Nikon's first full frame (35mm=35mm) digital SLR and new flagship combines speed, quality and outstanding new abilities. It features a 12.1 megapixel CMOS chip, ISO range to 6400 (boost to 25600), 9 fps continuous shooting with AF tracking, Nikon's new EXPEED image processor, 51-point AF sensor, color AF tracking, an excellent 3" (922,000 pixel) LCD display with Live View and contrast detect auto-focus, HDMI video output, 14-bit A/D conversion, dual CF compartments and even a virtual horizon function to tell you when you're holding the camera perfectly level. A dream delivered.

In the product announcement, a Nikon brand manager said, "The incredible speed, resolution and flexibility of the D3 will enable photographers to capture images under conditions previously thought impossible." The D3, the result of years of development and feedback from professional photographers, combines many innovative Nikon technologies. These include the exclusive 12.1 effective megapixel FX format (36.0x23.9mm) image sensor with 12-channel read out.

Ships with rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL4a, quick charger MH-22, USB cable UC-E4, audio video cable EG-D2, camera strap AN-D3, body cap BF-1A, accessory shoe cap BS-2, eyepiece DK-17, battery chamber cover BL-4, USB cable clip, software suite.

Key Features:

• First ever Nikon DSLR with a Full-Frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor (coined FX format)
• 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch)
• ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25,600)
• Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens) 5:4 ratio crop mode (10 megapixels, up to 9 fps, viewfinder masked)
• 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
• Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
• Super fast operation (power-up 12 ms, shutter lag 41 ms, black-out 74 ms)
• New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 300,000 exposure durability
• New Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
• Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
• Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III)
• Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
• Nine frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking
• Eleven frames per second continuous without auto-focus tracking
• Ten / eleven frames per second continuous in DX-crop mode (AF / no-AF)
• Dual Compact Flash card slots (overflow, back-up, RAW on 1 / JPEG on 2, copy)
• Compact Flash UDMA support
• 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
• Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display)
• HDMI HD video output
• Active D-Lighting (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
• Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
• New MB-D10 vertical grip fully integrates into body, multi battery type compatible
• Buttons sealed against moisture
• Dual battery charger as standard

Specifications:
Body material: Magnesium alloy
Sensor: 36 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor

• FX format
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter
• 12.9 million total pixels
• 12.1 million effective pixels
• 3:2 aspect ratio

Image processor: Nikon EXPEED
A/D conversion: 14 bit
Image sizes: (FX format)
• 4256 x 2832 [L; 12.1 MP]
• 3184 x 2120 [M; 6.8 MP]
• 2128 x 1416 [S; 3.0 MP]
Image sizes: (DX format)
• 2784 x 1848 [L; 5.1 MP]
• 2080 x 1384 [M; 2.9 MP]
• 1392 x 920 [S; 1.3 MP]]
Image sizes: (5:4 format)
• 3552 x 2832 [L; 10.0 MP]
• 2656 x 2120 [M; 5.6 MP]
• 1776 x 1416 [S; 2.5 MP]
File formats:
• NEF (12-bit or 14-bit, compressed or lossless compressed RAW)
• NEF + JPEG
• TIFF
• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
NEF compression:
• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Lossless compressed): approx. 60-80%
• Compressed 12/14-bit NEF (RAW, Compressed): approx. 45-60%
Lens mount:
• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts
• No field of view crop (full-frame)
• When using DX lenses / DX mode 1.5x FOV crop
Usable lenses:
• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported
• DX AF NIKKOR: All functions except FX-format (36x24)/5:4 (30x24) image size
• AF NIKKOR other than type G or D: All functions except 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• AI-P NIKKOR: All functions except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data
• IX NIKKOR lenses cannot be used
• Excluding lenses for F3AF
Auto Focus:
• 51 focus points (15 cross-type sensors)
• Multi-CAM 3500FX
• AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature)
• Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode
Lens Servo:
• Single Servo AF [S]
• Continuous Servo AF [C]
• Manual focus [M]
• Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in [S] or [C] AF
Focus Point:
• Single point from 51 or 11 focus points
• Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame
AF Area Mode:
• Single point AF
• Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points, 51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)]
• Automatic-area AF
Focus Lock:
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
AF assist: External Speedlight only
Exposure modes:
• Program Auto [P] with flexible program
• Shutter-Priority Auto [S]
• Aperture-Priority Auto [A]
• Manual [M]
Metering:
• TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 1005-pixel RGB sensor
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering (non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data; metering performed)
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8, 15, or 20 mm dia. circle in center of frame or weighting based on average of entire frame
• Spot: Meters approx. 4 mm dia. circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used)
Metering range
• 3D Color Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV
• Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV
• Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV
• At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens
Meter coupling: CPU and AI
Exposure lock: Locked using AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure bracketing:
• 2 to 9 frames
• 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps
Exposure compensation:
• +/-5.0 EV
• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
Sensitivity:
• Default: ISO 200 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps
• Boost: 100 - 12800 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps, HI2 = ISO 25600
Shutter:
• Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter
• 30 to 1/8000 sec (1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps)
• Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec
• Bulb
DOF Preview:
• Stop-down lens aperture by pressing button
• Activates modeling flash
White balance:
• Auto (1005-pixel CCD, image sensor)
• Presets (seven) with fine tuning
• Manual presets (four)
• Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K, 31 steps)
• White balance bracketing (2 to 9 frames, 10,20,30 MIRED steps)
Picture Control:
• Standard
• Neutral
• Vivid
• Monochrome
Image parameters:
• Sharpening: Auto, 7 levels
• Contrast: Auto, 5 levels, Custom tone curve
• Brightness: 3 levels
• Saturation: Auto, 5 levels
• Hue: 5 levels
Color space:
• sRGB (Standard and Vivid modes)
• Adobe RGB (Neutral mode)
Viewfinder:
• Optical-type fixed eye-level pentaprism
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1m-1)
• Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0m-1)
• Focusing screen: Type B BriteView Clear Matte VI screen
• Frame coverage 100%
• Viewfinder magnification approx 0.7x with 50 mm f/1.4 lens
Focusing screen:
• B-type BrightView Clear Matte Screen II
• Superimposed focus brackets
• On-demand grid lines
LCD monitor:
• 3.0 " TFT LCD
• 922,000 pixels
• 170° viewing angle
• Brightness adjustment
LCD Liveview:
• Handheld mode: TLL phase-difference AF with 51 focus areas (15 cross-type sensors)
• Tripod mode: focal-plane contrast AF on a desired point within a specific area
Shooting modes:
• Single frame
• Continuous Low [CL]: 1 - 9 fps
• Continuous High [CH]: 9 fps (9 - 11 fps with DX format)
• Liveview [LV]
• Self-Timer (programmable)
• Mirror-up mode
Continuous buffer
• JPEG Large/Normal: 64 shots (at 9 fps)
• RAW: no data yet
Self-timer
• 2 to 20 sec custom
Flash control
•TTL flash control with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor; i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL fill-flash available with SB-800, 600 or 400
• AA (Auto Aperture-type) flash: Available with SB-800 used with CPU lens
• Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 28, 27, and 22S
• Range-priority manual flash; available with SB-800
Flash Sync Mode:
• Front-curtain Sync (normal)
• Red-Eye Reduction
• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync
• Slow Sync
• Rear-curtain Sync
Flash Accessory Shoe: ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided.
Flash Sync Terminal: ISO 519 standard terminal, lock screw provided
Flash compensation:
• -3 to +1 EV
• 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
Creative Lighting System: With Speedlights such as SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-R200, supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, modeling flash and FV lock
Orientation sensor: Tags images with camera orientation
Playback mode:
• Full frame
• Thumbnail (4 or 9 images)
• One-touch zoom
• Slideshow
• RGB histogram
• Shooting data
• Highlight point
• Auto image rotation
Languages: Available in 13 languages.
Connectivity:
• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector
• HDMI video out (version 1.3a, Type A connector)
• Remote control 10-pin terminal
• PC Sync flash terminal
10-pin terminal:
• GPS: NMEA 0183 (Ver. 2.01 and 3.01) interface standard supported with 9-pin D-sub cable and GPS Cable MC-35 (optional)
• Remote control: via 10-pin terminal
Communications: FTP and PTP/IP file transfer with optional Wireless Transmitter WT-3 (IEEE 802.11 b/g)
Storage
• Dual Compact Flash Type I or II
• Dual modes: overflow, back-up, RAW on 1 / JPEG on 2, copy
• UDMA, Microdrive and FAT32 supported
• 36 characters of text can be input and stored in EXIF header
Power:
• Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a/EL4
• Included dual battery charger MH-22
• Optional AC adapter EH-6
Battery monitoring: The LCD monitor on the camera back displays the following information about the battery:
• Remaining charge (%)
• No. of shots taken since last charge
• Battery life (5 stages)
Dimensions: 6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 inches
Weight (no batt): 2.7 lb.
Operating environment: Temperature:32-104 °F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation)

Optional accessories:
Wireless Transmitter WT-4, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-17M, AC Adapter EH-6, Capture NX Software, Camera Control Pro 2 Software, Image Authentication Software