Nikon D3 Sample Images

Nikon D3 Sample Images

Nikon (USA) have shared some preview example images taken with the new Nikon D3 and some of the latest lenses ( i.e 14-24mm and 400mm).

 

(The images shown are Jpg files that have been reduced in size for this web page, then I have cropped this image to zoom in and show more detail. All images are displayed at 600x400 (Swan 400x600)).

 

 

 

Monkey

The first image of a Monkey is a shot taken at 1600 ISO and is very impressive. In the crop image of the Monkey you can truly see that the noise from the new D3 is light years ahead of the old D2X.

 

(We are not been told under what conditions these images were taken and what lighting and post processing was used.)

 

Nikon D3, ISO 1,600, Nikkor 400mm, TC-17E converter, f/6.3 at 1/250, Matrix meter, -0.3 compensation, shutter priority, Auto WB.

Basketball Player

The second image is even more impressive as it is shot at 6400 ISO, the cropped image shows just how low the noise is with the new D3. Nikon have made a huge leap forward in this area. It also is a demonstration that with the D3 you now don’t have to worry so much about Depth of field. In this type of shot, when you want to freeze the action but don’t want to have any part of the player out of focus then you have to use a high ISO. When I tested the original D2X some time ago it would not have been able to have taken this shot and keep noise down to an acceptable level.

You also have to remember that all these images have been taken with the latest Nikon Lens. These images are also a demo on what they can do once in your kit bag. The Monkey is not just a stunning shot from the D3 because of the noise, but it was also taken with a 400mm (the VR I expect) with a TC-17E teleconverter. It shows that both of these new items from Nikon are worth there weight in gold. (Technical tests on the 400mm VR hopefully soon).

 

(We have not been told under what conditions these images were taken and what lighting and post processing was used.)

  

Basketball. Photographer: Dave Black.

Nikon D3, ISO 6400, Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S at 40mm, f/7.1 at 1/250, Auto WB, manual exposure.

 Ice Hockey

 

This is a good shot, forget that this was taken with the D3, think about the composition of the image, the lens must have been pushed though a hole or under the edge at the back of the net. Now ok that is not amazing, BUT remember that there is a puck flying towards you and your kit… Now that is brave.

 

The D3 seems to have coped well with the lights and the white balance on this image looks to be good,  and we are getting to expect the low ISO noise and color rendition.

 

(We have not been told under what conditions these images were taken and what lighting and post processing was used.)

 

 

Conclusion

These images must have people worried at the Canon HQ, they show that just one body (D3) from Nikon can cover both the 1D’s MKII and 1D MKIII user base, and do it better than both of them as well. It has been a long time coming and for a while we thought Nikon had stumbled but with the release of the D3 it has brought Nikon up to the leading edge of DSLR design. I also know a few Canon photographers that have turned their heads and raised an eyebrow with the advances that the D3 has brought.

 

Thanks to Nikon for showing us these images and credit to Dave Black, Mike Corrado and Joe McNally for the original images.

 

These example images are courtesy of Nikon and their respective photographers. Nikon retains all usage rights to these images.