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Nikon D3S

Nikon's 2009 flagship full-frame body with an integrated vertical grip: 12.1MP, 9fps, dual CF slots and ISO up to 102,400 expanded. It added 720p video and a mic input, and the battery lasts around 4,200 shots.

Used from
£268
Check price at Wex Photo Video
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Used
Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video used
£268
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New
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Value & Depreciation
£4200
Launch price
→
£268
Today
=
94%
Value drop
Over ~17 years, this camera has cost roughly £231/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today).

What fits the Nikon D3S

See all 174 accessories that fit →
Battery EN-EL4a 4200 shots per charge (CIPA) Every EN-EL4a battery and charger →
Memory card
CompactFlash Slot 1 + 2 of 2 Cheapest at V30 / U3+: £99.00 · SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash 32GB
Top mode needs V30 / U3 (from its top video mode and burst rate) CompactFlash cards and speeds →
Filter size Depends on the lens. The commonest threads on Nikon F lenses: 67mm1577mm1352mm1172mm682mm658mm546mm495mm4 Number = lenses with that thread. Your lens's size is on its product page. All filter sizes →
Core
Released
2009
Sensor
12.1MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution
12.1 MP
Mount
Nikon F mount
Dimensions
159.5 × 157 × 87.5mm
Weight
1420g (with battery)
Weather Sealed
Yes
Performance
Autofocus
51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode)
Stabilisation
No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)
Burst Rate
9fps
Battery Life
~4200 shots (CIPA)
Features
Video
720p/24
Viewfinder
Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x
Screen
3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots
Memory Cards
Dual CompactFlash slots
Connectivity
USB 2.0, mini HDMI, 3.5mm mic jack, 10-pin remote
Detailed Specs
Sensor Format
Full frame
Viewfinder Type
Optical (SLR)
Screen Type
Fixed
Touchscreen
No
Card Slots
2
Battery Life (CIPA)
4200 shots
USB Power
No USB power
Dimensions
160 × 157 × 88mm
Weight (Grams)
1420g
Autofocus Type
DSLR phase detect
Max Burst Rate
9.0fps
In-Body Stabilisation
No
Maximum Native ISO
12800
Max Mechanical Shutter
1/8000
Max Video Resolution
Below 1080p
10-Bit Video
No
Log Profile
No
Built-in Microphone Input
Yes
Headphone Jack
No
HDMI Port Type
Mini

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GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
5.5
Street
3.7
Travel
3.8
Wedding & Events
6.5
Documentary
4.4
Sports & Action
6.2
Landscape
4.6
Wildlife
6.0
Casual
2.0
Food
3.5
Macro
3.1
Architecture
4.1
Astrophotography
6.6
✅ Great For
🌌
Astrophotography 6.6 Strong on image quality / low light, battery life and pixel size.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
📷
Casual 2.0 Held back by portability and ease of use.
🔬
Macro 3.1 Held back by stabilisation and resolution.
🍽️
Food 3.5 Held back by screen flexibility and resolution.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →
Price History — D3S
New prices, last 30 days
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Series history
Nikon Pro DSLR Series
Nikon's flagship professional F-mount DSLR line
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