct 14/15th
  • 12 mp
  • ISO 102,400

At the moment no new lenses will be launched with the D3s according to Nikon Rumors.

Nikon is really upping the spec game if these rumors are true (outside of the 1080p omission).

cr

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33 Comments

  1. How is this really upping the spec game? Unless 102,400 is actually usable which would be insanity

  2. I think “better ISO performance” counts towards upping the spec game. Wasn’t it just a little while ago that people were moaning about how awful the noise was going to be on the 7D and how Canon should have gone for fewer megapixels and less noise?

  3. “Nikon is really upping the spec game if these rumors are true (outside of the 1080p omission).”

    Really? Outside of the ISO changes, which may or may not be usable, I don’t see anything in these specs to justify upgrading. A huge yawner IMO.

  4. Very nice, Nikon.

    Canon is threatening to up the APS-C pixel count to 21Mpixel and use THREE Digic processors to mask the noise!

  5. I am really sick of Canon. The Mark III is so outdated compared to the Nikon offerings.

    Also Canon’s 24-70 is a piece of #&^! compared to Nikons.

  6. To some extent I’m with you on that one JK.

    Canon needs to speed up it’s game if they want stay with Nikon.

  7. There is already a perception amongst a lot of people in the Canon camp that thinks the current D3 outspecs the 1D Mark III. Nikon is taking it a step forward now by adding video, ISO performance, a selectable crop and whatever other subtle goodies are under the hood.

    Not to mention the full frame sensor and an autofocus system that doesn’t have a PR problem.

    The key word is “perception”. I make these statements based on the emails I get almost daily on the subject.

    Thanks for reading.

  8. That makes sense. I guess I’m just surprised that Nikon is willing to leave the D3 relatively unchanged even with the 1D Mark IV right around the corner. I thought Nikon really upped the ante so-to-speak last year, but now it seems like they are just going to sit on their hands and see what Canon does. Hopefully Canon has a good response ready with the 1DMIV.

  9. The more Nikon pushes, the more Canon has to offer, so some important Nikon news is warrented.

    I am still waiting for good 1Ds4 news…

    M

  10. Good Job Nikon ! Stick with 12MP

    If WE (canon) stick with 12MP

    then we’ll have ISO 496,000 no doubt

  11. Nikon’s video is only 720p and from current Nikon bodies most likely suffers from bad jello effect. Upping the ISO is superficial at best, we wont see any ground breaking NR technology from Nikon since Canon is at the forefront of that. I recall news of a P&S camera that can do ISO 250,000 picture was so bad it not useable.

    D3s is just a refresh very much the same way the D300s is a refresh of the D300, same sensor, minor tuning of speed and crappy video with no manual control.

    If the 7D is anything to go by the new 1DMk4 will make the D3s look ancient.

  12. Here’s the deal. Lets wait to see what Nikon is offering, it maybe the new Exmor sensor developed by Sony.

    What Nikon may doing is taking the voltage readout from the sensor, passing it through an LNA and then applying some filtering prior to the A/D conversion. Unlike Canon who actually did the hard work and developed a new sensor for the 7D in which they improved the quantum efficiency of the photo diodes. This is real engineering, no amount of signal processing trickery can make up for improved quantum efficiency. I believe that Canon pulled its punches on the 7D sensor in terms of noise performance and with the 1DMkIV, will hit another home run. What Canon is bad at is the feature set and ergonomics of the body, but they redeemed themselves with the 7D.

    Of the 3 companies, Sony, Canon & Nikon; none of them want to hurt the other. So they increase prices or hold back features deliberately when current technology is more than capable.

  13. you shouldn’t post acomment if you are stuck on a brand and won’t open your eyes to see what is really there in front of you. Canon and Nikon both have their strengths and weaknesses, but to just come out and say that you are sick of Canon makes your comment moot.

  14. Hey I have over 20k tied up in Canon glass. I have 2 Mark III cameras that have focus issues. My 580ex II strobes have a mind of their own.

    I make my living as a photographer. I would love to switch to Nikon to get sharp photos and strobes that are consistant.

  15. Why Dont use dual core prosesors and put 2 in paralel

    woaaaaaa is fast

    to mach the af in our eyes need 7 prosesors all dual core

    need a buffer size of a house and DR imposible

    in test camera can divide the metering in 4 zones

    up is one read down is another read left another and right another

    increase the DR by 4 stops

    sky is blue and the floor or sand is color sand

    not over or under exposure

    sorry is only 3 frames per second

    21 mp

    and 45 af points

    if you desable DR+

    you have 6 frames per second

    Iso 3200 is Exelent ( of coarse is only in real life Iso 1355 ) ef lenses only and a new ef+

  16. har har to all the people freaking out about 14 FPS on the nikon …

    does it pain you when nikon doesn’t beat Canon and you have one less thing to whine about?

  17. if your gear is all high end gear then you should be able to resell it alright. if you have any spare cash you could even start investing in a nikon system while maintaining your canon gear.

    how much is it for a D3, (maybe a D700 for backup too), four good lenses, and a good set of SB900s? can’t cost any more than it costs to get through a year of college. and if you’re a pro who’s serious about making the switch, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable amount to leverage.

    there’s still plenty of guys out there shooting Canon to spectacular results. why is it they’re getting along with their gear while you aren’t with yours? that being said, if you’re serious about the switch, just do it. it’s not as painful as you’d think.

  18. david pr: I don’t think a cryptographer could decipher what you’re trying to say here. it looks like an altavista translation circa 1998

  19. The 1DsII had noisy ISO 1600. 4-5 years later, the 5DII has noisy ISO 1600. 4-5 years later, cameras will still have noisy ISO 1600

    Who says they are even improving?