Sony FX30 vs Nikon D3s

This is a full comparison between the cameras Sony FX30 and Nikon D3s. We compare them by looking at the categories you see below.

Manufacturing

Sony FX30 is manufacturered by Sony but Nikon D3s is from Nikon. Both Sony and Nikon are well known brands though.

Type of camera

Sony FX30 is a Mirrorless camera while Nikon D3s is a DSLR camera. More information about their differences will come soon.

Sensors / crop factor

These cameras have different sensors. Sony FX30 has a "Sony APS-C"-sensor while Nikon D3s has a "Nikon FX"-sensor, and their difference in sensors will also affect the crop factor and experience focal length. See the table below.

** Experienced focal length when using a lens such as a common "50mm f/1.8"

Learn more about crop factor and focal length multiplier here:
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Sony)
Camera selection can affect the focal length (Nikon)

Resolution

Sony FX30 has a 26 MP (Megapixels) resolution while Nikon D3s has 12,1 MP. If we break down this in more detail this is the data behind the numbers:

Sony FX30 has a 112 % larger resolution than Nikon D3s. This could give you more details in the picture but also a possibility to crop more in the pictures, afterward while editing the pictures, if needed that is.

ISO range

Nikon D3s has a larger ISO-range than Sony FX30. Nikon D3s has an ISO range that stretches from 200 to 102400 while Sony FX30 has 100 to 32000.

Autofocus and lens compatibility

Both of these cameras have a built-in autofocus motor. Some lenses, that support autofocus, do not have an autofocus motor of their own but this won't cause any problems with these two cameras.

Here is a complete overview of which lenses work with each camera:
Lens compatibility chart for Sony FX30
Lens compatibility chart for Nikon D3s

Pictures per second

Depending on what you are shooting the FPS, or frames/pictures per second, can definitely be of interest. Sony FX30 can shoot up to 1 pictures per seconds and Nikon D3s can shoot up to 11 pictures per seconds.

Ability to record movies

It is becoming more and more popular to record movies with digital cameras.

It is only one of these two cameras that support recording movies and movie clips and that is Nikon D3s. Sadly, the Sony FX30 does not support this.

Weight

The weight of the camera can be an extremely important factor, especially if the camera is about to be used, or carried around, for several hours at a time.

Nikon D3s weighs 1240 gr (equal to 2.73 lb) which is 92% heavier than Sony FX30 and its 646 gr (or 1.42 lb).

Sony FX30 vs Nikon D3s Specs

Below you will find the complete and detailed technical specs for both Sony FX30 and Nikon D3s, next to each other. Each category of data is a link to an article covering the subject, giving you a deeper understanding so you can better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the two camera models.

Product	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Name	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Manufacturer	Sony	Nikon
Release Date and Price	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Release Year	2022	2009
Release Date	2022-09-28	2009-10-14
MSRP	1799 USD	5199 USD
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Camera Type	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Camera Type	Mirrorless	DSLR
Sensor	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Sensor Size	APS-C (approx 23.5 x 15.6 mm)	Full Frame (approx 36 x 23.9 mm) Also known as "FX"
Sensor Type	BSI-CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6192 x 4128 pixels	4256 x 2832 pixels
Megapixels	26 MP	12,1 MP
Image Processor	BIONZ XR	EXPEED
Image	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
ISO Range	100 - 32000	200 - 102400
White Balance Presets	8	12
Custom White Balance	Yes	Yes
Image Stabilization	Yes (Sensor-Shift (5-axis))	No
Image Stabilization CIPA Rating	5.5 stops	0 stops
Uncompressed format	RAW	RAW + TIFF
Optics & Focus	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Autofocus Motor	Yes	Yes
Autofocus	Phase Detect Multi Area Center Selective Single Point Tracking Single Continuous Touch Face Detection LiveView	Contract Detect (sensor) Phase Detect Multi Area Selective Single Point Single Continuous LiveView
Focus Points	759	51
Lens Mount	Sony E See Compatible Lenses	Nikon F See Compatible Lenses
Focal Length Multiplier	APS-C Sensor (1.5x) 1.5x multiplier Example: 24 mm becomes 36 mm 50 mm becomes 75 mm 100 mm becomes 150 mm 200 mm becomes 300 mm	FX (Full frame) No multiplier Example: 24 mm remains 24 mm 50 mm remains 50 mm 100 mm remains 100 mm 200 mm remains 200 mm
Screen & Viewfinder	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Articulated LCD	Fully articulated	Fixed
Screen size	3”	3”
Screen dots	N/A	921000
Touch screen	Yes	No
Screen type	N/A	Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD
Live view	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder Type	No Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage		100%
Viewfinder Magnification		0.7×
Viewfinder Resolution	0	N/A
Photography features	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Frames per second	1 fps	11 fps
Minimum Shutter Speed	30 seconds	30 seconds
Maximum Shutter Speed	1/8000 seconds	1/8000 seconds
Built-in Flash	No	No
Built-in Flash Range	N/A	N/A
External Flash	Yes	Yes
Self-Timer	Yes	Yes
Time-lapse	No	Yes
Metering modes	Multi Center Weighted Highlight Weighted Spot Partial Average	Multi Center Weighted Spot
Exposure Compensation	N/A	+/- 5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 1 EV steps)
Videography features	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Video recording	No	Yes
Video format	N/A	Motion JPEG MPEG4 H.264
Video resolution	N/A	1280 x 720
Built-in Microphone	Yes	Yes
Built-in Speakers	Yes	No
Storage	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Memory Card	Compact Flash Express SD/SDHC	Compact Flash
Connectivity	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
HDMI Output	Yes	Yes
Microphone Port	Yes	No
Headphone Port	Yes	No
Wireless	Yes Built-in (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac)	Yes Optional
Remote Control	Supported (no further information)	Yes
GPS	No	Yes Optional with GP-1
Body & Dimensions	Sony FX30	Nikon D3s
Enviromentally sealed	No	Yes
Battery	Battery Pack	Battery Pack
Battery Details	NP-FZ100	Lithium-Ion EN-EL4a rechargeable battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA)	570 shots	4200 shots
Width	78 mm	160 mm
Height	130 mm	157 mm
Depth	85 mm	88 mm
Weight	646 gram	1240 gram