Nikon D3S vs Nikon P520 Specifications

35mm 860.4mm²
12.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3S Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D3S.

1/2.3 inch 28.1mm²
18.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 1000.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Nikon P520 Review.

Detailed specifications
Nikon D3S
Nikon Coolpix P520

Links
Prices:
Manufacturer URL:	Manufacturer website	Manufacturer website
Predecessor:	Nikon D2Hs D2Hs vs D3S
Successor:	Nikon D4 D3S vs D4
General
Model Number:	D3S	P520
Alternate Model Number(s):
Camera Format:	Pro SLR	EVF
Currently Manufactured:	No	No
Retail Price:	$5199.95	$449.95
Street Price:		$426.95
Date Available:	2009-11-30	2013-02-15
Tripod Mount:	Yes	Yes
Weight:	49.7 oz (1,410 g) includes batteries	19.4 oz (550 g) includes batteries
Size:	6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in. (160 x 157 x 88 mm)	4.9 x 3.3 x 4.0 in. (125 x 84 x 102 mm)
Waterproof:	No	No
Waterproof Depth:	n/a	n/a

Image Sensor
Sensor Type:	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:		BSI
Effective Megapixels:	12.1	18.1
Sensor Format:	35mm	1/2.3 inch
Sensor size:	860.4mm² (36.00mm x 23.90mm)	28.0735mm² (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch:	8.46 microns	1.26 microns
Focal Length Multiplier:	1.0x	n/a
Aspect Ratio:	3:2	4:3
Color Filter Type:	RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:	Fixed
Self-Cleaning:	Yes	No
Sensor shift image stabilization:	No	No
On-Sensor Phase Detect:	No	No
DxO Sensor Score:	82
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):	23.5
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):	12.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):	3,253
Image Capture
Image Resolution:	4256 x 2832 (12.1 MP, 3:2), 3184 x 2120 (6.8 MP, 3:2), 2128 x 1416 (3.0 MP, 3:2), 2784 x 1848 (5.1 MP, Other), 2080 x 1384 (2.9 MP, 3:2), 1392 x 920 (1.3 MP, Other), 3552 x 2832 (10.1 MP, 5:4), 2656 x 2120 (5.6 MP, 5:4), 1776 x 1416 (2.5 MP, 5:4), 3552 x 2368 (8.4 MP, 3:2), 2656 x 1776 (4.7 MP, 3:2), 1776 x 1184 (2.1 MP, 3:2)	4896 x 3672 (18.0 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format:	JPEG (EXIF 2.21), RAW (NEF), 14 or 12-bit; compr	JPEG (EXIF 2.3), MPO
Continuous-mode frames/second:	9.0	7.0
Video Capture
Can take movies:	Yes	Yes
Movie Resolution:	1280x720 (24) 640x424 (24) 320x216 (24)	1920x1080 (30p/25p/60i/50i) 1280x720 (60p/30p) 960x540 (30p) 640x480 (120p/30p/25p)
Movie File Format:	Motion JPEG	MOV (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
Composite Video Out:	Yes	Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video:	Yes	Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:	Yes
HD Video Out:	Yes	Yes
HD Video Connection:	HDMI	HDMI

Lens & Optics
Lens Mount:	Nikon F	n/a
Lens:	n/a	Zoom-Nikkor ED VR; 14 elements in 10 groups
Focal Length (35mm equivalent):		24 - 1,000mm
Focal Length (actual):		4.3 - 180mm
Zoom Ratio:		42.00x
Aperture Range:		f/3.0 (wide) / f/5.9 (tele) - f/8.3
Integrated ND Filter:	No	No
Normal Focus Range:		50 cm to Infinity 19.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:		1 cm to Infinity 0.4 in to Infinity
Filter Thread:	n/a	n/a
Thread Type:	n/a	n/a
Optical Image Stabilization:	No	Yes
Digital Zoom:	No	Yes
Digital Zoom Values:	n/a	Up to 2x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus:	Yes	Yes
Auto Focus Type:	51-point TTL phase detection via Nikon Multi-CAM 3500FX with 15 cross-type and 36 line-type sensors	Contrast Detection: Auto (9-area automatic selection), Center, Face priority, Manual with 99 focus areas, Subject tracking
Auto Focus Assist Light?	No	Yes
Manual Focus:	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder:	Optical / LCD	EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type:	SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, interchangeable screen, 100%, 0.7x, 18mm eyepoint, -3.0 to +1.0	EVF; 0.5 cm (0.2-in.) approx. 201K-dot equivalent LCD with the diopter adjustment function (-4 to +4 m-1)
Focus Peaking:	No	No
EVF Resolution:	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):	0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):	0.70x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display:	Yes	Yes
Rear Display Size (inches):	3.0	3.2
Rear Display Resolution:	920,000 dots	921,000 dots
Touchscreen:	No	No
Articulating Screen:	No	Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen:	No
Selfie Screen:	No
Max Playback Zoom:	27.0x
Top Deck Display:	Yes

Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):	12800
Minimum ISO (native):	200
ISO Settings:	Auto, 200 - 12,800, plus down to 100 in Lo-1, up to 102,400 in Hi-3	Fixed range auto (ISO 80-400, 80-800), ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, Hi 1 (equivalent to 6400)
Auto ISO Mode:	Yes	Yes
White Balance Settings:	Auto, twelve manual modes can be preset with fine-tuning; color temperature setting, custom	Auto1/2, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Manual
Shutter Speed Range:	1/8000 - 30 sec	1/4000 - 8 sec
Bulb Mode:	Yes	No
Exposure Compensation:	+/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps	+/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes:	1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted, Spot (1.5%) centered on selected focus area	224-segment Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Aperture Priority:	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority:	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure:	Yes	Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:	None	Back Light, Beach, Black and White Copy, Close Up, Dusk/Dawn, Fireworks Show, Food, Landscape, Museum, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Panorama, Party/Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Scene Auto Selector, Snow, Sports, Sunset, 3D Photography
Self Timer:	2/5/10/20 seconds	10 or 2 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):
High Resolution Composite:	No	No
Flash
Built-in Flash:	No	Yes
Flash Modes:	n/a	Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off, Flash On, w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; Slow Syncro
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100):	n/a	n/a
Flash Range Description:	n/a	TBA
Max Flash Sync:	1/250
Flash Exposure Compensation:
External Flash Connection:	ISO-type hot-shoe contact; safety lock provided; PC Sync terminal	n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types:	CF1	SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:
Other Memory:
Dual Card Slots:	Yes	No
RAW Capture Support:	Yes
Uncompressed Format:	RAW (NEF), 14 or 12-bit; compr
Movie File Format:	Motion JPEG	MOV (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
Included Memory:	No memory included	15.0 MB
Included Memory Type:		Internal
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi:	No	Yes
NFC:
Bluetooth:	No	No
Built-In GPS:	No	Yes
Microphone Jack:	No	No
Headphone Jack:	No	No
External Connections:	USB 2.0 High Speed	USB 2.0 High Speed,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant:	Yes	No
DPOF Compliant:	Yes	Yes
Remote Control:	Yes
Remote Control Type:	Optional wired
Connections (extended):	HDMI Out, DC Input, 10-pin Expansion Terminal, External Stereo Mic	Built-in GPS, Built-in Wi-Fi, Mini (Type-C) HDMI

Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution):	0.34
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):	0.34
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):	58
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):	0.34
Camera penalizes early shutter press?	Yes
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution):	9.0	7.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):	90	7
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):	9.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):	41
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):	9.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):	36
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid):	0.20 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):	0.51 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):	0.423 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus):	0.043 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):
Shutter Lag (prefocused):	0.043 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):	Optical Viewfinder AF lag: 51-point Auto-Area Full AF = 0.361s Live View AF Lag: Hand-held mode Full AF = 0.511s Tripod mode Full AF = 2.66s Tripod mode Prefocused = 0.423
Startup Time:	0.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time:	0.3 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):		200 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):	4200 shots
Battery Life, Video:
Battery Form Factor:	Proprietary EN-EL4a	Proprietary EN-EL5
Usable Battery Types:	Lithium Ion rechargeable	Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included:	1 x Proprietary EN-EL4a Lithium Ion rechargeable	1 x Proprietary EN-EL5 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter):	Yes	Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:	Yes
Internal Charging Supported:	No
Software
Included Software:	PictureProject	Nikon ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility:	Windows, Mac OS	Windows, Mac OS
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features:		Lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) with Active Mode, 18.1-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, 3.2-inch Vari-Angle LCD monitor, Full HD 1080p movies, Built-in GPS. Available in Black, Red or Dark Grey.