Todays Value of a D3S

bandit993

Senior Member
In 2017, what is a reasonable price for a used D3S? Anyone from Canada et me know as that is where I am from. Hard to justify much as it is only 12mp and fairly old, even with a low shutter count. thanks.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
You can search eBay's Completed listings. (That's listings that have actually sold) Low shutter counts under 20,000 for pristine bodies only are in the $1700 range.
 

bandit993

Senior Member
That what I was kind of thinking Don. I have a D7200. I didn't think a D3s was really any better. Why do people think they are still that valuable? I would think between $500- $1000 tops... I may be off but...
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
That what I was kind of thinking Don. I have a D7200. I didn't think a D3s was really any better. Why do people think they are still that valuable? I would think between $500- $1000 tops... I may be off but...

Pro construction and longer life shutter. It all depends on what you're after.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
... Why do people think they are still that valuable? I would think between $500- $1000 tops... I may be off but...
The D3s is still a powerhouse of a camera; one I'd love, love, LOVE to get my hands on. And I say that as a Nikon Certified D750 Enthusiast. While it may not have all the newest tech, in the hands of someone who really understands how to shoot, the D3s will put ordinance on target all the live long day without breaking a sweat, and look damn good doing it. A clean D3s in really good condition should fetch you money well into the fourth digit on eBay.
 

Chile7236

Senior Member
i think the value is what you put on it...personally, i'm probably gonna go with a 13000'ish click D3 from my local shop over anything new (iirc, they want $1279.00 for it). the new stuff is great but i really like the D3/700/300 lines...moreso than the 800E, 750, etc i've had. idk.
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
A D3S might be only 12MP, but is supposed to have better high ISO than a D4 (which i can believe), and has a 9fps shutter speed(something a D750 and most other cameras wont give you), These things might be old tech but are still great cameras
 

editorial_use_only

Senior Member
That what I was kind of thinking Don. I have a D7200. I didn't think a D3s was really any better. Why do people think they are still that valuable? I would think between $500- $1000 tops... I may be off but...

Yes, it obviously depends on what you're shooting, and your preferences. The D7200 has more MP and a built-in flash and better video options. So why do people think the D3s bodies are still valuable?

The D3s offers 9 fps, and a good buffer. It's high ISO performance is good. I don't worry about 8000, it usually cleans up well. For me, shooting sports and events, that's terrific. The D4 and D4s didn't offer enough of an upgrade for me to change. The D3s continued to make more sense.

The D3s has its memo button, which I love. It's so useful to be able to quickly append audio cues to a photo.

The D3 body is also a pleasure, for me, to use. It fits my hands well and there's a tactile quality to it, like it's well-made and solid, durable. It's a pleasure to hold and use. It balances well with big glass.

The D3s battery life is, in a word, awesome. I'll get 10,000+ frames off a charge. I literally never worry about running out of battery life in a day.

The D3s is my fastest focusing camera. It just seems to drive lenses faster. Faster than my D810.

12MP is sufficient. The last wire service I worked with wouldn't accept photos larger than that.

The D3s is weather-sealed and tough. Mine has been drenched in blowing rain, used in near-freezing temps, pelted with dust, caught in billowing clouds of grimy exhaust, blasted by ketchup, showered by champagne, baked for hours in direct sun, accidentally bashed into equipment and walls, accidentally kicked, thrown around in luggage. I often worry about the treatment it gets. But it just keeps working.

Why do people think they are still valuable? Because they have earned their reputation as great cameras.
 
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