Upgrade Guide
Nikon D800→Nikon D3S
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D800. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D3S
-
Burst rate9fps vs 4fps
-
Battery life~4200 shots (CIPA) vs ~900 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 36MP — 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 | D800 | D3S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.8 | ||
| Street | -0.8 | ||
| Travel | -0.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.1 | ||
| Documentary | -0.9 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.6 | ||
| Landscape | -1.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.7 | ||
| Food | -1.0 | ||
| Macro | -0.9 | ||
| Architecture | -1.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D800 | D3S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £230 | £268 | |
| Released | 2012 | 2009 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 36.3MP full-frame CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30, 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 | 4fps | 9fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~900 shots (CIPA) | ~4200 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 1000g (with battery) | 1420g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual slots: CompactFlash + SD | Dual CompactFlash slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See D800 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 D800
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Camera family history