Nikon Launch Flagship DSLR with 720p D Movie
Nikon's new D3s still only offers 720p but with some manual exposure
The UK launch of the Nikon D3s initially presented a disappointment for fans of its video function. It was still only 720p at 24fps, it was still using MJPEG as a CODEC and it was still only a 2GB file size limit on a clip per clip basis. But having talked with Nikon’s product managers we came away from the event quite excited about what Nikon could bring out a little bit further along the product road map.
Asked why there was no 1080p yet, the reply was a honest one, “It would be a compromise for this particular sensor set up, you wouldn’t get the length of clip or the performance”. The fact that they were honest enough to see this as a compromise on top of the obvious compromise of DSLR hybrids makes us confident that Nikon are hungry to improve their video offering. They readily admit that Japan is hungry for feedback and the D3s is full of ‘tuned’ features requested from still photograpy users, at the moment.
So what does the D3s offer in the way of video. Apart from the 720 / 24p the main pull is the ISO. You can use the D Movie function all the way to the ridiculous 102400 Hi3 setting, whether you would want to is another matter. A video demo at the launch showed some footage of a bear walking in the woods, it looked very noisy and we wondered why Nikon would want us to see it. The fact was that it was shot two hours before sunrise in near darkness was interesting but you couldn’t help feeling this was ISO demonstrated inspite of good content.
You can also dial in aperture settings across the range but are stuck with only a true 24p, which is still better than Canon’s 5D MkII’s 30p stand off. The camera now has a dedicated Live View button which can be assigned to a button on the front of the camera and there is a reduced flicker mode for the LCD screen. You can also trim the video in camera but that function is already on the D300s camera.
It’s not however manual exposure as with Canon’s EOS 7D. You can control the aperture by selecting it in either manual or aperture mode. The iso and shutter will vary to take this into account. The user can increase and decrease the exposure control by 3 stops and they can also apply an exposure lock during the d-movie.
There is also a JPEG grab feature from the MJPEG stream if you need to quickly get a grab to someone who can’t wait for you to get the footage in to a NLE. And don’t forget the size of the sensor is still bigger than the RED One’s at 36×23.9mm which is only slightly smaller than Canon’s 5d MkII.
You also have stereo sound which has automatic gain control but also manual from within the camera and a full resolution HDMI out put from the C connector on the side, which may also be interlaced but we are trying to clear that one up! We do know that as soon as you plug in an external monitor the LCD screen shuts down to the lack of processing to supply two monitors.
The D3s is for still photographers would might want to shoot some video. The appeal of web video has dawned on Nikon with some of photographer Bill Frakes’ footage from Sports Illustrated being seen 60 million times online. This is nearly 10 times the people who saw Bill’s stills from the same event.
Our conclusion will be complete when we review the D3s but in the meantime, for Nikon, I think it’s watch this space. Without their own camcorder market to cannibalise this sleeping tiger could still surprise everybody.
