Upgrade Guide
Nikon D3S→Nikon D5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D3S. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D5
-
Resolution21MP vs 12MP (+9MP)
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Burst rate12fps mechanical vs 9fps
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Generation7 years newer (2016 vs 2009)
Unchanged or similar
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | D3S | D5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.5 | ||
| Street | +0.2 | ||
| Travel | +0.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.3 | ||
| Documentary | +1.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.5 | ||
| Landscape | +0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.5 | ||
| Casual | +0.9 | ||
| Food | +0.8 | ||
| Macro | +0.5 | ||
| Architecture | +0.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D3S | D5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £268 | £1,800 | |
| Released | 2009 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame CMOS | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 21MP | ↑ |
| Video | 720p/24 | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | — | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps | 12fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~4200 shots (CIPA) | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1420g (with battery) | 1405g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual CompactFlash slots | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) |
Compare side-by-side
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Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the D3S
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Camera family history