Nikon came up with a surprise this week, dropping its new top-of-the-line dSLR model, the D3s.

The updated model makes some improvements over its forbear, with Nikon redeveloping its 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor for better low-light performance. The issue of sensitivity was approached by making the actual pixels larger, while offering a standard ISO up to 12,800, expandable to a whopping 102, 400. Initial reports indicate the redesign paid off.

“Noise takes on a relatively natural, filmic look that would be usable for some applications, and results shot at ISO12,800 were particularly impressive,” commented the British Journal of Photography, which had access to a pre-production model.

Another addition to the D3s is HD video capabilities, which allow photographers to extract high-quality JPEG files from the 1280×720 24fps video.

The auto-focus system has also been improved, with a 51-point AF sensor, while it can shoot continuously at 9 frames per second in full-frame mode and 11 frames per second in a crop DX mode. UDMA compatibility also means the camera has access to the fastest cards available, which means less waiting time while shooting. “When the Nikon D3 was released, it ushered in a new era of professional digital imaging. Today, the D3S will further reinforce Nikon’s leadership role in the photographic industry as a pioneer in performance-driven technologies that will again break once-rigid picture-taking barriers,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products at Nikon Inc. “The ruggedly constructed D3S was engineered to address the real-world needs of professional photographers and provides them with a tool that, when combined with their skills, delivers stunning images in a broad range of shooting conditions and assignment requirements.”

Local pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed, but we’ll let you know with how much money and when you should rush out.

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