Nikon-original FX-format CMOS Sensor
Newly engineered for striking image fidelity and low-noise, optimizing pixel size and count in a 12.1-megapixel sensor to produce extraordinarily rich files.
Low Noise ISO Sensitivity from 200 to 12,800
Renowned low-noise performance at 12,800, plus expanded settings to an astounding ISO 102,400 (equivalent) and ISO 100 (equivalent).
Continuous Shooting Up to 9 FPS
Secure exacting moments in time with an expanded buffer, allowing continuous capture of up to 82 JPEG (fine) or 36 14-bit NEF (RAW) images.
HD Video Capture
Record smooth 24 fps HD video, leveraging low-noise D3S image quality along with high fidelity stereo sound capability.
One-button Live View with Two Shooting Modes
Two modes for studio or remote shooting—Tripod Mode offers 27x magnification for precise focus confirmation.
3-Inch Super-density 921,000-dot VGA LCD Monitor
D3S monitors are individually calibrated during assembly to assure accuracy.
Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System
Ultrasonic process combats the accumulation of dust on the optical low-pass filter, safeguarding image quality.
Nikon EXPEED Image Processing
Drives breathtakingly rich image fidelity, low-noise and fast image processing.
Fast, Accurate 51-Point AF System
4 Dynamic modes and 15 cross-type sensors deliver AF precision and razor sharpness.
1,005-Pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II
Nikon-pioneered RGB metering includes color information to intelligently determine more accurate exposures.
Scene Recognition System
Referencing an onboard image database, teamed with RGB metering, SRS enhances exposure and white balance evaluation and improves AF speed and accuracy.
Rugged and Precise Magnesium Alloy Construction
Effectively protected from invasive dust, moisture and electromagnetic interference with a self-diagnostic shutter mechanism tested to exceed 300,000 cycles.
Nikon Picture Control
Four preset options and 9 customizable settings provide personalized style control.
100% Viewfinder Coverage
Dual CF Card Slots with Overflow, Backup and Copy Options
Virtual Horizon Graphic Indicator
Approx. 4,200 Images per Battery Charge
Image Sensor Format
FX
Image Sensor Type
CMOS
Sensor Size
36.0 x 23.9mm
Total Pixels
12.87 million
Effective Pixels
12.1 million
Image Area (pixels)
FX-format
(L) 4,256 x 2,832
(M) 3,184 x 2,120
(S) 2,128 x 1,416
1:2 format (30 x 20)
(L) 3,552 x 2,368
(M) 2,656 x 1,776
(S) 1,776 x 1,184
5:4 format (30 x 24)
(L) 3,552 x 2,832
(M) 2,656 x 2,120
(S) 1,776 x 1,416
DX-format
(L) 2,784 x 1,848
(M) 2,080 x 1,384
(S) 1,392 x 920
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution
9 frames per second
Continuous Shooting Options
FX-format
CH: Up to 9 frames per second
CL: Up to 8 frames per second
5:4 format
CH: Up to 9 frames per second
CL: Up to 8 frames per second
DX-format
CH: Up to 11 frames per second
CL: Up to 10 frames per second
LCD Monitor Size
3 in. diagonal
LCD Monitor Type
VGA TFT
Super Density
LCD Monitor Resolution
921,000 Dots
LCD Monitor Angle of View
170-degree wide-viewing angle
LCD Monitor Adjustments
Brightness, 7 levels
Shutter type
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
Slowest Shutter Speed
30 sec. in steps of 1/3
1/2
1 EV
Fastest Shutter Speed
1/8000 sec. in steps of 1/3
1/2
1 EV
Bulb Shutter Setting
Yes
Mirror Lock Up
Yes
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity
200 in steps of 1/3
1/2
1 EV
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity
12,800 in steps of 1/3
1/2
1 EV
Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity
Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent, in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV)
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitvity
Hi-3 (ISO 102,400 equivalent)
Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options
Hi-1, (ISO-25,600 equivalent), in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
Hi-2, (ISO-51,200 equivalent), 1 EV step
Hi-3, (ISO-102,400 equivalent), 1 EV step
Storage Media
CompactFlash© (Type I/II, compliant with UDMA)
MicroDrive©
Card Slot
2 CompactFlash© cards
File Format
Uncompressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW)
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80 percent
Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60 percent
JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
TIFF (RGB)
WAV
File System
Compliant with DCF 2.0
DPOF
EXIF 2.21
Exposure Modes
Programmed Auto (P) with flexible Program
Shutter-Priority Auto (S)
Aperture-Priority Auto (A)
Manual (M)
Exposure Metering System
1,005-pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II
Variable Center-weighted
Spot AF
Spot meter centered on selected focus point (on center focus point 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 degrees C/68 degrees F)
Exposure Meter Coupling
CPU
AI
Exposure Compensation
±5 EV in increments of 1/3
1/2
1
Exposure Lock
Yes
Exposure locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure Bracketing
Yes
From 2 to 9 exposures in increments of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV
Shutter Release Modes
Single-frame [S] mode
Continuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-9 frames per second
Continuous high-speed [CH] mode; 9 frames per second (9-11 frames per second with DX format)
Live View [LV] mode
Self-timer mode
Mirror-up [Mup] mode
Movie Modes
Movie with sound
HD 1280 x 720/24 fps
VGA 640 x 424/24 fps
QVGA 320 x 216/24 fps
White Balance
Sun
Shade
Fluorescent
Incandescent
Flash
Preset
Fine Tune by Kelvin color temperature setting
White Balance Bracketing
Yes, 2 to 9 exposures, in increments of 1, 2 or 3
Live View Shooting
Handheld mode
Tripod mode
Playback Functions
Full frame
Thumbnail (4, 9 or 72 segments)
Zoom
Slideshow
Histogram display
Shooting data
Highlight point display
Auto image rotation
Voice Memo
D-Movie Playback
Image Comment
Interface
Hi-speed USB
NTSC
PAL
HDMI
10-pin Terminal
Lens Mount
Nikon F bayonet mount
Compatible Lenses
1) Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
2) DX AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except FX-format (36x24)/ 1:2 (30x20) image size /5:4 (30x24)
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
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
Viewfinder Frame Coverage
Approx. 100%
Viewfinder Eyepoint
18 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Reflex Mirror
Quick-return type
Focusing Screen
BriteView Clear Matte VI - Type B
Interchangeable Focusing Screens
Yes
BriteView Clear Matte VI - Type B Clear Matte VI - Type E
Viewfinder Magnification
Approx. 0.7x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0m-1)
Lens Aperture
Instant-return type with depth-of-field preview button
Depth-of-field Control
Yes
Autofocus System
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 Live View (Tripod) mode]
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points
51
Autofocus Fine Tune
Yes
Focus Modes
Single-servo AF (S)
Continuous-servo (C)
Manual
Single-point AF Mode
Yes
Dynamic AF Mode
Yes
Number of AF points: 9, 21, 51 and 51 (3D-tracking)
Auto-area AF Mode
Yes
Focus Lock
AE-L/AF-L button
Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)
Picture Control
Standard
Neutral
Vivid
Monochrome
Nine User-customizable Settings
In-Camera Image Editing
Trim
D-Lighting
Color Balance
Image Overlay
Side-by-Side Comparison
Filter Effects
Monochrome
NEF (RAW) Processing
Red-eye Correction
Resize
Edit Movie with Save Selected Frame
Built-in Flash
No
External Flash Shoe
Yes
External Flash Shoe Type
Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock
Dust-Off Reference Photo
Yes
Virtual Horizon Camera Indicator
Yes
Save/Load Camera settings
Yes
Nikon Creative Lighting System Compatibility
Yes
Flash Sync Speed
Up to 1/250
X-Sync Speed
1/250
FP High Speed Sync
Up to 1/8000
Flash Sync Modes
Front-curtain sync (normal)
Slow sync
Rear-curtain sync
Red-eye reduction
Red-eye reduction with slow sync
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-900, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-400
2) Auto aperture (AA): Available with SB-900 or SB-800 and CPU lens
3) Non-TTL auto (A): Available with SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27 or SB-22s
4) Range-priority manual (GN): Available with SB-900 or SB-800
Flash Sync Terminal
Yes
Accessory Shoe
Yes
Self-timer
Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 5, 10 or 20 sec.
World Time Setting
Yes
Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time Settings
Yes
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery / Batteries
EN-EL4a Lithium-ion Battery
EN-EL4 Lithium-ion Battery
AC Adaptor
EH-6 AC Adapter
Battery Charger
MH-21 Quick Charger
MH-22 Quick Charger
Image Comment
Yes
Up to 36 characters
Voice Memo Function
Yes
Battery Life (shots per charge)
Approx. 4,200 shots (CIPA)
4,700 shots (Nikon Standard)
Tripod Socket
¼ inch 20
Approx. Dimensions
Width 6.3 in. (159.5mm)
Height 6.2 in. (157mm)
Depth 3.4 in. (87.5mm)
Approx. Weight
43.7 oz. (1,240g)
Supported Languages
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Supplied Software
Software Suite CD-ROM
Optional Accessories
WT-4A Wireless Transmitter, DK-17M Magnifying Eyepiece, EH-6 AC Adapter, Capture NX 2 Software, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software
Supplied Software
Software Suite CD-ROM
Supplied Accessories
EN-EL4a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
MH-22 Quick Charger
UC-E4 USB Cable
EG-D2 Audio Video Cable
AN-DC5 Camera Strap
BF-1B Body Cap
BS-2 Accessory Shoe Cap
DK-17 Eyepiece
BL-4 Battery Chamber Cover
USB Cable Clip
Software Suite CD-ROM
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.
