Your story is the best… about laboriously saving up £3000 for central heating and then buying a D3 body right after your first time using one! Very, very few people on YT are even remotely good at telling stories. That story and the owl story put you at the head of the pack. I love the way you tell a story! Good luck from Victoria, BC.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

5 ай бұрын

Ahhh thank you Victoria, that really means a lot. Its always nice to read an encouraging comment such as yours. Warmest regards to you 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It is so easy to overthink which camera to buy 😄 I am changing the word impulsive to knowing 🙃🌟😄

I have a D3s and several other Nikons, I have to say it is by far my favorite Camera.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

amazing :-) great to hear it!

I am a Dog and People portrait photographer and still use my D3 in 2024 as my main camera, it does everything i need it to.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

2 ай бұрын

Thats great to hear! I have reconnected with mine since doing the D3 Diaries road trip! I hope you will stick around for it 😁

great video....ive just bought a d3 with a low shutter count it arrived today.....im so excited to use it

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

3 ай бұрын

Ahhhhh great!!! Have fun 😁

Thank you for sharing - the moment when you said you saved the 3,000 for central heating I began to chuckle. Then when you said "didn't get central heating" I had one of the best laughs ever on KZread - so charming and committed to your art. And about the D3 - while I love my Z9 and other Nikons, my D3 still has my heart.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your warm comment, it really gave me a smile ⭐️🙏 Love to hear how your D3 has your heart! Perhaps you have been through a lot together like me with mine.... 😊⭐️

I have a d700 which is a shrunken but not castrated d3 and I love it. I come from three d300 which I also loved but had a maximum usable ISO of 800. All were dropped multiple times which eventually wrecked them. I went over backwards in a creek once with the camera held out of the water. exactly half my body was soaked top to bottom, i had part of my head out of the water and my camera up as high as I could reach but still had water inside which I dried out with a hairdryer on low for a few hours and it came out perfect! All went over 100,000 shots. (I am disabled with pain since 2001 and exercise is my savior, carrying a camera everywhere I go keeps me motivated.) I thank Nikon for the low useful ISO on d300 since it forced me to learn light and especially how to use fill flash. THe last few years I've had a d7100 and a d700. THe D7100 on-camera flash began arcing and shorting 10,000 shots ago which just kills me since I have to carry a flash with me. I'm the only guy in the world who complains about non camera flash having too much power. When I use the on-camera flash I set it at the lowest power possible and never increase it. If I need power I use a seperate flash. I throw the smallest puff of flash at people to lighten their faces and especially like to have people stand with their backs to the sun and fill with flash. THe D700 -and the d7100- colors are amazing. Taking close up flower pictures still amaze me just looking at the screen. I have read Canon has great color but I've never understood if Nikon is perfection how can Canon be better? Some things in this world can't be expained. I recently went to Colorado to visit my daughter. I had the genius idea to take my sony NEF6 and Sony A6000 since they are much smaller and lighter. I realized again I have a hate, love, hate with the Sonys. THe colors suck and the dials on the back are way to easy to accidently turn. I inadvertantly increased ISO on the stupid A6000 while shooting at least a dozen elk bulls from 20 to 50 feet who were eating, jumping fences and trying to push down mature trees on some poor saps lawn- once in a lifetime shots for me and I ruined them with terrible grain. I have taken thousands of pictures of playing kittens in a dark room and the stupid, idiot Sony on-camera flash searches with pulsing preflash light that shuts eyes on any person or animal who isn't a corpse. BUT! they are comparatively tiny cameras with quick enough, good autofocus. I understand the love for the A6000 but I can't keep the flicker lit for the darn things. I am a Nikon fanboy 100% all the way as hard as I can possibly be. Ted

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Your stories are quite incredible!

@dct124

4 ай бұрын

If you want to shoot past iso 800 on the D300, you need to shoot jpeg and turn on HIGH NR. I have a D200 and have low noise up iso 1600. Iso 800-3200 (hi) are all easily denoised. Can't say the same for raw. I honestly prefer the grain at least from the D200. Also I'd recommend using f1.8 lenses like the 35mm f1.8G, 50mm f1.8D or 17-55mm f2.8 DX, 60mm f2.8D Micro The D200 is still cheap. The pop up flash on it is a speedlight, excellent for fill flash unlike any other camera you'll use, even todays Z camera's have much weaker flashes.

thkU, it's amazing to have high iso but barely no noise shots cheers

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Ай бұрын

Yes I love that about the D3!

The D3 is the GOAT in my opinion.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

4 ай бұрын

😄😇✊️

I like how you balance being a professional photographer with parts of your own personal life. That adds to the learning curve of a profession and life in general. Back in time I finally could afford to buy a Nikon FM film camera that looked like it had been used as a hammer on a building site....it never let me down...just like your D3...I jumped in at the deep end with weddings, etc, that camera boosted my confidence lots......so never let your D3 go...even if it ends up being a rather heavy soft toy.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you im happy you are enjoying my channel 😊 Photography really has been a personal journey for me as well as a career. I love your story about your Nikon FM Film camera that looked like it had been used as a hammer 🤣 made me smile! I hope to keep hold of my D3 😊 you never know tho, I have random generous moments. I have given away 2 cameras in the past 2 months 😬😮🤦‍♀️😅

Great channel! I'm just an amateur, but I love my Nikon D700, and I have used it now for about 13 years. I think it uses the same sensor as the D3 (I couldn't afford the D3 at the time) and for portraiture I think it's fantastic. I love shooting portraits, and have 2 fantastic lenses: Nikon 85mm F1.4 and Nikon 135mm F2 As you say, the low light performance is stellar, and, for me, there is something about the colours from that sensor that really rock. Sigma lenses are great too and I have a Sigma 50mm F1.4 which has wonderful bokeh. That generation of Nikons are special IMHO! I use the D700 for landscapes too, often at the equivalent setting of ISO 100 and it makes great pictures. I love the small file size too when it comes to editing!

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks!! Wow you have a Nikon 85mm F1.4?!! I have the sigma one! Would be amazing to do a direct comparison!!... 😃🙃

Extreme machine nikon D3 😊👍

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Indeed it is!

I am car photographer, I am working with D3, and it's really workhorse in a positive sense. And I hope it will continue to do so. Regards!

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

5 ай бұрын

Your work sounds fun do you ever shoot races? The D3 is such a workhorse it goes on and on 😊🌟

Great stories about you and the D3. Most challenging decision in your life to swap the warmth of central heating for the Nikon D3. Psychologically too; Having the D3 in your hands and a begging expression to your friend to borrow lenses set you on the right path to photographic prosperity and a life long career. Your images are brilliant.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment I enjoyed reading it 😊🙏 I appreciate the positive feedback too. ⭐ Great to have you on the channel..

Love it!!

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

D3 shutter sounds much quieter and "feels" far more refined to D800 and D850.. D3 is a phenomenal camera

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

YES 😁😃

I bought a used D3 and thrilled I have it.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

7 ай бұрын

Ace I love the D3 its always a pleasure!

I've been using dxo pure raw 4 to process my d3 files, on soft sharpening with forcing detail slightly and the quality of the output is superb! Love these d3 files...Great stories BTW..

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for your comment its great to have you in this space ⭐️😊 I will look that up dxo pure raw 4 ⭐️🙏 Appreciate your positive feedback

I love my D3! I’m strictly an enthusiast but I’ve been using it for more than a decade and it’s still a beast. It is quite heavy, especially with additional lenses.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

10 ай бұрын

Yes it is heavy isnt it! But indeed a beast! I love mine too!

@eastbaystreet1242

9 ай бұрын

The trick is to concentrate on the key muscle groups you will be using in holding the camera, move in complete motions, up or down, hold that position for one, two, three, four seconds AND release. Saves the cost of a gym membership and the commute time to the gym. I love the heft of my D3, Z9, vintage Nikkor lenses. I have some itty bitty cameras for quick stuff and vacations where the D3 would just be too much, and too distracting. But, yes, amazing. It will outlive me.

That owl story was awesome. I can totally see how that could happen. I love my Nikons. I have Canons also, which I love. But for important shoots I always gravitate towards my Nikons. I just know these better. I'm more familiar with the settings and I trust I'll get awesome results every time. This could be done with Canon too, I suppose. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

11 ай бұрын

Thank you I like your comment and the fact you have both Canon and Nikon! Thats great! I know what you mean about a camera being familiar. Its like muscle memory you dont have to think too much about how to change settings. It does help the flow ⭐️🙏

Very interesting. I had no idea that anyone was using a particular camera for the length of time that you have used the D3. It's a real testament to the quality of the camera and your ability to work with a system without the need to be changing kit all of the time.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment! Yes I am amazed at how the D3 has gone on and on! I have never been tempted by other cameras although I am quite curious about what is on the market currently!

I have a D3x and I absolutely love it. It is amazing. The only negative, and it really isn't one, but I am a rather small girl, and it is (especially with my Nikkor 80-200 f2.8) a bit heavy for me. I do a good bit of nature and landscape photography. My favorite lenses are the Tamron 90mm macro and the Nikkor 18-70mm

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

8 ай бұрын

Hey! I feel you with the weight of the camera. I usually get a massage after long days shooting! I had a tamron macro lens in my school days, also loved it! Thank you for stopping by 😊

@AgentPepsi1

8 ай бұрын

@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 ☺☺

I have mine since 2008 and only upgraded it to a Z9 this year. The shutter sound isn't that bad, when compare with my Nikon F2A's motor drive back then. As well, the F2A + Motor Drive + Battery Pack, D3 and Z9 are all similar in size and weight and the major difference is between the hammerhead flash (with external battery pack), hot shoe flash and flash being optional for the SLR, DSLR & MILC respectively. For AF microadjustment, one can use a long ruler at 45 degrees to make a rude calibration. I even calibrated my EF 85 f/1.2 L II on my 5D Mk II using that method. Later on, I used the Datacolor Spyderlenscal.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment its interesting to hear many people are adjusting the AF themselves. I think I will have to give it a try.. What do you like shooting most with your Z9?

@bfs5113

Жыл бұрын

@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 I'm just an enthusiast, but mostly portraits. Hence, instead of waiting for Nikon 85 f/1.2 for my D3 back then, I went with Canon 5D Mk II + 85 f/1.2 that is now adapted to my Z9.

Have a D750 and 810 but still love the D3 the best. I think the D3s sound is music to the ears.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

4 ай бұрын

Love the sound of the D3 too!!

Sigma DSLR lens are well know for having focusing issues. The good thing about mirrorless is you don't have this problem because you focus off of the sensor.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Oh WOW this is diamond information thank you!!

You must CALIBRATE your lenses !!!! NO wonder its out by 8pts . I have calibrated all of my prime lenses. Now there are wonderful, sharp, clear ,for B/W really good micro contrast . Zeiss 35mm f2, 50mm f14, 85mm f2 , NIKON 24mm f2.8, 28mm 2.8 105 mm f1.8, 180mm f2.8, ED , 300mm f2.8 ED , 400mm f3.5 ED . 😎

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

3 ай бұрын

Hello and thank you for your comment! Callibration definitely needs to be a regular occurance for me for sure!! You have quite a selection 👌 Good to have you here on the channel

Good morning. You can fix the autofocus problem yourself. It's in the menu, but you would have to download a chart to fix it. Kris' World covers the problem and has a chart to download too.

@baxtermarrison5361

Жыл бұрын

I have calibrated all my lenses with both my D3 and my D800/D810. It is interesting to see the variation between the camera's for each lens. I also check the calibration from time to time.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much this is so helpful 🙏⭐

5:14 LOLOLOLOLO. I know the feeling when my D3S is clapping away like a machine gun at a funeral or wedding!

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

6 ай бұрын

Haha yes trying to hide but theres no escape 😆

awesome show of pictures at the end! do you have a instagram you post to? Also the D3 is a tank! I used to shoot on a 7d mii with a grip and switched to sony recently, I don't miss the weight haha

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks! I dont have instagram. Im trying to master one platform because I get a bit 'social media sick' and 'screened out' 😳 My brother has lent me his microphone for my mobile phone so my audio should improve soon!. Have you started working on your channel yet?

@DannyMcIsaac

Жыл бұрын

@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 totally fair, honestly Instagram causes more headaches than anything these days, KZread seems much better. Oh awesome I’m excited to see😁 I haven’t yet, still working out what I want to do. Most likely some sort of wildlife photography

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

@@DannyMcIsaac ahh wow a wildlife photography channel will be amazing! I was watching some birds on a channel the other day and it was so relaxing. Great idea! I want to go on a wildlife photography adventure one day and pretend im David Attenborough 🤣 my audio changes will take a little while to show as i have scheduled videos until the start of feb but i might move some around. Its good to get ahead!

I would have to mortgage my house to afford a Z 7 our Z 9.I can wait 10 years for one of those.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

4 ай бұрын

😄 yes it is an investment thats for sure

I just purchased a used D3 online. I wanted to share😃 I still need to get a lens though.😛

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

11 ай бұрын

That is awesome! Ahhhh enjoy!!!

I'm about to decide between the D700 vs the D3. Apparently the 700 has a bit more saturated colours but that would be easy to achieve on the D3 in post I guess. There is a test out there which shows quite a big advantage in low light for the 3. Don't know how accurate that is tho. For me the kicker will be the 100% viewfinder of the 3 vs the 95% the 700 has I think. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🙏

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Good luck I hope you love whatever you chose! Sometimes lots of choice has left me confused and not making a decision at the end of a lot of research. Thats why I love what I did with the D3 - tried it once, had to have one and never looked at anything else. It was like love at first sight!

I enjoyed my dslr due to it being an slr , it was a simple mechanism and that's how i like things to be. Felt like a good ol' camera. Mirroless has none of that feel and magic of mirror going up n down and optical viewfinder. However the silent operation makes a world of difference for me. Not only not scaring away animals but also not attracting people's attention. Making it the biggest reason why i accept mirrorless nowadays.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

9 ай бұрын

Yes yes yes I totally agree with what you are saying!!!!! DSLRs seem to have the magic, the atmosphere and mirrorless is just soooo handy in those quiet times!

I have similar thoughts. I don't need to save up for a down payment towards a new home? But a Z9 sounds like a better investment 🤟🏽🤦🏽

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

🙏👌😁

You take great pictures.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

7 ай бұрын

Thank you. Means a lot ⭐️🙏

Hi, I have already watched your old video 1 year before, when I bought Nikon D3 (used body) from a lady she gave me 2 compact cards also, I am using Nikon D3 as a backup camera with Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 my main camera is Nikon D600 with Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 both are using also wedding photography, I want to ask the question, If I will use Nikon D3 as a main camera for every where including wedding, portrait and events, have you made any video for best Nikon D3 photography setting and helping functions. I need your help. waiting your reply, Thank you

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

6 ай бұрын

Hello! If it was me, my number 1 camera for weddings would be the D3 because it is so good in low light. It is a workhorse of a camera and mine has never let me down shooting weddings and events for many years. I am not familiar with the D600... I have a D800 as my second camera. It isnt as heavy as the D3 which is partly why I pick it up more nowadays. If you can get a portrait lens F1.4 you will love it for weddings and portraits and events! I shoot on manual all the time. Is that what you do? As for settings that would depend on the situation / light / action etc. Take a look at my website you might benefit from some coaching perhaps. www.clairemiddletonphotography.com best of luck to you 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

@MNadeem-vs7df

6 ай бұрын

​@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 Thank you, for your immediate reply, I am using M mode with (D600 + 24-70mm, light weight then D3, and D3 + 70-200mm as second camera) for all photos shoot, since when I completed 2yrs certificate course from Humber College Toronto, I want to buy Sigma A 85mm F1.4 DG HSM but price is including GST/HST CAD$1401.14, I will really appreciate, let me know any cheap and good 1.4mm for portrait lens, and also let me know good Nikon D3 setting for wedding photography (coming Saturday, I am going for wedding reception photography) I want to use Nikon D3 + Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 as a main camera. Please reply, WITH ANY TIPS FOR BEST WORK, I am waiting. Thanking you.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

6 ай бұрын

​@MNadeem-vs7df I have the sigma 85mm 1.4 prime lens. It is stunning. I got mine for £500 second hand. The nikon 50mm prime lens 1.4 is much much cheaper.... not as sparkly tho! 50mm lenses are cheaper to make so worth a look. Perhaps you could visit the venue today if its not too late to do some light tests? I used to go a week before at the same time of day as the ceremony to practice my settings. Good luck. Breathe and centre youself, focus and enjoy the love 🌟🌟🌟

Legend says the bride and groom are still waiting for the owl to come down...

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

5 ай бұрын

😆😆😆 made me laugh 😅 I can see them standing there old and wrinkly in years to come still looking up in the rafters 😆

@smokemagnet

5 ай бұрын

@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 Yeah, it is a good story that left that part opened to imagination :D I own a D300 and recently got a D700, which has a quite significant better low light quality over the first, among other things... Now.... one gets into ideas.... of getting a D3.... the whole "trinity"... (we humans... :P)... and see how much better it is compared to the D700... :)

I would still shoot raw+jpeg. I've heard two stories that raw files got corrupted. Think of the jpegs as a third safety net. Canon and Nikon and I think Sony put full size jpegs in the raw file. When you view your images on the LCD scene on your camera your looking at a jpeg. There is software to pull out the jpeg from within the raw file but I think its better to just shoot raw+jpeg. One of the reasons I shoot raw+jpeg like I said third safety net. Also Olympus does not put full size jpegs inside their raw files. Also I have had dead pixels a few times and Olympus there is a feature to map out the dead pixel. So my jpegs won't have any dead pixels. I'll have to see if I can find a old raw file if it maps out the dead pixel from the raw file also or the jpeg that is inside the raw file.

@bngr_bngr

Жыл бұрын

The jpeg is only an interpretation of the RAW file by the camera. There is no jpeg in the RAW files.

@bigrobotnewstoday1436

Жыл бұрын

@@bngr_bngr Inside the raw container their is a jpeg it's just used for view images on the camera.

@bngr_bngr

Жыл бұрын

@@bigrobotnewstoday1436 it’s not a true jpg. It’s not inside the RAW file.

Plenty of KZread videos on calibrating lens/ cameras. It takes time but is quite simple. As a professional you should be well advised to do it.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I think im psyching myself up to give it a go 😳

No I just wish I can take pictures like you.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

7 ай бұрын

Thank you that made me smile 🙏😊⭐️ Have you done any photography courses?

Someone give this woman a D810 or D850.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

4 ай бұрын

Yes please 😄

You need to try DXO Photolab or DXO PureRaw best noise reduction in the world it even restores loss colors due to high ISO. I shoot Olympus and I have a small sensor Micro Four Thirds and I can shoot ISO 6,400 with my Olympus OMD E-M1ii no problem. I do like DXO Photolab a little more because I can change the luminance slider to 50 or 55 this will remove noise in the out of focus parts of the image but there is no sharpness loss. Also I export to DNG raw files if I want to edit in another editor. You get two to two and a half stops with DXO Photolab they have two reduction engines that are very good.

It is an amazing camera. Then I picked up a D4.

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Really curious to know what you think of the D4 compared to the D3!!!! I am hoping to upgrade soon would love to know your thoughts 😁 am wondering about D4 or D5 with a lens or 2 ⭐️🙏😃

@mikegarwood8680

Жыл бұрын

@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 As I mentioned before, I'm no pro...as opposed to you who do this on a daily basis. I came at the D3 from the D700 and they do feel very similar in operation. So, I became very comfortable with the D3. On the other hand, the D4 (to me) is like reaching some level of achievement, just by owning it, due to the monster specs it has. I've found it a bit less forgiving, if I don't respect it. My results are more likely due to not using it on a daily basis and I suspect that it would serve you better, since you have already put in the time to master your craft. Do I feel disappointed or regretful in buying one (used)? Definitely no. It is a serious machine to take serious photos. It is a legendary camera that any serious photographer can feel proud in owning and using. At the end of the day, it's still just a tool--in the hands of a master, it can make Art.

The way you say it’s has 1000 iso. 😂. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate it. Nowadays 1 million iso is not enough for some people. I really don’t understand

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

I think what I was saying was at 1000 iso its noiseless! The D3 goes up to 64000 i believe. Crazy! Great camera in low light

I have a question, You shoot weddings in the UK with D3 now? That thing is almost 20 years old...

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

I don't purely because I prefer not to shoot weddings but yes I would shoot a wedding with the D3 with my D800 as back up!

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

The last wedding I shot with the D3 was roughly 4 maybe 5 years ago off the top of my head...

@cokrlicix

Жыл бұрын

@@clairesschoolofphotography1767 Thx for the reply, it seemed a bit odd to me that nowadays gear that old is still being used professionally, and in markets so developed like UK's. Although there are still people that use Nikon D800 & 850 professionally here (Serbia). Hope you transferred to mirrorless, they are much better and you can be much more productive with them.

We appreciate the things more we have to sacrifice to get them ... 🦘

@clairesschoolofphotography1767

Жыл бұрын

Wow! That is incredible timing for me to read this! I am preparing to sell my last motorbike to get some vlogging gear!! 😄 So true. Thank you ⭐