Nikon D800 via B&H
Here’s some highlighted specs:
_36.3 megapixel, full-frame sensor (FX)
_up to 5fps still image shooting
_1080pHD video 24 or 30fps
_ISO Range 100-6400 (extendable from 25,600)
_Live View + External Monitor viewing for professional video applications
_Built in external microphone with audio monitoring capabilities via external headphones
_Twin card slots – one Compact Flash and one SD
_weight = 2 pounds 3 oz
The curve balls for me? The megapixels. There’s a lot of em. Also, this is geared a lot more toward video than I would have anticipated. But beyond that… Please note I HAVE NOT touched one of these cameras, and like the D4, NO I didn’t shoot the campaign. I haven’t yet spent time with the camera to tell you any gory details, although I’m assuming I’ll be able to chat more soon.
Aesthetics? Click thru a range of images of the camera via the above tabs.
So.. I (we) knew this was coming, but rather than me spouting off about having played with the system (I can’t – although some of you journalist types have I’m sure), or telling you what your feelings about this system should be (I won’t), I’m turning the tables on you.
What’s your take? Love, hate, indifferent? Insights?
[Reminder that Nikon plays close attention to this blog, so your comments on this post – glowing or otherwise – might help inform Nikon about what your thinking.]Link to all the Nikon D800 details and/or purchase here via B&H.
Is it a step backwards from the D700 in noise levels at high ISO’s
Completely disagree. D800 samples at ISO 25,600 are MUCH cleaner then D700 ISO 6400 photos I’ve shot.,
I would love to believe that. Where can I see these images? This is a big factor in my deciding on buying this camera. I’m a budding pro who’s shooting more weddings and portrait stuff. I’m concerned about the high ISO performance of the D800 vs the D700. I did see some images from wedding photog, Cliff Mautner, on his website. They looked beautiful of course.
Cliff now has samples of a model shot a various ISOs. He says the camera compares favorably to the D3/
D700, and is maybe a little better, ISO-wise. See that here: http://www.cmphotography.com/blog.cfm?postID=48&the-nikon-d800-a-few-more-features-to-point-out
I’m interested to see it and try it out, but with my workflow 36.6 megapixels are just too much to deal with. They’re projecting RAW files sizes upwards of 75mb per image, whoa. I am currently a D700 user and love the camera. For right now it offers all I ever needed in capturing stills as a portrait photographer. I know they’re challenging Medium Format with the release of the D800 and D800E, but if I wanted to shoot Medium Format, I’d rather put my money into that system to upgrade. Following in the footsteps of Zack Arias and David Hobby and you too Chase of course.
Again having said all that, if Nikon were to send me one for free I sure wouldn’t mind that.
I’ve been waiting for Nikon to make a more usable vid camera in their DSLRs in a Full Frame camera. Another thing this is nice is 60fps at 720p. The low light capabilities are awesome and I can’t wait to start shooting with one!
I am quite excited about it. The Mega Pixel jump is.. well overkill is the word i’m looking for here. It certainly will get a lot of people raving it. but 36 on that small censor… that’s asking for trouble. I’d much rather have a larger format camera, with less mega pixel… the idea is for a better censor size, rather than pixels, no?
Anyhow, the ergo is pretty much what you would expect i think, its like a D700 that mated with a D3, so that’s cool. I’m hoping for a battery grip redesign tho, more curvy (D3 style). The double mem-card slot is a nice touch, especially since we can use the eyecard or whatever for wireless tether (if so inclined).
As for whether to get it or not. If you own a D700, i don’t see the point. On my side, i’ve been running the 5D(1) for quite a while and been wanting to go back to Nikon for a few years and this might be my jumping point. With a good prime or two, this camera can work professional jobs easy.
That’s my take on it.
Antoine …what about people like myself who have a D700 but were waiting for HD video in aDSLR like the 5dm2 we don’t really have much choice, D4 is outside most most people’s budget unless you are a Pro. I think the D800 will be a great camera for. I rarely shoot over ISO 2000 and I’m sure the D800 will be on a par with the D700 at this ISO level.
ISO=D700: Especially if you apply some NR and downsize the files to 16MP or 12MP. To me, the D800 is a D3x and D700 in one body with HD video. Pretty amazing imo.
thats a perfect way of explaining the d800.. i cant wait to see how it performs in my hands lol im gonna buy a 24-70mm 2.8 as soon as the camera is out.
The MP are overkill and useless to me as a wedding photographer. The back thumb switch which used to control the AF mode is a huge downer for me, I ride that switch all evening at receptions as I go back and forth from normal shooting to firing frames off from above my head or from a low angle. I’ll wait for the D700 discounts or the wave of used D700’s the D800 release will produce and pick up another one or two, I ♥ my D700, it does everything I need and more. The addition of video would be nice as we’re getting into cinematography as well, but my D7000 takes amazing video with the rig we’ve put together so I don’t think the trade-offs are worth it. Just my $.02!
I’m with you the back thumb switch that used to control AF options is a big downer, plus the new AF-C / AF-S button switch plus dial is way too slow for me
I agree on the back switch, disappointing, but the AF-S AF-C change is welcoming. First looked odd, but it was always a pain when accidentally I would hit it into AF-C when I didn’t want to.
+1000 accidentally bumping from AF-S to AF-C was my single complaint about the D700. I had been wishing for a lock mechanism, but moving it all together is great. I always leave it on AF-S….AF-C shots are way too soft to be useful.
I completely agree with you Josh, although as a photojournalist rather than a wedding photographer. I would much prefer half the megapixels and better ISO performance, or hell just half the megapixels – 36 mp will slow down my workflow too much. I love my D700. I want a mini-D4, not primarily due to the price (which is a factor) but mainly due to the size. The D4 is too big for me to shoot comfortable, quickly and instinctively – I am not a sports photographer so I will trade off size for some functionality. The D800 is not really an evolution from the D700, it’s more like a totally different line of camera.
I also rely on the back thumb switch that controlled focus, and less frequently the front AF-S/AF-C and would regret losing those. I too will likely opt to pick up another D700 at a discount rather than upgrade.
Absolutely. I disbelieved all the 36MP rumors because it just didn’t make sense — the majority of the market that was in love with the D700 just didn’t need them. As a studio camera, I guess I could see the point, but PJs and wedding photogs? Not so much.
Shooting 2,000 images at a wedding at ~75MB/images = 150GB of images. Is that math right? Good god.
And I still can’t figure out why they went with two different formats for the card slots — I haven’t seen a single explanation for this that might make sense. Now I have to carry around two sets of cards? Anyone?
The video specs look good (though still no 1080p60), but since I’m primarily a still photographer just dabbling in video, that doesn’t sway me much.
Apparently the AF mode selection has been moved to the viewfinder;
“AF and AF-area mode selection is also now possible without taking the eye away from viewfinder (…)”.
Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-nikon-d800-1061511