Wondering how is the ISO performance of Nikon D3? Check the below replies out:

Taken from FredMiranda forum : 

vyanush wrote:
Jay Kopinski wrote:
I can say first hand Nikon has nailed the noise control problem. Shot several 6400 this afternoon with the D3. Looked like the D2xs at 1600 maybe 800 I might be jumping the gun as these were all LCD images nothing on computer, but wow it was nice. Then new 24-70mm is a nice lens. And FF was like a breath of fresh air.

Thanks for info. Now when we know how poor is 1Ds3 ISO-performance, are there any D3 samples to look at? Couldn't find any official sample at NIkon site.

Thank you in advance for any links.
VY

We have but none that we are able to provide at this time. One word though, impressive.

So much so that since i currently shoot 30D 24-70 f/2.8L, 70-200mm f/4L and 135 f/2L all gear obtained prior to working for Nikon. That I'm considering the switch to a D3 with the new 24-70mm f/2.8 and some other lenses.

Nikons not done yet. It gets better.

Nikon D3 with AF-S 24-70 F2.8 attached top view

Nikon D3 with AF 85mm F1.4 attached, side view

Nikon D3 back view

 

Nikon D3 front view, without lens

CMOS sensor, 36.0 x 23.9 mm; total pixels: 12.87 million; Nikon FX format

 

 

 

Key Features

• 12.2 megapixel FX (full-frame) CMOS sensor with high signal-to-noise ratio, wide dynamic range and 12-channel readout.
• ISO 200 – 6400 : extendable up to 25600 (equivalent) and down to ISO 100 (equivalent).
• 9fps consecutive shooting (11fps in DX Crop mode)
• EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb tonal gradation.
• Advanced Scene Recognition System combines the camera’s metering and AF sensors for precise exposures and sharply defined images.
• Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system . Individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings.
• Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing by enabling customization of image parameters before capture and offer complete control over sharpening, contrast, brightness, hue and saturation in various color modes.
• 920,000 dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170-degree viewing angle.
• Live View with Autofocus enables composition of images using the LCD monitor. Two modes are supported: Handheld or Tripod.
• Two Crop Modes : DX format and 5:4 ratio. The DX crop mode can be automatically enabled when a DX lens is attached.
• Quick response : approx. 37 ms shutter-lag and 55 ms viewfinder black-out.
• Highly accurate, durable Kevlar/carbon fiber-composite shutter unit : Standard rating of 300, 000 cycles, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8,000 sec and flash synchronization at up to 1/250 sec.
• Active D-Lighting enables superior high-contrast images by automatically applying tone compensation at the moment of capture.
• Dual CF card slots : configurable for parallel (simultaneous) or serial (consecutive) recording.
• HDMI video output interface enables connection to high-definition video systems.
• Intuitive ergonomics with optimized button placement for fast and comfortable handling.
• Durable Magnesium alloy body built to withstand the rigors of the harshest of environments.
• Wireless LAN and Ethernet support via optional Wireless Transmitter WT-4.

Official Specification

Type of Camera

Single-lens reflex digital camera with interchangeable lenses

Effective Pixels

12.1 million

Image Sensor

CMOS sensor, 36.0 x 23.9 mm; total pixels: 12.87 million; Nikon FX format

ISO 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

Storage Media

CompactFlash (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA); Microdrives

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%
JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size priority and Optimal quality

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 [mark] 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) Slide show,
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 range finder 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 can not 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-sensors) by Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus module; detection range: -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 halfway (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 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

Exposure Lock

Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button

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 Preview Button

When CPU lens is attached, lens aperture can be stopped down to value selected by user (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, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software

Price and Availability

The D3 will be available from authorized Nikon Professional Dealers beginning in November 2007 for an estimated selling price of $4,999.95**. With the introduction of the D3, Nikon’s current lineup of digital SLR cameras now includes the new D3, D2XS, D300, D200, D80, D40X and D40.

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