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Nikon D3 vs Nikon D5

6.28 in
6.18 in
Nikon D3 Digital Camera
Nikon D3
6.3 in
6.24 in
Nikon D5 Digital Camera
Nikon D5
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
28
4.5 out of 5
8 user ratings
5 stars
75 %
4 stars
12 %
3 stars
12 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
44
4.6 out of 5
12 user ratings
5 stars
58 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
44
4.3 out of 5
44 user ratings
5 stars
45 %
4 stars
36 %
3 stars
18 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
39
4.2 out of 5
39 user ratings
5 stars
43 %
4 stars
38 %
3 stars
15 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
2 %

Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatFXFX
Sensor size1.42 in1.41 in
Sensor photo detectors13.0 Mpx21.0 Mpx
Effective pixels12.0 Mpx21.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h
  • 5:4
  • 3:2
  • 1:1
  • 5:4
  • 4:3
  • 3:2
Max resolution4256 x 2832 px5588 x 3712 px
ProcessorExpeedExpeed 5

Image

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • 100
  • 125
  • 160
  • 200
  • 250
  • 320
  • 400
  • 500
  • 640
  • 800
  • 1000
  • 1250
  • 1600
  • 2000
  • 2250
  • 2500
  • 3200
  • 4000
  • 5000
  • 6400
  • 8000
  • 10000
  • 12500
  • 12800
  • 16000
  • 20000
  • 25000
  • 25600
  • 32000
  • 40000
  • 50000
  • 51200
  • 80000
  • 102400
ISO minimum100100
ISO maximum25600102400
Boosted ISO minimum10050
Boosted ISO maximum256003280000
Maximum image resolution4256 x 2832 px5568 x 3712 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Sunny
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • TIF
JPEG
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Magnification (Crop factor)1.0 x1.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)noLamp
Focus adjustmentAuto/ManualAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Focal length multiplier1x1x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Number of focus points51153
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)51153
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Screen size3.0 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD TFT
Screen dots9220002359000
Touch screennoyes
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.7 x0.72 x
Separate info displayyesyes

Photography features

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Camera shutter typeElectronicMechanical
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Number of exposures22
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 2/3
  • 1
Auto exposure lockyesyes
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
Flash sync speed1/250s1/250s
Built-in flashyesno
Flash modes
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connection
  • Hot shoe
  • PC terminal
Hot shoe
Flash metering systemi-TTLi-TTL
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive11.0 fps14.0 fps
Self-timeryesyes
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer optionscustom
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Speed (JPEG)9.0 fps12.0 fps
Speed (RAW)9.0 fps12.0 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 1.0±EV0.3 - 1.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Video recordingnoyes
HD typeNot supported4K Ultra HD
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Slide show

Design

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumAluminum-magnesium
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemnoyes
Environmentally sealedyesyes

Dimensions

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Weight43.74 oz43.74 oz
Width6.28 in6.3 in
Height6.18 in6.24 in
Depth3.44 in3.62 in

Storage

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Compatible memory cards
  • CF
  • CF Type II
  • MicroDrive
  • CF
  • XQD
Memory slots22
Storage typesCompact Flash Type I/II
  • Dual Compact Flash
  • dual XQD
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)43003780
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11

Connectivity

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
HDMIyesyes
USB version2.03.1
Remote controlyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3Nikon D3
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3

          Often compared with Nikon D5