Nikon D3s Review

I've been shooting with a couple of Nikon D3 kits for the last couple of years and I can't tell you how happy I am with them. In terms of general performance and image quality, they've never let me down. So when I heard the news that Nikon had launched the D3s, I was excited, if somewhat skeptical as to what benefits the newer model could give me. Having a look at the specifications, I noted a number of improvements that could really make a difference in my job, such as a faster frame advance (nine frames-per-second as opposed to the D3's seven frames-per-second), improved AF and extended ISO range (ISO 200 to 12,800, expandable to ISO 102,400). However, the addition of HD video, a feature that's been creeping into DSLRs at all price ranges, at first didn't seem much of an advantage over the D3 for my type of work, but I was later to change my mind on this.
So you could say my initial thoughts on the D3s were positive but luke warm. However, that all changed once I got my hands on the camera and started shooting with it. Over the last fortnight, I've been covering Premiership and Champions League football, boxing, as well as shooting the odd studio session and I can state that the D3s is much better than the D3. While there are many similarities between the two models, the enhancements and additions of the D3s have led to major improvements in the images I've taken.
With focusing being the key requirement for photographing sports, it makes sense to talk first of all about the AF system of the D3s. It uses the same 51-point arrangement as the D3, but the autofocus is faster, I'd say it's about 40 percent quicker. I use the back-button system to focus, with the central nine AF points activated, and I'd say it locks on the subject as quickly as the Canon I used previously, but I find it stays locked on the subject better than any camera I've ever used. And while the D3s offers options for AF speed, I've found leaving it set to Normal works best.
The motordrive is excellent and feels more responsive than the D3. Along with the improved buffer menu, I've found it has no problem with rattling through sequences of Raw files, which is great when I'm following a player about to strike a goal. I normally shoot with the camera set to use the full sensor, but I can also, should I need more pulling power, set the D3s to crop the image. Should I decide to use it in DX-format, the motordrive speed increases from a maximum of nine frames-per-second to 11 frames-per-second!
One facility that I've found surprisingly useful is the Quiet mode, which dampens the sound of the shutter firing. While it's most likely designed for wildlife photographers stalking easily frightened subjects, I've found it useful in interviews, when a journalist is with a sports star. The sound of the shutter can prove distracting to both parties, but with Quiet mode engaged, I could fire away without disturbing anyone. I'm sure it will also come in handy when shooting darts and tennis too.
On the first day I started using the D3s, I made the mistake of shooting in Raw, only to realise I couldn't open the images in Photoshop CS3. So for the rest of the day I shot in JPEG, which is something I prefer not to do when covering football. However, by doing so, I was able to see how much better JPEGs from the D3s are compared to the D3. Colour reproduction in particular was much improved, with very realistic colours being evident on the football kits.
Nikon's metering system is superb and the D3s is brilliant in this regard. Its Auto White Balance works very well too. I shoot all football games in AWB, whether in daylight or under floodlights, which are balanced for TV cameras. I do set the Tungsten preset when covering boxing, as in AWB the images can appear a little warm.
Since that first day, I've been shooting Raws and, while I can't convert them to JPEG in Photoshop, I've found two other ways to do it that suit my needs. The first is using Nikon's
Capture NX2 software. While a little slow, it's very capable and I actually prefer how it displays JPEGs when compared to Photoshop. The other method is to use a function within the Nikon's menu system that allows Raw files to be converted in-camera, which is pretty useful if I need to convert in a hurry.
The other area of image quality that I have noted a major improvement with is its handling of noise. The ISO range on the D3s is impressive and I've been thrilled to see the quality of images taken at higher ISO ratings. As a professional, quality is paramount so I don't like to raise ISOs unless I have to, but I've found I can put this fear to rest with the D3s, as it delivers excellent quality even when used at ISO 4000! Normally, when shooting a player celebrating a goal close to fans, colours are muggy and horrible as the floodlighting doesn't cover that area of the pitch. However, even at a high ISO, the colours are excellent and noise is not 
a major problem.
One final feature that's worth a mention is the HD video facility. I'll be honest, I couldn't see the point of it when I first read up on the camera but I've quickly realised how important it might actually prove to be. Including HD video makes the D3s ideal for the multimedia photographer. One minute you can be capturing a stunning still image, and then be shooting a clip in HD video, from which you can also extract a JPEG file that's good enough for web or newspaper use. With newspapers requesting so many different formats for media applications, you get all your work from one job output in printed media, online web and mobile applications and even TV with both moving and still images, such as Sun Online and The Sun newspaper. Or, you could have a news photographer on the frontline of a major protest or war who can get close to the action, able to shoot both video and stills with the simple flick of a switch.
Finally, a quick comment on handling. 
The D3s is virtually identical to the D3, feeling very well balanced, rock solid and with a very logical control layout that is quick to use. One difference is that some buttons have a prouder position and better response. Also, as I discovered while shooting in heavy rain, the D3s keeps on working even when getting soaked – a quick wipe with the towel every now and again was all that was needed.

Supplied accessories
The Nikon D3s is supplied with the following accessories: 
Li-ion battery (EN-EL4a), Quick Charger (MH-22), strap, USB & AV cables, body cap, eyepiece cap, hotshoe cover, software CD, Quick guide and instruction manual.

Viewfinder screen
As with all full-frame DSLRs, the viewfinder of the D3s is large, sharp and bright. The 100 percent coverage allows for accurate composition.
51-point AF system
The AF is handled by Nikon's Multi-CAM 3500FX AF sensor module. The 51-point array covers a wide area of the frame and includes 15 cross-type sensors, giving superior accuracy. It offers three AF-point modes: Dynamic-area, Single-point and Auto-area AF, each designed to aid focusing in various types of shooting situations, from off-centre to a moving subject.

Build quality
As with all pro-spec models, the Nikon D3s has been built to survive hard use and harsh conditions. The body, exterior cover, chassis and mirror box are made of magnesium alloy, while the body has various seals and O-rings to protect it from dust, moisture and electromagnetic interference. Also, the shutter unit has been tested through 300,000 cycles.

Crop modes
The D3s has a number of crop modes that are useful should I need extra pulling power. Of most use is the 1.2x mode (30x20) that delivers 8.4-megapixel images, but also available are DX-format (24x16) and 5:4 format (30x24), which gives images of 5.1 and ten-megapixels respectively.

Richard Pelham's kit
Richard Pelham has been using the D3s with the 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom, the recently launched 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II, as well as the 600mm f/4 telephoto lens.

Overall Verdict
I may have been skeptical at the start, but the D3s has smashed any doubts about whether the upgrade was worthwhile. While I've been more than happy with using my pair of D3 bodies for shooting action, the improved autofocus, motordrive speed and image quality of the D3s means I'll be pressuring the office to upgrade my gear as 
I think this model represents the cutting edge in my line of work. The addition of HD video, which offers the option to pull web-quality stills from movies, will also find favour with other areas of press photography such as news and reportage. It's a brilliant package for the professional who needs superb image quality, combined with a very fast operation and multimedia options.

Handling & ease of use 23/25
Features 23/25
Performance 23/25
Value For Money 23/25
Overall 92/100