Home > News > Review of My Nikon D3 - Almost...

Review of My Nikon D3 - Almost...

By Jason Heller, January 31, 2008 @ 02:00 AM (EST)

How exciting - I ordered my D3 two weeks ago on backorder, and voila - I finally received a package last week. How disappointed I was to find the extra battery to my D3, but no camera!

So for the last week, I've had my D3 extra battery perched on top of my desk. It's be

en bringing me inspiration ever since. The battery is very ergonomic and technically superior to any extra battery I have ever shot with. I shut the lights off and still found it. No other battery can work in low light better. My extra battery and I have had many a conversation about the new TSA regulations regarding spare lithium batteries on flights, so it now knows that it will always be close by my side in carry-on, or tucked away inside the D3 itself in the cargo hold - either way it certainly won't be lonely.

All joking aside, I think I'll have the D3 in my hands later this week. Once I get out there to play with it for a few days I'll post some samples and my thoughts. There are so many new DSLR's hitting the market this year and it seems like a watershed year for quality of sensors and overall image making potential. But one must ask themselves - how do the housing manufacturers deal with the onslaught of new cameras? Especially when some of the cameras are vastly superior to the last round that came out just 18 months ago or so? Unfortunately the housing manufacturers do not get pre-production models and receive very little information from the camera companies, and then must make a bet on which models are going to be most popular / appropriate for underwater shooters. This must make R&D very frustrating! In fact, keep your eyes open for an interview with some of the manufacturers on this very topic within the next two weeks right here on DPG.

The D3 itself is an amazing piece of equipment and well worth the $5,000 price tag. Now if I could only get my housing before my next shoot (hint, hint Sea & Sea).

Happy shooting everybody!

Comments

Jan 31, 2008 4:19 PM

Jackie Stone wrote:

That was great thanks for posting. I needed a chuckle today!

Feb 5, 2008 4:44 PM

Pete J. Czech wrote:

Ha, too funny. Did you get it yet?

Feb 6, 2008 3:47 PM

Jason Heller wrote:

Update - the same day I posted this, as if the camera gods were listening, my D3 arrived. The only non-DX lens I have is a 16mm fisheye, and I've been playing with it a bit. I am getting a 14-24 and a 70-200, both of which will be great with the full sensor D3. In playing around with it around the house, I can shoot at ISO 6400 and not see much grain, if any. Of course I'd rarely ever use that ISO, if ever, but for extreme example purposes it's a pretty good test of the camera's limits. Will post my first real test shots next week or so. Still another month before my Sea & Sea housing arrives! Grrr

You must be logged in to comment.