Upgrade Guide
Nikon D7100→Nikon D3S
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D7100. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D3S
-
Burst rate9fps vs 6fps
-
Battery life~4200 shots (CIPA) vs ~950 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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 | D7100 | D3S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.3 | ||
| Street | -1.1 | ||
| Travel | -1.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.2 | ||
| Documentary | -0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.2 | ||
| Landscape | -0.6 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.1 | ||
| Casual | -0.9 | ||
| Food | -0.5 | ||
| Macro | -0.6 | ||
| Architecture | -0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | +1.5 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D7100 | D3S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £199 | £268 | |
| Released | 2013 | 2009 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 (60i), 720p/60 | 720p/24 | |
| Autofocus | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | 51-point phase-detect (15 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF in live view (tripod mode) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 9fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~950 shots (CIPA) | ~4200 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 765g (with battery) | 1420g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots | Dual CompactFlash slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See D7100 and D3S next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D3S against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the D7100
Related buying guides
Camera family history