Seeing in the dark
Nikon has taken low light shooting to a whole new level with its latest pro digital SLR, the D3s
The successor to the two-year-old D3 has a seven-stop IOS range of 200 to 12,800, plus three further boost settings that allow photographers to capture images up to an unprecedented ISO equivalent of 102,400. Even at this extreme setting, judging from images BJP saw from pre-production samples at an exclusive European press preview at St Andrews last week, noise takes on a relatively natural, filmic look that would be usable for some applications, and results shot at ISO12,800 were particularly impressive.
The focus on ISO performance confirms that Nikon is sticking with its strategy of recent years, concentrating on more functional features such as low light shooting with its all-purpose, action-oriented cameras, and reserving higher pixel counts for its studio cameras, such as its current flagship, the D3x.
The company has also taken a different approach to its archrival, Canon, with regards to integrating video capture, sticking with Motion-JPEG, which has been 'newly refined' for the D3s. Movies are captured in HD quality 1280x720 pixel resolution at 24fps that can be trim edited in-camera, but most significantly, most of the camera's still shooting functions - including ultra-high ISO settings - are available in the video mode, and single frames can be saved on the fly as JPEGs. Although these frames are of low resolution, they are sufficient for multimedia presentations, says Nikon, and could be used for newspaper print.
The ability to create effective multimedia shows, switching from still to video using the same image parameters such as colour control, was demonstrated by Sports Illustrated photographer Bill Frakes, who presented an assignment shot in Australia, commissioned by Nikon, at the event in St Andrews.
Using a redesigned sensor, which maintains its predecessor's full frame 12 million pixel resolution and large pixel pitch but has a 'completely modified inner structure', the extended standard ISO range of the D3s gives photographers 'an incredible advantage when shooting indoor sports, stadium events at night, dimly-lit spot news or any other shooting application where light is limited and Speedlights are not applicable', claims Nikon. 'Shooting at ISOs as high as 12,800, the D3s can take commercial quality, tack-sharp images in low light at action-freezing shutter speeds - a capability that will open a new world of photographic possibilities.'
Nikon has also introduced a new vibrating image sensor cleaner, plus further improvements on correcting lateral chromatic aberrations. It uses 14-bit A/D conversion and then a 16-bit image-processing pipeline to handle difficult tonal gradations, plus automatic regulation of the dynamic range of high contrast scenes. Custom profiles are available, as is 9fps continuous shooting (or 11fps in cropped DX format), and the camera maintains the D3's 51-point autofocus, 3D II colour matrix metering and twin CF slots, plus an improved viewfinder.
The D3s is expected to be supplied to UK stores in early December, priced around £4200 for the body only. For further information visit www.nikon.co.uk.
