Type
Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount
Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
Effective sensor
Approx. 1.5x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Image sensor
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Image sensor
23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
- Supports high ISO sensitivities
- High-speed data readout
- Nikon DX-format sized CMOS sensor
- Power-saving design
Effective pixels
12.3 million
Total pixels
12.9 million
Dust-reduction system
Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Noise reduction
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Long exp. NR
Photographs taken at shutter speeds slower than 8 s are processed to reduce noise. As the time required to process images to reduce noise after capture is roughly the same as shooting time (shutter speed), the time required until images are completely recorded increases accordingly.
High ISO NR
Photographs taken at ISO sensitivities of ISO 800 and higher are processed to reduce noise. "High", "Normal" (default), "Low", "Off"
At ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 and higher, a level of noise reduction lower than that achieved with a setting of "Low" is selected.
Recording formats
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Image size (pixels)
- 4,288 x 2,848 (L)
- 3,216 x 2,136 (M)
- 2,144 x 1,424 (S)
File format
- NEF (compressed RAW)
- JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression
- NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
Media
SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, SDHC-compliant; Eye-Fi memory cards (requires confirmation)
A/D conversion bit count
12-bit
Image write rate
Approx. 14 MB/s under the following conditions:
- Recording medium: 1 GB Panasonic Pro HIGH SPEED SD memory card
- Image quality: JPEG normal
- Image size: Large
Picture Control System
Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Landscape, Portrait; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls
File system
DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras)
PictBridge
Image comment
Up to 36 alphanumeric characters can be input using the camera monitor and multi selector (contained in Exif header)
Viewfinder
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Viewfinder
Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder
- Advanced focusing screen display built in
This feature is capable of displaying superimposed on-demand grid lines over the viewfinder display, and is convenient for composing shots.
- "Vari-Brite" focus area display built in
The color used to highlight the active focus area (focus brackets) in the viewfinder display changes automatically in response to lighting conditions.
Frame coverage
Approx. 96% horizontal and 96% vertical
Magnification
Approx. 0.94x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint
19.5 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Diopter adjustment
-2-+1 m-1
Focusing screen
Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark II screen with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed)
Reflex mirror
Quick return
Depth-of-field preview
When depth-of-field preview button is pressed, lens aperture is stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (other modes)
Lens aperture
Instant return, electronically controlled
Lens
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Compatible lenses
- DX AF Nikkor: All functions supported
- Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported (PC Micro-Nikkor does not support some functions). IX Nikkor lenses not supported.
- Other AF Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported.
- AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II
- Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Shutter
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Type
Electronically controlled, vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Speed *3
1/4000-30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, Bulb, Time (optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 required)
Flash sync speed
X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower
Release time lag
Approx. 65 ms
Viewfinder blackout
120 ms
Shutter release
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Release mode
Single frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, self timer, delayed remote, quick response remote (optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 required for remote shooting)
Frame advance
Continuous low speed: 1-4 fps
rate *4
Continuous high speed: Up to 4.5 fps
Self-timer
Can be selected from 2, 5, 10, and 20 s duration
Remote shooting
Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 (optional), Remote Cord MC-DC2 (optional)
Exposure
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Metering
TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
Metering method
- Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses)
- Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, or 10 mm circle in center of frame
- Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)
- Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0-20 EV
- Spot metering: 2-20 EV
Exposure meter coupling
CPU
Mode
Auto modes (auto, auto (flash off)); Advanced Scene Modes (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
Exposure compensation
-5-+5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Auto bracketing
- Exposure and flash bracketing: 2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, or 2 EV
- White balance bracketing: 2 or 3 frames in steps of 1, 2, or 3 EV
- ADL (Active D-Lighting) bracketing: 2 frames (one with ADL, one without)
Exposure lock
Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)
ISO 200-3200 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200 or to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) above ISO 3200.
Active D-Lighting
Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off
Focus
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Autofocus
Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft. 8 in.-9 ft. 10 in.)
Detection range
-1-+19 EV (ISO 100, at 20°C/68°F)
Lens servo
- Autofocus: Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C), predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status (AF-A)
- Manual (M): Electronic range finding supported
AF-area mode
Single-point, dynamic-area, auto-area, 3D tracking (11 points)
Focus lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Flash
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Built-in flash
- Guide Number: Approx. 17/56, 18/59 with manual flash
(ISO 200, m/ft, 20°C/68°F)
- Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (ISO 100, m/ft, 20°C/68°F)
- Auto, portrait, close-up, night portrait: Auto flash with auto pop-up
- P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release
Flash control
- TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR
using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and
SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400
- Auto aperture: Available with SB-900, SB-800 and CPU lens
- Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22s
- Range-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Angle of coverage
Sufficient to illuminate the picture angle of an 18mm lens
Picture edges may be slightly dark depending upon conditions, such as the lens used and the aperture setting.
Flash mode
Auto, portrait, close-up
- Auto and auto with red-eye reduction available with built-in flash
- Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units
Night portrait
- Auto slow sync and auto slow sync with red-eye reduction available with built-in flash
- Slow sync and slow sync with red-eye reduction available with optional flash units
Landscape, sports
- Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units
P, A
- Fill-flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, auto slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction
S, M
- Fill-flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction
- Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction
Flash compensation
-3-+1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash-ready indicator
Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output in i-TTL or auto aperture modes
Accessory shoe
Standard ISO 518 hot-shoe contact with safety lock
Flash sync terminal
No
Nikon Creative Lighting System
- Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-R200 as remotes
- Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
White balance
Auto (TTL white-balance with main image sensor and 420-pixel RGB sensor); 12 manual modes with fine-tuning; color temperature setting; preset white balance; white balance bracketing
Live View
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AF modes
Face priority, wide area, normal area
Autofocus
Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face priority is selected)
Exposure
Determined with matrix metering utilizing output from the image sensor
Movie
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File format
AVI (Motion-JPEG)
Image size (pixels)
640 x 424; 24 fps
320 x 216; 24 fps
1280 x 720; 24 fps
Compression
Motion-JPEG
Audio
Monaural on/off selection
Exposure
- Determined with matrix metering utilizing output from the image sensor
- Exposure lock available
- Exposure compensation available in P, S, A, M modes
Monitor
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Monitor
3-in., approx. 920k-dot (VGA), low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment
Playback
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Playback
- Full-frame playback
- Movie playback
- Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback
- Playback zoom (image size L up to approx. 27x, M up to approx. 20x, S up to approx. 13x)
When one or more faces (up to 10) were detected with shooting, the faces are enclosed in white borders. When playback zoom is applied, different faces can be displayed by rotating the sub-command dial.
- Slide show playback
- Pictmotion
- Histogram display
- Highlights display
- Auto image rotation
- Image comment (up to 36 characters)
Retouch functions
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Retouch functions
D-Lighting, red-eye correction, trim, monochrome, filter effects, color balance, small picture, image overlay, NEF (RAW) processing, quick retouch, straighten, distortion control, fisheye
Interface
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USB
Hi-Speed USB; PTP transfer protocol
USB hubs not supported
USB transfer rate
Approx. 12 MB/s
Test conditions
- Windows Vista or Windows XP using standard USB driver
- 512 MB Panasonic Pro HIGH SPEED (data recorded until filled to capacity)
- Image size: Large
- Image quality: JPEG normal
However, actual data transfer time varies with the following conditions:
- Computer performance
- Number of images
- Image size
- Image quality
Video output
Can be selected from NTSC and PAL; images can be displayed on external device while camera monitor is on
HDMI output
Version 1.3a with type C HDMI connector; camera monitor turns off when HDMI cable is connected
Accessory terminal
- Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately)
- GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
Supported languages
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Supported languages
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Power source
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Battery
One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e (supplied)
Number of shots (battery capacity)
- CIPA standard *1
One EN-EL3e battery (camera): Approx. 850 shots
One EN-EL3e battery (MB-D80): Approx. 850 shots
Two EN-EL3e batteries (MB-D80): Approx. 1700 shots
Six AA batteries (MB-D80): Approx. 600 shots
- Nikon standard *2
One EN-EL3e battery (camera): Approx. 4200 shots
One EN-EL3e battery (MB-D80): Approx. 4200 shots
Two EN-EL3e batteries (MB-D80): Approx. 8400 shots
Six AA batteries (MB-D80): Approx. 1900 shots
*1 Measured at 23°C/73.4°F (±2°C/3.6°F) with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens under the following test conditions: lens cycled from infinity to minimum range and one photograph taken at default settings once every 30 s; after photograph is taken, monitor is turned on for 4 s; tester waits for exposure meters to turn off after monitor is turned off; flash fired at full power once every other shot. Live View not used.
*2 Measured at 20°C/68°F with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens under the following test conditions: release mode set to continuous high speed, autofocus mode set to AF-C, image quality set to JPEG basic, image size set to M (medium), white balance set to A, ISO sensitivity set to ISO 200, shutter speed 1/250 s, focus cycled from infinity to minimum range three times after exposure meters have been on for 3 s; six shots are then taken in succession and monitor turned on for 4 s and then turned off; cycle repeated once exposure meters have turned off.
※ The actual number of shots possible will vary depending upon battery charge and operating environment. The number of shots possible when AA batteries are used may be less than that indicated here, depending upon the brand and manner in which the batteries have been stored. Use of some brands of AA batteries may not be possible.
The following can reduce battery life:
- Using the monitor (e.g. in Live View mode)
- Keeping the shutter-release button pressed halfway
- Repeated autofocus operations
- Taking NEF (RAW) photographs
- Slow shutter speeds
- Using VR (vibration reduction) mode with VR lenses
Battery pack
Optional MB-D80 multi-power battery pack with one or two rechargeable Nikon EN-EL3e batteries or six AA alkaline, NiMH, lithium, or nickel-manganese batteries; AA batteries (available separately)*
* Optional MS-D200 battery holder is required when using AA batteries.
AC adapter
EH-5a or EH-5 AC adapter (available separately)
Power-up time
Approx. 0.15 s
Tripod socket
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Tripod socket
1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions / weight
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Dimensions (W × H × D)
Approx. 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.)
Weight
Approx. 620 g (1 lb. 6 oz.) without battery, memory card, body cap, or monitor cover
Materials
The body is made of a combination of aluminum alloy and plastic.
Durability
Shutter units are durable up to approx. 100,000 cycles.
Operating environment
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Temperature
0-40°C (+32-104 °F)
Humidity
Less than 85% (no condensation)
Accessories
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Supplied
- Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e
- Quick Charger MH-18a
- Audio/Video Cable EG-D2
- USB Cable UC-E4
- Rubber Eyecup DK-21
- Camera Strap AN-DC1
- Body cap
- Eyepiece Cap DK-5
- Accessory shoe cover BS-1
- LCD Monitor Cover BM-10
- Software Suite CD (ViewNX, Nikon Transfer, Apple QuickTime)
Optional
- Remote Cord MC-DC2
- GPS Unit GP-1
- Photofinishing software Capture NX 2 (upgrade to latest version before using)
- AC Adapter EH-5/EH-5a
- Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80
- Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M
- Eyepiece Correction Lens DK-20C
- Eyepiece Magnifier DG-2
- Eyepiece Adapter DK-22
- Right-Angle Viewing Attachment DR-6
- Semi-soft Case CF-D80
- Wireless Remote Control ML-L3
- Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15
- Camera Control Pro 2 (upgrade to latest version before using)
Media
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Approved SD memory cards
The following SD memory cards have been tested and approved for use in this camera.
All cards of the designated make and capacity can be used, regardless of speed.
- SanDisk : 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB(1), 4 GB(2), 8 GB(2)
- Toshiba : 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB(1), 4 GB(2), 8 GB(2), 16 GB(2), 32 GB(2)
- Panasonic : 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB(1), 4 GB(2), 8 GB(2), 16 GB(2), 32 GB(2)
- Lexar Media : 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB(1), 4 GB(2)
- Lexar Media Platinum II: 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB(1), 4 GB(2)
- Lexar Media Professional: 1 GB, 2 GB(1), 4 GB(2)
(1) If the memory card will be used with a card reader or other device, the device must support 2 GB SD memory cards.
(2) SDHC-compliant. If the memory card will be used with a card reader or other device, be sure that the device supports SDHC.
For more details on the above cards, please contact the manufacturer.
Other cards have not been tested.
