Nikon D3S Conclusions

CONCLUSION
The Nikon D3S is probably among the most capable pro DSLRs on the market today. It has the feature set, speed, flexibility and image quality that professionals need with only a 12 megapixel sensor. You may not agree, but I would rather trade off some megapixels for image quality and, especially, for low light and high ISO performance. Ruggedly built, the Nikon D3S can easily withstand the rigors of heavy duty use by professionals and avid photo enthusiasts alike.

It's no surprise, however, that the Nikon D3s comes with a learning curve, especially for those who aren't familiar with Nikon's higher end DSLRs. The core of its menu system is simple to understand but gets more complex (and potentially confusing) when drilling down into the D3s' custom settings. It is, of course, possible to become so familiar with the camera that this is no longer a problem.

Pros:

• Great speed performance
• Exceptional low light/high ISO performance
• Excellent image quality
• Sophisticated feature set

Cons:

• "Only" 12 megapixels (may or may not matter to some photographers)
• HD video is "only" 720p
• Learning curve and somewhat confusing Custom Setting menu system

Individual Ratings: *

Image/Video Quality 
Features 
Design/Ease of Use 
Performance 
Expandability 
* Ratings averaged to produce final score