DP Review has posted their full D3 review

Not looking to start any fights, just thought you might be interested to read:

http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/nikond3/

If you care to skip right to the noise tests, they're here:

http://www.dpreview.co​m/reviews/nikond3/page​18.asp

They compare a D3, D300, 1Ds MKIII and a 5D. Just some quick observations, all 4 cameras do well up to 1600, but the D3 really does look usable at 6400.

Lets try and be civil.

Man ... i just got done reading that review, over and over again. Each time I read it, i wonder if I should jump ship. I am trying to find that "weak spot" on the D3 ... which I really can't. On the review, it looks like it beats my 5D and MKIII on every aspect ... faster, better LCD, better ISO range and performance, 2 CF card slots, live view with auto-focus ....

Interesting review. They are just echoing what anyone who's used it has been saying. It's a good camera, highly useable and very recommended.

Interesting that they didn't compare it to the M3 (which does do iso 6400). I didn't know the 1ds did not. Also, it's interesting how the D300 compared. I think their conclusion is very accurate (if again, anyone has actually tried the D3, I think they'd agree...but I'm counting out the brand fans)...I know I did some very serious thinking of switching after using it.

taken from conclusion:
It's therefore no surprise to discover that the D3 has, in the six months or so since it was launched, been embraced by the Nikon pro photography community and has caused many a Canon shooter to do some serious soul-searching and consider the unthinkable; a move (back in many cases) to Nikon.

Kevin034 wrote in post #5355954
I am trying to find that "weak spot" on the D3 ... which I really can't.

I don't think you'll find the weak spot in the camera. For me, Nikon's weak spot is their lens lineup. I simply couldn't have the same lens lineup I have now. All else being equal, their lens lineup just kind of turns me off compared to Canon.

Kevin034 wrote in post #5355954
Man ... i just got done reading that review, over and over again. Each time I read it, i wonder if I should jump ship. I am trying to find that "weak spot" on the D3 ... which I really can't. On the review, it looks like it beats my 5D and MKIII on every aspect ... faster, better LCD, better ISO range and performance, 2 CF card slots, live view with auto-focus ....

for me it's the FF sensor and lens cost.

ed rader

timnosenzo wrote in post #5355992
I don't think you'll find the weak spot in the camera. For me, Nikon's weak spot is their lens lineup. I simply couldn't have the same lens lineup I have now. All else being equal, their lens lineup just kind of turns me off compared to Canon.

me too...I love my lenses. However nikon has the 14-24, 24-70 & 70-200 f2.8's that are all supposed to be amazing lenses...but it's the cost. Not to mention anything longer than 200 is an arm and a leg. They've got great glass (not as many options of great glass but they do have some).

It was a really tough decision but for the cost of equal lenses in Nikon, even selling all my current gear I'd only end up with 3 lenses (covering only the 14-200 range) and maybe 2 bodies (one of those being a D300...I have to have 2) & no flash. I have a boatload of gear too....but the cost of switching would negate not only my mm range but the flexibility I have with the multiple lens options. That was the negative for me. Definitely not the functionality of the camera or the quality of their glass.

No surprises here. From all the reviews I think we already knew that the D3 was a great body.

I agree with the others...I went with Canon b/c the glass is more economical/sensible.

I'm not bothered by whatever Nikon puts out. I would have the same attitude had I chosen Nikon instead of Canon. Competition is always good for the consumer. The next wave of Canon DSLR's will be that much better.

Everybody wins...

Agreed it's a beast and their lens lineup makes a switch hard/expensive/impossi​ble...

It is interesting to see how Nikon handles high ISO noise in camera differently though isn't it? They remove almost all the color in it in the camera which is nice IMHO (I do it in ACR for my 5D now). Also, for those sports shooters, it's buffer isn't as deep as a 1DmIII. Not sure if that matters to you, but it could be an issue.

Another issue for me is the controls on the body. They're actually better IMHO, but soooo different than canons it would take a ton of getting used to.

If that was a canon though, I'd either buy it or really really want one.

jacobsen1 wrote in post #5356146
Another issue for me is the controls on the body. They're actually better IMHO, but soooo different than canons it would take a ton of getting used to.

I did find the lack of control wheel very frustrating...I expect one could get used to it but boy it would take some time.

it is its focus system that makes good reading for me, the one thing I am still not convinced with my 1D MK3, but I am not changing for sure

nicksan wrote in post #5356083
No surprises here. From all the reviews I think we already knew that the D3 was a great body.

I agree with the others...I went with Canon b/c the glass is more economical/sensible.

I'm not bothered by whatever Nikon puts out. I would have the same attitude had I chosen Nikon instead of Canon. Competition is always good for the consumer. The next wave of Canon DSLR's will be that much better.

Everybody wins...

I agree. There is ALWAYS something bigger, better, faster, stronger out there in any venue. Learning to make good use of what you already have is really the key.

The D3 is probably the reason why Canon is so late with the followup to the 5d, they have seen what the D3 can do and Canon is making sure the 5d MII can equal that.

One issue that i find intresting is that as soon as you open the d3 up to anything greater than 9fps not only does it become a 1.5 crop but you also loose metering and auto focus, two issues that kinda put me off swapping (not that i can afford to)

The D3 is an excellent camera, no question about it. (I'm using one now) As Ed mentions, the lens line up and the "premium cost" for their supertele lens is just rediculous.

I don't see the issue here though...it's a FF camera that can do 9fps, which is a whopping 1fps less than the current champ, the 1DMKIII, hardly a deal breaker. (Other than the buffer size that is...)

That says it all...it just might be as revolutionary as the 5D was a few years ago.

Zilly wrote in post #5356255
One issue that i find intresting is that as soon as you open the d3 up to anything greater than 9fps not only does it become a 1.5 crop but you also loose metering and auto focus, two issues that kinda put me off swapping (not that i can afford to)