Nikon D3 Digital Camera
The fastest DLSR in the market, this is how the Nikon D3 can be described in a single sentence. It has a 12.9 mega pixel sensor resolution and a frame rate which can go as high as 11 frames per second.
The Nikon D3 has a completely revamped look as compared to the other Nikon models in the market. Features like larger pentaprism housing and absence of ambient light sensor are some main changes in the shape of the D3. The camera has dimensions of 160x157x88mm and weighs approximately 1,240 g. It has 3.0 inch TFT LCD screen with 170° viewing angle and various brightness levels. The LCD provides 100% frame coverage just like the Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism view finder. The view finder has Built-in diopter adjustment and Focusing screen of Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen. The D3 comes equipped with Nikon’s new Multi-CAM 3500FX AF system which has 51-point "precision focus" AF points including 15 cross-type points sensitive to both horizontal and vertical lines.
The D3 has the ability to store up to 10 lens adjustments by type. The Live View mode present in the D3 is quiet exceptional and useful. The Live Mode provides two options while performing auto focus operation. The first mode which can be used by everyone has the traditional AF sensors blocked when the mirror is flipped for Live View mode and one needs to drop the mirror for focusing and then flip it back for Live View. In the second mode the CMOS image sensor is used by the camera to read data and then estimate the change in transactions that would occur on the image plane.
The D3 uses EXPEED processor which has a16-bit pipeline and employs features such as Scene Recognition System, in-camera Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction and Active D-Lighting. The SRS as compared to the Nikon’s old Matrix metering system performs complete analysis, improving white balance, focus tracking and exposure. The D-Lightning helps improve under exposed images and better detailing of shadows. With the Lateral Chromatic Aberration correction the D3 does processing which is based on the amount of distortion it records in an image.
The image size in the D3 varies on the format in use. When the FX format is used the image resolutions available are 4256 x 2832 (Large), 3184 x 2120 (Medium) and 2128 x 1416 (Small). While DX format is in use the resolutions present are 2784 x 1848 (Large), 2080 x 1384 (Medium) and 1392 x 920 (Small). Lastly the 5:4 format has the following options to choose from 3552 x 2832 (Large), 2656 x 2120 (Medium) and 1776 x 1416 (Small).Images are stored in any of the four formats which includes NEF, NEF + JPEG, TIFF and JPEG . There are 3 AF modes, Single point AF, Dynamic Area AF and Automatic-area AF. For further AF assistance one can use External Speedlite only. The various exposure modes present are Program Auto [P] with flexible program, Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A] and Manual [M].
The Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter has shutter speeds ranging from 30 to 1/8000 seconds and the Flash X-Sync is 1/250 seconds. The ISO sensitivities range from ISO 200 – 6400 and can be stretched to ISO 25600 using the HI2 setting. The different white balance options present are Auto, Presets (seven) with fine tuning, Manual presets, Colour temperature in Kelvin and White balance bracketing. The picture controls included in the D3 are Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome. The various image parameters present are Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels, Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve, Brightness: 3 levels, Saturation: Auto, 5 levels and Hue: 5 levels. The different shooting modes in the D3 are Single frame, Continuous Low, Continuous High, Live view, Self-Timer and Mirror-up mode. The different options included in the Flash sync mode are Front-curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync, Slow Sync and Rear-curtain Sync. While in playback mode the user can choose from options like Full frame, Thumbnail, One-touch zoom, Slideshow, RGB histogram, shooting data, Highlight point and Auto image rotation.
The camera has a self timer which can delay a picture up to 20 seconds. The various connectivities provided in the D3 are USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector, HDMI video out, Remote control 10-pin terminal and PC Sync flash terminal. The camera uses Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a/EL4 battery for power. This is compatible with Dual Compact Flash Type I or II, UDMA, Micro drive and FAT32. This also allows FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3.
The Nikon D3 is an outstanding digital camera and with its emergence has provided Pro photographers with new option for full-frame digital photography.
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