Nikon’s new D800 SLR is a study in expectations and identity. Laid bare, the $3000 D800 is an impressive camera. But it’s probably not the D800 that a lot of Nikon fans have been waiting for—what some feel they’d been virtually promised.
Here’s what it’s not: a tiny D4, a pint-size, light-eating dynamo. It’s not even a linear progression from the D700, which was like a tiny D3. This is a whole other thing. It’s more like a tiny D3x, with a gigantic all-new 36.3-megapixel full-frame sensor (FX, in Nikon speak, which you can crop down to 15.4 megapixels in DX mode).
The D800 is aimed mainly at studio or wedding photographers and videographers, people shooting in a (relatively) controlled environment who need photos with massive resolution—in 7360×4912-pixel photos. If you’re tramping around in a sewer or an abandoned subway line, you’re probably going to look elsewhere. The necessarily smaller pixels (4.88 microns across) crammed into the sensor are smaller the ones on the D4 (7.3 micron), so we’re not talking about the same light-stalking prowess as the D4, by a significant margin. Which you can see in the D800′s ISO range too: 100 to 6400, expandable to 25,600—a far cry from the D4′s credulity-stretching 204,800 max ISO.
A few things are the same as the D4, though. The D800 has the same 91k RGB 3D color metering, lightning-fast AF, and 3-inch 921k-dot LCD screen. A lot of the D4′s plusses have made the jump down to the D800 on the video end, too. It uses B-frame data compression for 20-minute h.264 recording (30-minute normal image quality). Also like the D4, you can record full, uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 video to an outboard DVR.
Oh, and the D800 shoots continuous bursts at 4fps in FX and 5fps in DX. The magnesium alloy body comes in slightly lighter than the 1075g D700, at 1000g. The on-board flash can be used as a commander, meaning it can trigger multiple other flashes you’ve got set up-probably in a studio. The D800 only uses a CF and SD card, not the fancy CompactFlash XQD that the D4 takes. It’s got the same live view with neat features like horizon pitch. A big loss is the pixel-to-pixel 1080p crop mode, which would have been too minuscule on the gigantic 36MP sensor to make much sense anyway.
There was also a question about whether the D800 would axe the lowpass filter, with people seeming to scream their heads off on either side. Nikon’s appeasing both sides by keeping the filter and putting out a separate camera, the D800E, that ditches it. The D800E is the exact same camera, just without the lowpass (or anti-aliasing) filter. That’ll let the camera take slightly, but noticeably, sharper photos. The downside is that it also becomes susceptible to color moire and chroma noise. The moire, though, is offset by the sheer number of pixels in the 36MP sensor, which dampens moire. You can also blank out any ill effects in Lightroom or Aperture, or alternatively with a new tool in Nikon Capture NX 2 called Color Moire to deal with them.
The craving for a small-bodied, high-ISO camera from Nikon is palpable, and to be sure, a lot of the longstanding anticipation for the D800 was centered around just that. But any disappointment surrounding the camera is in all likelihood to do with the notion of the camera, not the execution. The D800 looks impressive for what it is. It’s just a question of if what it is is what you need.
The D800 will be available in March for $3000, with the D800E following in April for $3300. [Nikon]
3,150 comments
Samsung galaxy s4 says:
January 24, 2013 at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
Beauty Blogs in NYC says:
January 24, 2013 at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I noticed this…
used cnc machines says:
January 25, 2013 at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Looking around…
I like to surf around the internet, often I will go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
lone worker alarms says:
January 25, 2013 at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
hardcore porn xxx says:
January 26, 2013 at 7:51 am (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
genital warts says:
January 26, 2013 at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
seo says:
January 26, 2013 at 6:24 pm (UTC -4)
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
emerald hill says:
January 26, 2013 at 8:41 pm (UTC -4)
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
New crossover suv vancouver Canada– eagleridgegm.com says:
January 26, 2013 at 10:14 pm (UTC -4)
Online Article……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
new models says:
January 26, 2013 at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Video Marketing says:
January 27, 2013 at 12:50 am (UTC -4)
Wikia…
Wika linked to this site…
ford super duty Coqutilam says:
January 27, 2013 at 1:05 am (UTC -4)
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
dealership selling says:
January 27, 2013 at 6:25 am (UTC -4)
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
singapore office space says:
January 27, 2013 at 7:16 am (UTC -4)
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Eagle Ridge Chevy GMC Buick Vancovuer British Columbia says:
January 27, 2013 at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
liposuction melbourne says:
January 27, 2013 at 11:12 pm (UTC -4)
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I noticed this…
Fotografie says:
January 28, 2013 at 2:26 am (UTC -4)
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
lose weight fast says:
January 28, 2013 at 6:26 am (UTC -4)
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing today I saw a excellent post about…
vast selection says:
January 28, 2013 at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
luggage says:
January 28, 2013 at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
party says:
January 28, 2013 at 5:25 pm (UTC -4)
been using because you think it’s going…
to be a lot of hard work. it does take some work. but the pay-off is well worth the effort. there are many ideas for marketing your business that you’ll find all over the internet, from your friends, and from your…
http://alliancehigh.pps.orvsd.org/node/24722 says:
January 28, 2013 at 5:38 pm (UTC -4)
payday loans for bad credit…
read great info here…
Carpet Runners says:
January 28, 2013 at 10:38 pm (UTC -4)
Just Browsing…
While I was surfing yesterday I saw a great post concerning…
gsdjkfhgksdgnsldkfg says:
January 28, 2013 at 11:23 pm (UTC -4)
Title…
[...]usually posts some really fascinating stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]…
Trading Forex says:
January 29, 2013 at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool topic…
garden sheds for sale says:
January 29, 2013 at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
click the next web site says:
January 29, 2013 at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
colonie says:
January 30, 2013 at 1:06 am (UTC -4)
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Expresskredit says:
January 30, 2013 at 3:07 am (UTC -4)
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud says:
January 30, 2013 at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing today I noticed a great article about…
apartment floor plans says:
January 30, 2013 at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
Yahoo results…
While browsing Yahoo I discovered this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
Los Angeles SEO says:
January 31, 2013 at 12:12 am (UTC -4)
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
steven odzer says:
January 31, 2013 at 7:19 am (UTC -4)
your new writing business with your target…
client. remember to include key marketing tactics such as social media, blog marketing, guest blog posting, online advertising (e.g. facebook ads), networking at local business events, etc.starting your own writing business is an exciting endeavor that…
reverse lookup says:
January 31, 2013 at 11:04 pm (UTC -4)
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
counter strike 1.6 magyar says:
February 1, 2013 at 4:28 am (UTC -4)
them to take up the craft. some…
people make excuses for themselves or try to justify their actions based on myths. listed below are some common beliefs about being a good writer, and the true facts behind them.myth: a good writer is born that way. fact: writing is…
Visalus Kits for Promoters says:
February 1, 2013 at 9:42 am (UTC -4)
Looking around…
While I was browsing yesterday I saw a excellent article about…
Free Teen Sex XXX says:
February 1, 2013 at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Twitter follower kaufen says:
February 1, 2013 at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool topic…
credit card debt cancellation says:
February 1, 2013 at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
services to other bloggers. guest posting is…
very common among bloggers to promote their own blog. a blogger can guest post on another blog that focuses on the same topic that he blogs about. if you’re a skilled blogger, fellow bloggers would want to pay for your services.you…
profitclicking says:
February 1, 2013 at 8:54 pm (UTC -4)
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
Shops With International Shipping says:
February 2, 2013 at 3:36 pm (UTC -4)
Just Browsing…
While I was surfing yesterday I noticed a great post concerning…
profitclicking says:
February 2, 2013 at 11:20 pm (UTC -4)
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Top Article says:
February 2, 2013 at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
lifestyle news says:
February 3, 2013 at 7:28 am (UTC -4)
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
homes in Lehi says:
February 3, 2013 at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
home warranty says:
February 3, 2013 at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
recipe for macaroons says:
February 3, 2013 at 3:19 pm (UTC -4)
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
atlanta seo company says:
February 3, 2013 at 7:23 pm (UTC -4)
Tumblr article…
I saw someone writing about this on Tumblr and it linked to…
Dreambox Receivers says:
February 3, 2013 at 11:34 pm (UTC -4)
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Golf Warehouse says:
February 4, 2013 at 12:05 am (UTC -4)
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
« Previous 1 ... 35 36 37 38 39 ... 63 Next »