Nikon D3 review

Verdict:

Review Date: 27 Mar 2008

Price when reviewed: (£2637 ex VAT) D3 body only; £4199 (£3574 ex VAT) with AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G Zoom-Nikkor

Reviewed By: Kevin Carter

Our Rating 5 stars out of 5

From our labs test the D3's sensor is capable of high-resolving power but in our informal photos there's little appreciable difference compared to rivals.

We noticed some occasional white-balance inaccuracies under artificial lighting, though it's certainly no worse than the Eos 1D Mk III in this respect.

We were very impressed with our pictures. Image quality is exceptionally high throughout the wide range of sensitivities. Not surprisingly perhaps, we found that the distracting colour specks and grain are quite noticeable in the two high-gain modes but certain images at ISO6400 were usable. Where Canon once led the field, Nikon now has taken the edge.

Apart from the hefty price tag the only real downside is the lack of any automated built-in sensor cleaning. Although these systems aren't infallible with day-to-day use, they really do help to reduce the distracting specks, and it's one point in favour of the Canon models.

Ultimately as a pro-grade camera the full-frame D3 isn't for everybody. But anyone serious about their photography really must give the new Nikon a closer look.

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