Nikon D3 Full Frame 12.1 megapixel Digital SLR Camera



  • A Nikon-original 12.1-megapixel FX-format (23.9 x 36mm) CMOS sensor, in concert with Nikon’s exclusive Expeed digital image processing technologies, delivers breathtakingly rich image quality and greater handling speed, while also reducing noise to unprecedented levels, even high ISOs.
  • Continuous shooting at up to 9 frames-per-second at full FX resolution eliminates the image quality issues that face so many low-light sports shooters.
  • The 3.0-inch Super Density 920,000-dot VGA Color Monitor with 170-degree wide-angle viewing makes possible even more critical image review.
  • Nikon’s exclusive Scene Recognition System, with an enhanced 1,005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, provides even more intelligent light metering capabilities, along with smarter white balance detection and faster and more accurate AF performance.
  • Nikon's self-diagnostic shutter system, tested to 300,000 cycles, is a clear indicator of advanced engineering and durable construction.
  • 2 LiveView Shooting Modes are just one of the D3’s features that support unmatched versatility.
  • Available November 2007







brochure

Type of Camera Single-lens reflex digital camera
Effective Pixels 12.1 million
Image Sensor CMOS sensor, 36.0 x 23.9 mm; total pixels: 12.87 million; Nikon FX format
Image Size (pixels)
Image area L M S
FX format (36 x 24) 4,256 x 2,832 3,184 x 2,120 2,128 x 1,416
5:4 (30 x 24) 3,552 x 2,832 2,656 x 2,120 1,776 x 1,416
DX format (24 x 16) 2,784 x 1,848 2,080 x 1,384 1,392 x 920
Sensitivity ISO 200 to 6,400 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV; sensitivity decreases approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) EV below ISO 200, and increases approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1 (ISO 12,800 equivalent), or 2 (ISO 25,600 equivalent) EV over ISO 6,400
File System Compliant with DCF 2.0, DPOF and Exif 2.21
Storage System Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80%
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60%
PEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality
Storage Media CompactFlash (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA); Microdrives
Release Modes
  • 1) Single-frame [S] mode
  • 2) Continuous low-speed [CL] mode: 1-9 frames per second*
  • 3) Continuous high-speed [CH] mode: 9 fps (9-11 fps with DX format)*
  • 4) Liveview [LV] mode
  • 5) Self-timer [ ] mode
  • 6) Mirror-up [Mup] mode
*With Continuous-servo AF, S or M exposure mode, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster; other settings are set at "Default".
White Balance
  • Auto (TTL white balance with main image sensor and 1,005-pixel RGB sensor);
  • Seven manual modes can be preset with fine-tuning; color temperature setting; white balance bracketing: 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1, 2 or 3
Liveview Handheld mode: TLL phase-difference AF with 51 focus areas (15 cross-type sensors)
Tripod mode: focal-plane contrast AF on a desired point within a specific area
LCD Monitor 3-in., approx. 920,000-dot (VGA), 170-degree wide-viewing-angle, 100% frame coverage, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
Playback Function 1) Full frame, 2) Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments), 3) Zoom, 4) Slideshow, 5) Histogram indication, 6) Shooting data, 7) Highlight point display, 8) Auto image rotation
Video Output NTSC or PAL; simultaneous playback from both the video output and on the LCD monitor available
HDMI Output Supports HDMI version 1.3a; Type A connector is provided as HDMI output terminal; simultaneous playback from both the HDMI output terminal and on the LCD monitor not available
Interface Hi-speed USB
Lens Mount Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts
Compatible Lenses*1
  • 1) Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
  • 2) DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/5:4 (30x24) image size
  • 3) AF NIKKOR other than type G or D*2: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II
  • 4) AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
  • 5) Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data
*1. IX NIKKOR lenses cannot be used
*2. Excluding lenses for F3AF
Picture Angle Equivalent to angle produced by lens focal length (1.5 times when DX format is selected)
Viewfinder SLR-type with fixed eye-level pentaprism; built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1 m-1)
Eyepoint 18 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Focusing Screen Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen
Viewfinder Frame Coverage Approx. 100% (vertical/horizontal)
Viewfinder Magnification Approx. 0.7x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1)
Reflex Mirror Quick-return type
Lens Aperture Instant-return type, with depth-of-field preview button
Autofocus
  • TTL phase detection, 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors) by Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus module; Detection: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F); AF fine adjustment possible
  • Focal-plane contrast [in Liveview (Tripod) mode]
Lens Servo
  • 1) Autofocus: Single-servo AF (S); Continuous-servo AF (C); Focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status,
  • 2) Manual focus (M) with electronic rangefinder
Focus Point Single AF point can be selected from 51 or 11 focus points
AF-Area Mode
  • 1) Single-point AF
  • 2) Dynamic AF [number of AF areas: 9, 21, 51, 51 (3D-tracking)]
  • 3) Automatic-area AF
Focus Lock Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button or by pressing shutter-release button half-way (single-point AF in AF-S)
Exposure Metering System TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
  • 1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); Color Matrix Metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data)
  • 2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-, 15- or 20-mm circle in center of frame, or weighting based on average of entire frame
  • 3) Spot: Meters 4-mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus area (on center focus area when non-CPU lens is used)
Metering Range
  • 1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering)
  • 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20°C/68°F)
Exposure Meter Coupling Combined CPU and AI
Exposure Modes 1) Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program, 2) Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
3) Aperture-Priority Auto (A), 4) Manual (M)
Exposure Compensation ±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Exposure Lock Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure Bracketing Exposure and/or flash bracketing (2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV)
Picture Control System Four setting options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome; each option can be adjusted
Shutter Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter; 1/8,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV; Bulb
Sync Contact X = 1/250 s; flash synchronization at up to 1/250 s
Flash Control
  • 1) TTL flash control with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash available with SB-800, 600 or 400
  • 2) Auto aperture (AA): Available with SB-800 and CPU lens
  • 3) Non-TTL auto (A): Available with SB-800, 28, 27 or 22s
  • 4) Range-priority manual (GN): Available with SB-800
Flash Sync Modes 1) Front-curtain sync (normal), 2) Slow sync, 3) Rear-curtain sync,
4) Red-eye reduction, 5) Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Accessory Shoe Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock
Sync Terminal ISO 519 standard terminal
Creative Lighting System With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock
Self-timer Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 3, 10 or 20 s
Depth-of-field When CPU lens is attached, lens aperture can be stopped down to value selected by user
Preview Button (A and M modes) or value selected by camera (P and S modes)
10-pin Terminal
  • 1) GPS: NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)
  • 2) Remote control: via 10-pin terminal
Supported Languages Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Power Source One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a/EL4, Quick Charger MH-22, AC Adapter EH-6 (optional)
Tripod Socket 1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 159.5 x 157 x 87.5 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in.)
Weight Approx. 1,240 g (2.7 lb.) without battery, memory card, body cap or accessory shoe cover
Operating Environment Temperature: 0-40°C/32-104°F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation)
Supplied Accessories* Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, Quick Charger MH-22, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-D3, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cap BS-2, Eyepiece DK-17, Battery Chamber Cover BL-4, USB Cable Clip, Software Suite CD-ROM
 *Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area
Main Optional Accessories Wireless Transmitter WT-4, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-17M, AC Adapter EH-6, Capture NX Software, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software
  • CompactFlash is a registered trademark of SanDisk Corporation.
  • Products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
  • Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. August 2007






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