NOISE & RESOLUTION

Keeping the D3s at 12.1 megapixels of resolution is a curious if understandable choice. That low resolution, about the same as most point-and-shoot models, allows Nikon to maintain the large 8.45-micron pixel size on the CMOS sensor for better light gathering capabilities and lower noise at higher ISOs.

This stellar high ISO performance carries over to the D3s's HD video mode, offering among the best low-light video quality I've seen since the Canon 5D Mark II set the bar a couple of years ago.

Nikon also seems to have improved the "rolling shutter" effect which causes video clips to look wobbly when panning. Nikon won't reveal exactly how they did it—they say there's a new "algorithm" in the video mode—but they're claiming a 50 percent improvement.

Again, that's a rather arbitrary figure but, perhaps, not far from the mark. I vigorously shook the D3s while capturing panned HD video, looking for any signs of rolling shutter such as the nausea-inducing "jell-o" look I got while shooting with the Nikon D90. No dice. The D3s held its ground and even did better than the 7D in curbing rolling shutter.

At times though, I found myself craving more pixels with the D3s while shooting the MLS Cup Final. Because of security restrictions, photographers were not permitted to cross over to the other end of the match via the sidelines. Since I was shooting with a maximum 200mm lens on a non-magnifying full-frame camera, this limited my coverage on the other end of the field. And the few long-range photos I captured were unusable since the Nikon D3s's 12.1-megapixel sensor did not offer enough resolution to give a good crop.

Though most sports shooters use much longer glass than I had at the time—400mm minimum—it's less of an issue but definitely something to consider.