Nikon D3 and Why I Bought a 12 megapixel DSLR in 2018.

The Nikon D3 is a still a great camera to use professionally in 2018. It's great in low light, faster than Usain Bolt, and it is said to be more rugged and durable than the D4 or D5.
My other prospects were the Nikon D800/810 and the D750. Now these newer cameras have newer technology and more megapixels. However, bigger is not always better. The 810 and its 36 megapixels are wonderful but I think it's overkill for what I need. I don't need those huge files. I am not printing billboard size prints. Not even 20x30s but the D3 can print to 20x30 no problem from what I understand. The D3 is better in low light and focuses faster.
The D750 has a 24 megapixel sensor which is almost twice that of the D3. The D750 probably has better detail in the shadows and can shoot in the dark, it shoots video and has a flash, it has a tilting screen, wifi, etc. But lets be practical. Who shoots at ISO 52,000 without a light? I don't need wifi, I don't need video, I don't need a tilting screen or any of that other stuff. Yea those features are nice but I prefer a camera that feels like a tank and is more enjoyable to hold and shoot. Did I mention the D3 can be had for about $700? The D800 are going for about a $1,000 and the 750 $1,400.
Lets be real. Camera manufactuers are in the business of selling cameras. They need to add new features and give you more megapixels to compel you to buy the latest and greatest.
www.markhopkinsphotography.com
instagram: dojomarkphotos

[@Qibilii]

You are real man. Just earned a subscriber. I dislike the thirsty youtubers who think they're legendary photographers and pre-order cameras every 6 months. It's not inspiring, most of us who watch that stuff can't afford a 2 grand camera or lens. Keep it up man!

[@beschken]

Same here!

[@Gibson1976uk]

I bought a D500 which isn’t bad at all but one day I picked up a D700 at a bargain price with low shutter! I just started using that the most for fashion stuff that I now do, work for a model! stressful job :) I like the d700 so much, I wanted another because these things are not made anymore :( ended up grabbing a D3 at a great price with 12k shutter!! Two card slots, crazy battery life and a complete tank!

[@Los_Servants]

@@Gibson1976uk would a d2 be as good or comparable to a d3?

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

@@Los_Servants From what I remember, the D3 was a huge improvement over the D2.

[@sn4rl277]

@@Los_Servants D2 is a Crop sensor, where the D3 is Nikon's first full frame camera with much faster shutter and better Dynamic Range.

[@TheRed86]

Still using my D3 and D700 for my events and wedding job since 2009

[@Gibson1976uk]

Same here :) D3 and D700 are great together!! I find it sad how some of the so called pro stars of photography are always upgrading and claiming the latest is the greatest etc. and they forget past cameras!! everyone is going on and on about the D850 and Z6 these days! like they are must haves!!

[@lescobrandon3047]

And same here! Used them for weddings, other events, street photography in Manhattan and model portfolios. I put my old F3hp away then. I retired in 2014 and now have a D800, D750 and Z7... none of which produce the rich colors of the 2008-2009 D3 and D700.

[@najophotographyetc]

I got a D3 just last year myself! It's like a tank! Still an excellent camera.

[@RodAllsopp]

I love how happy you are with your cameras. I've just bought a used D800 and have a D3 on my list.

[@joepkortekaas8813]

When my D4 was stolen last year, I bought myself a second hand D3S. Great camera! Should have bought that instead of the D4 in the first place!

[@RodrigoAReyes95]

Joep Kortekaas doesn’t bother you that you don’t don’t have a joystick for moving the focus points?

[@joepkortekaas8813]

@@RodrigoAReyes95 Not at all!

[@joepkortekaas8813]

@Rizvi Rahman I don't say I prefer the D3s over the D4, it's just that, had I bought the cheaper D3s i.s.o. the more expensive D4, i would have had a camera just as good and much earlier at a lower price.

[@stanspb763]

I really like the D3 series, the ergonomics make it a very comfortable camera to work with. 12mpx are enough for those who frame well and are not pixel peeping a lot. You can tell the responses from those who grew up in the digital age where every image is judged at 100% pixel peeping, a bad habit to get into. Every image, painting or sculpture has optimum viewing distance as intended by the creator of the work for the piece to make sense. For paintings and photos, the viewing distance is usually that distance that allows the entire work to be perceived without scanning the eyes across it. Go to an art gallery, large paintings require you to get back to be able to view the work entirely at once, and only at that distance was the paining intended to express what the painter wanted to convey. You can tell the gallery visitors who are not getting it by watching them move up close to see detail, despite the fact that the message of the painting is lost entirely. The same goes for photos, they have an intended viewing distance that was intended by the photographer's intent with composition and post-processing and too close or too far loses the message the photograph was intended to offer. Artists understand this intuitively but the lack of art education and experience in western life results in everything being reduced to technical traits of the mechanical process. Pixel peeping has ruined more photographs than helped. Seeking absolute sharpness at a detailed view is not a criterion for good art and in facts undermines the intent. For artistic messaging, 12mpx is more than enough. Wedding photos viewed in the wedding book, or even in large primts is plenty, and far exceeds the resolving power of the human eye at the intended distance. The high res advocates undermine their case by ignoring this all-important aspect of all visual arts. Some cropping requires starting with larger sets of data but most often that is required to compensate for poor framing skills. Shooting with film or a bit teaches framing priorities.

[@DuanePadillaViolin]

Great video! brings back lots of fond memories when I was shooting with the D3. I'm shooting with the D800 now. looking back to some of my old work shot on the D3 it still looks fabulous. comparing to some of my newer work on the D800..just as good....actually a lot of times better...I was shooting more when I was using the D3 so I was more "in shape" back then. love the old Nikon glass too.

[@dragonaut4208]

I went back even further and pulled out my Nikon N90s from the garage, loaded up some film and started bringing it along my concert gigs.

[@normanowczarzak4050]

I also have D3 as well and i love that camera! Great purchase, amen to that!

[@kodninja0]

Hello, i've take a D3 in february too with around 200'000 shutter but i've payed it just 350€ ... and now has + 5000 shoot. it's wonderful camera. I love my D7000 but with this D3 (however we're in 2018) it's another kingdom :) nice video althout i didn't understand at perfect because im' italian :)

[@-------8282]

I recently bought a D3, saw one with led than 2000 shutter count for around £700. But opted for another with a higher count but alot cheap, it's perfect :)

[@lokatpic]

Mark , it's so nice to hear someone who is down to earth. You talk cameras from your real life experiences. You make sense. I like how you said the most bang for your buck. My thinking exactly. I am retired and shoot for fun. I went from a Nikon D 5100 To the Nikon D 7100 . Bigger buffer and faster focusing. Budget is also a big factor. You did a great video . I look forward to hearing more.

[@mythicalireland]

I picked up a D3 last November with just 12,000 clicks for €450!!! Unbelievable value. As good as new. Hardly broken in. A fabulous camera. So many great points. The only con from my point of view (apart from its weight) is the fact that it doesn't have a built-in flash to trigger off-camera flash, but apart from that it's a work of art and beauty. BTW my main camera body is the D750. Lighter and better in many respects, but the D3 was WAY ahead of its time and is still a very respectable second camera.

[@rodrigo4379]

hey bud, can you help me? what is better? d7100 or d2x?

[@AustinWLee]

I bought D3 this summer, and my brother is going to buy D200 for his new camera. And I'm finding for D2Hs for backup. Legends never die. I was glad to see this vid on KZbin. APPRECIATE!

[@ScoopsTroopsRugby]

Personally, I'm a Canon guy, but really resonated with you sentiments. The industry wants us to gravitate to the latest and greatest technology, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Great video

[@ImTheBlade65]

I was just about to drive myself crazy looking at the newer models with all the bells & whistles. Now, after seeing your video, instead I’ll go get myself a nice Fx prime lens to go with my beautiful D3s and make great use of that full frame sensor. Thanks so much for the review!

[@mikemathews5129]

Really enjoyed this video man. I'm a fellow Nikon shooter and completely agree that these older cameras still have so much life left in them.

[@mitchangelo7254]

Mark !! love it man im in the same pixel boat , I have a D300, d7100 , scored a D3S AND TOTTTALY dig it , love your enthusiasm and attitude , shoot on sir :)

[@djtoman6875]

Much truth here. I picked up a D3S this year and it has become my go-to body. Did an editorial portrait shoot with it and my Nikkor 24-120 f/4 lens today and couldn't be happier with the results. What was acceptable or even superior a few years ago is still completely valid - you just have to get off the G.A.S. train to see it.

[@MartzMit]

congrats, I really appreciate your oppinion

[@sayedmohdsalman]

Absolutely real world review. "Can we really see those technology when we see those pictures?" is enough for many tech obsessed people. Thank you.

[@room111photography5]

Perfect! I'm looking for a D3 too, 11 years after its release.

[@frederikvanreusel]

Yea and I’m looking for one too in 2020 😝. Want one as an upgrade to my D7200 but I’m not sure if it is an actual upgrade since the technology is much older. What do you think?

[@room111photography5]

@@frederikvanreusel Greetings. Just did a very quick at ebay. The D3 is selling for approx $400-$600. The D4 is about $1200-$1600. The df is going for approx $1600-$2000. I ended up getting the D700 because it's roughly the D3 with fewer bells and whistles. Gosh, it's really tough to call it. BSI-sensored cameras have brought a huge leap in technology, and the images from them are quite nice. Please look into the X-T4 from Fujifilm. It's a heck of a camera with awesome IQ. I think it's a heck of a value.

[@najophotographyetc]

I have a D200 too! Wow. Got it in San Fransisco for free last year (long story. Shop owner thought it didn't work, but when I got it outside she did work for me! lol). Love how the images come out on it. They have a vintage look to them.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

I still have 2 D200 bodies. Don't use them anymore but they're little tanks and still produce great images in good light.

[@Jupiter2ignite]

@@markhopkinsphoto7257 i picked up a D200 about a month ago for 110$ with only 400 clicks. The images are almost film like. Its a great companion to my D700

[@LRcustom]

I used my D200 all the time. Funny thing is, customers ALWAYS choose the D200 images over my 24 mega pixel images all day long. Even in low light. Amazing camera with a ccd chip. People don't always like how they look in HD

[@JamesMcKenzie1972]

Your camera selection aligns nearly exactly with mine: F90 and F5, D200 and D3. I also shoot Mamiya digital medium format in studio ... Leaf Aptus II ... also great bang for the buck.

[@danieljones8706]

I got pretty excited when you mentioned the Nikon FE2. I have one and love it. Been looking into the D3 as a digital version of the F4.

[@skaterdude6610]

I shot with an F4 for many many years.

[@7532eddie]

Great voice. I could listen to you all day. D3 all the way.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

Thanks!!

[@Whittmike2011]

I did the same thing, except I use Canon, so I picked up the Canon 1Ds mark ii for less money than those Rebels you buy at Walmart.

[@minisla]

Love the collection. Have D5200, D200, D300, F65, F60 love the older bodies. D200 good colour bad in low light but love it.

[@sebastiennarcisse6571]

Great thinking !!!great purchase!!! cause at it's time the D3 was on the edge of its time!!! same goes for the rest!! i went from d70 to d80 to d90 to d300 to D2x to d7000 to d7100 selling each after 2 years of use and at the end i said to myself its time for Full frame went for the Nikon d800 and Nikon d610 currently using after 2 years i will probably keep one body and move to Sony!!!

[@sebastiennarcisse6571]

At the end its about the person behind the camera! not the camera

[@phillyBeats]

I still use my D3 and D700 till this day for all my portraiture shoots. Those cameras have a unique output that a lot of newer cameras don't have especially skin tones!

[@DonRaul99]

Michael Philion I sold my D7000 because of that and I am totally happy with the output the D700 gives me.

[@leopotrek]

Until now, I'm still using D700, D3, D3S, and D500. They are legendary cameras.

[@gregsmith8616]

the d700 just makes beautiful images. especially with a 50mm 1.8.

[@TheRed86]

Same here😉

[@Reason-fg4ik]

I went with the D810 for outdoor photos. Like you I use all my D series lenses from my F5 and they're phenomenal! I don't think with those combinations I could take a, technically, bad photograph. Love the full frame bodies!

[@Gibson1976uk]

There was a D3 going for 499 in my local camera shop! looked minty!! and had good counter!! didn't last long!!!

[@PPISAFETY]

Mark, you got a great deal on that D3, congratulations. You also have a very realistic view of what the camera is for and what is truly necessary for general purpose photography. I have a bookshelf full of Nikon glass going back to when I first starting shooting Nikons for the local small town newspaper in 1973. I really wanted a modern DSLR and like you, I bought a D7000 a few years ago. Also like you, I was disappointed in how many, if not all, of those old full-frame lenses performed on the D7000. So I got a nice clean D700 to allow me to use those lenses at their native focal lengths, and once again they looked great. Recently I picked up a refurbished D7200 to use in my work and moved the D7000 to back up status. Just for the hell of it, I tried some of my older glass on the D7200, and it looked even worse on the 24 mp camera, even some lenses that had been marginally okay on the D7000 looked like hell on the D7200. I borrowed a friend's D750 and they didn't look much better. So my conclusion is that it may not be so much that the old lenses don't do so well on crop sensors as it is that they might have optical flaws that aren't noticeable at 12mp that become apparent to us at 16 or 24 mp, and even worse at 36 mp. But that is just a guess. I will say that my trusty old Nikon 17-55 f2.8 holds up very well, even on the D7200. It is not going anywhere. I use my crop sensor cameras for work stills and video, but when I want to take pictures for sheer enjoyment, it is the old D700 and the older glass. I''m sure that the D3 is even better.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

Hmmmmm! I don't know about that because even on the D200 I had some clarity/sharpness issues with some of my AFD lenses but not as bad as on the D7000.

[@danielmarshall4587]

WOW my local camera shop has one of those for sale.... and I was wondering. THANK YOU SIR!

[@sidvicious3129]

The D3/D3s are still great cameras, I tested a used D3s and the D3s was great. I think you will be very happy and enjoy your purchase. 12 Mega pixels is fine if you use it right and you don't sound like you are going to have any problems and to get as low a shutter count as you have is great. If I remember correctly the biggest difference between the D3 and D3s is low light performance if I recall. You got a steal of a deal, $700.00 for a D3 with that low of a shutter count, wow!!! I have a couple of the cameras that you mentioned, a D500, D750 both X-Mas deals bought a year apart with the free battery grips and a couple hundred off of retail. I recently with in the last 3 weeks bought a used D810 with a used Tamron SP 70-300 VC extremely good condition for both, almost mint for $1520 w tax, so I couldn't pass it up and the camera store did a free sensor cleaning because of my past purchases. I always wanted a back up full frame and the D500 is my fun camera, sports, action and wild life, almost unlimited buffer, 100 shots until it stops and then you just click again and the cycle goes on and on. I'm a Nikon guy and have a ton of lenses and have no intention of changing brands, so that I have to buy more lenses again. My wife has a Sony A6000 (mirrorless) that, I used in a pinch (photoshoot for an advertisement for a play) when I had a shop repair and it worked great. The D500 is a baby D5, with all of it's autofocus glory and features and low light performance is excellent. The D810 is excellent as a studio camera and the D750 is excellent as a back up and actually has a better/quicker auto focus system than the D810. I'm set for now and as you know wedding season is almost here. Portrait season is all year around. I had a chance to buy a D3s with 200,000 shutter clicks, but bought my son a D7200 instead.

[@STUDIOJBAph]

I have a D3 that I use along with my D850. Most of the time in post, I forget from which camera the photo I'm currently editing came from.

[@PMFL1983]

Great 👍 , congrats for your new camera!

[@Martin-nu6ym]

Last year, I purchased my first Nikon camera - D300s after I purchased a used mint-condition Nikkor 80-400 AF-D to use on my Fuji cameras. But I found the D300s for a good price with under 15k clicks. I jokingly call the D300s my "smart" AF adapter. For wildlife photography this seems to be a combo. Certainly is a low cost option for using semi-pro quality equipment for learning a new skill in photography.

[@ImTheBlade65]

I have a D3s that is awesome. I shoot landscapes, so the full frame with the bomb proof body was exactly what I needed. I’m getting ready to drop some serious cash on the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 & the Nikon 200-500 both Fx lenses. In the process of researching these lenses for full frame sensors, I found myself being intrigued and even enticed by the newer bodies with all kinds of bells & whistles. After seeing your video it really helped to settle me down. The D3s is an amazing camera that is practically made for the rigors of landscape photography. The full frame sensor is ideal and these new Fx lenses will really exploit the monster for all he’s worth. Thanks for the advice and encouragement to stick with a great camera. Best! John.

[@geastman]

Cool, I'm going to look around town for a D3. I still have my F4s & N90.

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

I just bought one from a used site, I'm excited. I have a 3100 that I'm "selling" to a family member but want to continue having a Nikon in addition to my canon.

[@batangtondosaamerica6492]

Just got a D3 with less than 26,000 click. Solid camera. Can't wait to use it soon.

[@cashmoney9256]

Thanks for this video. I sppreciate your perspective! I just got into photography and bought a d3400 a couple months ago and while I enjoy it, I find myself curious about the budget full frame idea.

[@johnsamuelmcelroy]

Very cool! It's 2021 and I just purchased a D700. First time having a full-frame. The D700 is pretty rare to find in good shape so I was happy to pick one up rated in good condition. I've read that the D3/D3s is the toughest camera ever made. The only difference from the D700 is the dual card slots, the frames per second, and the expected shutter life.

[@Alexandahls]

I feel you man! Just got a good deal with a D3 too. Very low shutter count. Still better than most of the latest cameras in the market right now.

[@malcalamark5]

I have been using my D700 for several years with a D7100 as my second camera. I know what you mean when you say it just feels tough and durable in the hand. I feel like my D700 will go forever. I still get excited with the image quality. I love putting my old and newer lenses on this body. I had the opportunity to buy a D3 for $400 but it hand 250k clicks. I should have bought it. That thing will probably go 500k clicks no problem. Thanks for the video.

[@bigstick5278]

malcalamark5 :::: The D700 will go down as a cult camera watch.. It has the image quality of transparency film. I shot Fujichrome Velvia 50 for years. I can't say more about this camera although the D3 is the same sensor the color IMO on the D700 is appealing to me. D3 has a larger view and faster shutter rate but it's a heavy weapon.

[@DonRaul99]

Just sold my D7000 this year and bought a D700+MB-D10 instead. I'm totally happy with its output (especially skin tones, those were imho really bad on the D7000) , its build quality, focusing and button layout. A great camera!

[@pakuplue]

been shooting the D800 for 3.5 years. and I chose the D3 as my back-up in feb 2018, amazing camera for its age and price. I got mine for $600 and would have been happy to pay more. Highly recamended

[@gaeuman]

Just bought a D3 with less than 3500 shutter releases on it for 500 bucks. That was about tree weeks ago. I love this camera! And I also have a D810. Good combo!

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

You scored good on that deal! Right on!

[@LuisCruz-yg6rs]

Great analysis ! Thank you for sharing this video!

[@merle7415]

Very refreshing! Honesty! Regular guy being honest!! I had a D3 and traded it in for a d810...ugh I love the d810 but I do regret it! Your alright by me...plus your a jiu jitsu brother....lol

[@Gibson1976uk]

I use to have a D7100 and then got a D500. one day I saw a mint condition D700 in a camera shop! for 399 British pounds, bought that and no regrets!! I actually used it for a fashion shot this weekend gone!!! it still takes wonderful photos. I use a Nikkor 85m F1.8 in general and Zeiss 85m F1.4 for stills

[@hectorhdz]

props for the jiu jitsu shirt. OSS!

[@harrypowell3465]

Very helpful video, thank you very much.

[@thierrytramoni3956]

I did the same last year, I also got a D800, but my favourite is the D3...

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

thanks for the effort and the sharing. thumbs up.

[@lescobrandon3047]

A kindred soul! I began with film and digital shooting events and weddings with a small crew. In 2007, I got a D200 then D300. In 2008, I got my first full frame $5000 D3 and fell in love with it. As a backup, bought a D700 which is also a great camera. I tried to upgrade with a D800 but they have some focus issues that needed fine tuning with all lenses. Well, while shooting at a preserve, my nine year old D3 stopped working. I took it to Nikon and had them look it over. They quoted $680 to repair the electronics and I said no, time to look at the latest Dx series. But then I looked online at B&H and found several D3 bodies refurbished for under $1300 bucks and am now again shooting with the best camera made, in my opinion. More recently, I bought a D750 new from Nikon and it... well, it sucks even after it was recalled. 12 megapixels is plenty for me now that I am retired and if I need more, the D800 fits. By the way, I shoot street in NYC and Long Island. Thanks for the video, Mark.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@oklahomacommunitywatch3678]

Great advice Mark

[@stevenvanzoelen]

I am shooting a D800/E but I also liked my 12 MP D2Xs. The D2Xs felt so good and the image quality is enough. Indeed it's all marketing.

[@MrRaverion]

Excellent points made Mark. I shot with crop sensor cameras and most of it was sports. My camera list encompassed Nikon D70 and D200. Both are nice portrait cameras but really failed me on the accuracy of auto focus. With 5 frames per second and finding 2 focused frames out of 10, it just disappointed me. Shooting 5 frames per second also could lose that very important moment. To add to this, my problem was I purchased both of these brand new and paid $1800 and $2300 respectively. I look at this as a $4,000 expense. When the Nikon D90 came out, I saw video and was lured but I did not buy it. I waited and finally took the plunge and purchased a D4s brand new for $4800. I love this camera. I wanted a camera that could do it all. I can take sports, weddings and low light. This camera is amazing in low light. I just wanted a final camera that does it all. It can do 1080p video which is good enough for me. This is my final setup and I will not look for any other camera body. My next plan is just buy glass. I have the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR, I am in the process of purchasing my Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 VR and I'll be looking at purchase my final trinity lens set next year, the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8. I am looking at possiblely buying a Nikkon 500mm F4 AF used for $2600. The D4s is fast, excellent focus on sports action and amazing in low light with little noise. I can go to 25,600 ISO with very little noise. Just an amazing camera and as you see, your list of cameras are growing with the cumulative price on each. I would just buy that one amazing camera and call it done. And that is why I bought the Nikon D4s. Thanks for sharing.

[@jerseyjoe3214]

You don’t need the most expensive or most features to take great photos!!!

[@Stefan1968ful]

I just got the Nikon D4s used with about 20k clicks on in. What a camera. Felt way better than the Nikon D5 from build quality. A perfect tool for my wildlife work. And I got it for just 2k Euro. Top.

[@Cotictimmy]

Feeling Jealous Now!

[@weekendgamer1094]

I still shoot with a combo of D700 and two D200 bodies in 2019. Great results.

[@PolishX]

I am looking at used D3S now to step up from D7000, But I think for my use the D750 and having the option to use the easy auto settings which I know is a cop out to some but I'm on the fence. The D3S has way better low light capabilities

[@Mardux360]

Bought a brand-new D610 for $900 and I couldn't be happier. Used a 3200 for 2 years prior

[@jamwerx]

last July I got a D750, under 4k, smelled new, completely mint for $900 but I still prefer the photos off my D700

[@tranduc9286]

thanks for making video. i going to D3

[@nightowl3582]

I'm actually looking at used D3 or D700 as my first Full Frame camera. I currently have a used D300s with just over 10k shutter actuations. Lotta life left in her.

[@erichartke4331]

I bought my D3 last year high miles but in decent shape. The D3 is an amazing camera if you can hamdle the heft.

[@jpdavidson1153]

Hey there, I also have a D3, I got it 2nd hand 2 years ago for £400 and I love it, I shoot a lot of gig photography in low light and its great for that. it's got 231,000+ clicks on it. So i'm thinking of maybe getting a replacement. I did recently get a Nikon D1X as a back up but its shit in low light situations hense why I got rid of my Canon 5D mk1 for the D3. Keep up the good work!

[@catmonkey6826]

Great video Mark. I went for the D700, under 2k clicks and in great condition. Still have my F4. Any thoughts on getting a wide prime or zooms cheap? Many options with new d lenses, used d zooms and the 14-24 at around a thousand in sterling, similair to the dollar.

[@davidharrison5159]

All good points Mark, no need for the 'latest & greatest' gear to be able to take fine photos. I had a D3 until it was stolen back in 2016 along with a D800 I was using at the time, it was a huge loss for me. The feel of the D3 in the hand is quite something after working with smaller bodies, I miss mine a lot. I do have a D810 & another D800 now & am enjoying them although they just aren't the same to shoot with as the D3. Looked after well the D3 shouldn't give any problems for far more than it's estimated 300,000 shutter actuations, but are you able to find repair shops where you live that will work on the D3 or find parts for it should something potentially go wrong? In South Africa where I live, the only local Nikon distributers have fairly tight control of all after sales & repair work on their equipment & they have discontinued taking in & working on the D3 & carrying spare parts for the camera about a year ago. As new models are released they phase out discontinued models, it's too bad, it seems wasteful to make these awesome cameras effectively redundant for working pros?

[@BayAreaDiver]

I have an old S2 Pro. How would you compare yours to your D3s? Do you do still use your S2 much, and if so, for what purpose?

[@johnhernlund539]

Yep, I bought a low mileage D3s a while back, just after Nikon announced the D5. I could have bought the D750 or D810 at the time, but the D3s was the smartest choice for the kind of shooting I like to do. I might eventually buy a D850 (or its successor), but not in any hurry.

[@SuperTodd87]

Informative video. Good to see you are Jiu Jitsu guy also :)

[@cccycling5835]

Some of my favorite images of all time are 12.7 mp. I print maybe at largest 40” and I cannot tell the difference sometimes. Especially if the light or the quality of the scene was amazing.

[@therealscoobydoo]

Enjoyed your journey, similar to minds albeit I shoot with a D3 years ago and currently use an 810 and 7100. I am in the market for a D3 or 700 because I cannot produce the creamy analog look of those cameras with my 810. When it comes to portraiture, some older cameras and lens produce a better and more realistic look. My 810 and 7100 are slightly sharper, (just slightly) but there is such a thing as too sharp when it comes to certain types of images. Unless you are doing product or architecture for example, images don't need to be sharper than what the human eye can see. - Thanks

[@Gibson1976uk]

I have such a good local camera shop!! I picked up a D700 in mint condition for 399 british pounds, two years ago! and today!! a MINT D3 with only 12k clicks!! 399 british pounds!! it might as well be new!! it is flawless!! no dents or scratches!! 4 percent of its life used!! I am very use to using a D700 which I LOVE!!!! I was looking out for a second one but the D3 came along!! I like the features, massive battery life! 100 percent coverage is a massive plus as I do photos for a model and framing will be a notch nicer to deal with :) love these tanks!!

[@photodom2000]

Like you I started shooting weddings in the days of film. I initially used a Praktica MTL3 (East German made and built like a tank,) with a Zeiss Tessar 50mm f2.8. Incredibly sharp lens. Then I went to a Nikon F301, F70 (which I still have,) F100 which is sold at the right time. I then bought a D100 on the back of a commercial shoot, then a D2H (terrible white balance,) a D300 then a D2X and then finally, a D700 which is around 9 years old and is used constantly for all type of photography. I kept the F70, sold the D2X and bought a D5100 with a grip as a backup/second camera (I know it's DX.) The D300 is used by my colleague for shooting weddings and whilst similar to the D700, ts a fair bit noisier, especially at high ISO's. I have been thinking of a D810, as I want a camera that can accept CF Cards as opposed to crappy, fragile SD Cards, but my eyes have been drawn to the D4 as the slight increase in MP to 16.mp plus the fact that it has the grip built in as per the D2X. Trouble is even used they are selling for silly money on eBay (UK.) I shot a lot of sport with the F100 (mainly REAL Football,) and I loved the camera - just not the way it chewed through film. I have a FUji X-t1 for holidays as it's so light you hardly notice you are carrying it, but I wouldn't shoot with it professionally as the dials and buttons are too easy to knock off their settings unwittingly.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

I think you can find a D4 for under $2k or an D810 for about $1200.

[@photodom2000]

@@markhopkinsphoto7257 I know Mark, but still swithering though. I like the 'cropability' of the D810 and if I team it with a Nikon 200-500mm f5.6, that becomes a native 300-750mm in DX crop mode at nearly 16 megapixels. I already have a 80-200 f2.8, which would effectively be a 300mm on the D810 in DX crop mode. I sometimes shoot in DX crop mode in RAW on the D700, but find the quality is not as good and there is also a distinct magenta colour shift in the images.

[@wilkbor]

Thanks for the video.

[@chikuyu13]

I have the d500 and the d700. The d700 is 12 megapixels also. Beautiful camera. And the d500 is every bit of a professional camera.

[@cashmoney9256]

I just joined the D3 club!

[@christophergrove4876]

I am a large-format printing technician and have printed many images that were originally single-digit MPs. There is never any problems because it is VERY RARE that they are meant to be viewed up close.

[@christianjforbes]

9,000 clicks … I bought mine with 175,000 with no fear that it’ll leave me stranded . It’s still an absolute beast of output. To me, it’s an F3 with every feature I wished for back in the day.

[@dario1965]

I have used D3 and d700 for all my professional wedding photography over last 10 years. Highly recommend and faster post-production time due to 12 mgpix sensor, 24x36in tack sharp prints - no problem. Largest I printed was 30x 46in on canvas with amazing result. Need to add that few years back I noticed that clients when discussing packages would often laugh at people wanting huge pictures of themselves in their living rooms. In this industry 24x36 in is the largest size you will ever need.

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

I agree! My clients would say, "I don't want huge photos of us hanging in our home."

[@DogaArt]

You are absolutely right. I took 80 wedding photos with a d700. I couldn't see the magic in those photos on other machines. now I'm looking for a d700 or 3d again.

[@Jpb7338]

Love the D3 - I have 3 bodies and they all work hard - I’m close to 1/2 million clicks on one body - I shoot weddings and fashion and events and the pixel quality is stunning, for the age and price you cannot go wrong

[@johandenhertog6878]

I shoot since 1996 Full Frame with the Nikon F5. 2008 the Nikon D3 and now in 2018 the Nikon D4. Funny that i used always the same 3 prime lenses from my Nikon F5. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4D, Nikon105mm f/2D and the Nikon 135mm f/2D. Used the 85mm the most. Shoot B/W portraits.

[@boatman222345]

A photographer after my own heart! I went through the same research process, reached pretty much the same conclusions RE Bang For My Buck! and wound up buying a Nikon D700 with 2,000 shutter actuations. I have 2 D7000s, 1 D7100, and a D610 which I got used only to have the shutter break. I prefer the D700 for everything but wildlife. Better feel, mostly better controls, way better viewfinder, and much higher overall build quality! My only complaint is the weight. Equipped with an F4 24-120 mm Nikon zoom this camera weighs a ton! Not being a weight lifter like this guy I wound up developing both tennis elbow and golfer's elbow and despite 6 months of therapy I am still having difficulties. So if you are of slight build be careful in the way you lift and hold a full frame camera!

[@dirktassaert6579]

Nikon D3s + Nikon 200-500mm It rocks in 2018

[@CarlyWaarly]

My sort of chap, we purchased a couple of D800's instead of the D850's for a fraction of the price. Always loved the ergonomics of the D3's with inbuilt vertical grip, feels well balanced but it was out of our price range at the time.

[@johnathanbeckstein3017]

Hey Mark, thank you for a thoughtful video/review! I have a few questions for you -- it's been a whole year, how do you feel about your camera choice now? Is the D3 still satisfactory or do you wish you went with something else like the D750, 810, or maybe one of the sister cameras, D3S or D3X(which does have 24mp)? Second, I've heard that some customers sometimes demand a medium format camera or a d850 at least -- especially corporate gigs -- have you had any similar experiences? Do you ever use film anymore? Lastly, after a year of use, what are your biggest likes and dislikes about the camera? Any advice to someone thinking about buying one in 2019? Thanks for your time and words! Andy P.S. i think a lot of people would be stoked on another video about the D3, "Mark's update -- Nïkon D3 in 2019!"

[@markhopkinsphoto7257]

I am still very happy with the D3. 12 MP is enough and I prefer the smaller file size because I can work faster. Keep in mind I am doing headshots, corporate events, portraits, a few weddings and some real estate photography. My only wish would be the ability to shoot at a higher iso in low light. I shot this 4 day long corporate event and sometimes I was at 6400 iso. Less noise at 6400 would of been nice. If I was shooting jobs that required large poster size prints then yes, I would then prefer 24 MP or larger. For my needs the D3 is still great.

[@Garacha222]

should have included photos shot with the D3 in the video. Great thought process and final choices along the way. Thanks

[@eduardoaviles317]

Hey Mark, I recently got a D3 camera and I can honestly say it's an awesome camera. I was wondering if you had any tips you could share about the Nikon D3 that I could use?

[@WakizashiSabre]

Hey, great video. I am owner of D750 but with specification for shooting concerts in very bad light condtion. I actually do not like even ISO 6400 and 12800 with relatively decent exposure tho... But yeah, i am kinda pixel peeper... High MPix camera are great if you love tremendous details, but it all comes down to the needs ot a person. I believe D3 is still great camera and durable as a battle tank and for some weddings in decent condition, it will be awesome. Also, I really like the lesthetics of 1 part body without need of having additional grip there...

[@tanasmithsakol6539]

I still use my Nikon D3 as of September 2018 with >500,000 clicks and no issues so far. I have tried other newer cameras and I like them but I am really reluctant to upgrade because as a stills/portrait photographer, I don't need anything else. Nikon has really thought this through when they released the D3 back in 2007, it is still, in my opinion, better than most cameras these days in a lot of aspects. 12.1, yes 12.1 million pixels is more than enough for a lot of things(this will likely not change for another decade). It's difficult to find another camera of the Nikon lineup that can produce the same color tones and contrast as the D3 which I am so accustomed to and am in love with. I have worked with my D3 for years and it has never failed me once in any weather condition.

[@Los_Servants]

What's better, a d700 or a d3(would a d2be ok also)? I currently have a d5300 for portraits but I want to get into photoshoots for friends and fam and street photography. By the way you sound like Bryan Callen.

[@guildengilbert170]

I shoot quite a lot of sports and use 2 - D3S bodies and a D500. I have found no justifiable reason to move to D4 or D5. The High ISO performance of the D3S is absolutely wonderful. Plus I find no real need for more than 12MP.

[@squashvids1032]

Congrats on your D3! that thing is super sexy and just makes you want to keep on shooting. Don't worry about the 12 MP sensor, I've had double page spreads on books and magazines and resolution has never been an issue.

[@dwikydarmawan1989]

Hello, what size of paper you use for print your photo??

[@squashvids1032]

@@dwikydarmawan1989 Hi, usually 40x30 cm.

[@dwikydarmawan1989]

Thanks, can you give me some suggest, I want to upgrade from my D3400, which one is worth the d5xxx or D7000??, Or the old D90 or D300s??

[@squashvids1032]

@@dwikydarmawan1989 D300(s) all day.

[@dwikydarmawan1989]

@@squashvids1032 how about low light performance? I'm currently use my D3400 for indoor basketball with YN 50mm f1.8

[@mirehab]

I just bought D3 with 26000 shutter count. I have also D700 and D500. I don't think that I will need to purchase any other camera.

[@tomtanner1377]

I Love this cam🥰

[@nettyvoyager6336]

HAVE YOU TRIED ADAPTORS AND DIFFERENT LENS LIKE FIJI TAMRON CANON ECT