Nikon D3S unboxing and hands-on!

Our Black Friday just got significantly more awesome -- a new Nikon D3S showed up on our doorstep a moment ago, along with a super-hot NIKKOR AF-S 24-70 f/2.8G ED lens. We're just about to dive into this thing's incredible ISO 102,400 performance (well, we will when it get a little darker) and full-manual 720p24 video mode, but for now we thought we'd hit you up with some unboxing shots -- check 'em out!

Nikon D3S unboxing and hands-on

[genomecop Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:00PM]

Ok thanks I'll take it...oops wrong thread.

[devron Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:49PM]

@genomecop lol - I was thinking the same thing. "I'm in for one"! Come on, Josh. Put a D3000 up for Black Friday.

[SirMax Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:01PM]

@genomecop

My thoughts exactly.

[sargentr Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:01PM]

is this gonna make its way into the black firday give away?

[Ianmcall Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:01PM]

@sargentr I CAN ONLY HOPE

[Needsahaircut Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:33PM]

@sargentr

In your dreams. I can't imagine the price of this beast!

[collindow Posted Nov 27th 2009 4:18PM]

@Needsahaircut
It is roughly 5,300 dollars.
So...really expensive but perfectly possible to imagine.

[grucam Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:03PM]

MAKE THIS A BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!!! I want THIS

[Nitesh Posted Nov 27th 2009 10:13PM]

@grucam Are they done with those? There hasnt been one for the last two hours, i thought it was going till twelve?

[zorro Posted Nov 28th 2009 2:19AM]

@Nitesh Eastern time buddy

[Hackettman Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:06PM]

If I had this..... 2010 would be one of the greatest years of my life........... GIVE IT AWAY! But give alittle preview of that video mode......

[va jj Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:08PM]

can tell is high end cuz is square shaped body.

[Nitesh Posted Nov 27th 2009 6:46PM]

@va jj BAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA *COUGH COUGH* hahaha cough hehe.....Whew, that was funny.

[bionictulip Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:13PM]

Oh, please hurry up and review this. Twice. And I second grucam's request to make this a Black Friday Giveaway.
< wipes drool from chin >
< rocks back and forth slowly, waiting for review to be posted >

[zilla Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:28PM]

I'm anxious to see the quality of the incredible ISO 102,400 performance in pictures or even videos from it.

[Nilay Patel Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:37PM]

@(Unverified) I'll post our own sample soon, but we've seen other high-ISO videos right here: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/nikon-d3s-shows-its-high-iso-prowess-in-two-sample-videos/

[zilla Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:51PM]

@Nilay Patel Sweet!

[oink Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:30PM]

That is beautiful.

[Needsahaircut Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:31PM]

But are the photos better than the iPhones?

I kid. That thing looks extremely sexy.

[Jawnathin Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:56PM]

I've got that same 24-70 f/2.8. Thats a wicked sweet lens. Its so damn heavy though. Beautiful camera. Looking forward to the review.

[Hotrod Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:08PM]

@Jawnathin I miss my RX-8, your avatar just made me a little depressed.

[Jawnathin Posted Nov 27th 2009 5:44PM]

@Hotrod Ah! A fellow rotary fan. I love my RX8, but looking to sell it within the next year or so for something else. Something with a V8 would be nice. If it helps any, they're getting really cheap. Its not uncommon to see them in the very low teens for one in decent condition and reasonable mileage.

[SS Engadget Posted Nov 27th 2009 2:58PM]

Maybe after the review you guys, can give this "used" equipment away..

[FregTK Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:01PM]

!

[tastypotato Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:06PM]

@FregTK

This is not a giveaway, nice try though.

[tastypotato Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:05PM]

Man... I really want to get into the DSLR scene but I don't have either the money, nor the skill to warrant one of these cameras.

I mean, sure, my Canon T70 takes some good pictures but 35mm film is a pain to work with and adds up pretty quick once you shoot 10 or so rolls.

[FregTK Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:08PM]

@tastypotato

It's kinda embarrassing, no? I opened a whole bunch of giveaways in tabs, and this one got mixed in accidentally. Sorry.

Another reason we need post deletion.

[tastypotato Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:20PM]

@FregTK

Yeah, post deletion would be nice, especially when you reply to the wrong post sometimes... :P

[nickroz Posted Nov 27th 2009 4:18PM]

@tastypotato You can buy into an entry-level DSLR system for $350 if you get a used model, then it's just the constant sell/upgrade process til you cap out at the D3 level.

[tastypotato Posted Nov 27th 2009 4:24PM]

@nickroz

That may sound cheap to the average person, but I am a college student. My budget is around whatever coinage I can find between the couch cushions.

[SinoPeach Posted Nov 28th 2009 6:30AM]

@tastypotato Film still reigns supreme - especially if you don't need digital as only news and sports dudes do.

[FranklinLam Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:09PM]

Nikon really has upscaled their design on this D3S. Incredible ISO 102,400 performance? Watch out Canon!

[aeonism Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:25PM]

@FranklinLam 1DmkIV gets that sensitivity too.

[FranklinLam Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:52PM]

@aeonism

true story, meaning Nikon is stepping up to the giant of Canon. Meaning their specs is comparable now.

[Badison Posted Nov 27th 2009 7:28PM]

@FranklinLam

Not really accurate. Full frame sensors tend to perform better than APS sized sensors, since they're larger and can capture more light with less noise. In this case Nikon's has a full frame sensor, Canon's does not. Canon's shoots 1080 HD, Nikon's does not.

At least this is what I have read and seen happen time and time again when full frame cams are compared to similarly spec'ed APS size.

But, who knows until there are side by side comparisons between Canon and Nikon!

Also, just for the heck of it - Nikon released the D3S first, ha ha: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0910/09102001canon1d4.asp

[DaveTheDrummer Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:19PM]

Engadget, you utter bastards.
Almost wet myself looking at the pics and I am having extreme difficulty avoiding the rape of my credit card until the D4 comes out.

[aeonism Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:24PM]

awesome fucking camera.

[Klikerko Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:24PM]

Apple is better!

[iamnotafish Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:28PM]

I would like to win this. Please give it away and then pick me.

Nah, I'd take the HD2 over this. No disrespect for the camera, but the HD2 is one sweet sweet smartphone.

[MRCUR Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:32PM]

I know nearly nothing about cameras, but this thing looks pretty sweet.

[Reggie3 Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:35PM]

Wow would I love a SLR like this

[no2dorm Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:36PM]

my dream machine...

[NathanHeil Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:47PM]

Did the old D3 shoot video?

[nickeldime Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:48PM]

Outstanding.

[AndroidRokz Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:49PM]

Meh...Droid camera is much higher res

[horchata Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:56PM]

Uh oh, It looks like I used the wrong shipping address for my D3s. I'd like to have my camera back now please... ;)

[Aimless Posted Nov 27th 2009 3:59PM]

I hadn't even heard this was coming out. Can I win it?

[collindow Posted Nov 27th 2009 4:08PM]

For one instant I thought this was part of Engadget black friday lol.

[nickroz Posted Nov 27th 2009 4:16PM]

Engadget should give away the camera used to take these pictures. Surely it's not needed anymore...

[LloydChiro Posted Nov 27th 2009 4:32PM]

Maybe with the super-high ISO, Engadget can use a better f-stop so the pictures will be in focus.

Looking forward to usable gadget pictures!