Nikon D800 is Here. | Chase Jarvis

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Nikon D800 via B&H

Alright photo geeks. Indeed, Nikon just dropped another news bomb this week – the much-anticipated Nikon D800 is here. Not unlike the D4, I’ve known about its imminent arrival for some time. But there are some sorta cool curve balls….So let’s get into it.

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.

I’ve had the D800 for about a week and a half and shot a Lexus job with it in Japan last week.
First impressions:

1. Shoots very sloooooooooow. D700 is way faster. Grip does not make it faster. FX mode only is what I shoot.
This really pisses me off the slow frame rate. WTF?!

2. Files are way to big, computer gets super hot with fan on just transferring files/doing backups. Slow loading overall in all programs naturally due to size. I don’t get why Nikon made the files so large. It’s like going to costco and buying 24 rolls of toilet
paper when all you need is 4. A complete waste of hard drive space and time, it’s very time consuming considering it
takes more than three times as much time to backup files compared to the D700. You just don’t need raw that big. This is
a huge mistake and I’m considering selling and getting the D4 for smaller files and frame speed alone. It would have been
perfect if they made it with 16mb files (up to say 20mb tops), but 36 if just ridiculous. You’ll never ever need it. Just have to get
more memory for the Macs and bigger hard drives all around.

3. It’s lighter and feels cheaper than the D700.. feels almost like plastic. Also the finish is a splattery black paint that looks
quite ugly in light with the highlights hit it, almost like a black camouflage. I’m completely baffled.

4. Quiter sound than the D700.. I love the D700 sound, it sounds like a “professional” camera. I used to use the Pentax 67
which is really loud and the Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, which is louder too. Nikon should make the professional level cameras
different than the regular consumer cameras with things like this.. so you “feel” more like a professional instead making them
the same as the consumer level GWC (guy with camera’s). Make it louder.

5. Body is smaller slighter, why? Make it bigger for the Pro’s. Like I said I used to use the Pentax 67 and RZ.. you felt like
a “professional” photographer. By the way I really don’t like the term “professional” photographer, but just using that to
illustrate my point.

Good points:

1. Meter is absolutely superb. In back light it just is spot on. Much better in back light than D700.

2. Image quality, looks great, but D700 was great, but it’s cleaner overall. Metering is a bigger difference.

3. Feel with grip is very balanced.

4. Buttons are easier to push and therefore more fluid using it. Rear dial is superb compared to the clumsy
loose the D700 dial.

5. I’ve not shot much video with it so cannot comment on that too much. It looks good and is easy to use and you
have AUTO-focus. Nice.

Overall: It’s a nice camera. Files are WAY too big and camera frame rate is slooooooooow.

I wish they could make an updated version D800 2.0 and give it 16mb and 8-10 frames a second.
Then you’d have something more people could use.

225 replies on:
Nikon D800 Camera is Here. What do YOU Think?

Raymond Patrick says:

April 19, 2012 at 4:12 pm

I’ve had the D800 for about a week and a half and shot a Lexus job with it in Japan last week.
First impressions:

1. Shoots very sloooooooooow. D700 is way faster. Grip does not make it faster. FX mode only is what I shoot.
This really pisses me off the slow frame rate. WTF?!

2. Files are way to big, computer gets super hot with fan on just transferring files/doing backups. Slow loading overall in all programs naturally due to size. I don’t get why Nikon made the files so large. It’s like going to costco and buying 24 rolls of toilet
paper when all you need is 4. A complete waste of hard drive space and time, it’s very time consuming considering it
takes more than three times as much time to backup files compared to the D700. You just don’t need raw that big. This is
a huge mistake and I’m considering selling and getting the D4 for smaller files and frame speed alone. It would have been
perfect if they made it with 16mb files (up to say 20mb tops), but 36 if just ridiculous. You’ll never ever need it. Just have to get
more memory for the Macs and bigger hard drives all around.

3. It’s lighter and feels cheaper than the D700.. feels almost like plastic. Also the finish is a splattery black paint that looks
quite ugly in light with the highlights hit it, almost like a black camouflage. I’m completely baffled.

4. Quiter sound than the D700.. I love the D700 sound, it sounds like a “professional” camera. I used to use the Pentax 67
which is really loud and the Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, which is louder too. Nikon should make the professional level cameras
different than the regular consumer cameras with things like this.. so you “feel” more like a professional instead making them
the same as the consumer level GWC (guy with camera’s). Make it louder.

5. Body is smaller slighter, why? Make it bigger for the Pro’s. Like I said I used to use the Pentax 67 and RZ.. you felt like
a “professional” photographer. By the way I really don’t like the term “professional” photographer, but just using that to
illustrate my point.

Good points:

1. Meter is absolutely superb. In back light it just is spot on. Much better in back light than D700.

2. Image quality, looks great, but D700 was great, but it’s cleaner overall. Metering is a bigger difference.

3. Feel with grip is very balanced.

4. Buttons are easier to push and therefore more fluid using it. Rear dial is superb compared to the clumsy
loose the D700 dial.

5. I’ve not shot much video with it so cannot comment on that too much. It looks good and is easy to use and you
have AUTO-focus. Nice.

Overall: It’s a nice camera. Files are WAY too big and camera frame rate is slooooooooow.

I wish they could make an updated version D800 2.0 and give it 16mb and 8-10 frames a second.
Then you’d have something more people could use.
1. Raymond Patrick says:
  
  May 2, 2012 at 10:05 am
  
  I’d like to add something about the D800.. I’ve gotten used to the camera a little more;
  the quality and richness of the images is really extraordinary. Post production
  has been done on some of my selects and it’s When it comes down to having stunning
  images the D800 delivers far and away the best image quality I’ve seen in a DSLR. Raw
  files are huge which I don’t like and the camera could shoot more frames per second,
  but the quality you get and can deliver to clients is phenomenal.
  
  Also on the metering, unbelievable. Shooting in back light especially needs no adjustment,
  the images come out perfect. This is extraordinary, truly extraordinary. I just compared this
  to a friends Canon 5D MKII (it’s old now), but there was no comparison. The D800 images
  were perfect, the 5D, underexposed every time and very red skin tones (shot under ordinary
  tungsten bulbs in my apt).
  
  No doubt the D800 is one of the best cameras to emerge ever.
Patrik Lindgren says:

April 19, 2012 at 2:22 pm

I got one of each now, a D4 and a D800. Different cameras for different purposes, but they are both awesome.
The D800 is superb with it’s great DR and it’s monster megapixels. And for that price, it’s a friggin bargain that’s for sure.
Michel Sauret says:

April 5, 2012 at 5:04 pm

I just got this camera last week, and I freaking LOVE it. Well… there are a couple minor things about the ergonomics that bug me, but the image quality blows anything I’ve seen by a DSLR out of the water!

Here’s a review (and pictures of donuts) I wrote on my blog:

http://onewaystreetproduction.net/2012/04/05/initial-thoughts-the-donut-that-made-me-fall-in-love-with-the-nikon-d800/

Enjoy!
Dave says:

April 4, 2012 at 1:13 pm

This is what we thought. http://youtu.be/AfA2mTMt0u8 (The F%^&ing Nikon D800 vs. Canon 5D MIII Shootout)
1. Michel Sauret says:
  
  April 5, 2012 at 5:22 pm
  
  THAT. IS. HILARIOUS. And totally unbiased, of course.
Anonymous says:

April 3, 2012 at 12:59 pm

The technology has changed drastically since the d700. So when do you shoot above 3200 anyway? Like never. For those of you doing weddings I am guessing you have two cameras on your body anyway. Make sure one is a d4 or if out of your price point a d700 the other one the d800. Different tools for different jobs. The resolution is just as good if not better on the d800 than the d700 even at 6400. But as a wedding photographer I don’t shoot at 6400. Even with my d700. Grab your prime lenses and with both cameras at a wedding you are covered. The only thing this camera would not be good for is sports. Too slow. I shoot a lot of dance and drama performances for the University of Calgary and even in those high contrasty, low light, fast motion shooting situations I never take my d700 over 3200. When I get my d800 it will be interesting to see how it performs in those conditions and if not so good then I keep using the d700 or d4 if/when I get that one too. Landscapes, portraits in studio stuff will all be taken over by the d800. Of course it isn’t a medium format camera. It isn’t supposed to be. What it is is an amazing tool if used for the right job. There wouldn’t be much you couldn’t accomplish with a d700/d4 – d800 combination.