• 35mm 860.4mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800
  • APS-C 361.2mm2
  • 25.7 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 1,600,000
  • Detailed specifications
  • Nikon D3S
  • Pentax K-3 III
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Nikon D2Hs
D2Hs vs D3S
Pentax K-3 II
K-3 II vs K-3 III
Successor: Nikon D4
D3S vs D4
 
General
Model Number: D3S K-3 III
Alternate Model Number(s):   K-3 Mark III
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $5199.95 $1999.95
Street Price:   $1,846.95
Date Available: 2009-11-30 2021-04-06
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 49.7 oz (1,410 g)
includes batteries
28.9 oz (820 g)
includes batteries
Size: 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in.
(160 x 157 x 88 mm)
5.3 x 4.1 x 2.9 in.
(135 x 104 x 74 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:    
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 25.7
Sensor Format: 35mm APS-C
Sensor size: 860.4mm2 (36.00mm x 23.90mm) 361.15mm2 (23.30mm x 15.50mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 8.46 microns 3.76 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.0x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Optional
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 82  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 23.5  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.0  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 3,253  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4256 x 2832 (12.1 MP, 3:2),
3184 x 2120 (6.8 MP, 3:2),
2128 x 1416 (3.0 MP, 3:2),
2784 x 1848 (5.1 MP, Other),
2080 x 1384 (2.9 MP, 3:2),
1392 x 920 (1.3 MP, Other),
3552 x 2832 (10.1 MP, 5:4),
2656 x 2120 (5.6 MP, 5:4),
1776 x 1416 (2.5 MP, 5:4),
3552 x 2368 (8.4 MP, 3:2),
2656 x 1776 (4.7 MP, 3:2),
1776 x 1184 (2.1 MP, 3:2)
6192 x 4128 (25.6 MP, 3:2),
4752 x 3168 (15.1 MP, 3:2),
3648 x 2432 (8.9 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW (NEF), 14 or 12-bit; compr JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 9.0 12.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (24)
640x424 (24)
320x216 (24)
3840x2160 (30p/​24p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: Motion JPEG MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: Yes n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Nikon F Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3/4)
Lens: n/a n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):    
Focal Length (actual):    
Zoom Ratio:    
Aperture Range:    
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range:    
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 51-point TTL phase detection via Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX with 15 cross-type and 36 line-type sensors SAFOX 13 TTL phase-matching - 101 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)
Auto Focus Assist Light? No Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, interchangeable screen, 100%, 0.7x, 18mm eyepoint, -3.0 to +1.0 SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 1.05x mag., 20.5mm eyepoint, -4.0 to +1.0 diopter
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.70x 1.05x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.70x  
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 920,000 dots 1,620,000 dots (540,000 px)
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 27.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 1600000
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 200 - 12,800, plus down to 100 in Lo-1, up to 102,400 in Hi-3 Auto, 100-1600000 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, twelve manual modes can be preset with fine-tuning; color temperature setting, custom Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted, Spot (1.5%) centered on selected focus area TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 307K-pixel RGBIr sensor, Center-weighted, Spot, Highlight-weighted
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: None Scene Analyze Auto, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter & Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Grainy Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3, Advanced HDR, Exposure bracket value adjustable, Automatic composition correction function; Pixel Shift Resolution (On/Off)
Self Timer: 2/5/10/20 seconds 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No 24.0 megapixels
Flash
Built-in Flash: No No
Flash Modes: n/a P-TTL; Modes available depends on external flash mounted
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: n/a n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/250 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation:   -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: ISO-type hot-shoe contact; safety lock provided; PC Sync terminal Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-II
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: Yes Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (NEF), 14 or 12-bit; compr 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: Motion JPEG MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 3.0 Super Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired Optional Wired or IR
Connections (extended): HDMI Out, DC Input, 10-pin Expansion Terminal, External Stereo Mic USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type-C), Micro B,Micro (Type D) HMDI, External cable switch terminal (2.5mm), X-sync socket, 3.5mm stereo mic input, 3.5mm headphone jack
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.34  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.34  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 58  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.34  
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 9.0 12.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 90 30
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 9.1  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 41  
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 9.1  
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 36  
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.20 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): 0.51 seconds  
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): 0.423 seconds  
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.043 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.043 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes): Optical Viewfinder AF lag: 51-point Auto-Area Full AF = 0.361s Live View AF Lag: Hand-held mode Full AF = 0.511s Tripod mode Full AF = 2.66s Tripod mode Prefocused = 0.423  
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 4200 shots 800 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary EN-EL4a Proprietary D-LI90
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary EN-EL4a Lithium Ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: PictureProject Software CD-ROM includes Digital Camera Utility 5
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: