I have no idea what we are doing.
If we want to consider resolution, then we are in fact comparing lens quality. And true, there's nothing like the Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8.
If we look at image quality at high ISO, the D3 is certainly up there. But Canon 1Ds MkIII holds up just as well, especially when one realizes it's a 21 MP camera. After downsizing, the 1Ds MkIII images at high ISO are simply NOT distinguishable from the D3.
If we want to compare a 2.5 year old camera (which is probably going to be replaced soon) to a brand new camera, we may as well ask ourselves: where in the world was Nikon ALL THESE YEARS when Canon was offering several full frame cameras??? Remember: Nikon had the (i) D2x, a US$5000 professional camera whose performance at ISO 400 is as bad as ISO 3200 on a typical Canon DSLR (ii) D2H, a 4 MP professional sports camera whose specs are a complete joke (11 AF point, 4 MP, poor high ISO performance) when compared to the 1D series.