kcooke Loc: Alabama

I’m considering getting a Nikon D3. I know that it is supposed to have good low light performance and I know that it is big and heavy. Also a pretty high frame rate. I currently shoot with canon products and will keep them. A
6D MKII , 7D MKII and an M5. My wife shoots with a Nikon D3500. She has several FX Lenses. We would both share the camera. I have several questions

How good is the low light performance compared to modern day cameras? What ISO speed before objectable noise sets in?
What is the maximum print size to still get good quality? I have used a 12mp D200 so I am familiar with 12mp
Will this camera work ok for BIF if not cropped to much?
Is the focus system good for moving objects and will it focus at f8?

I’d prefer advice from people that use this camera if possible Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

Quixdraw Loc: x

I will not / cannot answer all of your questions. I will just say that there is some magic in the D3. I bought one and shoot it at least as much as my newer Nikons. Get a good one, and you're in for a heck of a ride!

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Thanks Quixdraw. I’ve heard people say there is magic. I’m wondering what the magic is. Is it definable? I’m being serious here. My D200 had a certain look to the photos with a CCD sensor that was awesome. Some of my best photographs were taken with that camera.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Got quite a lot posted from it - roll through and see that you find that you like. It is just really flexible and easy to use. Lots of D3 enthusiasts on UHH, including Pros still using it!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Considering a 12MP DSLR in 2021? In a pro-body style larger than any EOS camera you currently own, for a current D3500 user that has a 24MP cropped sensor?

Really, this is a waste of time and money, unless it's to make your wife unhappy with you and / or Nikon.

Why not a D750 of current 24MP full-frame glory? This body, though more expensive, purchased used is a good buy. The D780 is the current model, also 24MP. You mention FX lenses. Although DX, the D7200 or D7500 offer more capability similar to the 7D, with the same cropped field of view of the D3500.

Quixdraw Loc: x

We all have our own prejudices and information shortfalls. I have a DF, a D750, a D810 and a D7200 (not to mention several Mirrorless and my great old D2x). I will tell you as a user of all, there is still something magical about the D3. You have never used any one of them, have you? Unless you have significant hands on experience with the cameras discussed, your opinion is of no value, bloviating.
Edit: BTW A very nice D3 can be had in the mid $600 - $700 range. Not a vast investment for most.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you wouldn't take any non glowing comment about anything Nikon related as some form of personal offense against you and your life's decisions, you'd see I sought to put myself into the intended candidate's shoes and provided actionable and realistic and comparable input to a decision other's are trying to make on that photographer's behalf, while seeking to maintain existing investments in Nikon lenses.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Still the Artful dodger. No answers.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I don’t have a D3 (which is an excellent camera), but I can point you toward test data on DR and low light performance compared to your other two bodies (https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm) - look at the chart of DR and low light performance under the graph. According to the test data, which I’ve found to be accurate, the 6D2 is the best low light performer by about 3/4 of a stop. The D3 and your 6D2 are very different FF cameras. The 6D2 is Canon’s 2nd gen entry level FF body, while the D3 was Nikon’s Professional camera, built like a tank (and heavy), with a high frame rate and good low light performance for its time.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Thanks Paul for your thoughts. I’ve already considered most of what you said and your points make sense for the most part to me. My wife’s D3500 has more megapixels than a D6 or 1DX MKIII or my 7D MKII but that doesn’t make it a better camera. Far from it. I was just wanting to get answers to those questions I posed. I know the D3 is ‘old tech’

Quixdraw Loc: x

Happy landings!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...I’d prefer advice from people that use this camera if possible..." Very wise and appropriate request kcooke...
As per your request...
I have and shoot the Nikon D3 primarily for sports/action... It is a true Professional piece of Kit. All necessary controls are external... meaning instantaneous adjustment of shooting parameters (no time comsuming menu searches to accomplish a necessary parameter change). Those who don't shoot commercially may fail to grasp what instant external control access brings to the table.

As for ISO performance? Same and a touch better than the D700 (one of the all time best selling cameras ever). But not a match for the D3s' stratospheric low light performance. I have no issues shooting 11x14's at ISO 6400...

As for weight? it's ~ 100 grams lighter than my D700 with a MB-D10 battery grip and D3 battery (which gives the D700 a solid 8 fps).

kcooke talk is cheap so I've posted imagery from my D3 below for your evaluation.
I've chosen three different scenarios to validate the D3 isn't just a one trick pony...

Hope this helps kcooke...
Wishing you all the best with your future D3
.

Image taken with a Nikon D3; Lens AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

(Download)

Image taken with a Nikon D3; Lens: AF 200mm Micro Nikkor f/4D IF-ED

(Download)

Image taken with a Nikon D3; Lens: AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

(Download)

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Hopefully, everyone realizes that if you mount the same professional lenses to the D3500, have the same excellent lighting that Thomas specializes in creating, and stand at the same distance, accounting for the crop factor, our OP's photographer should be able to replicate these example D3 images with no camera change at all.

What does a top-tier pro model offer? All-weather body for all-weather inclement shooting. Class leading (at the time) AF tracking of moving subjects. Class leading (at the time) frames per second bursts, both per-second count and a buffer to hold a multi-second burst. Shutter durability for at least 1-year daily usage of 1000 images per day (365,000 / year). Class leading (at the time) high ISO performance and the brand's reference model for ISO-100 (base) images.

But, these cameras are point-in-time marvels. And back when the digital camera industry was leaping forward, circa 2007, a camera at 12MP was leading edge. Today, 24MP is the de facto industry standard from entry level through the top-tier, both full-frame and crop, and the top-tier now has settled at 20MP. Cameras that have repair support and current accessories, and if purchased new, 1-year warranties.

User ID

People love to feel special, and something that makes them feel that way is to join a special group. This often tends to override your logical cost-benefit analysis. Feeling special can be their top priority benefit. If you read their very personal justifications of such choices you’ll see that logic holds nearly zero sway.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Thanks TriX. I’ve never seen that site and spent a little time there. Being a retired engineer I can appreciate the test data. Probably not real life but it demonstrates that the D3 is outperformed slightly by 7D MKII and by a little more with the 6D MKII with regards to noise and dynamic range. The range I’m interested in is from 1600 to 6400 ISO. I will say though for a camera in the era it was produced, the D3 was a fantastic performer and really still is for many needs. It would also be of interest to me to know how the focusing system of the D3 compares to the 7D MKII. Not sure if anyone here has experience with both of these.