Nikon has released its FX-format D3S, a pro SLR camera with a 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor. The new camera has 51 autofocus points, an extremely broad ISO range and can capture up to 9 fps in the FX-format or 11 fps in the DX crop mode.

The D3S contains a multi-CAM 3500FX focus module, with 51 AF points, 15 cross-type sensors and 36 horizontal sensors that lock onto moving subjects. AF comes in three modes — single point, dynamic area and auto-area — and, with one of two live view modes, handheld and tripod mode.

With ISO ranging from 200 to 12,800 — plus expanded capabilities of ISO 100, 25,600, 51,200 and 102,400 — users can capture detail in extremely low-light situations.

This ISO range can also be applied in video mode. D-Movie offers 1280×720 HD video at a cinematic-quality 24 fps. The motion JPEG codec allows for extraction of single frames from video clips, which can be shot with aperture settings from f/1.4 to f/16.

D3S comes with a quiet shutter mode, high-speed scene recognition system, 3D Color Matrix Metering II, image sensor cleaning and two CompactFlash card slots.

The D3S is fully compatible with Nikon's Creative Lighting System, which allows for mobile lighting options, and with Nikon's GP-1 GPS receiver, which gathers data such as latitude, longitude, altitude and date.

The Nikon D3S body has an estimated price of $5,199.