D3S: focusing mechanism drastically improved?

[arthuryeo]

<p>If you navigate to the <a href="http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/microsite/d3s_d3x/en/?cid=IGD9ABGZIGS">D3S microsite</a> , one of the original testers (Vincent Munier) said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>It was well past midnight, and I can honestly say that I could not see this bear with my own eyes --- only a slight twinkle of light on his wet nose allowed me to focus.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I know that my D3 cannot focus in the dark this well? Sounds like there is a lot of tweaks in the focusing dept., don't you think? Anyone has any published facts to support this besides this marketing blip? <!-- / message --> <!-- sig --></p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>In northern Finland in the summer it doesn't get that dark at night.</p>

[arthuryeo]

<p>That may be true ... we really do not know whether it was mid-Summer or late Summer or may be even early Fall.</p>

<p>This could be the image Vincent was talking about<br>

http://chsvimg.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/slr/d3s/img/pic_004b.jpg</p>

[mike_stemberg]

That might even be the same bear ..but looking for the 'slight twinkle on the nose...it is a very very slight twinkle.

[alastair_anderson]

<p>Perhaps it's not improvement to the autofocus, but simply the increased ISO ability that allows focus where the D3 wouldn't manage it.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>EXIF info indicates f/4, 1/800s, ISO 12800. July 27, 20.38 (UTC+2). </p>

[arthuryeo]

<p>Thanks, Ilkka. Should we conclude that it was just a subjective marketing play from the early tester, then?</p>

 

[chris_brandstrom]

<p>"only a slight twinkle of light on his wet nose allowed me to focus."</p>

<p>Note that he just said "focus." He didn't say autofocus. Perhaps he did autofocus, but we don't actually know. He might have manually focused.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>Once the camera becomes available, there will be more observations about the AF system and if it has been significantly revised - it's hard to make conclusions based on the subjective comments of one tester. I think these bear photos could have been successfully made with other cameras (such as the D3 and D700) but they sure do look nice and it must be nice to be sure that you can stop the movement in these conditions even if the bear moves quickly.</p>

<p>I have to say that Munier's night wildlife video taken with the D3s (including some material from Finland) are evocative and to me they illustrate very nicely the benefits of large sensors in video.</p>

<p>I would find this camera very useful for my own stuff.</p>

[arthuryeo]

<p>I got the official words from the source but am legally prohibited from posting here. If you need it, email me. Not sure why I am not allowed to post their reply. I guess they fear that it may be misused.</p>