Camera Test: Nikon D3S

Real-World Results

In the field, this Nikon performed flawlessly. The Matrix metering did a great job of choosing the right exposure, being fooled only by the toughest scenarios. The 51-point Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus system worked wonderfully with the 3D Color Matrix Metering II system to track subjects by shape and color.

Shooting with a preproduction sample at the Big Apple Circus in New York, the AF nearly perfectly tracked a trapeze artist as he flipped through the air as we panned the camera along with him, capturing full-sized Fine JPEGs at 9 frames per second. Our test sample didn’t make it to the circus, but it did a similarly exemplary job tracking the various subjects we shot.

While we still have to wait to make serious comparisons with the Canon’s EOS-1D Mark IV, as long as you’re fine with a 12.1MP sensor, the Nikon D3S should satisfy your imaging needs. Nikon shooters can feel safe with this camera.