Nikon gave a handful of journalists a sneak peek at the Nikon D3S digital-SLR camera; it was announced last week and is expected to be released in late November with a $5,199.95 (body only) list price.

I was invited to join Nikon to shoot with a production-model D3S at the Big Apple Circus, which opens to the public tomorrow evening. I've spent time with other professional Nikon SLR cameras over the years, including the D3 and every other Nikon D-SLR, and the D3S's interface felt incredibly familiar and just as intuitive as that of the D3.

This latest Nikon offers new marquee features, however, such as 720p HD video capture and an incredible top ISO setting of 102,400 (see sample image above, captured at ISO 102,400 with a 1/30-second exposure, including a 100-percent pixel view), which enables photographers to capture (somewhat) usable images in near-total darkness. More sample images after the jump.

With an aperture of f/2 and a shutter speed of 1/2500 sec, this image (with 100-percent pixel view) was captured at ISO 6400.

A high ISO setting can enable faster shutter speeds, such as the 1/1250 sec shutter needed to capture this balloon explosion.

The Nikon D3S offers excellent focus accuracy in all lighting situations, such as the difficult focusing scenario experienced with a horse moving through fog, as seen in the image above.