Nikon D3s camera review.

Independent review of the Nikon D3s camera, and why I think it's the deal of the century. This is a personal opinion of a favourite camera, having used them for ten years. I received no payment or free samples, it's an independent review.
#nikon
#camerareview
#secondhandcamera
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[@2klember]

D3s is beautiful and always will be. The colors are just outstanding from this camera.

[@rileyphotos]

You’re right Rob, the colour rendition is outstanding. Thats why, even though they aren’t my first choice shooters anymore, I can’t part with either of mine! Thanks for watching 👏📷😊

[@АндрейМакаров-г6н]

Unbelievable review! Everything you need to know if you're in doubt to get D3s or not.

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you, I really do appreciate your comments, best wishes Phil

[@porkster5924]

I’m a Nikon Z9 and Z8 user and I’ve just bought a mint D3s with 40k clicks on it for £340, complete with all original accessories and boxed. I’ll use it with some older F mount lenses such as the 16mm fisheye and I know it’ll be perfect for the job I want it to do.

[@LiquidTurbo]

Back when this camera came out in 2009, I wanted it so badly, it’s insane MSRP was out of reach for me as a poor student. I finally was able to buy one a few years ago and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Amazing camera. I will use it until it dies.

[@rileyphotos]

Haha, I love that, it’s the best review ever, they should write it on the box. “Great camera, I shall use it until it dies”. Brilliantly put. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@joseandressanchez3588]

I have 3 Nikon D3s, and I love them. I think it is the Best Nikon Dslr in the digital age. Thanks for sharing!

[@rileyphotos]

Totally agree! cheers Jose

[@erickbrown5385]

You are so correct. I bought one at full price when this was the top of the line Nikon. I used it for 10-12 years and got over 300000 clicks on the shutter. I just loved that camera and didn't see "moving up" as a solution. After some on line hunting I found one with 6000 on it. Like new. What a great camera. Now I'm starting a small collection of prime lenses to make magic with it.

[@rileyphotos]

Absolutely Eric, if you know what you’re doing, then you can’t got wrong with a D3s. Best colour rendition from any camera I’ve ever used 📷👏👏👏

[@chefenriqueavargas3326]

I have to say that this is such an amazing and honest review. I have a D700 and always wanted this one. Now I am going to get one for sure. I love the size of it as I have big hands. Great review my friend...

[@rileyphotos]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy 📷

[@c.millare]

Your review helped me purchase this camera. I actually got a d3s with a 1,900 shutter count and the original packaging for $1,000 USD.

[@rileyphotos]

Chris that’s a great purchase, I think you’ll love the D3s, the way it handles colour is extraordinary, and I think you have a bargain. A shutter count of under 2k is barely run in, I’ve shot that many frames in a day with mine! Top purchase, let us know how you get on, and thanks for watching 👏📷😊

[@monkey555500]

i bought a d3 last week...love it

[@rileyphotos]

Good choice!

[@ajmedia1274]

Just bought a D3s to compliment my D3 that has done 600,000 clicks. Best cameras ever.

[@rileyphotos]

They sure are work horses aren’t they? Enjoy the D3s, it’s low light capabilities are legendary. 👍🏻

[@JgHobley]

Just bedding in now

[@RvSun]

Aside from the 720p video of the D3S, how is it better than the D3?

[@swarnaprasad]

Amazing 👏, I just bought a D3s for 250 usd...approximately. I just love the Professional build and simplicity of use. Love to hold it and shoot..woow. Well I have D750 and D850 hiding I'm my closet after I bought my D3s! Haha

[@rileyphotos]

Great to hear!

[@robbanto]

Well said, I do have 2 of them for many years and just love them!!!

[@rileyphotos]

You have two of them! That’s double the fun, enjoy 📷📷😊

[@gregoryvarano8002]

Great review of a great imaging tool. Spot on on all points.

[@rileyphotos]

Many thanks!

[@continental883]

The only professional camera that I ever purchased brand new a decade ago to go with my D700 and I still have both. I've moved to the A7iii as a daily shooter because of size but will break out the Nikons for serious outdoor work and sports. Nikon glass is still brilliant.

[@JgHobley]

New to your channel. I had one about 5-6 years ago. I agree 💯 with what you say. I use D4s and D5 now but still love the D3s!

[@rileyphotos]

Jon you’re most welcome, thank you for watching. I also shoot with D810’s which have a much larger 90Mb image size, but in the hand they’re just not the same solid feel. The D3s radiates confidence.👍🏻📷😀

[@anjolielanel990]

Great photos! Love the lighting on the portraits too! The Nikon D3s is certainly one of the best “vintage” digital cameras one can own

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you, I really appreciate that 👍🏻

[@masao_yamanaka]

I wanted to see the combination of D3s and 24-70 2.8, so thank you for making this video.

[@andrewcroft2570]

Great video, I'll tell you what's in my camera collection for work, a Canon 40D - 70D and 2 x 6D which in my humble opinion is the camera that is completely lost to 90% of people. In analogue cameras, a Mamiya 645 Super and a Rolleiflex and I will be looking to add a D3s to this collection.

[@Stop-All-War]

Canon 6d & 6dii are outstanding value, despite the reviews

[@Zapruderfilm1963]

Bought one approx two weeks ago. I absolutely love it! I own many mirrorless and a couple of DSLR’s besides the D3S and this camera is my absolute favourite. I shoot street photography and this camera sticks out compared to my Sony RX1, RX100 MK5 and my Fujifilm bodies but it’s so good for that genre that I can’t just put it down. Great review! Subscribed!

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it. The D3s seems to cast a spell over the user. I don’t know what it is, but even though I shoot with newer cameras, picking up the D3s is like coming home. It feels like part of the photograph. I genuinely believe I take my best images with that body. No rhyme or reason for it, it just happens. Hope you find the same with yours too. Thank you very much for subscribing, I have some new reviews, tips and of course the working photographer vlog being published over the next couple of weeks. 📷👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Stop-All-War]

Be careful, these days theives are very violent in certain areas.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

My first ever digital was the Nikon 1DH absolutely loved it but tragically while shooting my old boxers (dogs not grundies) in the surf they went bat shite crazy tied me in knots dumping me in the drink frying the camera in a split second, thankfully the insurance were my mates and replaced the 1DH with the new D3s, just wow what a camera I shot thousands upon thousands of frames in this thing, it's still going strong in 2022 flawlessly getting the shot love love absolutely love this camera. Great review cheers

[@Project_2501]

I used to have a Nikon D700 (exact same sensor as the D3 & D3s!) and I sold it to get the latest most high tech stuff I could get in 2020. Not 2 weeks later I regretted selling it so much because of the way it renders colors and light transitions/reflections that I wanted I just needed to rebuy it. So I went for a D3s instead because I found an unbeatable bargain for a nearly unused D3s sitting in a shop's shelf since 2011 with unbelievable 34.000 shutter agitations. Never was so happy with a camera as with this one. It is basically my D700 on steroids. I will shoot that thing until it dies! I keep the new 2020 camera anyway for the modern video functionality but I haven't taken a single photo with it since I have the D3s. I do commercial work for magazines, webzines and also lagre prints and the 12MP limitation was never a problem. Not a single time. Don't get fooled by the market's tricks to make you buy the latest BS because they make you suffer from "GAS". The most GAS you will ever get is from the D3s once you had one in your hands, believe me.

[@rileyphotos]

It’s hard selling a camera you’ve enjoyed, you get to know your camera and it’s like losing a friend. Hopefully you’ll soon make friends with your new camera and take some great photos with it. Best of luck 👍🏻📷

[@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs]

Go on you know you want another D700 to go along with your D3s I did love them both

[@qiangshen9160]

Q

[@carlgarrard9710]

There's a saying in the fishing world "never leave fish to find fish" :). Applies for a lot of things as well as your situation. We humans are funny "what if its better than what already makes me happy" we all think it and do it. I just bought a D3s selling my D3, only because I KNOW it's better. lol

[@georgedavall9449]

Wrong! D3s sensor was different Projecx! Improved over the D3

[@pcs9518]

I have a D3X and D3S and they are outstanding cameras. I got them both for a steal and I couldn’t be happier with them both. For low light I favor the D3S and high MP I favor the D3X. They both have their areas they work great with.

[@rileyphotos]

Couldn’t agree more 📷📷 enjoy

[@g.w.7893]

Well said indeed. It's refreshing to hear a review that doesn't scream latest and greatest.

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you for watching and for your kind comment, it’s very much appreciated 👍🏻

[@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs]

I have a D3 and D700 bloody awesome bits of kit solid and reliable and no I am not planning to go mirrorless I still like a D3s and D4s

[@rileyphotos]

Yes I love my D3s too. I wonder how they compare to mirrorless....well, thanks to my friends at Nikon, I’m about to find out. Got an interesting comparison video coming soon. Thanks for watching and commenting, I really appreciate it 📷😊

[@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs]

@@rileyphotos fantastic I look forward to seeing it keep up the good work

[@feetsko]

On my third pint and drunk in love with my newly acquired D3s! Thank you for your voice of reason and your candor!

[@rileyphotos]

A camera well worthy of celebrating! Hope you enjoy shooting with this great camera, and thanks for watching 📷👏😊

[@feetsko]

@@rileyphotos haha! I was sober when I subscribed! Keep ‘em coming!

[@vinnyobee]

Gotta say, great review, short and sweet! The orangutang and baby is amazing! Thanks, btw, got one the other day, love it!

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you for those great comments Vincent, you’ve made my day! Enjoy the camera, thanks for watching 👏📷😊

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Thanks for the video, yes the D3s and the D700 are still amazing cameras, even in 2024.. You put up some great pictures at the end of the video, would be nice to also put up lens' used if you can. Thanks...

[@rileyphotos]

I’ll see if KZbin lets me add it but if not, I’ll add lens info on future shots- good idea 👍🏻

[@malekzin4788]

Bought mine in 2019 used, still the camera to use in 2022. I think I’ll get the D5/D6 if this thing croaks, but judging by build quality, i think croak first.

[@rileyphotos]

Haha, you’re probably right, it will out live us all 📷👏

[@BeatPoet67]

I got a D3 from ebay with 36k actuations a couple of years ago for £380. It's practically mint. They're over engineered masterpieces. I can see them appreciating in value as the cool kids begin to realise how good they are.

[@rileyphotos]

£380 !!!!!!!!!!!! Richard, you got the deal of the century. Enjoy that camera and thanks for watching the channel, 👍📷😀

[@michaeldelrossi4487]

I have the D300s and want another Nikon body and I think that this may be the way to go. Thank You!

[@rileyphotos]

Glad the video was helpful Michael, thanks for watching 👍🏻😊📷

[@mattram8314]

Amazing review of a great camera I bought 3 years ago, to make my dream come true:). Am so glad I made a good choice. BTW I waited long with my lenses and finally I jumped from the analog f100 to the d3s:). Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the D3s!

[@rileyphotos]

Good choice! Hope you are having a great time shooting with it

[@khanscombe619]

I agree. Absolute workhorse. I’m using with a side kick D700 & D300s for yrs now & keeps going. (:

[@rileyphotos]

Yep, just keeps on going and going.....thanks for watching and commenting 📷👍🏻

[@highpeakbirds6685]

Couldn’t agree more, I’ve not got the s.. but love my D3

[@romansivers]

Thank you for a great review! 👍

[@rileyphotos]

You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked it, thanks for watching 📷😊

[@m2c246]

You speak the truth my friend, I got one last year for a song with a low shutter count and I love the feel of it. It's the real deal, not for wimps. Love your black & whites, specially the pigeon man shot.

[@rileyphotos]

Glad you like the camera, and that's for your comments on my shot, much appreciated

[@Cotictimmy]

Thanks for this splendid video. I've just had a D3S (128,000 clicks £495) delivered from MPB within the last hour. Described as 'Well Used' rather than 'Good' but it looks pretty 'good' to me - and everything I've tested so far is working fine. Will AF Fine-Tune some lenses this afternoon and upload images for pixel-peeping. I already have an original D3 & D3X so I know these things are fabulous. I guess I'll get another stop or so from the new 'S' and some other more subtle benefits over the D3. I'm a portrait/people shooter so I will NOT be blasting away at 9 fps. 😀

[@rileyphotos]

You’ll really enjoy the D3S, the colour rendition is simply stunning. I’ve never owned another camera that rendered colour quite like the D3s, and the higher ISO work will open up portraits in much lower light too. Good call using MPB, I’ve always found them great to deal with, and you get a three month warranty on second hand gear, can’t be bad 👏📷😊

[@Audimann]

Ordered a used copy and gonna pick it up tomorrow. I do not really need it considering my collection but this camera is legend. I have a D850 for example but I need a pro camera for bad weather conditions etc... The D850 is sturdy but I rather do not want to expose this camera to rain. It is brand new.

[@rileyphotos]

The D3s won’t be bothered by a bit if rain, it’s a great addition to your collection 👍🏻👏

[@Audimann]

@@rileyphotos And the D3s has arrived. Again what a beast of a camera. Only thing is you can not assign ISO to one of the fn buttons. Or am I missing something? I guess not.

[@tracyleepitre6079]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I am currently searching for a D3s in minty/excellent condition, and I know I will find one if I am patient!

[@rileyphotos]

They are great cameras Tracy, you’ll find one I’m sure and when you do you’ll be mighty glad to have it. Thanks for watching the channel, much appreciated 📷👏😊

[@Ton-x4r]

A D3s with the 24-70mm f2.8 G never gets old.

[@diga1001]

Thank you for this video! I was considering getting a used d4s but after this video I’ll definitely reconsider the d3s. With the benefit that I could use my d3 batteries.

[@rileyphotos]

Good Choice, I'm sure you'll enjoy the D3s, thank you

[@kenjones6441]

Mines coming today from MPB. £725 excellent condition 44,000 shots.

[@rileyphotos]

Now that’s a great Christmas present 🎁 enjoy😊

[@friendfortheartists]

I've created a post on your review plus I'm going to add you to my D3S reviews if you don't mind. Well done.

[@Juventinos]

only had it for 3 days at this point. I knew it was good when i got it. Still blew my socks off. the only question is...is the D4 better? or just different great. i'm on the quest to find the best photo camera, and it really is between these 2. D4 or D3s. spectacular.

[@rileyphotos]

That sounds like an exciting quest, the D3s or the D4. They both have such a lot going for them, enjoy 📷📷👍🏻

[@edc5338]

I have 2 D3s cameras and 2 D700s. I got great deals with low shutter counts. I won't ever part with them.

[@scotthansenmtbt4110]

A video for dinosaurs….I’m IN! I bought the D3…..yeah I’m starting to dig the DSLRs…they are fun, and great lenses for cheap

[@rileyphotos]

Right on!

[@jensroeckendorf382]

Hello, I consider to buy this camera very strongly. I think it would a very good restart for me into the digital phototgraphy. In the past I shoot with analog cameras Nikon FE2 and F4 with the D3s it is good restart for me. Thanks for this video

[@rileyphotos]

Hello Jens, thank you for watching my video. I think the Nikon D3s would be a very good choice for you to restart your photography. If you used an F4, then the D3s is a great digital alternative. I wish you good luck in your photography journey 📷😀

[@jensroeckendorf382]

@@rileyphotos Hi, since today in the afternoon I owned a Nikon D3s too. I think it is a very suitable camera for me and my restart inthe digital photograpy!!.

[@rileyphotos]

Congratulations on your new camera Jens, I’m sure you’re going to love it 📷👍🏻😀

[@frederikvanreusel]

i own a d3 for more then a year now and its one of the best purchases I ever made in my life

[@rileyphotos]

A wise purchase....enjoy👏

[@mr.gratitude7594]

This guy just sold me... 😳 👏🏿

[@samanimeguy23]

I'm still using the D2H...great portrait camera....

[@rileyphotos]

Yes, I’ve a D2X in the kit cupboard somewhere, I’ve forgotten about that. Also got a D1, now that would be good to dig out for a video. Wonder how that performs now?? Thank you for watching and commenting, much appreciated 📷

[@mikafoxx2717]

​@@rileyphotos Do a lineup of d1, d2, d3 one after another. I've used the d1 and d2xs and wow, they're good cameras. The d2xs especially, 12 megapixels is enough for anything.

[@richardfreeman5123]

Recently bought a d3s at an estate auction in Australia $550 was $9500 when released in Australia a great step up from my Nikon d5100.

[@rileyphotos]

It's no secret that I love my D3s's. I think you're going to really enjoy how it handles light. Thanks for watching Richard, I really appreciate it

[@joshblank1]

Is there a difference in build quality between D3 & D2X?

[@rileyphotos]

Hi Paul, I can’t remember there being any significant build quality differences between the D1,D2 or D3 ranges. Chip and screen size was different but the build quality was solid on all of them as I remember

[@marksmusicplace3627]

excellent review. I love the lay out of my Nikon D2X over my canons. I am looking to get a Nikon D3s or even a D3x. If i need a exceptional camera to shoot 4k slow motion video then this is why I would want to by a real digital cinema camera and not a DSLR. Cinema cameras will always out perform in video over DSLRs. this is why I will eventually own a Arri Alexa classic. But for Stills, this is why I prefer DSLRs over smart phones. Also. thanks a million for mentioning the key most important factor in photography, The LENSES. Are probably way more important than the bells and whistles of gadgets in a camera that most will not even use such as bracketing, evaluative metering, or using the histogram to check for proper exposure.

[@rileyphotos]

Thanks for watching Mark. Absolutely right, it’s lens first every time, but man, I do love that D3s, the way it’s feels, and the colour rendition. Sublime. Thanks too for the great comments, really appreciate it 👏📷😊

[@PeterR0035]

Nice review! I have several pro Nikon camera's and agree with most of your remarks, except; the 4 different menu options. They change settings when you change anything instead of keeping memory like the cheaper D7x00 series; menu U1, U2. I find it a major F*-up from Nikon and for that reason alone I sometimes use these DX camera's instead of a pro model!

[@rileyphotos]

Good point!

[@chriswhitham9233]

just bought a D3s it will be here in 3 days. already got 2 D700s

[@rileyphotos]

Exciting 📷👏😀I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@joelcrow]

D3s is still fantastic in 2020! My biggest complaint is the rear LCD though...the colors are terribly Neutral/orange and no where near accurate to what the color of the image files look like on your computer. So you just sort of have to know what is exposed/colored correctly and not rely on the LCD very much. Otherwise the camera is fast, not just shutter speed but also auto focus! And it seems to be a few stops better iso than my D800.

[@rileyphotos]

Well put Joel, I think you learn a lot about your camera after a while and in the end you and your camera learn to shoot together.

[@melvinch]

Does it meter accurately with AI-S lenses?

[@rileyphotos]

I couldn’t give you a definitive answer, but what I can say is that I used it with a bunch of older manual focus Nikon glass and it never had a problem with exposure. Hope that helps 👍🏻

[@francois4160]

brilliant!!! I need one now.....😁😁😁

[@rileyphotos]

Go for it François, Grab a bargain, and thank you for your kind comments. 📷📷📷📷📷👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏👏👏

[@misa_milos]

Am not a professional photographer now although I hold a camera in my hands almost my whole life, I'm 49. In one time during 90's I guess I was a pro, because for several years I was doing weddings for a living, and I loved it. Sometimes as second photographer, other times as only photographer.... Anyway, now I do something else for a living, but I simply can't live without a shutter sound in my ears and the camera in my hands. I guess it's a passion. I still occasionally make some ( small amounts of) money from my photography, but it's not important to me, at least not primary and not reason why I own a camera. It's just to keep my photo bag full 😃 I am using D4 now, and it is excellent camera, absolutely. But my heart is still with my D3s which I sold so I could get the D4.

[@rileyphotos]

Hi Miloš, great to hear from you, you are most welcome on the channel. I am especially pleased to hear your passion and dedication for photography. I have met many professional photographers who do not have the excitement for taking pictures that you have. You can’t imagine life without a camera and that is wonderful to hear. We share your love of photography hear at rileyphotos, thank you for watching and for commenting, I really do appreciate it 👏📷😊

[@misa_milos]

@@rileyphotos Thank You for your kind words, sir. I'm happy to be here. Subscribed!

[@sevenalexand]

I got my D3 for $250 and it came with a Nikon D1x body, 15 lenses, a Minolta SRT 101 with its kit lens and about $300 worth of extinct expired 120 film. I walked into the thrift store and immediately saw this ominous purple box covered in gaff tape that had cameras hastily written on the side of it in sharpie. I didn't know what was in the box until I got out into my car. It turns out the thrift store had gotten tired of going through all the camera supplies that they got delivered so they just started putting it in boxes and selling them as mystery items. You better believe I went back and bought The other two mystery boxes they had. The other two were not as nice as the first one; mostly point and shoots, but now I have a really nice telephoto lens from the USSR.

[@rileyphotos]

Wow, what a find. Enjoy 😊

[@davidalan8824]

great video, Makes sense to me!

[@rileyphotos]

Thanks David, grab a bargain if you see a low shutter count body for sale! Thanks for watching 👏📷😊

[@RCBladeKing]

This camera is legendary! It was what all the pros used for National Geographic back in the day. It handles well and feels so damn good in the hands!

[@RCBladeKing]

Lol this battle has still been raging for me. I’m going to pick one up and see how much I like it.

[@gashead2]

I have a D700, is it worth adding a D3s and making that my main camera? I mainly shoot landscapes.

[@rileyphotos]

Hi Cary, thank you for watching the channel. In answer to your question, I don’t think you’ll see much benefit from the upgrade, a D700 is like a D3s in a smaller body. Same chip. Same processor, so the image should look the same. If You want to treat yourself to something new, how about a lens? Not sure what your using, but upgrading the glass on the front will make a huge difference, as will adding a speedlite if you haven’t already got one. Check out the 300mm f4.5 lens review on my channel as a starting point. Hope that helps. 👍🏻📷

[@scott-wright]

I have a D700 and a D810. Do I need a D3s? I want one now

[@rileyphotos]

Haha, sorry Scott if we’ve whetted your appetite for a D3s. With a D810 you don’t need a D3s, but I gotta say, I have two in the camera kit cupboard and I use them often, especially in Fall, or as we Brits call it, Autumn, because the colour handling on the D3s is better than any other camera I’ve ever used. And I’ve been a pro since 1984 so as you can imagine, that’s quite a few cameras! Thanks for watching Scott, much appreciated 👍🏻

[@scott-wright]

@@rileyphotos I’ve always lusted over the D3/D3s. Probably more nostalgia than anything but one day if I see one cheap I might get one. Also, us Aussies also call it Autumn ;)

[@r.l.thompson5666]

I totally agree with you. Picked up two last month. Great Cameras

[@rileyphotos]

Go for it! cheers

[@monkey555500]

top video

[@karney44m]

Feet are for zooming, a zoom lens is just a box of primes in one package. People really do need to learn the importance of lens length and then use their feet to zoom. Pick up my lightly used D3s tomorrow morning, can't wait!

[@MegaPK9999]

I still regularly use my legendary D3s. Two D3s Actually:)

[@rileyphotos]

I’m with you there, two d3s’s for me too. My D810 has bigger sensor but there is something about how the D3s captures light, can’t put my finger on it, but I love it !

[@MegaPK9999]

(Jing’s)! That’s funny, I was going to say same the thing about my D810. Lol :)

[@italy74]

Question : were you in AF or manually focusing for the D-movie?

[@rileyphotos]

It’s all manual focus Dino, it was shot through a glass screen with the camera against the glass so AF would have had problems.

[@neilyakuza6595]

I love my D3s!

[@rileyphotos]

Yes Neil they’re great. There’s always a D3s in my kit bag. I’m just shooting a Nikon Mirrorless video and comparing to DSLR, very interesting. I’ll post in in the next week or so. Thanks for watching 📷😀

[@photosbyernesto9621]

I love my D3s, except for that amazingly loud shutter! Not really appreciated when shooting corporate events! 🤣

[@rileyphotos]

Put it into quiet shutter mode, the Q on the top left shutter dial. Not silent but much quieter than without it 👍🏻

[@arunphillips6977]

The D3s is the best DSLR ever made. After shooting with D200's, 300's, the wonderful D700, the hideous D800, the superb D4 and many others, I picked up a low mileage D3s and I can honestly say the D3s is without equal, even in 2021! I have never felt a camera so amazing to hold and use as this baby...absolutely stunning machine, the likes of something we'll never see again.

[@rileyphotos]

Amen to that Arun, well said 👏📷😊

[@treasureislandofworld]

I love this !

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you so much, and thanks for watching, it’s much appreciated 👏📷😊

[@treasureislandofworld]

@@rileyphotos All the very Best to your Journey !

[@fjphoto23]

Excellent video.

[@rileyphotos]

Glad you liked it!

[@TheDailyStoicist_Officials_001]

which the lens?

[@rileyphotos]

Hi Mohammad, it’s a 24-70 2.8, thanks for watching 👏📷😊

[@lensman5762]

Ironic isn't it that like many things in life, these cameras have really been understood and appreciated well after their passing. When D3s first came out, almost everybody looked at it with their noses turned up becuase it didn't have the mega pixel count or the reputed this and that of Canon or something else. Well, it didn't need it nor did we. The same is so much true of today, that everyone is so hard at work trying to convince us that we need all this unnecessary tech in modern cameras, techs which have no real practical use.

[@rileyphotos]

Well said lensman! I couldn’t agree more. I try and highlight videos on my channel about photography skills advice and to low cost equipment, often second hand, which are more than capable of producing excellent photography when operated with skills and knowledge. It’s kind of sad that these videos get hardly any views compared to when I look at a new bit of kit. I did a poll on my channel about whether photographers would prefer photography advice or equipment videos. The overwhelming result was advice. And yet the view count data on videos shows the exact opposite. Thanks for the view today on this iconic camera video, it still has the best colour rendition of any camera I’ve ever used 👍🏻

[@lensman5762]

@@rileyphotos I can share your dissapointment regarding the viewing figures. I follow a vrey few channels relating to landscape photography, mainly film and MF and LF cameras. The guys conentrate on photograoht rathe rthan pushing gear. They get views on the wrong side of 1000. Then there are those that put a well endowed young lady in front of the latest all gizmo camera, lens, flash, tripod etc and call it portrait photography. They have views in thousands. Perhaps it is us men watching that nonsense who are the problem. Sadly, people have seriously bought into this crap that the more expensive, the more feature laden a camera, the better chance of the buyer turning out ' better ' photographs. This is nonsense, but try and tell them that to do street photography one does not need a 60mp, £7000 Leica range finder and a £6000 Leica Apo ... Aspherical. But they do make videos of them walking into the Leica shop in London or New York and coming out with the latest 35mm Apo lens costing £5000.00 + just to go and do what I used to do with a Nikon EM and a 50mm E series lens. It is not about photography, whatever else it may be .

[@rileyphotos]

Hallelujah, it's like listening to my own sermon, 😆 I despair at the videos of lenses that costs more than a hospital wing being devoured by the armchair photographers, and the portrait photographers on social media taking photos of 'model' citizens in the street using the same 85mm wide open and blurring the background to make every single portrait look the same and doing absolutely nothing to portray the subject and tell us anything about them. It's great to hear someone else with the same thoughts.👍🏻

[@lensman5762]

@@rileyphotos Absolutely, and please don't forget the mandatory ' presets ', as if what one persn does to his/her photos would fit anyone else's. One size fits all malarky. Where is the creativity and individuality these days? The F9, iso 100, front to back shaprness syndrome. What makes me really sad is that some of these ' masters of fine art photography ' spend three ours with photoshop and in the end come up with some horrible image and then they go on ridiculing the likes of Weston and Adams that these days with so much tech, no one needs to know what exactly a camera meter is telling them or how to manage the luminance range of a scene. What heroes???

[@edvenuto9614]

I love d3

[@rileyphotos]

So do I Ed , thanks

[@italy74]

Oh one more thing, Riley, I'm writing a guide about Nikon cameras and I'm linking your channel and this specific video (and the orangutan too for the Dmovie)

[@rileyphotos]

That’s great Dino, I hope the guide goes well, I’ll look out for it, best wishes 👏📷

[@italy74]

@@rileyphotos thanks, I sent you a mail to your official website giving you some more details to see if it's fine for you.

[@pabloisaac6387]

I currently use a D90 and I love it, I picked it up used because it has way better feel than a D3400 and although it only has 12 mpx it’s plenty enough, I was thinking of upgrading to a full frame and considering that the iso in the D90 is pretty limited I’m pretty sure I’ll pick a D3s once I have the money. Thank you for the video and the truth you spoke about it :D

[@rileyphotos]

Thank you, I appreciate your comments

[@admiralvontirpitz7115]

Just bought one again after browsing between my old pics and seeing that quite a good amount of them where coming from this very camera. So long for hyper-tech, super Rez ML monsters, every now and then it’s just more fun to grab one of this still very capable old skool puppies and just shoot away :) If you can find one in decent conditions at a reasonable price, just buy it! You won’t regret!

[@rileyphotos]

Absolutely, I second that, if you see one in good nick, buy it! Thanks for watching, 👏📷😊

[@davejw1950]

Just bought a Nikon D3 (couldn't afford it back when it came out) with 87K on the shutter. I don't shoot video but I do want to have a camera that can handle the weather conditions of Michigan. A Nikon Pro camera under $600 is better than the newest DX Nikon camera.

[@rileyphotos]

Couldn’t agree more David, that’s a wise purchase. Doesn’t matter what weather Michigan throws at it, that camera is going to handle it with style. 87k accusations? Well both of my D3s bodies are way over 300k and going strong. Thanks for watching my channel and for commenting, much appreciated 👍🏻📷

[@SaifElnasrphotographylovers]

You are right bout my love D3S 👌🏿💌

[@chriswhitham9233]

I have 2 d3s cameras around 7000 clicks in each bouht on ebay in 2021

[@rileyphotos]

7,000 clicks!!! Brilliant, they are barely run in. You’ll have years of fun with those and the colour rendition is different to pretty much any other camera I’ve used. Enjoy, and thanks for watching 👏📷😊

[@aidtv]

i want buy one in 2021 do you agree ???

[@rileyphotos]

YES! It’s never too late to own a D3s. Lovely camera and a bargain these days, find a good one and enjoy 👏📷 thank you for watching

[@aidtv]

@@rileyphotos thanks you brother....

[@deanjelcic9299]

The fact: It was indeed designed for a formula 1 driver because the designer was a formula 1 designer 🙂

[@rileyphotos]

Wow, I thought it was a fast camera 😁🏎️

[@lotharmarunga7611]

Sjukt trevlig kamera!

[@BlancGivre]

I am perfectly happy with my D3 in Nov 2021, as I write this, even without any video mode at all. I have Sony 4K camcorders for that. But the Nikon D3 is the most amazing FX camera for me. No gimmicks. Just pure FX photos. If you have ever own an F5 you will love the D3.

[@cullenwassell3511]

Bigger megapixels means you can crop into the image, sure, but it also means that minor issues with lens quality, autofocus accuracy, camera shake, etc. are going to be much more apparent. You can hand-hold the D3 at slower shutter speeds than some much higher resolution cameras that have 4-axis IBIS. Why? Because the pixel size on the sensor is much bigger in the D3, so a small bit of camera shake may stay entirely in one pixel width and thus not show up at all in the captured image. No chance of that with, say, an A7R IV. The A7R IV has basically five pixels in the space of every single pixel in the D3's sensor. FIVE!!! 5-axis IBIS plus optical stabilization working in tandem has become something of a necessity with that kind of resolution. Not with a camera like the D3. So no. More megapixals isn't always better, and it can actually be distinctly *worse* - less is more. It even applies here in 2022. But, that being said, sometimes you *can't* get closer. I used to do a lot of aviation photography and for obvious reasons you can't get close to your subject in many cases in that realm. So it's either a big arse lens, or cropping; but even 12 MP has some cropping ability, as long as you're not going crazy.

[@rileyphotos]

Well said Cullen, not all pixels are equal. Thanks for in depth comments, very interesting. All I do know, is that I’ve never had a digital camera render colour quite as impressively as a D3s. 👍🏻

[@suburbanfarmer1]

I've dreamed about owning a D3 since it was first released and just last year finally bought one. I aced my 200 level college digital photography final with this amazing camera. If you have less then 1000$ to spend on a camera body and are very proficient in your P,S,A,M modes I highly recommend the D3 or D3s. Amazing in all categories.

[@rileyphotos]

Good choice!

[@Nenad9785]

Not 11 fr per sek?

[@rileyphotos]

Hi NG Photography , thanks for commenting, you’re right, it shoots 11 frames per second in the smaller DX format, but on full frame FX format, it’s just 9 frames per second I believe.

[@AbdelmadjidKalfat]

Hey, i found a D3s body with 700K shoot for 300€ what do you think ??

[@rileyphotos]

Well it’s certainly cheap enough, but 700K shutter count is very high. Nikon guarantee the shutter for 300K and all my D3s bodies have done twice that. At 700K though it’s high, it’s a gamble, you may be lucky, it may go for another 200K, or it may fail just after you buy it. I guess a replacement shutter would be around €600 so with a new shutter in the camera would stull be an ok buy if the condition is good. Short answer is, it’s a gamble, how lucky do you feel? Hope that helps📷👍🏻

[@AbdelmadjidKalfat]

@@rileyphotos i found one for 750€ with 150k i think it's better !! Thank you for your reply !!

[@runmorebenelux940]

Picking up my D3S tomorrow with 258k clicks for 325€.... hihi :)

[@creamynessification]

Just bought one for 470usd!

[@rileyphotos]

Sounds like a bargain, enjoy 👏📷😊

[@creamynessification]

I brought it to my usual club shoot and got instant respect from the regulars . They're like...oooh new camera?! And im like "yeah the same one that broke down a few months ago." PEOPLE NOTICE YOU WHEN YOU CARRY THIS CAMERA!

[@wildflower1542]

That sample pictures that you took with the Nikon D3s doesn't look too good it's not sharp & the color looks like it's faded ...

[@rileyphotos]

Oh dear, you may need to calibrate your screen, one of the images was used on a billboard across the U.K., and another was the full page front cover image on a best selling autobiography (Sir Bobby Charlton- My Life in Footballl) sold in book shops worldwide, another was on the Peaky Blinders set, and obviously used early morning mist to create effect and another was for a UNESCO document.

[@yuqin405]

I just sold my d3s with 7k counts. 😅

[@rileyphotos]

Wow, someone is going to enjoy that great colour rendition that only a D3S gives. 7k is hardly run in, I sometimes shoot that in two weeks! Nikon guarantees the shutter in a D3S for 300,000 actuations but in reality I’ve had them do twice that. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@80Hugoc]

best deal in 2020 : the amazing d300 : 200 Euros in like new state.

[@rileyphotos]

D300 sounds like a bargain, might have to order one for a review. Thanks for the tip 👍🏻📷

[@80Hugoc]

@@rileyphotos you are welcome, I have 2 of them as well as a d3x.

[@acekat7009]

@@rileyphotos can't wait for your review of Nikon d300

[@Gettyphotographer]

Nikon D4s.

[@fparkes6]

Just picked one up for 300 pounds:)

[@rileyphotos]

Excellent, enjoy 😊

[@hilgo_velomobile]

"most user friendly camera ever"....except for the F6, that is. (OK, I wouldn't be on here if I wasn't seriously in the market for a D3s to keep my F6 company)

[@rileyphotos]

Haha, a film camera, you are a connoisseur! Film cameras do seem to hold a special place in photographers hearts. My first pro camera was a brand new FM2. I remember the Nikon rep bringing ten of them into the office, one for each of us. They had to prize that camera out of my hands when the rep returned a few years later with F3s. The F6 is a lovely bit of kit but when I’m shooting in conference and the stage lights are pants, I’m wide open at a sixtieth, and my D3s lets me crank the iso up four stops. That’s user friendly! Thanks for watching and commenting, it’s much appreciated, enjoy the F6 and D3s if you get one 👍🏻

[@CalumetVideo]

These cameras a true workhorse and still can provide beautiful 16x20 prints.

[@rileyphotos]

They sure can, on the Birmingham New Road at the moment there is a road side ad of two kids eating Ice cream in front of a castle. I took that on a D3s and it’s printed whole page on a fifty foot advert 👍🏻😊📷 it’s a great camera

[@mikafoxx2717]

​@@rileyphotos Definitely. 35mm film really only gets like 12mp in real world use, short of some extremely low grain negative film or velvia 50. But it was plenty enough for pros back then even with higher iso film. If you did need more, you'd use a 4x5 for your floor to ceiling landscapes.

[@SaifElnasrphotographylovers]

Oh forget to ask,whatyyour favourite Lance can be best with it on studio and street photography , if you already have done video please lead me to it 💌

[@rileyphotos]

My favourite lens on a D3s was always the 24-70mm f2.8 zoom. A perfect partnership 📷