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Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1

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Nikon D3S

12 MP | Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D3S
$5,199.95
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Samsung NX1

28 MP | APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Samsung NX1
$1,499.99
Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon D3S is a Pro DSLR camera with a 12.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Samsung NX1 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 28.0MP APS-C sensor.
Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious altenatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting. Fortunately, you can't go wrong with any of these cameras as we rank them amongst Top 10 cameras in their classes. Nikon D3S is ranked #7 out of 34 Pro DSLR cameras with an overall score of 70 whereas Samsung NX1 is ranked #7 out of 30 Pro Mirrorless cameras with an overall score of 90.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D3S Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-02-16
  • 12MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 12800 ( expands to 100-102400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3″ Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 11 fps continuous shooting
  • 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 1240g. 160 x 157 x 88 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D3 Compare

Samsung NX1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-09-15
  • 28MP - APS-C BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 51200)
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 3″ Tilting Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 15.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4096 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 550g. 139 x 102 x 66 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon D3S was replaced by Nikon D4. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D4 vs Nikon D3S
Nikon D4 vs Samsung NX1

Reasons to choose Nikon D3S over Samsung NX1
Battery Life 4200 shots vs 500 shots 3700 more frames with a single charge
Low Light ISO 3253 vs 1363 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area 71.40µm2 vs 13.18µm2 441% larger pixel area
Flash Sync Port Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Storage Slot 2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Reasons to choose Samsung NX1 over Nikon D3S
Wireless Connection Built-In vs None Better connectivity
Articulating Screen Yes vs No Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Touch Screen Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Face Detection Focus Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution 28 MP vs 12 MP 133% more pixels
Max ISO 25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points 209 vs 51 158 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution 1.036k dots vs 921k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting 15.0fps vs 11.0fps 4 fps faster
Weight 550 g vs 1240 g 690 g lighter
Microphone Port Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port Yes vs No better video control
Color Depth 24.2 vs 23.5 higher color depth
Dynamic Range 13.2 vs 12.0 higher dynamic range
Price $1,500 vs $5,200 $3,700 cheaper
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2160 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
NFC Connection Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Smartphone_remote control Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-II vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Strengths of Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
LCD Screen Resolution 921k dots vs 1.036k dots Higher resolution screens
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1
Image Stabilization No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1. Samsung NX1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 21mm narrower, 55mm shorter and 22mm thinner than Nikon D3S.

Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1.
Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Samsung NX1 is significantly lighter (690g ) than the Nikon D3S which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since Nikon D3S has a Full frame sensor and Samsung NX1 has a smaller APS-C sensor, Samsung NX1's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Nikon D3S lenses.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D3S
NX1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D3S
NX1
Min
Average
Max
Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D3S has a 12.0MP Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed processor. On the other hand, Samsung NX1 has a 28.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features DRIMe 5 processor.

Samsung NX1's sensor provides 16MP more than Nikon D3S's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another difference between these two cameras is that Samsung NX1's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D3S and NX1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1 Sensor Size Comparison


As seen above, Nikon D3S has a 2.3x Larger sensor area than Samsung NX1. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D3S for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Samsung NX1 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 28.0MP
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D3S for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX1 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D3S for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Samsung NX1 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 11.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 4200 shots
Good Low Light ISO
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 15.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
153 Cross Type Focus sensors
209 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D3S for Daily Photography

GOOD

Samsung NX1 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1240g
Body Thickness 88mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
550g
Body Thickness 66mm
Read the details

Nikon D3S for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX1 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (36 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 28.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Samsung NX1 vs Nikon D3S Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D3S has an advantage over Samsung NX1. There are 286 lenses for Nikon D3S's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 32 lenses for Samsung NX1's Samsung NX lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 88 lenses for Nikon F mount and 7 lenses for Samsung NX mount with IS.

Lens Type # of Nikon D3S Lenses # of Samsung NX1 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 (17 Full Frame) 4
Standard Prime 18 (15 Full Frame) 5
Wideangle Zoom 30 (14 Full Frame) 1
Wideangle Prime 45 (43 Full Frame) 11
Telephoto Zoom 49 (39 Full Frame) 2
Telephoto Prime 40 (39 Full Frame) 3
SuperZoom 30 (6 Full Frame) 1
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 (3 Full Frame) 4
Macro Prime 22 (19 Full Frame) 1
Perspective Control Prime 10 (10 Full Frame) n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 (0 Full Frame) n/a
TOTAL 286 (205 Full Frame) 32
Nikon D3S vs Samsung NX1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D3S and Samsung NX1 scores compare:

Nikon D3S
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #5 out of 10 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #161 out of 1131 in all Cameras
Samsung NX1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #4 out of 49 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #10 out of 1131 in all Cameras

Samsung NX1 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon D3S. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that NX1 trails behind the D3S: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Nikon D3S. If not, we recommend the Samsung NX1.

Nikon D3S
Nikon D3S
$5,199.95

Samsung NX1
Samsung NX1
$1,499.99

Samsung NX1 vs Nikon D3S Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D3S Samsung NX1
Brand Nikon Samsung
Announced 2010-02-16 2014-09-15
Body Type Large SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Price $5,199.95 $1,499.99
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame APS-C
Dimensions 36 x 23.9 mm 23.5 x 15.7 mm
Area 860.40mm2 368.95mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 28 megapixels
Max Resolution 4256 x 2832 6480 x 4320
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO 51200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 51 209
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Samsung NX
Number of Available Lenses 286 32
Screen
Type Fixed type Tilting
Size 3″ 3″
Resolution 921k dots 1,036k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 2,360k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7 0.7
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash 11.00 m (ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/250s n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 11.0 fps 15.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 4096 x 2160
Video Formats Motion JPEG H.265
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 1240g 550g
Dimensions 160 x 157 x 88mm 139 x 102 x 66mm
Battery Life 4200 shots 500 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 82 83
DxO Color Depth 23.5 24.2
DxO Dynamic Range 12.0 13.2
DxO Low Light ISO 3253 1363
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