Type

Single-lens reflex digital camera

Lens mount

Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)

Effective picture angle

Approx. 1.5 x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)

Effective pixels

12.3 million

Image sensor

23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor

Total pixels

12.9 million

Dust-reduction system

Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 required)

Image size (pixels)

4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S]

File format

• NEF (RAW)
• JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression
• NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats

Picture Control System

Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls

Media

SD memory cards, SDHC compliant

File system

DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge

Viewfinder

Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder

Frame coverage

Approx. 96% horizontal and 96% vertical

Magnification

Approx. 0.94 x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m^-1)

Eyepoint

19.5 mm (-1.0 m^-1)

Diopter adjustment

-2 to +1 m^-1

Focusing screen

Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed)

Reflex mirror

Quick-return type

Depth-of-field preview

When depth-of-field preview button is pressed, lens aperture is stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (other modes)

Lens aperture

Instant return, electronically controlled

Compatible lenses

• DX AF Nikkor: All functions supported
• Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported (PC Micro-Nikkor does not support some functions). IX-Nikkor lenses not supported.
• Other AF Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported.
• AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II and auto focus.
• Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.

Shutter type

Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter

Shutter speed

1/4,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, Bulb

Flash sync speed

X = 1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200s or slower

Release modes

Single-frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response

Frame advance rate

Continuous high speed: up to 4.5 fps, continuous low speed: 1-4 fps

Self-timer

Can be selected from 2, 5, 10 and 20 s duration

Exposure metering

TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor

Exposure method

• Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses)
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6-, 8- or 10-mm circle in center of frame
• Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2% of frame) centered on selected focus point

Exposure range (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F)

• Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0-20 EV
• Spot metering: 2-20 EV

Exposure meter coupling

CPU

Exposure modes

Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M)

Exposure compensation

±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV

Exposure bracketing

2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV

Exposure lock

Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button

ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)

ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3 EV, can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) over ISO 3200, ISO sensitivity auto control available

Active D-Lighting

Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low or off