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Nikon D3S vs Nikon D5

6.28 in
6.18 in
Nikon D3S Digital Camera
Nikon D3S
6.3 in
6.24 in
Nikon D5 Digital Camera
Nikon D5
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
29
4.4 out of 5
10 user ratings
5 stars
70 %
4 stars
20 %
3 stars
10 %
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
41
4.0 out of 5
41 user ratings
5 stars
34 %
4 stars
39 %
3 stars
24 %
2 stars
2 %
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 %

Video Comparisons (1)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatFull frameFX
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 D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
ISO
  • 200
  • 12800
  • 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 minimum200100
ISO maximum12800102400
Boosted ISO minimum10050
Boosted ISO maximum1024003280000
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 stabilizeryesno
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAW + TIFFRAW
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Magnification (Crop factor)1.0 x1.0 x
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)noLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Contrast adjustmentyesyes
Autofocus in recording modenoyes
Focal length multiplier1x1x
Autofocus
  • 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 D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Screen size3.0 in3.2 in
Articulated LCDnono
Screen technologyLCDLCD TFT
Screen dots9210002359000
Touch screennoyes
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage100.0 %100.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.7 x0.72 x
Separate info displayyesyes

Photography features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Camera shutter typeElectronicMechanical
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures22
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 2/3
  • 1
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
  • 1/3
  • 2/3
  • 1
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
AE frames
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
  • 2
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesnono
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
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive11.0 fps14.0 fps
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Highlight-weighted
  • Spot
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 D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Maximum resolution1280 x 720 px3840 x 2160 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 320 x 240
  • 640 x 480
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 3840 x 2160
HD typeNot supported4K Ultra HD
Supported video file formatsAVIMOV
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Slide show
Max frame rate (highest resolution)24.0 fps30.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Built-in microphoneyesyes
Microphone typeStereoStereo
Voice recordingyesyes
Audio systemMonoStereo

Design

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialAluminum-magnesiumAluminum-magnesium
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealedyesyes

Dimensions

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
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 D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • CF
  • XQD
Memory slots22
Storage types
  • Compact Flash Type I/II
  • UDMA
  • Dual Compact Flash
  • dual XQD
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3

Power

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)42003780
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11

Connectivity

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
HDMIyesyes
USB version2.03.1
WirelessOptionalOptional
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)nono
Bluetoothyesno
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D3SNikon D3S
Nikon D5Nikon D5
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Often compared with Nikon D3S

          Often compared with Nikon D5