Nikon D3

The Nikon D3 is a full-frame DSLR released in 2007. It pairs a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with the Nikon F FX mount, and an Expeed processor handles the image processing.

This is a big camera: 160 x 157 x 88 mm and 1300 g. That bulk makes it a deliberate carry rather than an everyday companion, though the weather-sealed body is built for outdoor use.

It suits photographers who shoot action, sport and events, where speed and battery endurance matter more than resolution or connectivity. There is no video mode and no wireless transfer, so treat it purely as a stills camera.

The full-frame sensor gives the depth-of-field control that format is known for, and the F FX mount is Nikon's full-frame lens mount. Resolution is 12.1 megapixels, which leaves limited room for heavy cropping. The D3 sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics, with a modest section score of 56.

Speed is where the D3 earns its keep. A burst rate of up to 11 frames per second, a 51-point autofocus array and a top shutter speed of 1/8000s make it comfortable at sports and wildlife, where a burst can catch a moment a single frame would miss. The optical pentaprism viewfinder shows the scene directly while you work.

Sensitivity spans ISO 100 to 6400. In very dark venues the ceiling, not the base setting, is the limit.

There is no in-body stabilisation. Camera shake therefore depends on your shutter technique, stabilised lenses or a support, since the body itself does not correct for movement.

The Nikon D3 does not record video in any mode. Stills are its only capture option, so there are no frame rates, resolutions or recording limits to weigh, and any motion work has to happen on a separate device.

The one related feature is the built-in interval timer. It fires the shutter automatically at set intervals over a period you choose, producing a sequence of still frames that you can assemble into a timelapse afterwards on another device. The camera handles only the capture side.

Live view is available for framing on the fixed 3-inch LCD, but it feeds still capture only rather than moving images, so the screen cannot stand in for a movie mode.

The fixed 3-inch LCD carries 922,000 dots for reviewing images after a shot. There is no touchscreen and no articulation, so framing and menu work stay with the physical controls and the optical viewfinder.

Live view is on hand for tripod work, though the fixed screen limits how far that takes you away from the viewfinder.

Flash comes from external units only, since there is no built-in flash. That keeps lighting choices in your hands rather than on the body.

There is no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, so there is no wireless transfer and no built-in location tagging. The modest Features score of 54 reflects the absent touchscreen and Bluetooth, while the weather-sealed body earned full marks.

Power and storage are the D3's strongest areas, reflected in an exceptional section score of 87: dual card slots and the battery rating each earned full marks, with only USB charging missing points. The two slots take CompactFlash Type I or II cards, so two cards can be carried in the camera at once.

The EN-EL4a battery is rated at 4300 shots per charge. That rating carries no stated test standard or shooting mode, so real-world endurance will vary with how you shoot.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up over a cable. For long trips, carrying a second battery is a sensible addition.